Most fascinating, I thought all of the USA and Canada got the PreRunner. I know Mexico gets different models as I think a HiLux can still be had there but is long gone from the USA.
For instance I don't believe the rocky Mountain region of the US gets the 2WD version of the TRDOR. If course here in AZ they are everywhere.
I live in Colorado. They likely have them here but I've never seen anything badged as a PreRunner. "4 Runner," that I've seen. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting one here. Folks that used to live two doors down the street had them - one for the husband, one for the wife. I keep reading in these threads, that eventually turn into Tacoma threads, about PreRunners and had no idea what they are so I googled it. It read a truck for pre-running the Baja without tearing up your actual race truck or a lifted 2wd pickup. Uke says his truck is badged as a PreRunner. It all works for me, I just wanted to know what all the people calling their trucks "PreRunners" were talking about as I had no clue.
PreRunners are as common as 4WD Tacos in coastal Texas. The only visual difference to me is the PreRunner badge on the tail gate and whether or no the rear mud flaps have 4WD stenciled on them where the PreRunner rear mud flaps are plain. In the 2nd Gen Tacos for which I am sort of familiar, the PreRunner could be had as a plain base line truck or the SR5 and with the SR5 could be had the TRD Sport (with the phony hood scoop) or the TRD Off Road with locking rear diff. The TRD's also have Bilstein shocks. HouTex gets enough street flooding that a lifted vehicle can often be the difference between drowning out and making it home. Having had 8 different Broncos at 100K miles each as company cars, I've had a lifetime of 4WD and gladly will never have another.
I had two different 2wd Dodge Ramchargers and one 2wd GMC 1/2T pickup when I was in Texas. Never felt the need for 4wd. At my current house I wouldn't get out of my neighborhood without 4wd about 20 days per year.
Wife's '17 TRD Offroad and my '83 SR5 4WD. Salesman told us as of '18 there will no longer be a Prerunner or the mini truck 2wd. All Tacomas will be "full size" just 2wd or 4wd.
I'm digging that '83 - unmolested specimens of the solid axle vintage are getting hard to find. But the bike is blocking the shot
It's fairly unmolested. 150k miles, fresh 22r with a header and evap delete. 2" OME lift, probably brought it back to stock Not much else changed except for the radio and some Nissan Frontier 60/40 split beach seats.
Three years ago I was looking forward to the 3rd gen Taco. Until I read that the new engine would have variations of DI and atkinson cycle. I am not a beta tester type so I quickly grabbed up one of the last 2015 4x4 access cab v6 trucks with a 6 speed manual that I could find. I will take time tested and proven all day long. My truck only just turned 25k miles but does what is asked of it.
I like pickups with the shortest turning radius possible, so I'm a big fan of regular cab, short bed combos. I have considered a Taco as a replacement for my short cab short bed full size Chevy. It seems like the 2006 - 2008 was the Goldilocks era. It could be had short, with the 236 hp/266 ft-lb V6 and a 6-speed manual. It also had mechanical limited slip differentials, which was lost in 2009. My co-worker has one, and it makes me jealous every time he pulls up.
I have never seen a V6 shorty, and New Mexico has more Tacomas than people - they must be rare as hen's teeth. One of those would make a great platform for a rock crawler build.
This was a 2008 concept vehicle. I can't imagine how many Toyota would have sold had they brought it to market. I know I would have one.
There was a bone stock ‘86, 22r, 4wd, 5sp with only 46k miles on CL in Parkersburg, WV last week. Guy wanted $10k. I want it just to have it. Drive it on nice days.......
hauling with my 06 and today with ice out boat testing.. weird distortion with the cell phone camera...