The Ultimate Dirtbag Vehicle. Photo: 4wheeloffroad.com
There was a post sometime back on dirt bag cars for a skier, or something to that effect. Ah yes…I remember, it was a top ten list from my esteemed, well read colleague, Jack Louis Cote. Now, not to take away from his post, but listing a pre-outback Subaru as a prereq to be a dirtbag skier is completely off the mark. They were pieces of junk. The rest of the list was fairly off too, but let’s not get distracted.
They go anywhere. Photo: Tacomaworld.com
So what is the ultimate dirtbag skier vehicle? What does every local dirtbag aspire to have when they arrive in a ski town (trust fund babies not included)?
They aspire to have a Toyota Tacoma. And not a new, super nice Tundra or Tacoma, but something from out of the history books. A pick-up (as it was known before 1992) or Tacoma (dirbag years run up to, but don’t include 2002) or even an old, imported diesel Hilux is the ultimate ski town vehicle.
How many have you had? For myself, I’ve run around in an ’84, an ‘87, an ’88, a ’92 and a ’98. The first two were four bangers and the last two were sixes, and the 87 was a diesel Hilux. I loved and named them all. And as far as I know, they are all still on the road.
So what is it about the Toyota Tacoma that keeps us so interested? Why do we love them so much? Aside from the fact that they don’t guzzle fuel, the older ones predominantly came in a manual tranny, they can fit a sled nicely in the back, they have enough room for all your shit, they have a shorter wheel base and are awesome off-road, you can sleep in the back, chicks dig them, they’re super easy to modify and relatively cheap and easy to fix….aside from all those things, what makes them really desirable is first:
THEY NEVER QUIT. They last forever. My ’88 4 banger I had, I sold it with 437,000km on it and the guy who bought has it well into the 600 thousand range. Doesn’t matter if the suspension’s screwed, the exhaust is fucked or the electrical is done, the engines never stop.
Even the boys from Top Gear couldn't kill it. Photo: Topgear.co.uk
And the second reason? They look sick! So for all you Toyota Truck owners out there, here are some photos to drool over. And when you get the chance to buy a Toyota, please do so. Stay away from North American junk (Jeeps are for douchefags) and forget driving a Subaru. The old ones blew their head gaskets at 100 thousand clicks and when that happens you may as well strike a match and throw it in the tank. Ford’s are garbage and Dodge trucks are for dudes with little dicks. So do yourself a favour:
Get a Toyota Truck.
Photo: Tacomaworld.com
Ok, this requires a bit of money. Photo: Chaosfab.com
This one is really old school. '81, I believe. Photo: unsloppyseconds.tumblr.com
And when you do make it as a pro skier and Red Bull has you on the payroll...this is what you get. Photo: Arctictrucks.com
parts 1-3 of bbc’s top gear tryin to kill a taco:
1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk
2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uc4Ksz3nHM
3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk
toyotas are fuckin tanks. when you see rebel mofos wavin AKs and rockets around in the back of a pickup – its always a white toyo hilux.
that yellow one ^^ is sexy
2 out of 7 is not bad. Thread title is wrong.
my ’94 is not a Tacoma, pretty sure they renamed them in 2000 when the T100s also became Tundras, not ’92. But I do agree the early ones are solid. All things considered I’d much rather have my pickup over an old subaru any day. Especially considering how much people seem to think they can resell a suby for with 100k or more on it.
“chicks dig them”? you just cased it right there… maybe the ones with armpit hair and butts bigger than you.
or girls that like guys that do “things” and dont drive tupperware
I had a ’82 Toyota longbed 4×4 22R 4 cyl. Ran for 220,000 miles. Bought it new in 1982 for $10,000 and sold it in 2001 for $2000. Original engine, 2nd transmission. It’s still running, last I heard. Great ski vehicle. Used snow and ice tires on it and had a small camper shell for extra weight and to keep things dry. Awesome vehicle although I doubt it was or ever will be a chick magnet.
The Tacoma’s international sibling, the Hilux, is favored by rebel groups and terrorists around the world for similar reasons:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/10/14/why-rebel-groups-love-the-toyota-hilux.html
wow, no hate comments yet? I guess a Toyota pickup is the soft spot of all skiers.
95′ was the first year of the Tacoma, pre-95′s were “pickups”
Fear not, hate comments will arrive.
Correction…….”Hi-Lux” prior to Tacoma
my old four banger taco is way better than your new subi
i cant believe you guys drive subarus, tacomas are sooo much radder
Toyotas ROCK! Subis TOTALLY SUCK! I should know . I have had 6 Toyotas since 1987 (pickups and SUVs) and ONE Subaru (although a 6 cylinder). The absolute dumbest thing I have ever done is allowing myself to get into a Subaru.
im just curious. If their so great/reliable/easy to fix why have you owned 6?? (I own a jeep) I have nothing bad to say about toyota, in fact I like how little toyota’s are light enough I can pull them out
toyota pickups are sick. my dad had one most of my young life. my 90′ subaru i bought for a 1000$ with 213k miles and am recycling with 295k miles was a beast that took me all over the Western US. bomber
let’s not forget about the Nissan Pathfinder. Had an ’88 sport that I rolled down a hill. Tipped it right side up and it started right up without so much as a cough. Sold it with just under 300k mi’s about 10 years ago and saw it, still running, not 6 months ago.
i’m no pro and definitely not sponsored, but i sure love my taco.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ide_X8p8oNUClHRuq7L7YRahdF1_rymug8WzzxAmbrQ?feat=directlink
Tacoma’s rock, but I ain’t no dirtbag.
NISSAN Pathfinder with only 1 working headlight, nothing else. THAT right there, it the skiers best friend.
Picture me rollin’…
they are great beach vehicles too. my 98 tacoma single cab is so light on the beach I rarely use 4×4. and they run forever