First post need some buying advice

Hey everyone I’m new here and I’m in the process of buying a truck. I went and looked at a 2021 TRD Sport 4x4 DCSB today with the 6 speed manual. I think I’d be happy with either transmission but I’m a sucker for a manual, and this truck had the Premium package, technology package and LED package in a color I liked. (Cement)


So I took a half day off of work and made an hour and a half drive to look at this thing today and overall it’s pretty clean looking. I looked up underneath though and there’s some mud up under it that they didn’t clean off. That kind of made me not have a great feeling about it, but since it’s a 4x4 and hunting season just ended pretty recently I went on the test drive.

My main question for you MT owners is where does your clutch pedal start grabbing? This truck didn’t move until the last maybe 1” or so of pedal. I could also feel it kind of pulsing and making the truck shudder when trying to take off. The transmission itself felt great and shifted smoothly but the clutch seems like it’s on its way out.

I left after I told the salesman and he reached back out offering to take $500 off the price but that’s not enough. I’m about to price a clutch kit, flywheel and maybe see if I can find what labor costs would be. I have access to a lift and can do the job myself I’m just wondering how much of a discount it would take to make it worth my time. It was hard to leave it behind because it was pretty much the exact truck I wanted price and mileage wise (87k) but my gut feeling told me to walk away.

 

Welcome to the forum

You really can't judge the clutch life by where it grips on these trucks.

A nice clean manual truck is hard to come by, personally I would negotiate as much off as I could and take the gamble if you can change it yourself if needed.

It might still work and feel the same in 5 years.

 

Thank you for the reply, I was sitting here reading old threads and found out that these clutches seem to grab all over the place and the accumulator makes it feel weird too.

It is hard to find a manual especially spec’d the way I’d want it on the used market.

I think I’m gonna end up going back tomorrow and chance it. The rest of the truck was nice and other than the odd clutch feel it drive good.

Thanks again,
Joey

 

I live on the top of a mountain, it is about 3 miles down to the flatland.
Occasionally my truck will shudder quite noticeably only at the first stop after coming down the hills.
It has never done it anywhere else and done it in the same place for 5 years.

I don't worry about it.

I have had many manuals over the years and always took some pride in my smooth shifting, this truck it the hardest vehicle I have ever driven to get consistently smooth shifts without really concentrating on it.

BTW, the Sport is a blast to drive with the firm suspension & manual transmission, every time I get in the truck it still whispers to me "let's roll".

 

Somebody pulled the bed stickers, hard pass.

 

Yeah it’s completely debadged I’d want to put it all back.

 

The clean look might grow on you.

 

De-badger here checking in

similar input as the rest - my ‘23 manual also can be picky on the clutch release here and there, and I drove it off the lot brand new.

I had to buy new because I couldn’t find a reasonably priced used manual, and waited a full 12 months for my new one to come in.

FWIW, wouldn’t discount this truck because of the clutch but negotiate for sure

 

My 22 with almost 30k miles has always had a little clutch shudder in 1st if I don't slip it enough. I still forget it lacks low end grunt and it will let me know.

 

Not really relevant given the number of years difference... buttttttttttt....
My 1992 Toyota Pickup had 199,999 miles on the stock clutch when I sold it.

I'd sell my mother to the Taliban to get that truck back. Sold it for $1000.... what a chump I was.

 

@JFortner5

Well, is there a new (to you) truck in the driveway??? Don't keep us guessing man!

 

Haha no not yet. I’m not in a rush to buy and I decided to hold off. My gut feeling told me to wait and drive a few more instead of buying the first one I found. I’m gonna try to be patient. There’s no worse feeling than buyers remorse.

 

...except for thinking about "the one that got away"...



Seriously, good on you, this is a good amount of money - best to spend it wisely.
Keep searching & keep us posted.


Some additional information for you:

2016 & 17 models would not have the Toyota Safety Sense system with the notoriously finicky radar gizmo in the grill and camera module on the passenger side of the windshield, some folks have had issues after a windshield replacement with the camera calibration and need an expensive dealer service.

If you feel the TSS system is valuable or not is your own decision, however my take is "the reliability of a part that isn't there is infinite".

Also the desirable trailer towing package was optional for the first few years, if the truck has the plug in the photo below it has the towing package. No plug, no package.
Look carefully, the non-package trucks have a blank of the same shape.

 

If you like the truck and it's mechanically sound I'd buy it. You can wash the dirt off and a new clutch doesn't cost all that much. At that mileage you'll likely be replacing it soon anyway. Might as well do the slave cylinder, throw out bearing, ect.

Plus, all driveline fluids, brake fluid, power steering fluid, serpentine belt, coolant, spark plugs, ect. It might be due for brakes too.

Every used vehicle has some kind of flaw and will require regular ongoing maintenance.

 

Hopefully you can test drive other manuals, regardless of colour, model, year, mileage, shape, just to get a feel...

 

The best time to buy a new vehicle is when you don't need one....

 

You could pick whatever design and color you want.