Help buying a used 2010

I am looking at purchasing a 2011 new, but I saw a used 2010 4x4, 4.0 engine with a super chip, access cab that caught my eye. It has 1,200 miles on it. It is a TRD Sport with Tow Package. It was modded by LeRoys with a leveling kit, tonneau cover, and aftermarket rims.

I do not know anything about modding trucks or Tacomas as this will be my first. What questions should I ask the buyer? What considerations should I make when going to test drive? Are there safety concerns here with a leveled truck?

Thanks,
Charlie

 

See if it was leveled with a spacer lift or springs / shocks. If it was leveled with a spacer lift, inspect the bottoms of the shocks where they connect to the lower control arms. Depending on how much lift they got out of a spacer, if it was wheeled hard / irresponsibly, or driven hard off road and bottomed out, there could be damage to the shocks. It's fairly unlikely, but I'd still check it out.

Make sure it goes into and out of 4x4 reliably, on a truck with low miles I can't imagine that there would be a problem.

 

Why is he selling it so soon? That would be my biggest concern. And I personally don't buy used lifted trucks. To me it tells me it's been wheeled and if I don't know how the guy drives I wouldn't touch it.

 

^^ he said that his g/f moved out and now he can't afford a truck payment and the house payment.

I am not very familiar with lifts or shocks. Based on what you guys are saying, I think that I would be in over my head in assessing whether or not he abused the truck. I think I am going to pass on this one and let someone else buy it.

 

1,200 miles is not a lot but I get pretty suspicious when people get rid of vehicles that they barely owned. Depending on the price, it could turn out to be a good deal but price of new vs barely used could be the same if not more. In 2009, I bought my new truck cheaper than it was worth used.

 

when did superchips start making chips for the tacoma?

 

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I would check under the vehicle very carefully. And many dealers will give you info. to talk to the previous owner.

Super chip in a Tacoma ...
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superchips does do something, but most benefits are seen on v8's.. i had one on my hemi and i loved it.. not only did it improve the "seat of the pants" feeling when you need to push the throttle, it also gave me great mileage out of my hemi.