Which Tacoma to buy

On Christmas eve I slammed my much loved 2006 tundra with 185,000 miles into the back of a GMC deisel truck. The fact that the truck is undrivable and my now 3 month old son taking up realestate in the cab has left me in search of a new ride. I have narrowd down my search to two candidates.

-2015 Tacoma TRD Off Road double cab with 2000 miles.. $32,000 (Toyota certified through 2021) http://www.rochestertoyota.net/car/5...4X4_V6?lpid=97

-2012 Tacoma TRD Sport double cab long bed(Canadian) with 43,000 miles.. (Toyota certified through 2019) With
TRD exhaust, cold air intake and leather heated seats. $29,000 http://www.berlincitytoyotame.com/us...MU4FN2CM043529

Both trucks are toyota certified with extended warrenties and in great rust free condition.

I like the off rd for its newness, warenty through 2022 and the diff locker and ATRAC. ( not sure if I would use either very often but seems nice to have)

I like the sport for the long bed, better ride, comfortable seats..

I would use the truck mostly as my daily driver and some camping and exploring New England back roads. Some light to moderate off road. Most likely nothing extream.
I'm a little torn any input would be helpful.

 

Seems like you might find a still brand new 2015 for the same money, I know there are not a ton left but brand new would be nice.

 

My vote is the offroad. I have a friend who has a dclb sport and he says its too long and can be a hassel. With the offroad your getting all the trac goodies, and 41,000 less miles for just $3k price difference.

 

To me the key is $3k to reduce mileage 41000 and go up 3 year models.

Other than the long bed, the other items are intangibles that can be added in if you wish.

While I know the 15 is newish with low miles, the '16s aren't much more, pretty gussied up. Not suggesting you buy a 16, just that they have the 15 priced to high. Since you have no trade they have to 'give' you a 'I-got-a-great-deal' allowance for, that number really should come down a fair amount.

Do some research on pricing (Edmunds? TrueCar?) and make an offer you can live with. Be prepared to walk if they don't deal right away. Often when the meal ticket is headed out the door things can change.

 

Off road. I have owned both. I am happier with the off road strictly off 4x4 capabilities

 

2015 OR no doubt

 

Lots of good points above. I would be concerned with the CAI on the one and its effect. Personally I would ask to have that removed and put factory equipment on, esp if its certified! On a side note I've got the long bed and love it. The off road seems like a better deal though but is a bit high to me still. Heads up, not sure if this will be a factor but baby seats are a pain to make work in these trucks. Cheers in your search.

 

A black one would be good.

 

Tell them you want that off road out the door at 28,000. They'll probably get you out the door at 29,500ish. That's a sweet deal dude.

 

I still say a brand new 2015 is a better choice for you, the cash difference is minimal and at least you will know its history, I just plugged in the zip code from the Dealer above for a search area. There is a MGM OR 2015 part way down for $33,xxx and I am sure you can get some cash knocked off.
http://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...nsTypeId=&kw=&kwm=ANY&ldId=&rpp=50&yrId=56007

 

A truck turned back or traded with only 2,000 miles? Why? Maybe its fine but I would want to know more. And the Canadian Sport doesnt seen like a dream either. Seems for a few dollars more a new 15 would be better if you can find one.

 

I think you will be happier with a double cab shot bed for daily driving if you don't plan on using all the bed space(motorcycles, plywood, tool box ect.) I drove a double cab long bed and it's not difficult it felt about the same, but it can be a pain. luckily they both have good turning radius for their sizes trucks.
I see you want 4WD too the short bed will allow you to clear obstacles without hitting the center of your frame more than the double cab long bed would.

I got an access cab long bed for what I needed it for and I liked the look of it more than the double cabs long or short beds.

The decision is all up to you and what you want to use it for.

 

What color are they?

 

There are links to them in his first post.

 

Just based off of the information presented, I'd say go with the '15. HOWEVER, I'd absolutely talk them down to sub-$30k. If they do not come down, for the money I would shop around for one of the last remaining new '15s that are still floating around. You are likely to have to drive or fly somewhere to get it, but for a truck you're planning to keep, I'd say it's worth it.

 

Wow thanks for the overwhelming response. This comunity rocks, and that definitely reassures me that the Tacoma is the right direction for me.

It seems very obviouse that everyone thinks I should go with the off road. Which makes a lot of sense its a great truck. I love the off rd ability with the diff locker and ATRAC, short wheelbase makes a lot of sense as well for meneverability and clearance. The fact that its 2000 mile used in my mind is even better than new because it comes with the used certified warenty (100,000 mile or 7 years from first registration). The previous owner according to the dealership was a blind man that was driven to church in it on Sunday's. When the 2016 came out he traded it in (believable? sure why not..)
The 32k price is one that I already beat them up on to get to. I really don't think there is much more negotiation room maybe a little but not much. They might sweeten the pot down to 31,800 out the door but it may be pushing it.

So all of that said makes the off rd a seriously good truck and deal. But.....

There is something beautiful about the sport. The pics don't show it but it is super clean. The previous owner was meticioulous and a Tacoma lover as well. You can tell by the changes they made. All of the badging was remover for a clean look, even the TRD Sport sticker was taken off and replaced with a different TRD sticker. Does any of that matter at all?? No.. But the truck is beautiful. The leather heated seats are so much more comfortable than the off rd seats, the ride and handling is so much nicer than the off rd. And I'm having a hard time giving up the long bed. My tundra was the perfect size truck, the bed length was just right for me. And I often used every bit of it hauling building materials, fire wood or my motorcycle. The long bed is just hard to give up. However, I could do everything with a trailer. The TRD exhaust is a $500 upgrade that I like but wouldn't justify myself. The cold air intake is okay, but I think they are to loud and I would probably change it. I bet someone would trade their factory parts for my cold air parts. $29,000 is their out the door price that I got them to. That includes $500 that I got them to take off, a new power door lock fob to replace the missing one and a spray on undercoating for the frame.

In all I like the sport better but for reasons that don't really amount to much. I'm quite a bit torn.
My problem, I want them both.

 

There are 241 Tacomas within 100 miles of you right now (assuming Portland, based on your dealership site). The most expensive one on there is a shade over $40k - and that's a brand new 2016 Limited.

My point is that you have TONS of options. If anything doesn't feel right about the two you're looking at, tell the dealer you're going to go look around at the other almost 250 in your area. That will either force them to give you their best price, or they'll just let you walk out and you get to go look around at a ton more options.

I find it important to not get too 'attached' to any one vehicle before I buy it, or else my checking account will pay the price when I could have looked elsewhere for some other amazing trucks.

That being said, it's your money brother! We can offer opinions, but we won't be paying your monthly payments.

This site is incredible. You'll get input on anything you would ever need to know about whatever Taco you do end up getting. Welcome and let us know what you end up doing and/or if you have more questions!

http://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...sf1Nm=price&sf1Dir=ASC&sf2Nm=miles&sf2Dir=ASC

 

Go with your heart. Nothing worse then "I shoulda bought..."

 

Go with the OR and don't pay over $29k for it. Assuming the sport will last say 200k miles, it has already used 20% of it's lifespan.

 

It sounds to me like you really like the Sport. If so then get it. For the price I would get the OR but that is just me. They are both priced really good considering what I just paid for my 2015 OR with 10,800 miles on it. Two weeks ago I paid $33,000 after a lot of research and going to dealerships, they were asking $34,880. The market I am shopping in supports that price and with what everyone was asking for 2015's I feel like I got a good deal. There were tons of used 2015 Sports and OR's priced between $35,500 and $36,000, many with more miles than the one I got.

People who are telling you what to pay aren't in the market you are shopping in and it is easy to throw a price out there when you are the one who isn't doing the negotiating. I looked at a lot of trucks. Used Tacoma's, especially the low mileage ones, really hold their value. Good luck trying to negotiate much off of a 2016, they are hot sellers right now and the dealerships will let you walk because someone else will be in to buy the same truck. Comparing similarly equipped vehicles the 16 would have cost me about $4,000 more. I looked at the 16's but like the 2nd generation trucks better anyways.

Good luck with your search. You won't go wrong with either truck.