Frame coating

I'm looking at an 04 4x4 double cab. The frame passed the recall and was coated by the dealer. If I would buy it, would I be covered under the 15 year warranty? The coating is missing in spots, but there is just surface rust. The guy is asking 14,900 with 100,000 miles. Thanks

 

Is the dealer toyota?

 

$14,900?? For a 10 year old northern truck with 100k? I'd walk. Bought my 03 xtra cab TRD for less than half that price. Is this from a dealer or private party? It blows my mind how much people are asking for 1st gens, even if they are difficult to find. I mean you could probably find an 05-08 for a few grand more.

 

It's a private owner.

 

Did you look at blue book? Price seems high to me also.

 

KBB says 16,500 but I still think it's high. Probably going to pass on it. Thanks for advice.

 

That's right in the ballpark for book value, depends on how bad you want it.

 

Yes your frame is under warranty for 15 years from the first in service date. So
if it's a 04 it expires in 2019.

 

DCab vs XCab, big difference in price and availability everywhere, seems about average in price. 100k is nothing if well maintained, even if it's in PA. 1st gens are coveted for their size, sure you could get an 05 but why spend a few grand more for one year.

I took my truck in for a courtesy inspection as some of the frame spray was flaking and I was concerned. The tech said everything was solid and the little surface rust near the back could easily be remedied.

I thought the TSB extended the warranty for the frame "another" 10 yrs? So just from the original date of purchase of the vehicle?

 

Yeah, it never made any sense to me that double cabs are worth more, because everyone knows that an xtra cab with the 5-speed is actually a truck, and double cabs are lesser at everything except carting humans around. FIFTEEN THOUSAND dollars is beyond ridiculous asking price for a rusted up compact pickup with ONE HUNDERED THOUSAND miles on it. Whatever. I agree that 100k miles is roughly middle-aged for a Toyota engine, mine had 130k when I purchased, but I wouldn't say that its LOW mileage! I don't know, maybe I got a really great deal on mine, but that's a lot of money for a truck that's going to need some work.

 

OP, you'll find something much more reasonable. That price is just greedy. I traveled 250mi round trip for mine, keep looking!

 

plenty wheel and do "truck" things in a DCab it's still a truck in the end just with more storage in the cab. 5-speed is nice for control but a highway hauler is nice with an auto (at least for me). If your saying you got an '03 for 7k with 130k then you got a steal. If you got it when the 2nd gens came out the person who sold it didn't know the value would hold up. Be happy with the knowledge that you could probably make back what you paid if you sold it in a few years.

also it's not "rusted up" as you coined a phrase but rather normal wear-and-tear and a solid frame, surface rust is normal. 100k is only 10k a year which is below average mileage and adds value back to the vehicle.

while I agree there are cheaper ones out there they will now usually have higher miles. Seen plenty with 150-180k for sale in the 10k range and they are in great condition (and below the "salt belt"

 

Don't get me wrong, I know why people pay what they do for these Tacomas. I've owned a 92 and 00 before my current 03. I just don't trust what a website says the vehicle is worth. frizzman, being from Pittsburgh you know what I mean, the salt destroys the frames on these things. It was 80 degrees here on sunday and we had about two inches of snow this morning! My frame went through a rigorous and very labor intensive process after I bought it. I was just offering my honest advice (especially if the vehicle was going to be financed), and fair warning that an 04 Tacoma in PA will need some fairly extensive rust maintenance/prevention. Even if the frame was thoroughly treated and protected, I still wouldn't shell $15k out. I'd put a down payment on a house.

 

ya we only got some flurries yesterday, nothing stuck

I agree that the frame "could" be better but as long as some preventative measure was in place, even from Toyota it should be OK.

I sprayed used oil on my frame from the first year I had it and it's solid. I made sure to hold the spray gun in the holes of the frame for about a minute or so until I could see it dripping. I also got it on the underside of the body and it has held up great.

It's always good advice from the people who live in the area and in the end that's all we can offer. the OP will need to make a judgement guess and either walk away or bite the bullet

 

I also live in the salt belt. I'm 1 1/2 hrs from Pa. I guess that's why my initial reaction was unfavorable. It just seems a couple grand high in price to me. That's what I paid for mine brand new in 95! I guess if previous owner was knowledgeable about the rust, that could factor in. He would have to be anal about rust for me to be interested. Also,it's not just the frame! There are lots of other parts under our trucks that rust eats away at and welds together. Good luck man!

 

Funny ending to the story( not for me though ). I told the owner I was concerned about the frame rust and he took it to the dealer to have it inspected. The dealer told him that they no longer inspect the frames for free. He then contacted Toyota corporate and they told him that he took the truck in for the recall / coating in 2010 it had the warranty until 2019 regardless of who owns it. He took the truck in this morning to the dealer after they got reamed by corporate. They put it up on the rack and found 2 holes. He is now getting a new frame and whatever else comes along with it. Needless to say, it is no longer for sale. I wish I would have known the warranty went with the truck and not the original owner. $ 14,900 would have been a great deal now. You win some, you lose some. I think I'll give up the 1st gen search and go buy a new Nissan Frontier. Thanks for all the replies.

 

Everything happens for a reason. Maybe you will find one that never made it that far along rust road. Look at some that didn't live in salt belt. Good Luck! It's worth a little ride to find the right truck also.

 

14,900 for a double cab seems really high to me and i'm in the land of salt Wisconsin. Here they go for 12,000 averaging 150,000 miles. Extra cabs you can get for 7,500. You will find another great tacoma just keep looking. I spent two months searching ebay, craigslist, and every dealer within a 1,000 miles but eventually found my baby. You will too.