I’m 56. When I was in high school I feel in love with the Toyota pickup. The short bed 4x4 with a 4” lift and 33” tires was an amazing tough and capable little truck. Girls loved “how cute” they were so they were popular. Best part about them was they were indestructible and affordable.

Still miss the 'small' pickups; when they went midsize, they lost something (unless you needed the size). Now the midsized trucks are the size of the legacy full sized trucks.

They skipped the first 2 generations of Tacomas. Gen 1 started in 95. Gen 2 in 2005. 😮

That little cream 100hp 40+ year old Toyota has a higher payload than a new HD power wagon lmao. Let that sink in.

Not to sound stupid, but the Japanese are absolute MASTERS at combining colors together. Look at their kimonos and historical clothing, they are just very good at seeing color combinations.

Missing a first gen pickup. The 4wd from 79-83. The very best of the Toyota pickups.

This 1980s truck brought back so many memories! I had one in silver and loved it! Cost me 12,500 or 13,000!

Low reach access beds are the best thing about older trucks. Non-existent in any modern truck. I never use the tailgte in my 1st gen Tacoma unless I'm loading something heavy. Most modern trucks you gotta climb the tire or climb on the bed just to grab stuff

The 1979 through 1983 body style was awesome also. Btw you said that the '89 model was the 1st year of the extra cab, they were available in the '84-'88 as well.

I’m still driving my 1995 Tacoma 4X4 V6 standard shift. My plan is to give it to my daughter. We plan to drive up to Alaska next year to visit my younger brother 3k miles one way. Several times a year someone offers to buy it so it is still amazing popular.

My Uncle had a Tacoma with a bed cap and he kept a mattress in there for camping. Literally drove it from Seattle to Tacoma to Spokane WA and camped in my Grandpa’s yard for a summer. It was a neat truck.

My girlfriend has 1996 Tacoma SR5 4x4 extra cab, V6 manual, 200 miles away from 100k, and it such an awesome vehicle. It’s a truck. It’s simple and reliable. I absolutely hate the direction of modern trucks with big screens; I never ever wish the Tacoma had a screen. It has switches, and they work. I don’t have to search around s screen to adjust the heat, AC, etc. - it’s just a quick simple switch adjustment. And, if the switch breaks, it doesn’t affect the function of other switches, and it’s easy to fix. If a screen goes out, it affects so many functions, and it’s ka-Ching to replace it. I know someone whose Prius screen went out, and it was something like $6k to fix. I digress. The simplicity of the older Tacomas is a breath of fresh air and makes me pine for the good ol’ days when things were simpler and easier to fix.

My parents bought a 1980 Toyota truck when we first moved up to the Sierras, hauled a lot of firewood in that thing growing up. That truck was super reliable, and I beat the crap out of it my senior year of hs. I miss the smaller pickups, most of them these days are just too big for me.

Those older pickups were the best. Not only reliability but off road as well. Excellent ground clearance compared to the newer ones.

I have an 86 and a 90. I absolutely love them. But if I had to pick which is my favorite. I'll have to say my 90. I grew up in them as a child. Just something about the looks of a 89-95 pickup. They are aggressive looking but gentle. They make me feel fuzzy. My 86 is a blast also. I love driving it for that classic feel.

In 1990 I've traded he wore out Honda big red three wheeler for a 1984 Toyota pick up. I still have that truck today although there's probably not a street body panel on it and the bed finally rotted off from caring feet in the back and I put a little flatbed on it, but it still runs today, I think the odometer has flipped at least twice

Wow, gave me flashbacks to my then new '87 4Runner! The early to mid-eighties Toyota trucks were really pretty special when I look back now.

My 2nd Gen Tacoma was a darn good truck.

Crazy thing the truck white truck (and red truck both) sit so high, yet you can still easily reach into the bed.

That Red SR5 is absolutely immaculate !

I;ve had Toy trucks since 1975 and have had several versions of each generation. Loved them all!

They need to recreate the small pickup just like those 80’s trucks with no flash and all function I would buy one.

Most of the ‘modernization’ happened during the 2nd Gen. but they skipped that. Shrinking bed size, expanding cab space… also worth mentioning after all that talk of ‘agricultural’ ride quality and leaf springs that you can finally get coil spring rear suspension in 2024. The evolution away from a Truck being for work is nearly complete.

Still daily driving my 1999 loaded V6 5 speed TRD off road Tacoma. That’s a proper first generation Tacoma. Tacoma started as a half year offering in 1995.

Toyota use to offer the Hilux in the US until they called it the Tacoma which is a much weaker truck ( C channel frame vs Fully boxed).

I drive a 1985 Sr5 pickup daily... It's my little nugget of gold

The old Tacoma proved it's worth multiple times I hope Toyota dosent ruin the Tacoma name

That 89 absolutely has my vote

I miss the simplicity of trucks, these days there’s just so much tech even under the hood that doesn’t feel right

My unce bought new the last of the 80s gen Toyota. 2wd, automatic, EFI. absolutely loved that truck

The 3.5L with the 6 speed is fantastic for my use - mostly driven here on the flat roads of Alaska. No hunting of gears and plenty of power. But I am also not driving at 6000 feet and definitely not hot rodding it.

Marty Mcfly's back to the future Toyota pickup was an Xtra cab. Also the S10 had an extra cab in 1983

Where is my beloved 2nd gen 😢

Never had a Tacoma, but we did have a 88 Nissan Hardbody King cab, it had about 288k miles on it when we traded it in.

I had a white 94 extended cab with the 3.0 V6 configured exactly like the red one. I LOvED that truck. Bulletproof and I drove it all over the country to my various duty stations in the Navy. So many good memories. That V6 wouldn’t do 90 mph downhill in a hurricane but it never failed me once. Had over 220k miles on it with the original clutch. They don’t make them like that anymore.

Informative. What happened to first and second generation Tacomas? Had a 2000, V6, TRD w/manual. It was a great off-road truck. Have moved to a Tundra Crewmax for more room, power and towing. However, looking forward to 3rd generation TRD Off-Road, Double Cab for daily driver.

Thank you guys for the fun video. I love my Tacoma - '04 TRD V6 manual transmission extracab, solo owner (me) $22k brand new. She always gets me back home no matter where we go: deserts, mountains, hot, dry, cold, wet. Rust on the frame is my only complaint. I'm still takin' good care of her though. I hope to drive her for another 20 years. Not many vehicles you can say that about!

I currently have a 2009 single cab base. It's got a 5 speed manual tows around 3500 which is enough for me for now. 4X4 and a 6 foot bed. I love it. Only downside is I miss the auto windows and lpcks but I need a truck and being 22 it's all I need right now

Miss my 1980 and 1983 Toyota pick ups. Stick shift, no a/c as simple as simple gets. Changed out my first clutch on my 1980 4x4 - easy peezy...

The main reason you have to rev out the engine is that it makes its HP around 3500 RPM thanks to the direct injection. It allowed it to make more power than outgoing engine, but at the expense of where the power band was located. Once you got used to the RPM band though, it didn't ever feel like it was revving too high around then. I've done a few trips through the Colorado mountains with mine now. Always a blast to get to CO.

The LOOK of 80s interiors.. ❤.. the gauge faces, the fabric on the seats. And available TURBO. 😋

Bought an 86 4x4 Xtra cab manual trans brand new when I turned 18, white with brown trim, was making good money commercial fishing.. Joined the Marines 10 months later and sold the truck.. Wish I still had it! Now I have a 2014 Tacoma reg cab manual trans 4x4,,, awesome!

I had an 84 reg cab SB with the 22r 4" suspension lift & 3" body lift. Stock 4 10 gears and 35" tires.. Had a 87 extra cab LB with 22re 8" suspension & 3" body with 38s & 89 extended cab SB with the v6 3" body and torsion bars cranked up with 35s. These truck rode great with the bigger tires. All 3 had Stock 4 10 gears in the axels. They got with Stock tires 14-16 mpg. With the 35s, 25-27 mpg. The 38s got around 18-22 but were a bit much for the 22re. They would go anywhere. They were extremely tough. I even played the Fall Guy several times. The Tacoma's are no where near what those trucks were. Unfortunately I had to go to bigger trucks with Diesels for what I do now.

My dad bought the dealer's show model (from the newspaper ad) new in 2003. It was a weird combo - base trim crew cab with all the black plastic, manual everything and no cruise or even clock, but with ABS, auto trans, 4WD, and the 3.4 V6. He kept that thing spotless; he rust proofed the underside and spare before every winter, drove it softly, garage kept, and traded it in ten years later at 44k miles with a value of $9k for a Corolla to the same salesman who originally sold it at that dealership. Good memories. Also had a rustbucket of a '77 Hilux in blue with 3 speed stick, no headliner, and mismatched shell. Toyota trucks are great.

the first gen Tacoma 1995 1/2-2004 were pretty good too they had the 2rz, 3rz and 5vz engines.

4:30 I bought a 1994 brand new. While the sales brochures and television ads back then referred to it as The Toyota Truck, the window sticker actually called this model The Toyota Hilux. I still have the window sticker.

No wheel time in the new truck was disappointing! Hoping you'll get a chance soon. I heard tons of complaints on the 3rd gen with autos but the manual eliminates the hunt (obviously) and I think more importantly has shorter gears (3.909 autos vs 4.30 manuals).

I really like the early white toyota but they are all great .

The 80s through early 2000s were the Golden era of Toyota pick ups

9:10 The curb weight for a 1989 SR5 4WD was 3765, so they may have been looking at the GVWR

Reminded me of Back To The Future!

My first truck was a 1990 Toyota with the V6 and a 5 speed. Great truck!! Fun off road and great as a daily driver, well except for the gas mileage. It was a guzzler. Still miss that truck.

Still have my 2003 tacoma 3.4l prerunner double cab with 221000 miles original engine and transmission

That 1984 Toyota pickup means everything to me

My daily is a 2023 TRD Pro with a 6-speed manual, but I also have a 2004 extended cab with a 2.7 and 5-speed. I think the old truck is the most purpose built vehicle I’ve ever owned. If I had to keep just one of my 5 vehicles, I’d keep the old Tacoma.

Way back I traded my 5.0 Stang on a reg cab 1991 4wd 22RE manual and was surprised it was still enjoyable to drive back road occasionally . Front engine / rear drive / manual / light weight always will give you some thing .

The oldest Tacoma (‘95-‘04) isn’t anywhere in this video.

Awesome bullet proof pickup

The old one please. If someone remade this, they'd sell a ton!

I absolutely love my 2020 off road.

I'll take the older truck 10 out of 10 times. 😜

I wish Toyota would make an 85 style truck with the solid from axle her in the US! I had an 89 truck and 4Runner and now own a 2019 TRD 4x4 !

My first truck was a white 1995 extended cab T100 and it was a great daily driver I felt like that was kinda like the step brother to the 1980’s Tacoma

Got a 2017 4cylinder 2.7 Liter Access Cab 5 speed manual 4x4. Never giving it up. Last of the dinosaurs. Love it everyday I drive it!

I prefer the looks of the ‘89 I was 15 then. Geez, time flies

Miss the first gen 😢

I had a red 1989 just like that red one, but it was the 2 wheel drive version. Sold it cheap for $1,000 in 2012 to get to the 5K I needed to buy a nice looking Ford Ranger, and let's just say I should have kept the Toyota.

Bring back the made in Fremont Tacoma and the T100 with an 8 foot bed!!!🤩🤩

Actually my 88 Toyota had a x-cab. No seats in back but some extra storage which was useful.

One thing we know for sure-That 89 Red X Cab 3VZ-E has had headgaskets at least once and maybe even twice. I made a lot of money doing two of those a day when the recall came through and even before and after when they started leaking. Hated it if the block had to be decked though.

my family first vehicle was 1985 toyota xtra cab pickup SR5, family love it and then traded it on the first toyota camry

I have a 1983 toy 4 by 4 that I bought new. Almost 300,000 miles on it. Fantastic truck!

How can you miss the first gen from late 90s - 2004. Best yr, imo.

My original 91 toyota 4x4 was just stolen this year from my home. It only had 151k miles and was in excellent condition. I cried like a baby. 😢

That red 89' 😍

I currently own a 1993 Toyota Pickup. Single cab. 22-RE 4X4. Same age as me. 30 yrs I hope to see my son driving it he’s currently 3 yrs old; 2020. Outlive me for sure! 🫡

The 2nd gen Toyota "pickups", and the 1st gen Tacomas are the absolute best. No bells & whistles, no luxury items that could complicate things later on....just plain-old, simple work horses!

The first gen 3vze from 89 to 92 were known for blown head gaskets and oil starvation for the crankshaft. Mostly, heat transfer was the cause. The second gen from 93 to 95, they fix oil starvation problem with a different design oil baffle pan. The blown head gasket were reduced in the pickups but they have more occurence than the T100. The T100 has minor issue with the 3VZE. It's wide engine bay distribute most of the air flow. Reduce blow head gaskets tremendously. The 3VZE in the pickups look small but it is really tidy with little air flow going by.

I never met a Tacoma I didn’t like.

👏👏👏😊 GREAT JOB TOMMY AND KASE ....

The first generation did have an extra cab. It literally said extra cab on the back window, but not big enough to carry a passenger back there. And there were power windows and door locks in the first generation. Very rare option.

I love that 89, even though it has the head gasket munching 3.slow.

Missed my 88 Toyota and when mini trucks was big in the late 80's early 90's. Had the Japan version. I thought the bed looked better than the American version.

i once had a 1988 toyota truck, had the automatic with electronic overdrive and the Electronically Controlled Transmission Power switch or ECT PWR. was a good little truck.

Love the regular cab king bed of the earlier ones.

I had 4 Toyota 4WD pickups with the 22RE and 3VZE and for the last 14 years, I have been driving 1993 SR5 as a daily driver and it's the best vehicle I ever had. It's still stock and It's loaded with about every option available (except the automatic transmission) and every accessory works despite the high mileage.

Seeing that 84 really makes me miss my old 87. Love the 84-88 pickups

Loved my brand new 1992 extra-cab V6 5spd 4x4. Owned it for 14 years. Loving my brand 2020 DCLB TRD Sport 4x4 after 3 years. Hopefully will see 14+ years with this one too.

My 1988 2wd has the 22R and a 4 speed manual (not the 5) still running today getting 31MPG

I need that red 89 pickup, that thing is so beautiful. I love my 89 2wd pickup and need a matching set.

i take the oldest one

Bought a 1990 base model 4x4, loved it! Bought a 2010 4x4, hated it. Look at the (lack of) ground clearance in the front of the 2024. Yikes!

Love this kinda video!

I want a small 4wd truck like that older Toyota truck.

When Tacoma's got larger, is when the previously mentioned T100 become the base format for all Tacoma's going forward in relation to size.

Every one says the new ones “dwarf” the old ones but it’s really not much bigger in single cab form

Great video guys! Very professional. I prefer this type of video then the « mine is better then yours » type of video that TFL sometime do.

Why y'all sleeping on the 2nd gen? It's a phenomenal truck, and the first proper mid-sized in the Tacoma lineup

The 3VZ-E is a reliable engine...until the head gasket fails.

I just bought a 2021 yesterday TRD 4x4 sport