Looking for advice on how to search for a Tacoma. Or are my standards too strict?

So I’ve been looking on and off for a couple of years now, but I can never get a good deal in my area/price range. Obviously I search everywhere, because Bay Area Tacoma’s are expensive as all hell.

I’m looking for anything from 2000-2015 that is an Xtracab/access cab, V6, 4x4, and finally a manual. I am always searching for this unicorn and hoping I find one under 160kish miles. My cap is around $16,000.

Am I just out of my mind thinking I can find my future Tacoma for that price range? The only ones I’ve been able to find a good deal on there’s always something sketchy that makes me walk away (like rusted frame, seller that won’t let me get it inspected, etc.)

 

I paid $22k at 90k miles and should have been more strict. Paid for my idiocy with title issues and frame rust I had to POR. I think you're gonna have to expand your search from the bay area. Manuals are rare, and there aren't that many 4x4's in the Bay area. Need to look in Utah and Colorado.

 

I have expanded my search, but I wish I had been doing that all along. I am trying not to look past Missouri, only because a lot of trucks past there are in the rust belt. Do I need to worry about rust in Colorado as much as other states?

 

You could buy mine. It’s an auto though.

 

After searching for over a year with your same requirements (except manual 1st gen or auto 2nd gen) I came to the conclusion you'll either pay about $10k for a 1st gen with 100k+ miles or you need to bump up your budget a bit to get a lower mile/decent 2nd gen. I also had to be on top of the search basically 24/7 as the good trucks would sell within a day or two of being listed. Learn your market values, don't settle and don't be scared to walk away from anything that makes you uncomfortable. I saw my fair share of sketchy trucks during my search and walked away from what seemed like some great deals

 

You get the California tacoma tax but if you look a little more south you shouldn't have a problem if you search long enough. Don't settle! California tacos may be at a premium but you almost never have to deal with rust. Just my experience and 2 cents.

 

I’m not afraid of walking away, that’s why you always bring a friend with! I guess I need to stay on top of the postings. I’m checking regularly, but only in my area. I check other areas maybe a couple of times a week. If it goes another few months I’ll probably have to bump my budget to $20k. The main thing I like about the 2nd gets over the 1st is the timing chain too.

I hate the damn California Tacoma Tax! I had someone show me an ‘01 they claimed the engine was replaced in, with 285k miles, and they still asked $9k. I guess I’ll just stick to CA and AZ trucks religiously, and slowly move to other states afterwards?

 

https://medford.craigslist.org/ctd/d/portland-2002-toyota-tacoma-xtra-cab/6932445269.html
https://medford.craigslist.org/cto/d/grants-pass-2001-toyota-tacoma-4x4-trd/6920815911.html
https://medford.craigslist.org/cto/d/rogue-river-04-tacoma/6919284356.html
https://roseburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/wilbur-2009-toyota-tacoma/6932195461.html
https://klamath.craigslist.org/ctd/d/medford-2009-toyota-tacoma-4x4-home-of/6932509688.html
https://eugene.craigslist.org/ctd/d/springfield-2008-toyota-tacoma-4x4/6932383009.html


These are around your price range but is in Oregon at a dealer that you might be able to talk down.

 

I would start in the central valley and work your search outwards. Most ones you find will be around your requirements, youve just got to look or decide what is secondary to you (paint, year, aftermarket parts, dealer or private seller, etc) Here is one almost in your range, maybe you could talk the dealer down

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/d/sacramento-2009-toyota-tacoma-v6-4x4/6927423165.html

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/d/fair-oaks-2007-toyota-tacoma-access/6925481522.html

Edit: I would avoid 2005s altogether, just not worth the gamble. All other second gens I recommend though

 

It sucks that money always has to be an issue, I wish all of us including myself could be shopping for a 2020 Tacoma right now. Keep looking,, the truck you want is out there somewhere.

 

I had to fly to Florida to buy the truck I was looking for. I could not find one in Texas.

I was looking for a clean, one owner, low miles 2015. DCSB, 4x4, V6, etc. People that have the Sport and Offroad keep them.

My search took way too long. But I wasn’t about to compromise on my criteria. I finally gave up looking in a 250 mile radius. So, your area might not produce the truck you want. Setup a saved search on cars.com with your filters.

 

cars.com and autotrader allow you to type in your exact requirements and searches out to 500 miles I believe.

 

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/willcox-2015-toyota-tacoma-4x4/6919066905.html

Not much rust in AZ..

 

Almost seems too good to be true

 

Especially when its getting 25mpg......

 

Agreed, but the retirement community down here is pretty big and you sometimes end up finding some steals. I’d say worth just checking it out at least, but would have to be pretty solid obviously to come all the way down here

 

Be careful with Lithia, the Portland dealership gave us one price on the phone and jacked it 1K when we got there. We walked.

 

I feel your pain in the Bay Area N. Cal. search. It became an obsession for me, I checked CL mostly many times a day for several months and other sights. You become familiar with what is on the marked so you know immediately when something is new for sale. Eventually found my '06 with 122K 15 minutes away. You have to be ready to pull the trigger without any messing around, ether cash or have your financing fully in place. Financing on older trucks can be challenging so cash is king. I was #2 inline but #1 passed because the TPS light was on and wanted to have it checked out. YES! #1 called back within hours but it was a done deal by then. The manual is going to be your hang up, nothing wrong with a gen 2 auto.

 

Almost. But my Hangup is almost 140k miles in 4 years? That truck was ridden hard. And also, 25 mpg hah.

I would have to finance, so I guess I should get that in place ASAP. I wouldn’t turn down a good deal on a gen 2 auto, but it would have to be a steal for me to give up on the manual. Maybe I am too picky....

 

No, not much rust here, it's not as good as getting an Arizona or southern truck, but it's a lot better than the northeast where they salt the roads. I'm not aware of any cities around here that use salt. Just makes sure on your title search that it is actually a Colorado truck or western/southern truck. Used car dealers like to pick up NE trucks cheap and bring them out here.