buying used...

i really wanted to buy new, but buying used is an option. my dad bought one used in 95 and drove it about 80K miles all over Europe before selling it, and it drove like a champ to the day he got rid of it.

is there anything specific is should look for or ask when it comes to buying pre-owned Tacoma's? such as recalls and various maintenance that should have been done?

 

There are a lot of guys here that call provide quality info on these trucks. It is very important however that you provide a year range for them to chime in properly. each generation of vehicle will have different things to be considered.

PS- I am not ne of those guys.....

 

ive owned 4 4runners 1 new
and 9 tacos 1 new
whats that tell you?
scullcrusher

 

i wouldn't want to go any older than '06.

 

Why the Tacoma first gen was the most reliable Tacoma made.

 

newer ones have more room, and i like the aesthetics of them better.


gonna go see if i can find any and testdrive some used ones today. i want a DCLB, but i am also considering a extended cab.

 

Ya I would want a double

 

I bought an 02 extended cab used and put 110k on it with only putting in gas and oil. I just bought an 07 DC Sport and have had no problems and dont expect any. Just make sure you test drive it and look at it real close. You can kind of get a feel for how the previous owner took care of it by the shape its in. If the trucks appearance was neglected chances are regular maintenance was neglected as well.

 

Personally after reading some of the things I've seen people say they do with their Tacoma on this site, I'd be hesitant to buy a used Tacoma.

 

When I was looking to buy, most used Taco's were only slightly less costly than buying new... These trucks hold there value very well. For me it was better to buy new and only paid a little more than a used truck, plus the new Taco's are NEW and do not have issues associated with previous vehicle ownership. Good luck

 

Not always, some people do wheel their rigs and take better care of them than most people ever would. Some pinstripes and a few dings doesn't show the condition of the rig. Actually I've found the opposite true usually... when a vehicle looks "too clean" usually they're trying to mask some mechanical problem... at least in my experiance.

05+ are all pretty similar... a few things to note.
05's had the motor mount issue, resolved by TSB and 06+

09+ changed a few things:
- Access cab rear was re-designed (in a very bad way to most people, including myself)
- 09's and early 10's had some issues with the JBL radios (warranty fix)
- Added A-LSD (auto limited slip diff, using the brakes to simulate a clutch type lsd)
- Added TRAC (traction control system using braking techniques)
- Added A-TRAC to the TRD Off-Road (think of it as a fake wanna be reverse LSD/locker for front/rear). Off-Road also has a real e-locker on the rear same as all 05+
- Active headrests changed per fed regulations. To a fair number of people including myself it's pretty uncomfortable and annoying... but it's the same issue with all vehicles now regardless of make.
- 09-10 have the anthracite center on the grill
- 11's have the new grill design with black center and honeycomb surround


There is a rear add a leaf TSB for all years (change 3 pack to 4 pack, note last leaf is a helper leaf that does not bind with the outer edges of the rest). TSB's can only be done in the 36k warranty (some exceptions have been made but don't bank on it).

Some vibrations are pretty common especially with aggressive tires... but nothing should be violently shaking the truck or such. Basically... I wouldn't be hugely concerned if you have some vibes... it's normal.

Get under the truck and look around. Look for any abnormal surface rusting for your area, look at the suspension components for leaks, bent surfaces, damage, ect.

Look at all body panels for anything that looks like it's been to a body shop (slightly missmatched colors on panels, lines not lining up good (keep in mind it's not perfect to start but it's darn close), there are no weld marks in the front end under the hood to show it's had a new front welded on ect.

If getting from a dealer get your free carfax.... they're not perfect but better than nothing.

Check the fluids you get access too to make sure the coolant is red (toyota's coolant and the only one approved to run in it for certain reasons). Also inspect for no milky color/oil/ect. Check under the oil cap for anything abnormal (sludge/ect). Some foam may be usual if it's only been doing short drives, I wouldn't allow that to drive not getting the vehicle. Check the dip stick for proper level and that the oil's been changed recently... also look for any sparkling metal shavings ect.

Inspect the tires for abnormal wear patterns for over/under inflation... side to side not wearing evenly indicating an alignment issue (possibly an expensive suspension issue or worse). If they're off-road tires you can expect some chunking and under/over inflation wear.... normal under offroad conditions.

Pretty much all of this applies to any vehicle. Tacoma's are as reliable as it gets these days for the most part (always an exception or two with any make/model of anything). You should be fine, but just go over it with a comb, expect some normal wear and that here may be one or two things you'll have to fix... and make the decision from there. Same with any used vehicle

 

^^ Great post.

 

dont forget the carfox.

 

the bank has to approve the loan, and then i am a new owner of a 2009 Tacoma DCLB...!

 

congrats! on the upcoming '09! Good luck on the loan

About the active headrests... i find the headrest to be terrible my '10 tacoma.. but my wife's '10 forester isnt bad at all. i'm seriously considering finding different headrests that dont push my head forward like these do!

 

low miles...latest model year you can find. When you get it titled you lose 5k or more right there, before you even drive it off the lot. So if you find a 1 yo with 8 to 14 k on it you save massively and get the balance of the warranty to boot. Usually the low mile vehicles are sold through the huge used car dealers like Carmax. You could probably do a better person-to-person deal, but finding them is not easy.

Those sold through dealers' Certified PreOwned programs are more expensive than the standard blue-book but you get some value for them because they do a good job of reconditioning them and usually get a warranty. Consider a higher-miles CPO: up to say 35k, but I'd be leary of anything over 35k unless you knew the first owner.

 

I looked at a lot of used Tacomas before buying my new one. The prices were so close to new that it didn't seem worth it to buy a used one. I always avoided trucks with lifts and other extensive off road mods in the off change the thing had been beaten to shit.

 

That's a couple good points, especially about the aftermarket 'stuff'. And they always think there's a lot of demand for it, so they are asking way over blue-book.

Even expecting average retail for used is crazy since buyers are equally unreal and want to pay average wholesale. You have to come to a compromise or it dies.

But then, there are suckers born every day...

 

well...i am not the proud new ower of an '09 tacoma DCLB in super white! stoked to the max right now!

ended up paying a bit more than i wanted, (by 2k), but in the end, i got the exact vehicle i wanted, in the color i wanted, with the features i wanted (and then some), and didn't have to settle. i am one happy camper right now.

 

CONGRATS!!!!