Good price on clean 1st gen?

So I have found 2 first gen tacomas I'm interested in but with the market being completely screwed thought I would come here for some opinion on pricing. Found a 2004 tacoma sr5 , manual 4x4 2.7 . Has everything stock except a 2 inch lift and is immaculate inside and out . Also as an added bonus it's silverr which is a color I really like. 189k and they're asking 11,200 but are negotiable.

Second one is a 1998 sr5 manual 4x4 3.4 non trd , 234k . Not as clean but still really good , typical drivers seam tear, and some paint swirling , defects typical of the age but still well kept. Stock everything except wheels, those are late model trd take offs. Kind of a metallic crimson color. Asking 8k.

What do you guys think about the pricing? Also I will be sure to check frame condition and rust for known issues but both have been billed as clean frames, though in person and hammer test will determine that. Red is one of my least favorite colors ( except on my hotrod .....it works for me on that ) but the shade of crimson it's in is tasteful (factory color) and I could live with it. Silver is a color I would and have bought on a new vehicle before given the choice.

Edit: also it should be noted if I go this route whatever I get will be modified . Lift , prefebly ome , 33 in tires , softopper , prp seats, winch, offroad bumpers, sliders, locker and gear (if needed)

 

Only you know How bad the Tacoma Lust is effecting you . Project Truck to tinker with and rebuild from the ground up ??

When was the last timing belt done on the 1998?

How much of the wrenching can you do ?? It is easy to put a $1000.00 in parts in just playing catch up

 

Where are you located

 

I can do quite a bit , and beer and friends can do much more lol buddy has a full vehicle lift and they are fabricators that do their own sas and what not. Also money is not really an issue as I am budgeting about 15-17k to do the vehicle purchase plus all mods/repairs I'm planning. They aren't sure on the timing belt , which makes me leary considering it should be on its second and approaching its 3rd.

 

Salt lake city

 

I’d just keep waiting - I recently bought a 3rd gen 4runner for a vehicle my wife could drive (has to be automatic and mine are manual). I looked at them 4-5 months and missed one I really wanted due to it being a good deal. Ended up finding one with no mods, extra clean inside and out, and mechanic owned. High miles but the price was low enough I could replace the engine with a spare and upgrade all the other stuff the way I wanted and be at my budget for the truck. I’d keep looking until you know the good deals and you know you can’t afford to hold onto your money on a particular one.

 

This is the 2004

 

This is the 2004

 

I’d wait for a 3.4 - the 2.7’s are harder to find engine donors for. The 3.4’s are anemic as it is - unless you’re building a crawling rig you could just gear down for power.

 

The 1998

 

My other vehicle is a ls swapped lq9 cammed and tuned so either option will be slow af. I like the 2.7 due to the timing chain vs belt. I do plan on deep gears if needed

 

The 04 looks like the better option if you can deal with the gutless engine.

Price seems about right to me.

 

Timing belt is easy to change and it’s a non-interference engine. Much easier to find replacements and you don’t have to worry about burned exhaust valves as the 3rz’s like to do that if they’re not checked.

 

1998 is red

 

I will definitely be building . Why do you say the 98

 

98's nice as it's got one cat (at least mine does) and it's the last year that does so, it also has an ECU that accepts the supercharger and hopefully won't have ABS on it. At least with the 3.4 models, 03 and 04's began the drive by wire system which makes finding throttle body components expensive and difficult. It also is the first year that has the full length leaf springs (96-97 have shorter ones that most aftermarket companies don't make springs for).

 

Oh wow . Didn't know this

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-tacoma-buyers-guide.156943/

Another good reason for the 3.4 is the mod and maintenance video catalog made by @Timmah! - almost all relate to the 3.4 3rd gen T4r and 1st gen 3.4 Taco

https://www.youtube.com/c/TimmyTheToolman/videos

 

Against DC’s?
2001 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/7543856

or a spendier but clean frame and white
2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/7542100

 

Yes I am totally against dc's lol