Future Collectable: Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
Ahh the pickup truck. One box, one frame, one cab, and one engine. In an era of ultra ridiculous car categories and names, (Sports Action Vehicle? What is that even supposed to mean?) the pickup truck keeps things simple. Throw stuff in the back, hop into the front. Drive. Got even more stuff? Attach that stuff to the back on a trailer. Bam, done. You might not get stellar gas mileage on the way, but the pickup truck will get things done for you.
Where the pickup truck can sometimes be found lacking is in the style department. Pickup trucks are big, brutish, and sometimes downright puffy looking. For some, that can be a good thing, 'We're pulling trailers and throwing stuff in the back right? We don't need no curvy lines and soft touch materials. Throw on some chrome and some 20" wheels and we'll call it a day!' It's a formula that's worked for many years now, and shows no signs of changing.
Every once in a while, a truck company decides to take the definition of what a pickup truck is, and switch it up a little bit. Whether the engineers get tired of trying to squeeze every last pound of towing capacity in, or whether they get jealous of the engineers in their companies' performance division, or if they just want to try something different, is unknown. But because of this, every once in a while you get something like the Toyota Tacoma X-Runner.
Take a normal Tacoma, and lower it. Add some flare, style, and suspension, (and a standard 6-speed manual transmission) and you have the X-Runner. At first, it seems like a crazy idea. Why take a vehicle made for hauling, and modify it to try and be a performance vehicle? Other companies have tried before, namely Ford with their Lightning model based on the F-150, and GMC with their crazy Syclone and Typhoon models. (Special mention also goes to Dodge and their insane Viper engined SRT-10 truck.) Those models sold in fairly limited numbers, but did garner a fair amount of attention when they came out.
Toyota's strategy with the X-Runner has been slightly more subdued. X-Runner models don't come with a crazy huge V8 engine or a supercharger sticking out of the hood. It's a mostly stock Tacoma engine with a mostly stock interior. The differences are mostly in the styling. And while this means the X-Runner gets less enthusiast and media attention than it's performance truck forefathers, it does keep the X-Runner cheap (well, cheap-ish.) While the Syclone and SRT-10 cost a lot of money when they were on dealership lots, the X-Runner model typically retails for about the same as a nicely appointed Tacoma 4x4 model. This has allowed the truck to achieve a small cult following, and is why I believe the X-Runner will be collectable in the future. It won't necessarily be worth a lot of money, (maybe in 40 years) but it will definitely be cool.
Toyota has sold the X-Runner off and on since 2005, with 2014 being the last year it was available. Production numbers have been limited, but they are not that hard to find. Used Tacomas are pretty expensive, and the X-Runner is no exception. An early model in decent condition can be found for around $15,000. If you're looking for a fun truck, that won't depreciate too quickly, it's not a bad choice. Just watch out for bad modifications and abuse. I can foresee these trucks being the future Chevy Cameo, worth a lot of money, but not for a while. If you're in the market for a cool stylish truck, (and don't need to tow 15,000lbs), and have 40 years to watch it appreciate in value, the X-Runner might be a good choice.