Guidance on buying first Tacoma...

Cause most of CaliforniA is dumb enough to over pay by 50 percent or more doesn’t mean you need to. By a plane ticket like someone mentioned save 7k and take a road trip home. With the money saved you can mod to your liking or leave stock.

 

Ahh California. Stupid is as stupid does. Overpaying by 50% would qualify.

 

Sounds like Hawaii. Used car dealers wanting the moon for shitty condition Tacomas. And people pay it, that's the sad part.

I cannot speak to the market in Cali (or how hard it is to find what you want) since it's different given the area, even here in Hawaii. The mileage is on the high side to me and it also depends on your taste in the mods that's on it. If your deep into considering this truck, check it out good (top, bottom, inside, etc. or even get another mechanics opinion). Check the history and service records. Otherwise the engine and trans on these trucks are solid and last. I don't find the $20k too outrageous. If you like it in the end, get it. Good luck man.

 

Found 3 2012 in Texas. 115-145k miles 13.-16k by a $25O plane ticket and save 4-7k. They are stock suspension. There were a couple 2015 with 100k miles $20k if ya wanna spend same amount of money but still 88k fewer miles and 4 years newer.

 

I'd rather have stock anyways, build it how you want.

 

What are you looking on to find them? I just started my search on the OfferUp app, in the Phoenix area and am finding that the prices are A LOT better.

 

Everywhere will be man, I've lived and bought Tacomas in AZ, NJ, PA, IL, do not pay $20k for that truck. There are far better deals out there.

 

Cargurus.com

 

Maybe not to you but to a whole lotta people here it is.

You should start using www.Autotempest.com That's the best source I have found and I've done a lot of car shopping in the past 3yrs (2 Honda CR-V's, 2 Honda CR-Z's and one Tacoma). Once you get your search settings figured out you can just visit daily, run the same search and quickly stroll through all of the new vehicles that pop up. It allows you to search ebay, craigslist, autotrader, cars.com, cargurus.com all in one place. I don't believe it searches Edmunds and it definitely doesn't search Offerup so you'd still have to run those separate. Either way, it's a huge timesaver.

 

And just there, send that to a dealer auction and try to get anywhere near that, period its just not worth that except to those dumb enough to pay that much for it in your area. It's stupid, especially when you can as others said drive across state lines or a plane ticket, hell even buy out of state and have it shipped for thousands less.

 

I wouldn’t pay more than 15-16k for it, if you can get it for 15 I’d say that’s a pretty decent deal

 

I can totally agree with that. just never have bought anything without looking at it and driving it. So not something I'm totally used to by any means.

Thats what I was going to go for 15k, if I decide that I'm going to go with it.

 

I feel ya, its certainly inconvenient. They do have companies that will inspect / drive for you for a low fee/rate, I know ebay used to have a link for them, maybe an option.

 

will have to look into that. This is also my first Toyota ever, so Im learning as I go here. my whole family worked for GM basically so its been Chevy my whole life. But these Tacoma's have won me over completely after renting a few for some weekend trips.

 

I feel ya man, I'm the black sheep of my Ford Family.

 

. If your paying cash I’d offer 15k cash and see what happens.

 

Since this is a private sale, the seller will get cash no matter if OP has cash or has to get a loan. But I agree that 15K would be the max that I would go.

 

190K miles is pretty high if you ask me. isn't that when auto trannies go boom?

 

LOL. No way. I'm at 215k and mine is still smooth as ever. I would say The truck is probably worth 13-15k depending on how much you like the mods and how well its been taken care of.

I bought my truck for 8k 5 years ago with 180k on the clock. Some would say it was too much but the guy had all the receipts for work done and the truck was in mint condition.

 

Depends on the owner, but I see 250-300k 2nd gens still running around / for sale.