1996 Tacoma with Frame Damage - Should I buy?

Hello all, I am looking to buy my first car and I'm leaning towards the Tacoma since I need a truck and I've heard great things about it. I'm on a very tight budget of $5,000 so my options are limited. I found a 1996 V6 4WD extended cab for $5,000 but it has frame damage (shown below). I don't know anything about car repairs, but I'm willing to learn. Should I pass on this Tacoma?

 

NO!!!!!

Run away as far as you possibly can and never look back. That truck shouldn’t even be for sale, it’s junk.

 

Laugh, turn around, say he** no, walk away.

 

Depends where the truck lives !!Know going in these Trucks all have serious Frame rusting issues !!

That is to much money for that truck for you at this stage of the game .

These are great trucks once all the neglected areas of maintenance are all caught up this could very easily turn into a garage queen

Maybe $1500.00 if the rest of the drive train is in very good shape . Then I have enough projects .

You don`t mention the mileage time for a timing belt ?

Just curious did the seller point that rust out or did you see it??

Read through the forum the more you know the better you can shop for Tacoma`s

 

He mentions he doesn’t know anything about car repairs. I’d say I know my way around a car, and I would NEVER buy one with a rusted out chassis. Simply not worth any kind of money no matter how good the deal.

That truck is useless. Trying to restore it to working condition is futile, and a waste of money.

 

Perhaps to you ! It would be to much work and money !!

That is pretty normal for any vehicle in my part of the world more then 10 years old

 

No, to someone with no mechanical experience (like OP) it is useless. Paying to get that fixed will cost as much as a truck without a rusted out frame.

 

NO!

I have done frame swaps on 2 Jeeps... it takes a lot of time, alot of effort, lot of equipment and tools (think lifts, hoists, jacks, etc in additon to hand tools), and a lot of mechanical knowledge...

You state that you are willing to learn, and that is great, but this is not a project to begin your education on...

Trust me, unless you already have the experience and equipment, you will be throwing your money away...

Don't walk away, run away... fast!

-Bear

 

Nope. Run away from that thing

 

I'm surprised that truck hasn't snapped in half yet

 

where is that truck located?

 

It is unconscionable that someone is even trying to sell that truck in that condition. It will probably soon break in two.

 

Hard pass. With your budget, I'd recommend expanding the search to a Frontier or a Dakota. Finding a taco for under 5 Grand, either you found the mythical "ex spouse seeking revenge by selling the truck for a song," or you found a truck with more problems than you want to handle.

 

We do need to know his location. If he is looking, he could be in nice dry no salt texas and that truck moved with someone from PA.

Now saying finding a truck under 5 is impossible. Mine cost me 3 k, with 185k miles, everything works. and it was a PA truck, just properly cared for.

 

Must be a language thing My first vehicle when I was 16 was a vehicle very much like this in 1972 .

Being just Mom and me I never even changed oil before it was a learning experience

 

In Maryland, that frame will Fail on Inspection.

These guys make Frame pieces that needed to be welded on: https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/tacoma-xtracab-4wd/

 

Pass on that one dude. You can find a better one for $5k.

 

If you're just learning the basics on car maintenance and repair then I would run away from that truck, that truck is only good for parts now or for a frame restoration project that someone with experience and time wants to take on. Otherwise it's going to cost you a lot of money to get it road worthy again.

 

If you live in the rust belt then you should look for a Tacoma out of state, somewhere in the southwest where rust isn't an issue.