Another Possible Tacoma 2002.

Hi Folks,

I found another possible Tacoma that I am looking at(I have posted threads before, and I have not brought one yet). I love this forum so far, they helped me stay away from a salvage title.

I am gonna try to talk him down, but I don't know how far.

Here is the listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYO...7690611?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3360d1be73

It seems overpriced just from looking at it.

Suggestions?

 

It doesn't look awful. Price seems a bit on the high side for the buy it now price.


Pros:
New frame, shocks, exhaust, brakes (probably all done during the frame replacement)

One owner.


Cons:
Not sure why the rear bumper was replaced and mentioned $3k in repairs (either hit something or was hit by something, although not necessarily vehicle related since no report on carfax. Maybe backed into a tree or something.)

Not a TRD the best I can tell (no stickers, and no pics of the rear locker button)

Manual Trans (con to me, but may be a pro or indifferent to you)

Plastic bed liner (con due to rubbing off paint, but not a big deal).

No towing package, but you can always add a hitch later for a couple hundred if you want.



The only major thing seems to be the price and that it may not be a TRD, if you even care about the rear locker. If you can talk him down $3k, I dont see any reason it would be bad.

 

I think they might have replaced, what they mentioned in the ad, because of rust?

 

He said the price is pretty firm. Going down 3k might seem like an insult... Damn me and my finds!

 

That's not a horrible price but still a little high for the miles. I bought my 01 for 12,000 five years ago with 74,000 miles on it. I wonder is that LPS frame spray from Toyota or aftermarket? Also, tires look like they might need replacing pretty soon.

 

I thought that also about the tires, but the listing says they're new, so I chalked it up to dust causing an illusion of it being low tread. One of the back views looks like there's a lot more tread than the side view. I think they're about normal for standard all terrain.

Even on Discount Tires site, they dont look like they have a ton of tread.

 

If it was rusted so bad that it needed a frame then there is body rust also.

I would pass on it.

 

Not true.

 

Yeah, what 96 said. Mine got replaced but the body's in really good shape, I asked the mechanic that was doing the work if I could take a look at the underneath parts when he had it up in the air, he said all the panels looked good.

 

Well the frame is alot thicker than the body panels.

If the frame is gone how do the thinner panels hold up longer than the frame??

How can you explain that?


I'm talking about UNDERNEATH where the frame attaches and where the panels are crimped together.

I've seen the body mounts rust away and the frame still be good.

Heck the fuel lines and clamps will rust away.

You better look real good.

 

It has been explained by Toyota directly. The steel frame rails were not properly coated from the factory so they are prone to accelerated deterioration. Even though they are thicker, they are steel which will just oxidize to shit even with water - add in the salt, dirt and calcium-chloride and a frame may not last 6 years, as evidenced by some of the '04's that have been turned in.

If Toyota never had a frame problem, and it was replaced by the owner, then yes I would look real good at the body. But an 8 year old vehicle is not going to have much if any rust on painted body panels. That's not to say the OP shouldn't check the crimps and body, but I wouldn't be concerned with that AT ALL.

 

Anyone else notice the rust on the drum's of the tire?

After talking with the guy, this is the story.

The truck cant budge in price because he is selling for a friend. ( Don't believe)

All the parts were replaced on the truck AFTER the new frame from toyota, due to this truck "being built" for someone's son and that person wanting a stable vehicle.

To me, it sounds like something was very wrong with the truck were all the parts needed to be replaced and now this guy is attempting to sell it for what it is worth + price of parts put in.

Any ideas?

 

Dont worry about the rust on the outside of the drums and non-friction parts on the rotors. They're just made with cast iron for the most part and always rust on every vehicle I've seen (unless someone paints them new).

As far as your conclusion that he's trying to make his money back on parts, I think you're right.

If you really want the truck, just show him the kbb value of it and tell him the truck is not worth more than that, no matter what stock parts he put in and no one is going to pay more than that for a stock truck. Then wish him luck in his sale and ask him to contact you when he's more reasonable. If he put in aftermarket upgrades, thats one thing, but he just put back in OE equivalents.

If he would've tried to sell the vehicle before those replacements, it would've been considered Poor condition and probably not worth more than $5k. Guess you could offer him $5k plus half of the cost of all the receipts for parts he has and see what that number comes to. (frame replacement was free from the dealer)