'15 TRD Off-Road purchase advice

I'd buy it for $21K and then drive it to another Toyota dealer and sell it for $25K.

The mileage isn't so much a concern, it's the price. Seems to good to be true. This is a Toyota dealership, I'm sure they know what they have.

What exactly was underneath that gave you the impression that it was used for towing? I have helper "sumo springs" and hardly tow.

BTW, someone mentioned emblem placement being off. My neighbor has a 2015 with emblems still on and placement are spot on and where they should be.

 

100k miles is a bit concerning for a 2015 (I haven't even hit 35k on mine), but the reason we all buy Tacomas is because we know they're good to 200k+ miles easy. There's still plenty of life left in the truck, even if it's been run hard.

The smoker thing is totally subjective. Personally, there's no way I could handle it BUT if it doesn't bother you, then don't let that sway you away.

I'd think of this way... it's an almost even trade for you so your monthly payments wouldn't go up very much if at all on your bank note. The TRDOR is worth significantly more than a 4cyl SR5 so you're getting instant equity in the purchase. Even if the purchase is a bomb and the truck needs some work, you should be able to make minor repairs and re-sell for an overall profit, especially on the private market. You'd be left with no ride, but at least you wouldn't be left in a ton of debt. Of course, that's all counting on the fact there's no major issues with it.

 

If you look at the pictures they have posted, you can see a part of the helper spring bracket. I've installed them on other trucks before.

 

Financially it's a good deal. The too good to be true thing is what makes me uneasy.

 

Since the price is low, I'd do it. Instant profit. Have them flush the tranny as condition of sale.

As someone mentioned, there's a "bomb" for the smoke smell.

Inspect the truck carefully. Look for re-paint or paint overlap. Test the driveline in 4H and 4L.

 

It's not off by a lot, but it is off. The top edge of the emblem should be below the top of the reverse light. On the truck in the pics, the emblem is clearly above the reverse light. Also, the space between the bottom of the emblem and the body line, should be approximately the same as the height of the emblem. In this truck pic, the space is about 1 1/2 times the height of the emblem. So, that Tacoma emblem was not put on at the factory. Maybe the side stickers were removed and the tailgate was stolen, replaced, and repainted, or maybe it was rearended hard and the bed sides and tailgate were replaced and repainted and the body shop figured they could get away with just putting on the Tacoma emblem and calling it a day.

 

Best way to check for new bedsides?

 

Look over the whole truck for tape lines, overspray, areas of paint that are clearly fresher than 104K miles. Look for corner body lines that are sharper than the factory rolled edge. Look over the frame for waves that could be straightened out buckles. Look at the frame for freshly applied undercoating in only some areas of the frame. If you're still not sure, take it to a body shop and ask them to take a quick look at it and tell you if it's been repaired/repainted. I guarantee you a good body shop can tell in 5 minutes, what's factory paint, and what's been repainted.

 

Definitely not the same tailgate. It's not the same color either.

 

If it's only the tailgate, no big deal. Tailgates get stolen all the time. But if you find evidence of other repaint work, tread carefully.

Edit: If a body shop can't match white, they REALLY suck.

 

I would pass, looks to worn to me and I wouldn't be able to stand the smoke smell. Keep looking, there will be others.

 

It was a salvage tailgate. It has the numbers on it. Other than that I'm not seeing any other damage, other than the bumper be I dented in. The front cover is spiderwebbed, but I would ultimately replace that. That's just more off the price.

 

No frame damage noted. Looks like he backed the truck into his trailer or something and dented the bumper, and got a tailgate from a salvage yard.

 

Thanks for the updates. Hope this all works out for you. Should be a nice truck if everything checks out.

 

Pop the hood and check the fluids, or just go back home?

That would require me getting the keys from sales and blah blah blah.

 

You get a Tacoma, and you get a Tacoma, and you get a Tacoma. Everybody gets a Tacoma.

 

Something doesnt make sense to me. The smoke smell can be dealt with , and the miles , though high,shouldn't haircut it down to 21K. hmm. Either way, the dude that traded it in got seriously bent over if everything checks out.

 

Ha, I wish. Should i go get the keys and start checking all the fluids, or should I just walk?

 

That's what I'm curious about. This should be a 26-28k truck easily.

 

take another look, sounds like a great deal to me