Is this a good truck for the money?

http://hattiesburg.craigslist.org/cto/4181564343.html

I'm a 15 year old soon to be 16 year old and that means I'm about to need a truck. I've searched for about the last year and decided that a tacoma is the truck for me. The truck I have posted above has caught my eye and I think it would be the perfect first truck. I was wondering if some of the members on this page could take a look at it and tell me what you think. I know that Toyotas are pretty good even with high mileage but I want to know if that truck is worth $5500 with that many miles and if it still has a lot of life left in it.

 

id say go for it, go test drive it and get a mechanic to check it out at least. Should be a great first vehicle.

 

It is a good price for sure.

As long as you know you do not need 4wd and with that many miles it has had the proper services and well taken care of...

 

Not bad. However, I'd certainly not spend every dime I had on it since there is a good chance that you will be dropping some money into it. Something somewhere is worn and bound to give out with that many miles.

 

Not bad. Just be sure that you don't want a 4WD, and when you go to look at it, test drive it well and listen to it and look it over really good. Ask about its maintenance intervals and whatnot. You might want to bring a mechanically inclined friend with you to check it out further, if you don't really know what to look for. Best of luck!

 

Well it looks like the front bumper is heavily dented and the the turn signal light is missing, center cap is missing on rear wheel..so much for well maintained. Can't really tell how much wear on tires but if it needs new tires that's a 600 dollar bill.
First thing i checked on my Tacoma was crawl underneath and check the frame for rust. Second thing was pull the transmission dipstick and look at the color of the fluid and if there is any particles in there and smell it. Should not smell burnt. Listen to the engine run.
Here's a checklist you can use. Better to find out problems now rather than after you buy it. Use anything you find wrong as leverage to get a lower price. I throw my nickels around like manhole covers...you do the same!.
Throw a low ball price at him. Negotiate from the bottom up.
It is common for these trucks to go over 300,000 miles if their well maintained. If you pay 5500 for it and it goes another 60,000 miles i'm not sure thats worth it. Try and get it for less if he won't come down in price walk away. He'll probably change his mind at that point.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/data/used-car-checklist.pdf

 

Have to agree it wouldn't be a bad starter vehicle just as long as you don't need 4WD. Also, like everyone else has said on here, make sure you look that truck over with a fine tooth comb and especially look at the frame!!! Pull a carfax report on it and if need be take down the VIN number and go to Toyota and see if all the recalls have been addressed.

 

pass on it, go 4x4

just my .02

 

I say pass on it for your first vehical... too many miles and too much stuff that will need repair/replacement in the near future.

 

i have a 02 prerunner with 290k and it runs great. make sure you look at the frame for rust holes.

 

I bought a 2001 4x4 ext cab with 110,000 miles on record for frame being sprayed for 7000 dollars. Now it has a new frame and all that comes with that( done for nothing) might wanna shop around like I did. It pays to wait.

 

There are lower mileage options out there. What draws you to this one? 4 doors? There are lots of better trucks out there that are either extended cab or regular cab. Don't let 4 doors draw you into a (possibly) worn out 2WD truck. At 240K, you're looking at having to baseline every major system on the truck. You could easily spend another 3-4 grand on it if it hasn't been properly maintained. Whatever you do, have a mechanic look at it, and check the frame for rust. Like my grand dad used to say "Cheap things are cheap for a reason."