99 Tacoma 4x4 w/ 320K miles

I think it might be more common for a perspective buyer to take a vehicle to his/her mechanic, not the seller to take it to perspective buyer's mechanic a half hour away. Would he allow you to take it and have it inspected? I'm just saying it might not be as much of a red flag as it may appear to be.

 

I don't think it's a red flag. He doesn't want to miss work and drive down. I get it. He has others offering to buy the truck, no biggie.

I'm interested in that 92. I talked to the dealership today and told them $3500 was best I could do. I think putting in a 3.4 or 3.6 would cost at least $1K right? Anyways, feel free to give me some bargaining tips to get him to accept my offer. Then I'll have to get out to Montana to test drive the damn thing

 

Man the worst thing you can do is agree on a price on a truck before you see it.

 

I think the worst thing you can do is buy a truck at the offering price.

I've seen photos and I'm willing to go out there.

 

Go to Montana? What state are you in? Why not wait until something closer pops up? You're in a good spot of not needing to buy right away. A buy ASAP situation usually doesn't favor the buyer.
Also, you're looking at a grand plus for the swap, if you're doing it yourself. If a shop does it, you're looking at at least 2k, wouldn't surprise if it gets closer to 3k. It's a labor intensive job, just takes a lot of time.

 

Yea it's crazy. I am so in love with that truck though. The color, the body style, the features.

I'm in North Carolina.

On final verdict--- wait.

 

Yeah, you're being smart by waiting, as much as it sucks. The old 22RE 4 cyl from those early pre-tacomas are great; reliable, tons of info and experience out there, and fairly easy to wrench on yourself. But, in stock configuration they are definitely going to feel gutless... Especially compared to vehicles built in last 10-15 years. Some people don't care, some do. Might want to test drive some local to you, just to get a feel of what you know you'll have to have with your future taco and what you can live without.

 

There are two that I posted a couple pages back in this thread. They're local and similar model to that 92 Toyota. I know they aren't good purchases but might be good to test drive

 

This: https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/5920997467.html

And this:

https://hickory.craigslist.org/cto/5917398202.html


I love the body style of the 95.5 and earlier Toyota trucks.

 

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5923436843.html Just posted today near you. I think it's a decent price. Plus a cap to put your music equipment in.

 

Not bad but automatic and I'm not into the 02 style. Thank you! Please keep the recommendations coming in!

 

Keep asking questions. People are giving you really good advice.

I flew from Milwaukee to Connecticut for a car once...But I knew I was getting a steal, had cash, and was willing to Greyhound it back if it was a hot mess when I got there. It was an adventure but I knew what I was getting into.

You gotta zero-in man; you're in a drag-net state of mind right now. Pick a style/year/build out you like. My guess is that there are guys/gals close enough to you to let you ride/drive their rigs... people here are nice. Get into a generation and a general build you like, then take the cash you have...Add to it, read up and keep an eye on the listings.

 

I know exactly what I want but I don't have the money to buy one. I've been zero-ed in on a 95.5 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 for ages but any decent one is at least 8-9k. I can't afford this:

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/23994216


So the 92 is first runner-up. But yea I like the 95.5 tacomas the best, I really like the body style

 

Ok folks, another re-up. This one has the finish I love and the seller said he would take 4K:

https://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/5933175031.html

 

The heart wants what the heart wants lol.

Does he have paperwork to prove the rebuild and to show what was done? One persons idea of a rebuild can be much different than another persons. That's the only thing I'd double check.

 

That 01 Tacoma FS in the first gen thread is my other option. I love both trucks and the 01 is probably a better buy but I don't know what it is about those older body styles. I'm in love with the 91-95 Toyota trucks.

I asked the owner about the 'rebuilt motor' and he said that it was only the top end and the rebuild was:

Heads went to the machine shop
new valves
new head gasket

Other maintenance stuff:
New pinion seal and new fuild in rear end about 2 months ago
New brakes 10K miles ago

 

So it has 40K miles on the "rebuilt motor." The difference in price between the two is $2K.

 

That seems like the bare minimum to call it a rebuild. Stick to your guns and don't settle.

If it were me I'd do like some of the other guys have said and find one with a bad motor or super high miles for cheap and drop the 3.4l in there. They're a bunch of right ups on how to do it. Seems very straight forward.

I'll let you know if I see any in my area. The only ones over here recently seem to be 91-95 single cabs.

 

If it were me I'd do like some of the other guys have said and find one with a bad motor or super high miles for cheap and drop the 3.4l in there. They're a bunch of right ups on how to do it. Seems very straight forward.

I'll let you know if I see any in my area. The only ones over here recently seem to be 91-95 single cabs.[/QUOTE]


Well this 92 has high miles but body is in good shape so I could drop the 3.4 in it....however the 3001 is ready to go. I think that's what I'm going with. The owner of the 92 doesn't have near the maintenance records that the owner of the 01 has. Both have high miles but the '01 Taco is cleaner. I love love love the body and finish of the 92. It hurts my heart to turn it down but i think I'm going to have to

 

This is literally the truck I told the universe I wanted haha