Whats better taco or Pre Taco? Looking to Buy

[bunnerrabbit]

IM looking to buy a 90 to 97 Toyota 4x4 ex cab. I am not sure what I really want. I am looking for something that will end up being used 60% onroad and 40% off. I realy like the looks of the pre tacomas but am thinking going with the tacoma because of the added 30hp more per motor. I would plan to run atleat 32's if not 33's yeah I know you can do that with a 22r but more power is always better right? Next is the tranny I would be happy using a manual or automatic but have heard different stories about thats better offroad. Autos being better at very low speeds. less than 5mph. Next is just how different are they offroad? Handling wise? Is it the same IFS? I know I will be happy with onroad performance with any choice if its not a total dog. Im Thinking early tacoma 4 or 6 cyl manual ex cab, but my budget is saying more 4 or 6 cyl late pre tacoma manual ex cab. Just wondering what I would be better using offroad. I could get a loan for either but cheaper is always better. Looking for something around 90,000 to 120,000 miles.

Thanks for any info
Jon
Wilmington NC

[snorkleman]

This should be interesting.. ;D

I'm pre-taco, but I like the newer 3.4L v6's. I am just partial to the older body style. I also think there are more options for lifts. Seems all the tacos have the same 3" spacer lift or the huge 6" trailmaster lift. I like both of em so it really is up to how much you want to spend.

[fourwd1]

As far as tranny's, I have both, and prefer the auto both onroad and offroad. But stay away from the early 22RE/auto combo, AFAIK there's no crawler gear or dual case setup available for it's t-case. I don't know about the Taco autos.
The Taco IFS suspension is certainly more sophisticated than the mini (pre-Taco), and should be better than the mini IFS on and offroad, and I think there is more aftermarket suspension stuff available for it than the mini's (judging by some really nice Tacos I've seen).
Keep in mind both my trucks are solid axle, so I'm not an IFS expert.

Just my .02

[bunnerrabbit]

Thanks for the info so far everyone. Im 28 and hope that this will be the last truck I buy for several years. I just want to make sure I dont regreat buying the wrong thing. As the years pass it will probably turn more into a lite duty mud truck. I may just wait around until I find and early 6cyl auto tacoma at a decent price. But keep the opinions comming. The cle closest I have came to buying was a 94 SR5 ex cab v6 auto with sunroof and running boards, tool box, bedliner, 100k miles for $6500 but its gone now I also didnt know that the 3.0 was only 150 HP

[kojack]

I like the taco because you can get mild lifts for it like 2.5 - 3 inch susension lifts. with the pre i'ts 4" or crank your torsions for 1".....just my 2cents worth

[NCSU]

You can get various lift sizes for the Pre-taco trucks, they might be body lifts though. I haven't ever really driven a Taco or learned much about them, so I am partial to the Pre-Tacos.

[snap-on]

I am partial to the Pre-taco. You can get locking hubs, and dont have rack-and-pinon steering.

I also wish i had the 3.4L but oh well i still wouldnt trade my 94 V6 for a taco.

[89toyrobb]

It all depends on what you want. I have a pre-taco and everything is easy to get like gears/lockers/lifts/etc. They are built on a more robust platform than the tacomas. Thats why when other countries like Australia went to IFS they went to the pre taco suspenion and frame. The only small regret I have with pre-tacos is the underpowered engines. I have a 22RE and 33's with 4.88's. It gets around great around town but If your going up mountains for a long time it can get doggy. Tacoma's have 30 more hp 4bangers and 40 more hp V6s. So if you want power go with them. Otherwise stick to a pre-taco. If you have the time or money you can swap in a multitude of great engines foreign or domestic and make a ultimate pre-taco!