New Taco Advice

Is there any amount of low miles that would be TOO low for used? I’ve found some 13-15s with as low as ~40k miles up to ~80k. Would any of that be too low, and would something like 100k be better? More broken in perhaps?

Second question, am I being too picky? I found a pretty good deal on a 14 DCSB TRD OR locally, but for $23k, when there’s some across the country with 40-80k miles for as low as $15k (not DCSB TRD ORs), that feels wrong to me. I wanted to save some money for mods too.

Any advice for traveling cross country for a vehicle? What if you got there and the truck was bad? I’d be devastated.

Thank you.

 

I can chime in with some personal experience:

I bought my 2010 DCLB Sport in October of last year with 55k miles on it. It was a 1 owner dealership maintained truck with thorough maintenance history and very little wear. It had the frame replacement just done on it, and new brake lines, new exhaust, good looking suspension, etc.

To me the truck feels, looks and drives like a brand new vehicle. I bought it on the spot after a 5 minute test drive.


The biggest thing to watch out for is frame rust on these vehicles, try to find one where the frame has been recently replaced.

 

I don’t think there is such a thing as “too low miles” as long as it’s being driven somewhat regularly and not because it’s just been sitting for years.

 

IMO - lower mileage is better. But as in all things: "caveat emptor". A lot of conditions / circumstances affect vehicle mileage, see post #2. In my case, because of changes in demands on my time, interests, commitments, etc, I will drive my Tacoma less than 3K miles this year, less than 4K last year and going forward, it will likely have less than 70k by the time it is 10 yrs old (2015 w/ 57K). Always garaged, maintained, and professionally detailed twice a year, stone stock, it's a "cream puff". So yes, there are used Tacoma's ( and others) that would definitely be worth a plane ride, with little chance of buyer remorse.

 

Generally lower miles is better. I’ve consistently run 2 vehicles. The truck is a 2014 and has 60k miles.

 

I want to say there’s a resource for having a vehicle inspected for when it’s far away like that, maybe through car fax or something.

Low mileage vehicles do legitimately exist. It’s not like the old days when they could spin the mechanical odometer dial back.

Things to look at in a low mileage vehicle. Weak battery, look up how to do a starter voltage drop test. Milky motor oil. It can be difficult to notice on the dip stick but it shouldn’t smell like gear oil. Old tires, learn to read what the numbers on the sidewall mean. I didn’t do that and had to buy a new set. They were so old it would leave chunks of rubber from doing a 3 point turn.

Specific for a Tacoma, look for frame rust. There’s specific areas to tap with a screwdriver to see if it pokes through, not sure exactly where.

 

Funny you say that; I thought I found a pretty good one a bit further way, but just discovered it’s been sitting on the lot for over 530 days….

 

I am only weary of trucks that have sat for very long periods without being driven since that’s not good for them.

 

Carfax’s help for sure, but that wouldn’t save me if someone was lying about covered up rust or there was some “new” issue.

Anyone know this last part?

 

Sometimes low miles can just be a lucky find. My 2017 just cracked 30K. It's not that it sits, it's just that my last job was a 2 mile drive from the house, then I transitioned into remote work. When you are not driving to and from work every day, the miles really don't add up.

 

The lower the miles the better, there is not really a downside.

Before traveling across the country the biggest thing, with any Tacoma, is frame rust. This is a serious concern that behooves you to do a careful prepurchase inspection. To not carefully inspect the frame for rust is a good way to wind up sucker punched. If it has rust it is a pass.

 

How do I get a 3rd party pre purchase inspection without actually being there?

 

You’ll need to make sure it isn’t a friend’s garage of the seller giving it an excellent report. Time for google-fu.

 

You will need to engage with a local mechanic. All I can tell you, is NEVER purchase a Tacoma without a frame inspection by a competent person who is familiar with the rust issues. It is a serious concern. Tacoma frames exposed to salt or even much worse. I would recommend not purchasing a Tacoma from any stare or province known to use salt on the roads. Others can disagree, you should take it serious, your money and real easy to wind up with a vehicle that is pretty on top and dangerous frame rust underneath.