Can you see anything cosmetically wrong with this truck?

Looking to buy my first tacoma soon. Saw this one, and started to heavily consider it. However, it's a few hours from where I live so I can't just drive down the road to check it out for myself. Can yall do me a favor and see if you can spot anything I would have to replace to make look as new as possible? I'm not sure if it's supposed to look like this on the first gens, but the front of the truck looks a little, I don't know, loose? Thanks for all suggestions


https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...=false&filtersModified=true#listing=166345902

This one is also under consideration, I just don't know if I want a 1st or 2nd gen yet: https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...lectedEntity=d311&zip=77062#listing=169473262

 

Missing the headlight filler panels which are about $5 each online, the bumper is protruding up maybe hit something at a low speed? It's 2wd if that matters to you and does not appear to have a rear locker.

You could probably find another 1st gen that has more amenities but you're the buyer. All in all for the price and mileage it'll get you where you need to go.

 

Both look good to me.

But my first Tacoma was a 3rd gen so can't say for sure.

One recommend is get the 2nd gen. You will love any Tacoma & cant modify just about anything with either. However the 2nd gen is just more updated look.

Personal preference is all.

 

Nice finds, thank you! Really look for something I can drive off the lot and not have to worry about replacing/fixing anything. That's starting to become a fantasy though. For some odd reason I keep running into what looks like a maintained (cosmetically) tacoma, but the previous owner have some damaged or straight up ugly wheels/rims. Idk.

Yeah I love the 2nd gen and is definitely the best choice right now. However, if I can find a nice and maintained 1st gen for ~4k cheaper, then I'll probably go with that.

 

Yeah man they are both missing a transfer case, front differential, and front CV's just to name a few things.

jk

 

That first gen definitely hit something - the bumper and pthe hood are both tweaked pretty good.

The second gen seems pretty inexpensive for that year / mileage. Usually they're up around $15-16k. Interesting, I've never seen "steel" wheels like that before as listed in the major options category. Makes me wonder how much (little) these people know about the vehicles they sell or about vehicles in general. What are your major priorities for a truck? That should help narrow down your search?

 

Hey, thanks for the response. I'll mostly be using the truck just for commuting but since this will be my first time owning a truck and I'll actually be able to experience the perks of where I can drive it vs my old genesis coupe, I'd like to keep my options open. I understand from what I read the gen1 is better for off roading since it's more compact and such, and the gen2 is better for commuting since it's more comfortable etc. However, I think both of the variations will be able to fit my needs.

In the end though, I do like the idea of saving money, and I kind of like the gen1 body more. This one is about perfect, except it's ~1700 miles away and the rims are hideous: https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...=false&filtersModified=true#listing=169708526

 

Either generation will be adequate for light off-roading and both will need some upgrades such as larger tires and a suspension upgrade for greater articulation and dampening to be made ready for significant off-roading. The most important factory options for off-roading are 4wd and the rear locker. If you're really concerned about the vehicle's off-road capability look for those options. If you're set on getting a 2wd truck then look for the rear locker.

If you're set on the first gens then be careful to check maintenance records. For a fifteen year old truck you can end up spending far more than the price of new wheels and tires on neglected maintenance items, even if the truck looks good cosmetically. I would rather spend my money on tires and wheels than a new timing belt job or transmission replacement if I were deciding between a truck that looked how I wanted but needed major maintenance items vs. one that didn't have the wheels I liked but was well maintained. Fwiw you can paint those stock steelies black. They look a lot better while you save up for new ones. Plus both generations of tacomas use the same hub pattern so cheap wheel upgrades are easy to find on Craigslist.

 

Is there a way I can check maintenance records aside from carfax? This is the first car I'm buying myself so I don't really know where to look besides carfax lol. I found this tacoma today https://www.carfax.com/vehicles/5TEGN92NX3Z165197-used-2003-toyota-tacoma-prerunner--spring-valley but I don't really know how to interpret the service report. It seems like it was taken good care of but has a large gap of it's maintenance history missing between ~30,000 miles-82,000 miles there is nothing recorded.

edit - and is there a way to tell if it is a TRD off road package just by looking at it? It says it is but doesn't have some stuff listed like the rear locker

 

Service records are the easiest, most reliable method of checking for maintenance. Good owners will almost always keep their service record receipts because they know that they will enhance the resale value when they sell the vehicle. Carfax only checks certain databases which fall outside of the realm of most mom and pop mechanic shops. Often the kind of person that you want to buy a used vehicle from is the single and / or older guy that is an engineer type guy that kept his vehicle bone stock, brought the vehicle in to the dealer for every major round of service work, kept up with all of the major maintenance items on time, and all of the recalls.

50k of no maintenance records on carfax shouldn't be a make it or break it issue, but you'll want to check what was done before 100-150k such as timing belt, water pump, brakes, fluids, etc. I prefer buying from a private party rather than a new or used car dealer - I've never trusted them since my first job when I was 15 washing cars on a new car dealer's lot. There are some honest and helpful ones out there, but I haven't seen one that stood out to me.

Buying from a private party has its hazards too - sometimes the person is straight up dishonest and will say anything to you to get some cash for their vehicle. Sometimes they don't know anything about vehicles and believe a lot of misinformation about their vehicle which can either help you or harm you in making a deal with them. Finally there is the seller that thinks their vehicle is worth way more than it really is - not much you can do there, but make an offer and wait.

The most definitive way to see if a first gen has the rear locker is pics of the dashboard. The button is just left of the instrument cluster if it has a factory installed locker. The TRD stickers on the bedsides will usually (don't take my word as scripture) indicate that it has a locker. There are non-TRD trucks with lockers and TRD trucks with the bedside decals removed so again, the dash switch is the most reliable method without seeing the rear diff.

The best thing you can do is arm yourself with knowledge. Here's a couple good places to start:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-tacoma-buyers-guide.156943/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2001-toyota-scheduled-maintenance-guide.174329/

 

Sweet, thank you for all the info. Problem is, I think I might have to end up getting the tacoma from another state and shipped to me, so I won't be able to see it in person. I will definitely ask and look at the maintenance records first though, and probably have a mechanic look at it first or something.

 

Be patient man. Easier said than done, but one will pop up close enough for you to inspect issues that you're reading about on here. If you can't find one even after being super duper patient, be armed with a long list of questions written down and ask for a million and a half pictures texted to you by whoever's getting your hard earned $$$. If they seem standoffish then I probably wouldn't trust them unless the truck is obviously great and has no mods whatsoever, service records, etc. and they know they have a good deal for a potential buyer, but those are the ones you want to jump on and see yourself, cash in hand.

Still I prefer doing business with people that are friendly, comfortable answering all my questions, and don't get standoffish about anything - that means they're covering up something imo. I texted the owner of my first gen for 4+ hours with pics and videos being sent. That's the only reason it's mine now - and there's still stuff I have to take care of that didn't get communicated. I did get to see it in person before purchasing it as well. I did accept a heavily modified vehicle and that just makes things more challenging because some people mod well and others don't, even if they think they do, or they don't mod the same way you would. It looks like you want an unmodified vehicle, which is a great idea in my opinion. I strongly urge you stay on that track.

Where do you live anyway? If you're serious enough about a vehicle post it up on the forum and you might be able to find someone knowledgable that lives nearby the truck who is willing to inspect it for you before buying it. People on here don't want anyone getting burned in a situation that could have been easily avoided with the right info!

 

I think when buying a vehicle you should always see it in person first.

 

x2

 

Definitely would be very wary of doing business with people that won't answer questions straight forward. And I live in San Marcos, TX, ~30 minutes out of Austin. That's a great idea I did not think of. That'd actually be pretty awesome lol.

Probably right about that. Idk man. If I were to get it out of state I'd definitely have dozens of pictures sent and looked at by someone outside the dealership at least.

 

I don't know if anyone had mentioned it yet but be sure you check the frame thoroughly for rust. Tacomas (especially first gens) are notorious for frame rust that can rot a frame literally in half. Many clean looking first gens out there with terribly unsafe frames, don't be fooled.

 

Being in where you're at in Texas you shouldn't have to worry about rust on a local, one owner truck that always stayed in that area, but it's definitely worth a look like eon_blue said, plus people have tried to cover it up with stupid stuff such as bondo and paint over it. Check this spot, it is the most likely stop to have frame rot. It's in the front of the leaf springs.



Bring a big screw driver or small hammer w/ a point / claw to give the metal a good strong poke (insert joke here...)

 

Yeah, definitely planning on having the frame checked lol. Heard a lot about this

What would you say are some areas to look out for, if I was to buy out of state? Cause just found this deal in Denver: https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...=false&filtersModified=true#listing=169407618

Btw it's kinda harder for me to be super patient cause I'm supposed to start a new job soon and I currently have no car at all

 

Two words: uber dude. Or: the bus. May or may not be possible, I know, but think about it this way, the wrong truck could cost you a lot more that you're going to spend getting back and forth to work with alternative methods until the perfect truck comes up. What job are you going to start? Are you going to be making enough where you can start saving extra?

I'd stick to southern states. The rockies are relatively safe compared to north east and other areas that salt their roads heavily, however it's much safer to avoid any state that has snow or a ton of rain - especially if you can't see it yourself. For this one, stay away - it has a rebuilt or "salvaged" title meaning it was totaled out in an accident or theft and fixed up. It's resale if you were to buy it and try to sell it would be half of what they're charging at best. If you know a lot about working on vehicles, salvage titled vehicles can be a good idea, but if not, better to avoid them other than buying a farm truck or intentional project you want to learn on with an extremely low price, which you're of course not doing.

If it were a clean titled vehicle with that mileage and good maintenance, that would be a decent price for a private party seller, but you could probably get them to go a little lower if you had other options and they wanted a quick sale.

 

Damn, that sucks. I thought that one would have been a good deal since the timing belt had just been replaced and I've read that's a big deal, but I'll definitely stay away from that one. I'm going to try to remain patient but I don't know much about cars/trucks so I don't think it would be too earth shattering if I just had a bunch of pictures sent to me and a mechanic (or someone from here if I'm lucky) take a look and give me the go ahead. And if the dealership can answer all my questions and such, I don't see why not? Like, if I was there in person, I wouldn't see something the third party wouldn't notice in the first place, you know? Maybe I'm making excuses that's just how I feel currently about it. I really appreciate all the good info you've provided btw, thanks man