How Many Miles Is Too Many?

I'm looking to buy an '01-'04 SR5 before they go extinct. I know these trucks can last forever but I'm wondering over what mileage do issues customarily appear. 200k? 250k? I would be using it for highway use. tks

 

If you're going to keep it for a while I'd say get one around 150-160k personally.
My 1998 currently has about 180k and it's had no issues. I did replace the steering rack because it started to wear out a bit. Over 100k I'd probably replace the Lower Ball Joints if they haven't already (someone might have a more exact mileage for those, I've replaced mine). If they fail, they fail in a bad way.

But I know there's other people here with a lot more mileage than mine and are still going strong.

 

The lower the mileage the better. I looked for a year and a half before I found mine. I wasn't going to settle for anything less than a 04 double cab 4x4 limited. It has everything including power lumbar and OEM roof rack.

 

personally I wouldn't buy one at or over 200k even though I believe they will go 300k-500k miles and that is only because they get these high mileages as long as the oil gets changed regularly and they aren't abused or mistreated which you can just never know for sure. I think even an abused engine will make 200k so for me I see 100-150k miles as the range I would shop for and if you find one in good condition with under 100k miles then you better buy it immediately or it wont be there anymore by the time you go back for it.

 

Cool, thanks everyone!

 

To the OP...I just purchased a 2003 with 165K on the clock.

Beyond the frame rust issue...check for a timing belt maintenance record. There was a sticker right on the engine cover listing my trucks replacement @ 108K.

Beyond that...general condition. I did get zapped with a faulty AC system, which I will now be repairing on my own dime for about $100. New o-ring and a possible condenser...but that is to be expected at this mileage.

Good luck!

 

If you were buying a BRZ or a Raptor, then you would need to worry about the miles put on them by previous owners. But this is 1st gen Tacoma you are asking about. How its been abused by POs is a whole lot less important because of what it is.

Regardless of miles, your drive train will still be good for many, many more miles than most used vehicles. You do realize there are members on here with more than a 1/2 million miles on their trucks, on their original drive trains. Are they all original, probably not but are they dependable and do they run well? Of course, they are Tacomas.

 

I bought one knowing full well that the engine was already wasted. I got it stupid cheap and have put money into it to make it almost new again. I have done a new motor, new rear third, suspension, and cleaned the living shit out of it. Now the trans is making noise. But I will drop that and have Aamco rebuild it for a grand and reinstall it myself. I don't care what vehicle it is, it definitely matters what the PO has done to maintain it. Automatics are more finicky than manuals. Know that the color of the fluid means alot, drive it, and check the fluid again. Smell it, burned smell means bad. Listen to it, if there is any whine, shift it to neutral and then back to drive, and see if the noise follows. Buying a high mileage vehicle is something you do with some experience of the model, I had an 04 before this one and my brother had a 2000. Also, there is a difference between the 01-02 and the 03-04. The later model Dcab is drive by wire, the earlier one is more conventional. If that matters to you then you can narrow your search more.

Good luck and don't buy the first one you see, they are out there and are worth paying money for, but they aren't indestructible.

Brandon

 

Just picked up my 02 DC. 130k miles. 1 owner prior with all oil changes and engines documentation. Intierior is near emaculate, new tires were just put on, engine checked out. Rust doesnt seem to be much of an issue beyond basic at this stage. Just need a new timing belt and gonna check out ball joints. Got mine for 10k. I think it was a steal.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 200K taco that has been maintained. I'm at 250k, wheel it pretty hard, drive it everyday and it's never left me stranded. I know that there's a 4Runner with the 3.4 v6 that has over 750,000 miles on it without a engine/trans rebuild.

 

I purchased my Tacoma last September with 186,000 miles for $6,000 out the door at a stealership. I was in the hunt for one to replace my 91 Ranger. I looked for around half a year until I found this one.

It is a rebuilt title (side passenger door hit but replaced with no frame damage) with some knowing work, but still performed well while on the test drive. Since then I have replaced all the tires (that's a given), front O2 sensor, front struts and rear shocks, rack and pinion, muffler, and catalytic converter. I wasn't expecting to put this much work into it, which has cost me around $1,500, but whoever was the PO must have treated it like garbage.

I am happy with the purchase and am in hopes it will last me for a good while without putting much into it like I've done, but at times I wished I was more patient with shopping for one.

 

The question isn't 'how many miles is too many?'.
The question is..."Do I want to be driving the same awesome truck after wifey 1 and/or 2 are gone?"
And "What kind of tax deduction will I get when I donate this thing to the Museum of Awesomeness?"

 

Thanks again for the opinions, y'all. I'm gonna shoot for 150k for an 03 or 04 TRD. Now if only I can find something that has been maintained in the NYC area. Methinks not. Everything is a scam here!

 

Be careful man. I bought my 2002 Tacoma TRD extracab with 89k miles on it at the tail end of November. Since that time I have had to put about 3k into repairs and now have a potential of another 1300 bucks in repairs coming next week. In other news my frame only has surface rust.

 

No Man, any other vehicle would no longer be on the road at all.