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

Portland - https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/d/portland-2006-toyota-tacoma-4x4-4wd/6967654790.html
Portland - https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/d/portland-2006-toyota-tacoma-4x4-4wd/6967652728.html
Portland - https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/d/portland-2008-toyota-tacoma-4x4-4wd/6956924120.html

Sensing a theme? The PNW is a great place to buy a vehicle. Yeah, it rains a lot but that doesn't mean stuff rusts. I spent a lot of time there, 49 years, bought all kinds of car/trucks and never really had a concern unless they were simply not cared for.

Alternatively, look in the inland west like Nevada/Utah/Arizona and you'll find what you're looking for. They go quickly and you should too. I bought my truck in the last 30 days and spent about two hours a day searching, then spent close to 300 miles on the road to go get it, twice. I've got a buddy that flew from Seattle to Tampa to look at an eBay rig that he'd already bought and walked away from it. You need to be committed to getting what you want.

 

I took the VIN they had in the ad and ran it through the Carfax value calculator and it came back as a TRD Pro. That doesn't look like a Pro, it says OffRoad and I thought the Pro didn't start until 2016. Correct me if I'm wrong. I would double check the VIN tag and make sure you know what you're buying. As for the mileage, I wouldn't be worried about it. You were willing to take 160,000 miles on a 15 year old truck, this one has probably had better care.

 

I'll have to take a look at it when I get up there. I'm moving to the PNW in 3 days. Honestly if it is still there next week, I would be surprised. And when I go I'll double check the vin at all locations on the truck. 4 years and 100,000 miles I probably would need to take a look and probably replace the suspension right? I'm also not seeing a TRD OR/Sport option for 2015 either? Just Pro...

 

Highway miles.
You most likely won't have any issues with the suspension at all....
150 K is when they typically need any replacement.
I wouldn't be hesitant to purchase it, check all fluids and walk around insp.
Offer $18K and prepare to walk away, or drive away...

 

I’ll definitely do my own inspection. As far as being prepared to walk away, no problem. Especially if they won’t allow a 3rd party inspection. Hopefully it’s still there next week!

 

They made 2.3 million of them, your rig is out there just waiting.

 

https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification

This may or may not come up with the VIN entered. If not, take the VIN from the ad and plug it in. This truck is an OR.

Nail them for false advertisement for a couple of grand!!!

 

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/760779377/overview/

Sacramento area

 

You'll find it, just keep looking every day. I just picked up an '06 double cab, v6, m/t trd or with 83k for $17,900, zero rust, out of state truck from colorado and then florida before that that was owned by an army guy. I was checking the local cl every day during my lunch break(mainly to kill time) and when this popped up I jumped on it, test drove it, and then committed within 4 days of the original posting.

 

Dude! So much bedliner!
Protection or cover-up?

 

Hard to say. It's a stock truck with steps and mudflaps intact so can't really say protection from going off-road though it checked off a lot of the OP''s requirements.