1997 Toyota Tacoma SX review from North America
"If you can stop the rust, it will never die"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Where to begin? This truck has been a dream since day one. Nothing mechanical ever really gave me problems.
I did go through three exhaust systems in 2 years, but that had a lot to do with a sloppy mechanic forgetting to put on mounts or heat shields.
It has the standard annoying dash rattle, but that can be drowned out by the radio.
The brakes were constant squeakers and squealers, but every time I brought it in for a brake job, they just cleaned them off and I was on my way.
The clutch survived towing a 3500 pound trailer and 25,000 miles of pizza delivery in a hilly area.
Four wheel drive (manual hubs) never failed.
The universal joints dried out regularly but a shot of grease every month is not a big deal.
Always started on the first turn over, even with a nearly dead battery. No smoke, no leaks.
Sadly what killed it was rust. The frame did not show any signs of serious cancer on the outside, but when I brought it in for brakes (probably shouldn't have) this week the dealer discovered that the frame had rusted from the inside-out, and the truck has been condemned. I'm truly heartbroken by this news as I am sure I would have made the 300,000 mile club. The 4 cylinder engine is BULLETPROOF.
General comments?
A little slow, but what Yota isn't?
A killer off-road - made the Jeeps and Broncos look like sedans.
The interior was quite cramped and has very little storage space.
Pulls a trailer with no problem.
Carries 1000 pounds like nothing's in it.
The seats get a little uncomfortable, some more room to recline them would have been nice.
Overall the best truck I've owned. Did everything I needed it to and consistently got me 23 mpg.
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| Unbelievable reliability |
|
| 1997 - Tacoma 2.4 liter 4 cylinder Perfect |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.7 4 cylinder gasoline Manual |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 109000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 164000 miles |
| Previous car | Isuzu Trooper |
| Date of Entry | 16th April, 2008 |