thoughts on this '04?

drove this '04 today...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=280401782

it's a fully-optioned truck in the last year of the 1st gen. it drives nice, has new tires (though spare is well worn), inspection 'til august. everything seems to work. no odd noises. pretty clean for an 80k-mile truck, but still an 80k-mile truck (in other words, not SUPER clean, but clean). straight, original body panels, original paint.

points of concern: unknown service history, though carfax suggests at least some upkeep (oil was clean, but is likely brand new as dealer has mechanic go over all vehicles), rear leaf springs may be sagging just a bit, shocks are all original, rear axle and parts of shocks have been rattle-canned over in black, wheel wells may also have been recently sprayed with undercoating, plastic insert bed liner has left it's mark around the top of the bed/gate, hitch has obviously been removed, water was dripping from front seam of bed from where a crack in the bed liner was allowing this week's rain in (truck was inclined forward slightly, so bed had ~1" of water in front half -- concern being moisture trapped under liner), frame has not obviously been treated/replaced.

(aside question: is it true that frame inspection must occur this month?)

dealer came down to $15,800 and let me walk. it's been on the lot for six or seven weeks after having spent 2-3 months on a toyota-dealer's lot after trade.

thanks in advance for the thoughts!!

 

If you can wait till towards the end of the month, and they still haven't sold it, go in and offer them 15k. Do it on a wednesday too. but if you are afraid it might be bought out from under you, GO FOR IT!!! It's a nice looking truck.

 

Nice find. Looks good. Buy it and don't look back. At 80K it is barely broken in.

 

Yeah, looks like a real nice clean truck.

 

Sounds too high to me. I just bought a '09 base regular cab 4X4 with 18,000 miles for $16,145 in June. Have you checked on Autotrader, Ebay and Kelly Blue Book websites?

 

i kinda did some quick research and found that the value of the truck you're looking at, assuming in excellent condition, is worth around $14,710

http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/toyota...137664|true&condition=excellent&mileage=81000

 

sorry this is the link. the above is for a Tundra... $15,965

http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/toyota...137033|true&condition=excellent&mileage=81000

btw, if you're going to buy a truck. go to the dealership at the end of the month... at the end of the day. end of the month because they're trying to fill their quotas. and at the end of the day because they're trying to hurry up and get a sale so they can go home

 

Like Chewie said - wait till the end of the month, in the middle of the week, walk in and offer them blue book value or less. The salesmen are hungry for a deal then because their boss is on them to meet their quota for the month.

I have purchased 4 or 5 cars at the stealership.....you have to really be on your game to get a good deal, and be willing to walk away if they won't deal.

It is a great looking truck, but don't pay more than you should!!!

 

WOW......I bought mine about 18 months ago. It is the same thing, but silver. It had 67k at the time and only paid $14,000 at a dealership in Tucson, AZ. I guess I must have got a damn good deal. It now has about 84k miles.

Offer them 14,000 or less

If they are stuck on that price, fly to Colorado and get this one.......
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=287753918&dealer_id=42237177&car_year=2004&rdm=1286718368116&lastStartYear=1981&model=TACOMA&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=2003&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=500&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=TOYOTA&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=4wheeldrive&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=88065&advanced=y&end_year=2004&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=525&standard=false

 

I notice the ad says 27,000 miles and odometer says 62,000?

 

Trip mileage 6293..........

 

Ahhh..

 

nadaguides: retail 16675
edmunds: retail 14074 (clean), 15400 (outstanding)
kbb: retail 14620 (excellent)

so part of my issue is the wide range of values offered by these resources. dealer says that he can't buy them at auction for what edmunds and kbb say they're worth...

 

Nevermind

 

The frame inspection from what I am told by Toyota you get a free inspection once a year, I bought a 04 Acess,TRD 50 K auto new tires and battery, one owner, all Toyota service records in May of this year in Kansas City gave $18,500 ( Car Max ). I probably paided a little more than I should of but WTF, you gona do if you want it. Also if you buy it check the Quarter glass window's for broken links. Good luck!

 

I just got a 2003 w/94k. Loaded and looks NEW. has everything except overdrive. 4x4 extra cab w/6cyl,bed cover, crome wheels,sr5, off road racing ,ECT>. Paid 13k. It does need tires -probably 700.00. I would low ball them w/14k.at the end of the month. they try to reduce inventory for tax reasons. KEEP LOOKING-Get what YOU want at YOUR PRICE. I looked for 9 months--finally found what I wanted-except year--wanted a 2004-- got 2003 and not dissappointed--GREAT TRUCK

 

This one is selling for 16K.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/cto/2018020946.html

 

Just remember in 10,000 miles you're gonna have to do the timing belt and water pump which usually runs upwards of $600

 

@newertoy: that's pretty much how i'm going. interestingly, the truck still sits on the dealer lot, so their price obviously isn't a steal. i like this truck and it's essentially what i want...except for the price...

@fidencio: it's tough to go by the listing prices...searching autotrader, there are a bunch of trucks for $16k-ish that are similar. but many have been there for awhile...and they don't update the listings with what they ultimately sell for. there's similar truck on ebay right now that is relisted. the last time through, bidding petered out at $14.6k...reserve not met. on dealer's website: $18750(!).

@madjik: that is foremost in my mind...especially since there are essentially no records available for this truck.

thanks all for the input!! still looking...or waiting for the dealer to call back. they did drop another $300 off the price in a recent email exchange...but claim they can't do 14s (which is my stated range). they suggest that these trucks auction in the 14s, but of course haven't said what they paid for THIS truck...

 

you have to wonder why the truck sat in the dealer lot for 2-3 months and didnt sell and now almost 2 months here and still didnt sell