Need advice on a new truck

So, the time has come for me to sell my Tacoma. My wife and I just had a baby and I would like to upgrade to a full size truck. Currently I am looking at a 06 tundra w/55k miles. It is a crew cab, auto trans and completely stock. The owner is asking 21k. It is a little over bluebook but I am selling my Tacoma for 5k over bluebook . I am also looking at an 05 titan with 53k for 17,500$. I like the price of the titan but not the reliability. How do the first gen tundras hold up? Any problems to look for during test drive?

 

Seems a bit much for a Tundra that old if you ask me. Look for the same things you'd expect on a Tacoma, check the frame for rust, u-joints, ball joints, and front end steering components carefully. They are good trucks and are tough to beat, stay away from Titans though. They are pretty reliable but working on them is a bitch and very expensive. The way the engines sit in the bay require the removal of the cab for any major engine repairs.

 

Ya, he is asking a little too much for it. I got him down to 21k and bluebook is 19k. I think its worth it for a basically new truck. Not very many in that nice of shape around...

 

Got any pictures of it?

 

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/4974553727.html

 

First gen tundras are pretty close in size to 2nd gen Tacomas. Something to think about.

Personally I'm planning on going with a F150 supercrew for my next truck.

 

The back seat has way more room and it has a 6.5ft bed

 

Regardless of miles, a 9 year old truck is not 'basically new'.

 

Old Tundra's are super reliable. The 4.7L V8 is great but does have 1 flaw.

The exhaust manifolds tend to crack and leak. They also have a Catalytic converter built into them so a replacement is very expensive.

I have 2 manifolds go on my 2004V8 4Runner and a local dealership was nearly $5000 to replace them both.

I then traded the truck in on a 2011 Tacoma at a different dealership.

 

At $21K you are a little under 2/3rd's of the way to a new full sized truck. If your budget allows for it I would look at newer trucks. I just picked up a new 2015 F150 for the wife and it gets roughly 20 mpg while being capable of doing anything we need it too.

I'd avoid the early Titans like the plague. The Titan has the same differentials as the Frontier yet way more power and weight. They blow out very easily and that'll leave you stranded and cost a bundle to fix over and over again.