To buy or not to buy? Input appreciated.

Good Morning all,
I have been a forum lurker since I started looking at tacomas around 4 months ago.
I currently have a wrangler with some mods but its getting tiresome for daily use and my familys needs.
I am specifically looking at 2nd gen tacoma DC and completely understand there value.
However...

At what point do you not buy one due to mileage?
There are some super clean and I mean super clean one owner tacos for sale around me.
Unfortunately I went to put a deposit on one with 76k on it yesterday and someone beat me to it!!! The price was 18,900 which I thought was fair

There are some others but the mileage is between 85 and 100k.

I personally have a hard time spending 17-18,000 on any vehicle with that many miles. I know the Toyotas are known for reliability etc etc though

Hence my post. To the people with on hand experience with the vehicles. Not a dealer telling me yeah its fine.

Are these trucks really worth it even in that mile range?
18-19k for something with close to 100k on it?

I do see myself keeping this truck for quite some time as we have plenty of house projects, camping trips etc ahead of us.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

With that mileage I would be looking for $15-$16k

 

Also more details would help. A lot of options can affect the pricing such as 4wd, long bed and packages.

 

Although these trucks will last a life time, I personally won't buy a used vehicle with more than 50k miles if it is supposed to be a daily driver - especially if you plan on financing it. If you buy a cash vehicle for week-end off-roading it is a different story; then 100k or even 150k would be acceptable.
Look at it this way - If you finance a used vehicle with 100k miles for 5 years, and you put 15k per year on it, it will be at 175,000 by the time it is paid off. Even though I have confidence in these trucks, I don't want to be making payments on a vehicle with 150k+ miles.
Just my opinion....

 

Sorry for not clarifying
I am looking at 4x4 mainly trd sport of off road if one falls into range.
I wouldn't object non trd either, they are just hard to come by around here.

 

For that you'll probably have to spend between 16-17k.

 

that must be the average around your parts.

here is a sample

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=02816&endYear=2013&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&sellerTypes=b&doorCode=4&maxPrice=20000&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BTACOMA%5B%5D%5D%5B%5DNISSAN%5BFRONTI%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&doorCodes=4&modelCode1=TACOMA&sortBy=distanceASC&makeCode2=NISSAN&modelCode2=FRONTI&showcaseOwnerId=1395045&startYear=1984&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=100000&searchRadius=25&listingId=336221022&listingIndex=3&Log=0

 

It's not the average but best price. Most people don't research before buying and end up over paying. If your patient and have time to keep looking you can find good deals.

 

In your region make sure you inspect the hell out of the frame. Many of the 2005 trucks have serious rust issues causing holes in the frames.

Some issues you should also check before buying:

Wheel bearings blow out on these things like crazy
HVAC motors chirp
Lower control arm bushings seize badly making alignment impossible
Motor mounts in pre 08' models can fail causing catastrophic damage

Basically if I were you I would either do a ton of research of things that can go wrong on these trucks or bring someone who is very very familiar with all the bugs these exact trucks have. Even a experienced mechanic that works on trucks all day long may not know Toyota specific issues that this model has.

Good luck and feel free to ask away if you can't find any answers to your questions.

 

I gave 13k for mine with 142k on it. I had to replace a u joint and that was $16. Switched to synthetic oil changes team fluid and that's about all I've done has 168k on it now and will ne paid off in about 2 years runs great. Cargurus.com is a good website to check out for good deals. They're ppl on here with over 300k on these v6 with very little maintanance issues. Just look good at the frame, dip stick and oil cap and make sire its been taken care of. U should be able to get a netters deal than that.

 

Have you seen this one?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...=100&listingId=335123105&listingIndex=5&Log=0

 

Ha, that is the exact one I went to see yesterday.
Someone swooped in on me and left a deposit before I got there.

 

Funny, i just posted a very similar thread. I just put a deposit on a 2008 SR5 in good shape, 4WD, 4 cyl, 5 spd Access Cab. Paying $16,900 with 77K on it. Best I saw in New England area in similar price range was back in November for $16,500. I had the same uneasiness about paying so much with so much mileage, but based on the reviews and some forum replies I feel a little better today.

 

Aww bummer. There was also one for sale by owner for 19.5 with 66k miles on it

 

I have a 2009 DC Sport 4x4 with 105k miles on it right now in very clean condition (not a single dent on it, literally) that I'm going to be selling in 6-12 months, so I have been looking at used prices. I will probably ask $19k for mine and take somewhere around $17k, maybe less depending on how badly I want to sell it.

As to what mileage is too much, I'd have no problem buying a vehicle with 100k miles if it was maintained appropriately and driving it as a DD. My college car was a '95 Avalon with 135k when I bought it that I took up to almost 250k without anything so much as regular maintenance. I know my truck was maintained meticulously, and will last someone another 150k miles no problem.

 

I saw that. very nice.
But unfortunately I have a Jeep to trade in.

This one is a little further away from me but might be worth it based on the carfax and if they will wiggle on the price.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...EEP&listingId=338107679&listingIndex=18&Log=0

They are all in the same ballpark

 

That's not too bad, driving a little further may get you a better deal in the long run.

 

Have an appointment Friday morning to check it out.
I may put a refundable 48 hour hold on it so I don't get scooped again.

I was speaking to the dealer and he said it has a full dealership service history on it, down to a headlight bulb replacement in August.

Feeling pretty confident but I am certainly going to work that price down.

 

Good luck, let us know how it works for you!

 

What kinda deal u find?