question about book values and actual prices

Hello!
This is my first post. After doing my homework and reading this forum Taco is the only way to go.

I'm looking to buy right now with cash a 95-02, six cylinder, 4x4.
I'll travel anywhere in the lower 48 for the right truck. I've been making offers on auto trader and cars.com and browsing ebay motors. Private sellers only, I will not buy from a car dealer.

My offers have been based on the KBB blue book values found on the KBB website. I've been willing to go 10% above book value.

So far I've found that the sellers are asking considerably more than this and have not been willing to sell for anything close to book value.

My question is, is what I'm offering reasonable? Do Tacos actually sell for near book value, or do they normally sell for much higher? And if they do sell for much higher, what percent above book is reasonable? Or should I hold out at 10% above blue book?

Thanks, mudpuppy

 

I paid over $1000 above BB on my 2000 Taco

 

I paid about 600 above KBB.

 

I know if I sold my Tacoma I would get at least 2k over KBB. In my area clean Tacoma's go quick. Good luck.

 

Thank you all for your help. I'll post what I end up getting here.

 

In the end, the market is king. KBB and NADA are suggested starting points. It's amazing that these trucks are selling for above KBB in a recession...

 

I wouldn't and have never paid over book for anything. If you are patient you can get a good deal.

 

X2

 

yeah certain areas are different a little bit, but that is a good logic

 

Around here you have to not only contend with the real buyers who will use the truck but you also have to fight off the little guys, dealers and mexicans who buy and resell. These trucks go fast and they get the money for them all day long.

One dealer said something that really made sense. When people call on a truck that he has advertised at a pretty high price, then its either the right truck that they are looking for or the right price. Either way, he rarely budges more than 500.00. He sell everyone he gets his hands on.

The local Toyota parts guy that runs a wrecking yard that is nothing but Toyotas gets high prices for all his parts. he walks around with a fist full of cash all day long..

Tacomas sell. Tundra's on the other hand are not nearly as in demand and as such their prices reflect that. KBB is way off. Go buy the truck from KBB if you want it at "book" value

 

paid 1000 LESS than blue book.
Like others mentioned, you'll find a deal when you're patient.

 

Just make sure you're putting in ALL of the extras when you do the kbb.com thing. I bought mine in February for $1000 below what kbb showed when all the right boxes were checked.

 

I got my '01 DC PreRunner for right around KBB value, maybe $500 lower. It had been on the dealer lot for a few months and you could tell they were eager to get rid of it. I was surprised it lasted that long on the lot.

 

wow...i would never offer anything above bb value.....it's rediculous what people try to sell trucks for these days...even really old ones....to me it's not even worth it to buy a used truck anymore...if you find a decent one with 100k miles or less they want anywhere from 10k-15k for it...i got mine brand new for 20k.....i mean seriously....the difference in your truck payment between 15k and 20k isn't gonna be that much....for example...when i bought my old '88 toyota truck it had 100k miles on it and i paid 6k for it...my payment was $250 a month....my payment on my brand new 2009 truck which was 20k is $350....only 100 dollars more a month....for a longer term yes but if you can pay it for 3 years then you can pay it for 6......at least you will have a new truck and you won't have to get any repairs done to it for a very long time...i dunno that's just how i look at it...why pay a little less a month to buy an old worn out truck?...used to be they didn't cost so much used.... but now it's just rediculous since they hold their value so well

 

Around here, Tacoma's are priced a good 1 to 2k over the blue book value. It's crazy.

 

The KBB price on my truck with all the boxes checked was 7400 in excelent shape (146,000 miles on it when I got it). I paid 8000 for it.

 

My 2000 Ex.cab TRD 4x..... 10K out the door.... from a dealer & couldn't be happier & its too bad you won't go to a dealer (at least the one I went to ) I'm in San Diego but if you do a google or Bing search & use Balboa motors as a keyword or check back with me in a bit I'll give you the link, anyway these guys are pretty much OK & they usually have no less than 10 -15 1st gen. Taco TRD's (4x & Prerunner) & some 2nd gens. too, they don't sell junk that I can promise you, so check'em out if you are serious about a purchase... good luck in your search dude.....

 

I have purchased two tacomas in the last two months.

05 4x4 DoubleCab Sport, with manny tranny @ 77K miles for $16,500

07 4x4 Doublecab SR5, AT, @75k miles for $18 G's

Patience is the path to deals!!!

When it comes to KBB, NADA, or Edmunds they are all biased in one way or another. Local classifieds are a good barometer for the local value, but it takes some work. DO NOT be afraid to call on sold trucks and asked politely how much it sold for... that is fair market value!

Good luck.

 

1st gens go over BB.
2nd gens go 10% under BB.
- I don't know why, but it's like that. And that's the way it is.

 

well my ex g/f 95.5 4x4 SR5 with 260k miles on it can get 5K without even trying. She always gets notes on her truck asking if she will sell.