Preowned: 1993-1998 Toyota T100

Look at the more-than-full-size Toyota Tundra now and it's easy to forget the company's first tentative entry into the big-truck market. Fifteen years ago, Toyota brought the T100 pickup in through the back door, hoping not to raise the ire of the Big Three truckmakers.

While declared Toyota's "full-size" truck, and substantially bigger than the compact Pickup on sale in 1993, it was somewhat skinny-wristed. Riding on a 122-inch wheelbase (same as the extended-cab Pickup), the T100 had less ground between the axles than even the short-wheelbase Dodge Dakota; it trailed the midsize extended-cab (or long-bed) Dakota and the full-size Ford F-150 by a foot to 18 inches--and that's just the wheelbase. Scales confirm the story. At 3550 pounds, the T100 was a half-ton lighter than most versions of the F-150, though close in weight to the V-6 Dakotas. Honestly, the T100 was really a midsize truck.The T100 began life with just a 3.0-liter V-6--an SOHC design noted for its quiet smoothness--when its competition had V-8s. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic was offered with two- or part-time four-wheel drive. This first-year T100 was sold in DX and SR5 trim levels, both fairly austere. You can imagine Toyota brass envisioning a nice place to put the Joe's Plumbing sign on the surely white door.

The next year, to further help the cash-strapped service industry, a four-cylinder base model was introduced, available only in rear drive. The 2.7-liter four made the same 150 horsepower as the early V-6 and only 3 fewer pound-feet of torque.

Seemingly convinced the T100 would survive its awkward early years, Toyota supplied some much-needed vitamin supplements in 1995. First, the V-6 grew to 3.4 liters and 190 horsepower/220 pound-feet of torque--depending upon the comparison, that's close in output to some V-8s of the day. More important, though, is that an extended cab (Xtracab) was brought to market. Adding nearly 22 inches behind the front seats made the T100 suitable for five, preferably three of them in the non-voting age group. Remember, too, that this was before every pickup had four doors (even some regular cabs); these were the days when getting to the bench seat meant climbing around the corners of the shoved-forward first row. That's better for keeping stuff out of the rain and the dog out of your lap than for hauling the whole family.

A hard-riding One Ton T100 was on sale in 1994 and 1995, and there were few changes of note through the end of line in 1998. Toyota had the really-almost-nearly full-size Tundra on the drawing board at the time, to be launched in 1999.

As a used-truck value, the T100 is a strong player. Slightly undervalued when new, clean used examples provide a lot of truck for the buck. Aim for later models with the larger V-6. It's much spunkier and carries the same EPA fuel-economy ratings (15/19). If your load limits are modest, the four-banger is a good choice. You get a roomy truck capable of an estimated 20 mpg city/26 highway (manual trans, 2WD). No Dakota even comes close. On the reliability front, this Toyota stays close to the marque's legend. Online reports from owners show few areas of widespread mayhem. Just be aware that you're looking at 10- to 15-year-old trucks; try to find a clean one that hasn't been used as a plumber's office.