What to offer for this 97 Tacoma with 300k miles?

I have a line on a 1997 Tacoma, 3.4L, 4x4, 5spd man, with just over 300,000 miles. Daily driver of about 50 miles highway a day. As for as I know its maintenance is up to date, not a drop of oil dropped ever. Needs some brake work done and claims the speedo cable squeaks at low temps. Stock suspension. Location Utah, struggling to make a reasonable offer and would appreciate some input. What do you all think? My initial thoughts where in the $3200 area???

 

As far as I know can get expensive fast !!!

Mileage of last Timing belt??

It seems every Toyota I bought took another $1000.00 in parts

It is a Toyota why is it being sold ??

It all depends just how bad you think you need this truck.

You can always raise a offer pretty hard to lower it once it is made.

 

any rust?

 

Alternatively you can throw the money in the terlet and flush it.

 

$3200 is a good offer. check the frame for rust since you all have snow and salt in Utah and the 1st gens are prone to frame rust problems.

 

3200 sounds pretty good. I sold the same truck with an automatic transmission with 50k miles more for $2800 recently. it needed two tires, valve cover gaskets, front suspension work, and a few misc things but ran good. the original owner did the first timing belt at 200k and it hadn't had a new once since then so it was probably due for that as well. he put over 100m a day on it when he had it.

 

Waiting to here back on the Timing belt mileage.

Father in-law is the original owner from when he drove it off the lot. Selling as he is looking to get into something newer and knew I had my eye on it for when he did finally want to trade up. Don't necessary need the truck, but thinking to get my recently license kid something like this to start in his own off road journey.

Minimal to none on the frame that I can recall when I last saw it. Has a little around the wheel wells.




Thanks for all of the input thus far.

 

Only $3200? Damn, and last year I turned down a guy with 5k for my 95 with 312k miles I guess I was not ready

 

Welp, sounds like he hasn't had the timing belt or water pump done ever...Yikes!!!

 

Pict???

 

Call your local parts store and ask them to describe the water pump gasket shape.

 

Well, should be getting the rig here in a couple months once he finds his new outfit. Thanks all for the input. Ill add pictures once I get ahold of it for those that were interested. All in all I think I stole it, settled on $2000 and after some much needed maintenance I should only be into it ~$3000.

 

That's doubtful. Probably just doesn't remember.

 

Yea I thought so as well, but if can't remember its likely been long enough that it needs it again so factored that into the offer.

 

This is helping me price my 97 xtra cab 4wd for sale. Thanks!

 

That's your opinion...

 

For those that were interested in pictures.

 

That is a nice looking truck frame/body wise. How is the inside, and more importantly than cosmetics, how is the vehicle maintenance? I ended up selling my 97 2.7L 4x4 with 170K miles for $5500 and it had a small oil leak.

At 300K miles there could be a lot that will go wrong soon, or it could run for another 300K, probably better to factor in replacing wear and tear items.

If you really want the truck $3000 doesn't sound to unreasonable if it had recent work done, but if not I think you could probably find a lower mileage truck for the same price in the same or better condition.

If it needs TB/WP done offer $2000 and see if he takes it. You will immediately be putting in some money to replace stuff.

 

Yea, we settled on $1800 given the TB/WP and other maintenance that does need done too it, just got my '03 dbl cab done for ~$830 at the my local dealership so I should only be into the truck ~$3000 after all said and done. The interior is clean, didn't have a chance to take pictures of that but its been well kept. In short, the owner is very particular when it comes to cleanliness, there was a time that he wouldn't let people wear wet or slightly dirty shoes in it...

Just waiting for him to find his new rig and then the truck will be mine.

 

Nice!