Car Shopping/Mid-Life Crisis Weekend Ahead

$260 to spend this afternoon, it’s like going to a candy store!

 

Oh, I forgot to mention try communicating via the internet first. You get to cut a lot of the bullshit. I hate handing over keys and my license before we even sit down to haggle!

 

The dealership I normally use is pretty good about cutting out the BS when it comes to that kind of stuff. I test drove a Tundra Pro earlier this year, and they didn't ask for anything.

 

How much for the 2015?? Seriously, don’t trade it in.

 

I'll take $125,000 please and throw in a full tank of gas...

 

Oh, MLC- you have it bad.

 

I wish the Taco came with a V8. A big, throaty V8. Something that sounds good with glass packs.

 

Diesel, TC’d V8.

 

I'd probably sell it for $25.5k

 

It would be nice even with a small displacement V8 and MPGs would probably not be much different.

 

I'd wait till the new Tundra comes out with a 5.0 Atkinson engine. My plan is to build my taco as the offroad rig then get a new tundra after a few years for the fam and with moderate towing.

 

That’s a good deal right there. Some of the dealers around here try to play hard ball. I got sick of the bs, last time I walked into a dealer, the dealer asked for my keys first thing. I said, “not yet, how much are you going to give me for the trade in?” But they figured out a way to keep me sitting there. Never again. I dig the internet sales. Most of the negotiationig was done before I even stepped into the Ventura dealership. Was by far the simplest trade in ever.

 

I did more research on this particular vehicle to see why they wanted $39,999. The VIN pulls up as a TRD Pro. Did even more research and the dealership has a customization side business that did the modifications like adding sunroof, suspension, wheels, etc...

Still not worth $39k+, but maybe worth haggling the price down?

 

Used Pro’s are probably hard to find. But ... I would never buy a $40K truck that involved a dealer “side business” cutting a hole in the roof, adding a spacer lift, etc. No offense intended to skilled and careful dealer techs, but most dealer-modded trucks are not worth it.

 

Can the dealer manipulate the VIN number? Toyota did not offer a Pro in Silver for 2017 nor did they offer JBL system. Something sounds fishy to me...

 

Do a search for 2nd gen Tacomas on Autotrader, seems like 10% of them say TRD Pro when they are obviously not.

 

Sounds fishy for sure.

 

Test drove a new and used 3rd Gen Tacoma this weekend. The "luxury" options are definitely worth upgrading from 2015. Not sure I am 100% sold on the new 3.5 vs 4.0. The 6-speed trans is way more shifty, but the ECT button and auto-stick definitely help keep the shift points where they need to be. At 5.975" my hair grazed the headliner on the way in. I was not expecting that, but I guess the sunroof drops the headliner down further than without. If I were going to keep the suspension stock, I would buy OR vs Sport.

As nice as the newer Tundras are, the Tacoma is just too damn versatile both on and off the road to give up. Still easy to drive, not as bulky and fits in my garage. Just need to find the right one.

 

Me too I even left a little chrome on my Taco.