Got a Deployment Coming Up, Sell the Tacoma?

Title says it all. I posted this in the CO thread, but figured I'd put it here for more visibility.

I'm supposed to spend a year overseas starting later this year, and am debating what to do with my Taco. Initially I was all set to store it and come back to it, but given how nuts the current used market is I am considering capitalizing on that and taking the gamble that the market will stabilize by the time I get back in late 2022.

I would be selling the truck in Colorado.

Carvana already offered me $15,500 sight unseen. To spur the conversation a bit, here's my rig:

- 2014 DCSB SR5 V6 5A 4x4
- Blue Ribbon Metallic
- 178K miles
- Sport hood and grill
- Icon Stage 4, including Delta Joint UCAs and Icon AAL
- Method bronze 17" 701's
- BFG K02 255/75R17s (32x9) with 15K miles on them
- Leer 100R with roof rack
- CBI Offroad Skid plates (front, transmission, t-case)
- Avid Offroad bolt on sliders
- Weathertech Floor Liners
- Overall very good condition, some rock chips and mountain pinstripes

If I were to sell it, the plan would be to get a new Taco (TRD OR), 4Runner (OR or Pro), or JLU (Sport and add my own rear locker) upon return.

Thoughts?

 

If it’s paid for keep it. But if you prefer to be 40k in the whole upon your return or unless you plan on paying cash for the new one I’d keep it.

 

Keep it. Put some good fuel stabilizer in it with a full tank of gas (make sure to run it a bit to circulate that stabilizer through the full fuel system), battery on a tender and the short pin pulled in the fuse box. You will be able to come home and in about 3 min of prep hop in a truck that will start without issue and go another 178k miles and not have to pay 40k for a new truck or more for the same used truck.

 

Sell it and move on

 

I would never sell a 2.5 gen tacoma and then buy a third gen tacoma a year later. Store it and carry on.

 

You will kick yourself over and over if you sell that

 

It depends on what you're doing with your truck while you're gone. If you leave it with family that is for sure for sure going to take care of it, baby it, wash it, drive it, maintain it, or you are going to store it indoors somewhere on jackstands with fresh fluids and gas stabilizer, then sure just hold onto it. For storage, just be sure to let your insurance know for a discounted rate (recommend comprehensive coverage) and throw it on non op.

But if you're going to leave it and it's going to be neglected like maybe in the POV deployment parking lot *shudders* or maybe family doesn't have time to care for it or you see your nephew with a brand new drivers license wringing his hands, then sell it and hope that you can replace it with one in better condition and hope that prices have normalized a bit.

 

thats a fair price.....................maybe not for ALL Ur mods

yet the market is driving prices Ur way

not likely to continue for another year

if U were not deployin & continue to drive it....................more milees more depreciation

if U park it more depreciation

id sell

pay off old bills

keep whats left over..............save more $$$$$$ for a healthy down pmt

grin all the way out the showroom

 

To help you decide, you could take a new 3rd gen for a test drive. I think it’ll be disappointing and push you towards keeping yours.

Don’t tell the dealership your deployment and purchase/keep plans. They’ll likely walk away and ignore you.

 

Heck, take the offer and have a trade for stock plus cash type of posting on TW and you will bank some extra dough. Future military plans may change so I would sell now when the market is good with an already guaranteed offer. It’s not like you have a low mileage truck to preserve.

 

Whatever you do, don't take that $15.5k offer as you'd be able to get WAY more than that by selling local. Bring it out to CA, I'll detail it, market it for you and we can split the difference from the Carvana offer That's probably a $20-25k truck here in SoCal depending on condition and options.

 

Thanks for the input all. Good points on both sides.
Financially the best call is probably to keep it. It’s paid for and my parents are willing to watch/drive the vehicle and I’m not too concerned about that. This is mainly a thought on seizing the advantage of the absurd market right now.

I also would be selling it myself, the Carvana offer is just a reference.

If it makes a difference, the lead contender by far is the 4Runner. I’m not that interested in the 3rd gen Taco.

 

If you're going to sell it, now's a good time to do so. If you're never going to sell it, there's your answer. Don't overthink it.

Oh, and sell it yourself.

 

markets ALWAYS cycle.....................

buyers markets............................sellers markets

post covid in 1 year it will be a different world

smart $$$$$$ seldom goes out more than 2 quarters

1 year is crystal ball tea leaves & predicting the future

good luck on Ur deployment

 

Looks like you’ve got 10k in mods alone. Sounds like it’s setup to last another decade.

 

Keep it.

Have spent close to that time frame overseas since getting my 16 and glad I’ve held on to it. 15 is a crazy low ball for any 14

 

You could make all the ‘Million Dollar Men’ put their money where there mouth is and list it here in the marketplace…


You/we will all quickly know what it’s really worth.

 

It's a good thought if you know you'll be getting rid of it. But the market isn't going to crash on these in the next 1-2yrs. Soften, yeah, maybe. But definitely not crash unless there's a pretty big national financial crisis of some type which I think is highly unlikely.

My guess would be that any premium you'd get from selling today vs 1-2yrs from now would be eclipsed by the tax bill alone on a new vehicle purchase. If you want to sell or want to move to a different vehicle then you're lucky because now is a great time to sell. But, if you're just looking at this financially then the smart move is to keep the truck you have.

 

Paid for 100% keep it. In the ideal situation you sell high and buy low you will still pay more for the newer vehicle.

And unless it can be driven at least 20 miles + (fully heated up) best to park it like described and not start it.

 

The market is indeed in your favor right now. Unless you are strongly attached to this truck, I would recommend selling it, with storage as the back-up plan. That mentality will get you top value for the truck too, since you can tune out the ass holes and the low-ballers.

But don't sell unless you're prepared to invest the proceeds for the duration of your deployment. Don't just leave the money in a bank to rot, and especially don't spend it on a boat or an online acquaintance. For the next year or two, your neglected pickup truck will likely hold its value better than cash in a mattress or even a savings account.

That's not very typical; I'd like to make that point.