Almost Bought a truck yesterday

Yesterday I was looking around on car gurus for a used tacoma, and found what seemed like to be the perfect deal for me. It was an 05 double cab v6 6 speed manual trans with the TRD off road trim with 81k miles on it, and they wanted 16k for it, 18k out the door. It was clean as a whistle and drove real smooth. Only thing I didn't like was that the clutch creaked when pushing it in and releasing it. (easy enough to look past). Being a 2005 I asked them if they could put it up on a lift for me to inspect the frame and all the components underneath. This truck was immaculate. frame was clean all around, no rust on any components or anything. until I noticed 2 spots on the frame. There were 2 areas directly across from each other that were rusting through and made me back away. When I told the dealer that I was very VERY hesitant because of these holes, they assured me that they were safe and that they would pass the safety inspection. Me being the inspector that I am noticed these holes without them saying anything to me and pointed them out. The ordinary purchaser would not have seen these and wouldn't have been bothered buying the truck. They were telling me about this new class action lawsuit which has to do with the frames being replaced, and that they 100% guaranteed that this truck would be covered under this lawsuit. And yeah I know about that lawsuit and what its about, but I also know that as of April 11, 2017 it was not 100% finalized, done, and letters would be sent to owners. I called Toyota customer service and asked them about it and the kind woman there told me that the lawsuit was not 100% fulfilled, and that it wouldn't be done until April 27, 2017, and even then I might not even receive a letter because of when I became the owner. This woman also told me that she didn't even know what was happening with the lawsuit and she works for Toyota directly. The truck was immaculate besides these 2 spots that were about the size of 2 quarters each, and the areas around these spots were all flakey, and weak looking.
What is your input on this? Should I have gone back and bought the truck? Or should I keep looking until I find one with a solid frame or a new frame.

 

Hi Brad, not sure what part of the country you are from for frame recall. I can tell you Toyota has been replacing frames for close to 20 years now. 1GENs first went to crusher, then corp decided to go the swap route. Now the 2GENs it's a familiar story.......
Damn I think my local dealer (salt belt Vermont New England etc) buys them at auction & swaps them out for profit.
I can tell you I received a post card about this recent frame class action suit on my 2006.
That truck was traded in Sept. 2011.
So yeah, that 2005 truck's card probably went to the first registered owner.
As far as buying it, can you find something on here used or private sale near you?
Finding one with a swapped frame with boost the price...
The ones on CL here still take in a pretty penny.
The clutch pedals have creaked since creation as well....mine did in my 1990 and 1995.
Good luck.

 

I'm in Jersey, and I haven't found anything private seller near me within my budget thats worth looking at. Theres another truck that I went and test drove and that was an 07 double cab v6 MT with 117k on it and they wanted 16,500 for the truck. it was a nice truck and rode nicer than this one, but it was a base model and the interior wasn't as clean as Id like it to be. the seats had stains on them and the carpets were kinda dirty. I'm sure that can be cleaned but part of me is now thinking that a TRD is the way to go for the locking diff and the nicer seats. both are 4x4 by the way.

 

And I'm also on the fence about the manual vs the auto

 

You could always ask for money off the price and have some steel welded over the rusted holes. But you shouldn't habe to do that for asking price. And id call their bs for telling you its for sure covered. Im from the south so the frame thing really isnt an issue as much for me. My last tacoma(2000 Trd) was from TN. and very clean underneath and still had surface rust started on the frame that i could tell would be major in just a year or 2 in salty conditions. Just normal southern humidity started rusting that frame. I do know theb 2nd gen frame looks flimsy conpared to 1st gen and my 06 Tundra. Maybe thats why i see the rear bed moving like its not attached well over bumps on my 2010.

 

The rest of the frame was great and everything else was nice, but these spots just bothered me, and I know that they would bother me for a while because I'd think about it on every bump. I thought about what if I cut out the spots and welded in new steel but I wasn't sure if that would be the best bet or even really fix the problem.

 

It will always be in the back of your mind. Walk away till you find one without holes in the frame.

 

Yeah I know

 

Agreed.... if you are hesitant at all, just walk away

 

So why are you even considering a frame rot year if you are going to be that particular?

If two holes freak you out you wouldn't want one thats been ripped apart to get a new frame or go through that shit yourself. So just stop looking at those years.

 

The two holes will spread and ruin the rest of the frame, a new frame wouldn't be rotted. If you would like to fund a newer year for me then that'd be swell, but this is what I can afford.

 

see if they will let ya take it to a local toyo dealer for inspection

 

I would but they are a toyota dealer...

 

At the end of the day you will either have to increase your budget inorder to look at newer year models, or you will have to deal with issues that older trucks have. The truck you almost bought was 12 years old , do you expect for there to be nothing wrong with a truck that is that old? Its a give and take, can't have the best of both worlds.

 

I would run, not walk, away from that deal.

 

That I shall do

 

Brad
I'm in Jersey and on on my 4th Taco
Had a 98 sold it to my brother inlaw frame rusted out 2yrs ago
2000 frame rusted toyo bought it back
05 frame replaced 2yrs ago by toyo
sold 05 in Nov bought a 14
As you know gotta worry about frames in NJ

 

Well I've found some in my price range but few were Trd's. I'm looking for the best of both worlds, hopefully I'll find one, if not I'll have to increase my budget. But with more time comes more money to spend and more trucks for sale so we shall see.

 

Yeah I know, they over salt everything in Jersey. I can't imagine north of here in the winters...

 

Where in Jersey Brad? I have been thinking about getting back into a 4 runner soon. 09 trd or DCSB. 150k but I'm second owner. Have had the truck about two years now. Book of records and also all on Toyota site.