Good deal or no?

Just wanted to get all of your opinions on a truck I might be picking up tomorrow. The ad is in Spanish, but my buddy asked the seller a few questions and here are the details. Second owner 4x4 4-cylinder 5-speed Tacoma 1997. 160,000 miles with decent tires and regularly maintained (oil changes, spark plugs, brake pads, etc.). The suspension and clutch are both original. No accidents or dents on the vehicle. Owner has made sure to maintain the 4-wheel drive by driving it for a few miles each month. Also never used for off-roading (just the average commute on LA roads). Here's a link: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/4789446859.html

I appreciate your opinions!

-Kendall

 

seems like it. just be carefull alot of scams on in spanish

 

One positive thing is that they have 160k on the original clutch so at least they know how to drive it. But the price for the age and mileage seems high. KBB lists private party value for very good condition for a truck in that region at about $3,500. I might not have put in all the equipment exactly right so might be a little more or less but $6,400 does seem high.

 

Lol. KBB does not apply when talking about 1st gen Tacomas.

Truck does seem a tad high for a 97. I would think for an extended cab $4500-$5000 would be a good deal. $5500 would be a 'fair' deal.

 

Lol, and dealers with whom I have dealt usually have told me that KBB values are unrealistically high. KBB arrives at values by researching selling prices actually paid in different regions, which means it applies to all vehicles. Enthusiasts of a particular make/model of vehicle might be willing to pay more, but call a dealer in your area, describe the vehicle you're considering buying, and ask them to ballpark a trade-in figure for you, as if you were going to trade it in. Then you'll see that KBB might be crazy high and not crazy low.

 

My opinion , dont , continue looking .

 

Thanks all for the comments. I will likely continue my search, however it's frustrating how high mileage and high priced these trucks are in my area. If any of you happen to find good deals in my area, I would love to check them out. Feel free to post in this thread.

Thanks all for the welcome! Hopefully my future posts here will involve the discussion of a truck that I actually own

 

Good luck finding a clean 1st gen 4x4 that isn't in the 6k+ range. Sure you can find them cheaper, but they're beat. When I sold my almost identical truck, I had 5 calls (2 shows) first two days offering 5-6k cash at that moment. Told them no, and each one had that same excuse. KBB is much lower or there are others on CL for 4k, they just need work, paint is shit, beat in the woods, and my favorite "not as nice as yours". Sold it for over 7k.

That looks like a good deal on that truck. As long as the paper work is good, and you look it over, I'd hop on it. It's already priced pretty good. I'd offer 5500 and act firm, but would eventually agree to anything. I'd be smiling ear to ear to get it under 6, but would be plenty happy at 6400.

Clean 1st gens aren't for sale in every corner. Took me a year to find mine, (wanted 4cyl, 5spd, 4x4, manual hubs) so when one does pop up for a decent price, you better act or it will be gone.

 

It had been rough searching for these things in Socal, frustrating to say the least... Here's another clean example just posted 2 hours ago. This is an original owner low mileage 1999 v6 4x4. I had originally wanted to stick with 4 cylinder models, but am starting to get less picky. Any experience with the v6 (positive/negative)?

Again, thank you all for being a source for a new guy to come to for advice, I really appreciate it!

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/cto/4825821043.html

 

that one is a lil high IMO, i would pay 11 for it, but since its near the beach it might have a bit of rust.

if you can stick it out you could probably find a better deal, i bought my 1999 v6 4x4, with 82K on it, for 10.5K a lil over a year ago in huntington beach,ca

 

That seems a little high to me.. I paid less for my '03 with 119k. The 4cyl is awesome, I think it's the way to go but a lot of people really like the 3.4.. Good luck!

 

Keep in mind that a California truck will most likely sell higher because the lack of rust and that fact alone will bring a premium. My truck came from the California/Nevada border. I have a standing offer on my truck which is just a plain Jane 96 ext cab 2wd, 4 banger auto, gray on white, 160K miles for $7500 from a local dealer. It is super clean, no accidents and not a lick of rust anywhere, not even surface rust. This is the only reason he said he made the offer. He said that 90% of the gen 1 tacomas that come through the auctions are from back east or the coast and have major rust.

 

The first ad is not a bad price IF it is clean........the second ad is too high. I would prefer a 4 cyl. over a V6. If you have been looking then you already know that California prices are higher than what KBB shows. It is simple supply and demand that drives the prices up. If you do get a 4 cyl. check the valve adjustment. I paid 6k for a single cab 02 Prerunner with 150k on it (4 cyl. and auto). Dealers are selling the same single cab for around 10k. If you see something you like be prepared to jump on it ASAP with cash in hand.

 

the second one is a plain v6 4wd. doesn't look like it has SR5 or TRD packages which would be worth maybe 10.5 or 11k. It's worth less without those packages so keep looking and if you have a current vehicle you may want to expand your search a little further. never know what you can find