1996 Tacoma $6,600

Checking this truck out on Saturday. 1996 4x4 trd off road
~151,000 miles.

Seller wants $6,600

Wondering what TW thinks.

 

Check the frame and make sure it has a clean title. Also, ask if the seller keeps service records (oil changes, tuneups, unscheduled service, etc). If you test drive it, make sure everything works (A/C, cruise control, etc). If everything checks out, try to get the seller down to $4,500-$5,000. Seems like a nice truck!

 

there was NO SUCH thing as TRD in 1996, that started in 1998
what line are they trying to give to you

it does look very much like mine, except its missing the exterior style, which was a different in 1996 if I am not mistaken

 

I wouldn’t pay more than 4500 for it. That’s assuming the frame is in good shape

 

By exterior style, do you mean the front end/headlights? 1995-1996 had the more aggressive-looking front end with the sealed-beam headlights. 1998-2000 was the more "euro-styled" front end...

 

Had a friend stop by work back in the spring with a 1st Gen he was thinking about buying. It had almost the same miles on it, one owner, black, always maintained.
The frame looked great, light flash rust at worst. I told him I thought it looked great but would still get it up on a lift and check the frame rails front to back (which he did)
He ended up buying it for $5000 or $5500 can’t remember which.
In July he stopped back in, frame cracked under the cab, rusted from the inside out.
If I hadn’t seen it myself I wouldn’t have believed that was even possible.
I’ve owned two 1st Gens and would love to have another but won’t even consider one unless the frames been replaced.
I do live in the rust belt though.

 

why would you not pay more than that?
please elaborate
these old trucks are worth quite a bit more if in good mechanical order and interior is not trashy
the SR5 model is top of the line

 

the SR5 graphics for 1996 are missing, they were the fancy lightning bolt pattern i think
could be it was repainted, also the wheels probably painted as well, they do resemble the alloys from afar

is there a backend picture, @Falcon016

 

More than likely...

I detailed cars at dealership for a bit. I can tell you that the import brands user cheaper paints than the domestic brands. Nissan is the absolute worst. White Toyotas are also pretty bad.

Also, I was hit by a drunk driver in 2015. My left rear fender and rear bumper had to be replaced. My truck is Silver Streak Mica. If you look closely, you can see that body work has been done. The body shop I went to did a better job of painting my truck than the factory did when it was new!

 

That ain't no TRD, as stated above the TRD package wasn't offered until a couple years later. If they're using that as a selling point you should call them out on it and haggle a lower price.

Low miles for a '96 which is cool, make sure the frame has no rust. If the suspension is original plan on having to replace it. Bushings will likely need replacing too after all these years, low mileage or not rubber ages and cracks over time. Timing belt should be done at 100k if it's a v6, if no maintenance records then plan on doing fluids all around. Lower ball joints will probably need to be done too I assume.

Rust is the achilles heel of these trucks, make sure that frame looks good...they usually rust from the inside out.

Test the 4wd out on a dirt lot make sure it functions as it should

 

there was a bad paint problem on the early 2000s i think or so I have seeen on TW
not much for bad paint on the early 1st gens that I know of

 

Crazy how much power a TRD decal has. Throw it on anything It’s magic

 

do you recall what model year that truck was?
or what state it was located?

 

On the year, no, but I think it was pre 2000.
The state was W.V. and the truck was honestly near mint. I thought he got a great deal. Around here a 1st Gen in that condition is very hard to come by.

 

It all comes down to where the truck lives !!

Just What engine and How it was taken care of!!

How much wrenching you can do yourself .

150,000 if that is correct mileage you may be looking at some major Maintenance !!

 

most importantly...what does the frame look like? inspect that bitch like you're giving it a colonoscopy

 

No, they're worth about 5k in good shape. Ultimately something is "worth" whatever you can get someone to pay. Get lucky with an idiot and you'll make some money. But it's bad economic strategy yo either plan on finding that idiot or being that idiot yourself.

Sr5 is a sticker, nothing more.

 

from looking at the pictures so far it seems to be in better than just good shape, good shape would mean a raggedy looking interior, .. maybe something is lurking in the back of the cab though?
SR5 has all the power options + other stuffs, so quite a bit more than just a sticker I would think

 

ask the seller what the heck that is sticking out of the cupholder tray!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-tacoma-buyers-guide.156943/

This says 1996 the off road package was offered.