3Pooches version 3.5

Bailey is starting to look at the Tacoma market for when he graduates, he's pretty shell shocked at the prices. I looked in the TW marketplace and was surprised there are some good deals here and there on 2nd gens.

 

If you're looking for rust, major areas I'd check are

Front crossmember where the front skid attaches
Inward facing part of the frame by the cats
frame where it curves down up front, especially by the AC drain
around where the rear links attach to the frame
rear frame caps on the backside of the vehicle
rear section of frame from wheel to end
brake lines going from frame to rear axle

this is where mine has rust issues, I've fixed some, or seen on the interwebs and the FJ and 4runner frames are pretty similar.

this is a pretty minty fresh unit, so hopefully its all clean

 

This is what I was running into when I bought mine and why I ended up buying a 4runner. You loose the truck part, but there are some advantages/disadvantages to both. 1st gen tundras are also cool but without as much markup as the tacoma

 

It's insane. And nobody is haggling at all. If this one doesn't pan out I may wait. I don't even want to pay what they're asking.

 

The one I almost bought had been undercoated at some point in its life, but it had come off in a ton of places. Most of the rust was surface. The rear frame horns were what bothered me. They were flaky. It's probably fine, but I just wasn't feeling it.

 

I have a buddy a few months back say he wanted to get a Pro. Put him in touch with the dealer I bought from, who told him they're putting a $20k markup on Pros. Needless to say my buddy didn't get one.

 

I can put my hand through the rear frame endcaps lol. mine came from PA, learned that lesson the hard way oopsie

 

I don't blame him. This idiot at the dealer was trying to get me to buy a Bronco with a $30k markup. I went off.

 

I mean, this cant go on like this forever, can it?

 

Hope not. Folks seem to think the dealership model is going to change. More like the rest of the world. They have a few models to test drive and you order what you want.

The FJ Cruiser market has always been crazy. I've wanted one since they came out. Then I looked used. Nah. I looked at Land Cruisers and Lexus LX470s. Too much money for high mileage and worn out trucks. I really don't know what else I'd want.

 

I’ve read a couple of things saying prices will come back down some in 8 months to a year. Of course, them, being a creditable source of info remains to be seen.

 

If people keep buying them it could hah.
But I have a feeling with the Fed. Reserve raising rates soon and increased gas prices the market demand will adjust and car prices will follow… or we get more stimulation via the federal gov’t and the 20k markups continue because the dollar is really just worth less than it was.

 

I can’t imagine what’s going to happen when someone buys/finances a $65k corvette for $100+k and the market evens out. Or maybe they total it, I’m not sure gap insurance is really going to cover these kinds of mark ups.

 

Time to make a deep dive into that GAP policy before you buy

 

If I didn't live three hours away and had the finances, I'd very much be intrested. It looks like a decent spot with plenty of storage area.

 

By the way, I know I haven't been on here in one hell of a hot minute with the biggest majority of last year being a complete gamechanger... With that said, I'm having taco-bashing withdrawals!

 

Kyle!!!!!! How you been buddy!? How’s the little girl doing?

 

I've definitely been staying busy between the shop, working on the house, tinkering around on the new "family" car (1969 Pontiac Bonneville Four Door Hard Top 428 that's completely numbers matching!) and as much daddy/daughter time as possible.
She's doing great and growing like a weed!

 

So stinking cute!!! Enjoy those memories!!!