2016 TRD OR with 200k ?

Looking at picking up a Tacoma for a camping/overland rig. I came across a 2016 TRD Off Road Double Cab with 6’ bed. It’s got all the do-dads but super high mileage (200k). It is too clean to have been a serious work truck so I am thinking it may have been an escort vehicle or something similar.

I can pick this one up for less than the 2015 TRD Off Road I am looking at. I prefer the third Gen interior and comfort options, but the mileage has got me a little spooked. I hear these motors can go 300-400k with regular maintenance. This won’t be a daily driver (I have a company car), but it will have to make cross-country trips to the middle of nowhere occasionally for backpacking/camping vacations.

My question is at 200k on a 2016, what should I be concerned with? Also a more subjective question: Would YOU go for a loaded 2016 with 200k or a well equipped 2015 with 80k for a little more?

 

I’d go for the 2nd gen w lower miles, and I’m not even a 2 gen troll that’s life calling is promoting my truck in the wrong forum at TW .
3rd gens are reliable, but at 200k I wouldn’t trust anything for cross country and back country travel, unless my tech buddy and went through everything ourselves.

 

Kinda curious, whats the price on the 2016 with that many miles?

 

I am too,,,, but I’m guessing it’s going for too many dollars.

 

I have two low mileage third gens and really like them both. However in your situation I would definitely buy the much lower mileage 2015.

 

There are 2 schools of thought here... one low mileage is better than high mileage because, low mileage closer to new state than high mileage which is worn out... and high mileage is better than low mileage, because it has been driven and had the kinks worked out and parts replaced while the low mileage sat and rotted...this is where I tend to look at vehicles.

In this case though 80k miles isn't that bad for a 2015. My 2017 has 74,000kms and is driven daily. If it was older then I would sway more towards the higher mileage unit. Here the lower mileage unit maybe your better choice.

Two things to note... I can not see the trucks or go over them throughly so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. Although I am trying to be objective and logical.

And this thread will soon explode with an argument over reliability of the 4.0L and the 3.5L engine and how the 3.5L is a minivan engine. Both engines are quite reliable and will last quite some time with proper maintenance.

 

At first glance, I wanna say go 2nd gen, but without knowing all the details, we really can't make an educated opinion for you. Prices of both, options on both - sounds crazy, but sometimes when you're looking at 25k used vehicles with 200k miles on them, the better option is a brand new (lower trimmed) truck, bc you're just gonna replace all the suspension and half the parts that are upcharged anyways.

 

I sure would. Abuse kills vehicles way before miles do. And I've even trusted long trips to vehicles both abused and over 200k miles.

 

wouldn't trust SOMEONE ELSE'S 200k+ used and abused for cross country and back; big difference lol.

 

I agree 100%!!
So much so, unless I personally and closely know the owner, I assume the worse, that any used vehicle was abused and not treated and maintained like I would. There’s Even some people that don’t maintain vehicle's, but clean them and don’t have dents, so the vehicle looks well cared for from the appearance.
My buddy that’s a Honda tech occasionally buys the most ragged out POS’ and makes em look new again. Fortunately he’s honest and sells em to friends and family, so they know what there’ they’re getting, but he could flip em for a lot more.

 

I am leaning towards the 2015 because of the lower mileage and the “last of the Gen” refinement. I also don’t think I am going to be able to talk the dealer down on the 2016 to a price that is reasonable for the mileage. The bad part is these are both a couple of hours away. The local pool of Tacomas is a little too rich for my blood.

 

You said it’ll be an extra (fun) vehicle so you might consider waiting until the market cools. Of course the unknowns are: how long will the market be this way? And how long will be be here? Only you can make those guesses and figure out if today’s drastically inflated prices are worth it.
GL

 

2nd gen less electronic management that can cost $$$$ to repair replace

 

Get the second gen. Best option is waiting the market out. Since you are flexible, traveling for the right vehicle and just keeping the search strong will lead you to the right one. I'd run from that gen3 unless they are asking like 20k or less.

 

*Flame suit on*

Stick with the 2nd gen if its going to be an overland/ camp rig.

200k on a 3rd gen is a real gamble when it comes to reliability. Last thing you want to do is be stuck way out in the woods.

Even a 2nd gen with 200k would be a gamble. Who knows how the truck was treated for those 200k.

 

Prefer my 3rd gen to my 2nd in every way, but for the difference in mileage I'd get the 2nd. It's young enough that you can still get to know its maintenance and repair needs before anything really gets worn. At 200k, you are really hoping the previous owner took excellent care of it and did the bigger ticket maintenance stuff that may not have been needed yet on the 2G, like trans, diffs and cooling services. The 3rd gen is already way past that threshold.

 

I think the 3rd gen is gonna be perfectly reliable, and I’ve seen many 3.5s in other applications last well past 220k miles.

However, if price is equal (or say, within 3-4K), specs are equal, and the 2nd gen is the cab/bed combo you like, then I’d go for the second gen. They’ll drive similar, and the 2nd gen interior can very easily modernized to what the 3rd gen offers. The 2016 won’t have TSS anyways, so that’s not a factor. Fuel mileage is the same, aftermarket is the same, and both will be supported for a long while to come.

However if the 3rd gen is really that much more appealing to you, and you enjoy it way more than the 2nd gen, get that. I have no qualms that it’ll last. I love mine at 50k miles, all put on in 1 year. No issues.

Also,

 

I would take the 15 because after you drive them 50,000 miles you would have a still valuable 15 with 130,000 miles vs a not so valuable 16 with 250,000 miles.

 

that 3rd gen is prob on its 3rd motor...