^ this. I am biased also but with Tacomas. Would recommend an '06 or '07 if possible as the '05s had some rear diff issues. Anything after '07 has too many electronic nannies. Will be hard to find one for 8k though unless its a base model. '03-04 1st gens are great trucks as well so long as the undercarriage is in good order. Madcat, I test drove a '05 Nismo and liked it. Dealer didn't want to budge on pricing, so I ended up in a Taco. With hindsight, I'm glad. Not sure which truck is "better", but the aftermarket support for the Toyotas is incredible. Bought my '06 brand new. Almost 7 years and 75k I have had zero issues. I have wheeled the truck at Wellsville, Tellico, and in the Bighorn Mountain range. All I have done to it is scheduled maintenance. Mods are only limited by imagination, and some of the newer trucks are clocking upwards of 200k with minimal problems. Can't recommend enough...great trucks.