'07 Double or '09 Access

Hello,

I'm looking at purchasing my first Tacoma and was hoping to get some opinions on which vehicle would be a better purchase. I'm planning on using this truck for as long as possible (hoping another 400k).

My dilema is trying to decide which vehicle to purchase, a red 2007 double cab or a gray 2009 access cab.

Background:

Both have 150k (kilometers)
Both have a V6
Both come with summer and winter tires
Both are munual
Both include colour matched toppers
Both 6' box
Both are TRD

The reason the 2007 is being sold is because the owner has left the country and will not be returning for a while.

07 Pros:
new sub frame installed, as per the warrenty/recall
was owned by a toyota mechanic for 15 years

07 Cons:
will need 2 bearrings replaced
e brake replaced
hole in the passenger side rocker
few rust spots on the body
double cab (sort of a con, still not sure if it really matters, just don't like the length)
red, I feel like red's a bit loud.
won't provide a safety as they are selling for a friend whose out of the country.

I'm looking at buying this one as is. With the expecation it will be around 12/13k all in, after a safety

unaccounted for:
-- may need brakes rotors --



The reason the 2009 is being sold is because the owner has been given a work truck and no longer has a need for it.

09 Pros:
access cab (my preference)
grey
frame is in great shape
truck looks immaculate
breaks and clutch good
will provide safety

09 Cons:
O2 sensor is on, potentially needs a new catalytic converter.


Hoping to get this one for 16-18k with a safety done by the owner.


Would be grateful and appreciative to hear anyone's thoughts, concerns, and advice.

Thanks

 

There was no dclb with a manual offered. All dclb’s come with the 5spd auto.

If it’s a dclb and it’s a manual, it’s custom. Several members here have done the swap.

Skip the rust bucket and get the one you prefer, but before handing over cash, really and I mean REALLY check the frame.

 

Yep.

 

Looking at the adjectives you use to describe the access cab - great, immaculate, good…

the choice has already been made brother.

The fact that there was rust and work done on the frame of the dbl cab would lead me personally choose the ac as well.

Never trust a tacoma frame until you’ve personally gone through and corrosealed/POR-15ed/woolwaxed ever sq inch yourself.

 

Yea I'd skip on the 07, sounds like it's pretty rusty.

No matter what your get make sure to either get a pre-purchase inspection done by a competent shop or look everything over really well yourself if your confident in doing so before you buy.

You said they are both TRD OffRoads make sure they actually are, there's alot of "fake" ones out there with TRD stickers. If it's a true TRD OffRoad it will have the locking rear diff as that is exclusive to the TRD OffRoad and 15+ TRD Pro.

 

09

 

Like this guy says, really, really check out the frame with a ball peen hammer. Especially where the rear shocks and the rear leaf springs mount. Good luck with your decision.

 

The details are up to you.

as for the big picture
Depends

do you want a useful vehicle that you drive to work in

or do you want the smallest truck on the market with a useless bed to pretend a crowd of people want to sit in it every day that are not

for reasons and benefits unknown to me, I did the latter

and I am still looking at deleting my rarely used back seat anyway

 

I'd verify that bed length on the 07. If it truly is a DCLB with a manual trans I'd ask about who did the work. If the frame was replaced I'd look closely at brackets and other parts for rust, but wouldnt shy away for some light body rust if the skeleton is good. As far as being maintained by a Toyota mechanic

The 09 sounds like the nicer of the two, but I will tell you that my biggest regret is buying an access cab over a double cab. One time in my life have I carried my motorcycle in the bed, and a few more inches of tailgate mattered. But I can't bring friends and family out on the trail when they come to visit, and this is my favorite thing to do. I'd give up bed space for passenger space any day.

If you're not worried about passengers ever, and you want the access cab for solo or 2 person adventures then go for it. But if you ever want to carry a third person over the age of 6 not in a car seat...wait for the right double cab.

Either truck you should look if relevant tsbs have been done. I know there is one for the gas pedal gettin caught on the floor mat and the rear suspension. If they aren't don't then you're on you own to fix them at this point, but good to know..

 

Huh, I wasn't aware of that. The seller made no mention of a swap.
The first question I asked was the box length and they said 6'. Looking again at the photos I'm thinking it looks more like a 5'5" because there is no smooth body gap between the fender trim and the cab..
Dang, that'll make the decison real easy.

Shoulda asked the mechanic to verify that today..


Thanks. I will be sure to bring a hammer.

 

I would bet it's a 5'5" and he rounded up.

 

Definitely getting pre-purchase on both. Thanks for that, I'll be sure to verify.

 

2009 all the way.
I own a 2007 AC.

It's a TRD Off-Road.

While the 2007' is a good truck, It will have either a mechanical LSD or open differential. (You didn't say what model?)
The mechanical LSD is getting really hard to find rebuilds for. And the Open diff SUCKS unless you lock it.

The 2009 trucks got the brake actuated differential.
And the BETTER ABS system.

2005-2008 had awful ABS. You'd be better off without the ABS in most situations.
Because the ABS in 2005-2008 will send the truck down on the road when it comes on. (Mud, Snow, loose dirt,)
It doesn't help stop at all......

FWIW, the back seats in the AC are WORTHLESS as seats.
Don't force a anyone over 4' tall to ride back there. Better yet, just don't think of them as seats at all.

 

Appreciate the honesty. Its to Drive/travel to work and I'll put a camper setup in it. I wouldn't mind the extra storage space of a dbl and to be able to offer a bit more space to passangers, but I think a 6ft box would better suit my needs.

 

Yeah thinking so. Will verify soon.

 

Ive got a stock 08 dbl cab with manual tran... I think all years of gen 2 has manuals

 

You can get a double cab with a manual (I have one) but you cant get one with a 6 ft (long bed), only a 5.5ft (short bed).

 

it is 5 feet.
A 6MT longbed can be made.

 

thank you Dm93, that makes sense.... mine is definetly a short bed.