How do 1st Gen Tundras compare to new Tacomas?

I like the 4th gen 4runners.
I'd love to find a cheap one with V8.

 

Good Info, I always thought they looked similar.

 

Nope. I thought I wanted a Tacoma ‘til I sat in one. It’s like trying to fit in a car. Nothing truck like about it. And driving it, ugh!, again, it drives like a car and the newer ones have trouble searching gears up hills, trying to maintain speed. The trade-offs for gas mileage and improved emissions lobotomized the truck right out of it.

On the plus side, resale value on a Taco is great; if you’ve never had a truck, you’d maybe be happy with it... an open bed and no one will expect you to do truck favours with it ... and they’re handy crawling around having fun off-road (where a 1st gen Tundra still wins).

 

@geargarcon Here's my opinion, copied from the answer I gave in a similar thread posted 2 weeks ago. It was a 2015 Tacoma, not sure how new is "new" to you:

"I sold my 2015 Tacoma TRD DCSB to buy my 2006 Tundra access cab. The '15 Tacoma was the final year of the 2nd gen, and many would say the best year of any Tacoma. It was a great truck for what it was and what I needed. But ultimately I wanted a little more interior room - I am not small at 6'2" - and more bed space. And I find I don't need a back seat to haul people, but just enough back seat to haul luggage, tools, groceries, etc out of the elements. Interior space of the Tundra is superior for my needs. The the bed size is MUCH more useful. And the Tundra feels more sturdy / rugged / well built / solid, just my opinion. Exterior dimensions feel virtually the same between the two. And the V8 in the Tundra makes a noticeable difference over the venerable 4.0L in the Tacoma; both engines are famously reliable. No regrets making this change, love my Tundra. And the resale on that Tacoma? Crazy what people pay for used Tacomas...

Ride quality seems the same to me (both of mine are/were TRD versions). And I haven't towed with either."

 

Honestly I don't think the taco gets better gas mileage in the real world. I used to drive one and at least on a commute from Riverside to Temecula (maybe 35 highway miles) my Tundra used slightly less gas.

I like first and second gen Tacomas but not as much as first gen Tundras.

 

This exactly!

 

The motor alone is reason enough. They have better power and they are built to last a long time.