I'm thinking about getting a 2001 tacoma xtra cab, V6, 4x4, 5 speed with TRD package as my 2nd vehicle. The seller is asking $5.5k for it. My biggest problem is that the truck got 161k miles on it. The owner told me that he never replaced the timing belt. Does anyone have any experience with the 5VZ-FE engine? or just Tacoma in general.

1/29/2010 11:18:26 AM

http://www.yotatech.com

1/29/2010 11:29:14 AM

These are very reliable vehicles, and the 5vze is a great engine that feels like it has 50% more power than it does. However, anything with 160K miles is going to have some issues.

I beleive it is a non-interference engine, so change the timing belt only if you don't like being stranded. (please check to confirm)

1/29/2010 11:29:41 AM

Reliable for the most part yes. And its not a bad truck. But its still a Tacoma.

1/29/2010 12:06:57 PM

in b4 top gear

1/29/2010 12:59:49 PM

Wish I had mine back! Much more reliable than my new f150. Felt like it took the abuse much better also. I must mention that mine was a 4 banger though.

1/29/2010 2:58:19 PM

Toyota's 3.0 V6's were unreliable and upgraded almost everything to be pretty solid on the 3.4 V6's (5VZ-FE). I'd worry about having a non-maintained supercharger with that high of a mileage; but the timing belt issue isn't too bad, you just need to do it and soon. They're (timing belt) rated for 90k service intervals but yes they're non-interference so if busts you aren't totally screwed out of an engine. $750-800 incl. the parts at dealers or about half a day and $100-200 in parts w/ waterpump for yourself to do.

Get some info about the superchargers on higher mileage similiar models and if that checks out fine, it sounds like a hell of a deal to me, even for that mileage.

[Edited on January 29, 2010 at 10:49 PM. Reason : .]

1/29/2010 10:47:13 PM

As far as Tacomas go, mine's a runt, '97 2wd xtra cab 5-speed, 2.4L 4-cyl and it's far & away the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. 4+ years and 62,000 miles later it's just needed tires, a belt, a few bulbs, and'll need a fender due to a freak accident, while it was parked.

My uncle has a '98 with the 3.4 V6 & it's served him well, too. Get one.

1/30/2010 12:01:05 AM

I have a friend who's had good luck with his 4 cylinder 2WD Taco

1/30/2010 1:02:39 AM

The 3.0 isn't all that bad

1/30/2010 3:30:33 AM