2012 with 32k miles or 2020 with 90k miles? Both same price.

I have a 7‑day return window on my current truck and need to decide soon whether to keep it or swap for another option. I feel like Im paying quite a lot for an older truck with low miles and could rather get a newer truck with more miles, but both having great long term reliability.

• 2012 TRD Sport – Double Cab Long Bed, 32k miles, one owner, excellent service history. Price: $32k OTD. Obviously steep.
• 2020 SR5 – Double Cab Long Bed, 91k miles, one owner, great service history. Price: ~$34–35k OTD. With leather seats which is a plus and a more desirable color.

Both are 4×4. Both are in great shape for their age and mileage.

The 2012 is obviously much older but has incredibly low miles and has been taken great care of. The 2020 is much newer with modern tech and safety features, but has nearly triple the mileage.

I’m torn:

• Keep the 2012 TRD Sport with almost no miles?
• Or go with the 2020 SR5 for the newer platform and updated features, even though it has higher mileage?

I’ll be daily driving it, doing occasional off‑roading, and plan to keep it for years.

What would you do?

 

2020 just because it’s 13 years newer with better technology and improvements. And I own one…

 

The mileage is high on one truck, and the price is high on the other. I’d go with neither, but if that was the only choice, go with the lower mileage one.

The 2018+ models are more delicate than the older ones, and I’m getting my shield out for saying that!

 

At those prices I'd be looking at a new truck. You could be in a new SR/SR5 for a few thousand more.

 

Has either lived where they salt the roads?

 

Unfortunately not an option, otherwise Id lean that way.

And the 2012 was in Ohio almost its entire life... the 2020 was mostly in Florida

 

If you even think about the '12, examine the frame with a ball peen, a probe and a borescope for the boxed areas.

We've had too many purchasers of unexamined trucks with failing frames discovered soon after purchase.

Lots of threads here, with photos, of problems, repairs, proper treatment, etc.

 

Snapped a couple pics of the 2012 underside... looks pretty darn good? Is that yellow stuff some sort of rust prevention?

 

What are the updated features of the newer truck that you MUST have?

 

For those prices, I wouldn't buy either. I also wouldn't buy a brand new one. The gizmos like push button start and radar cruise control don't interest me. Also, I hold on to my trucks for 15 years on average and don't trust a turbo 4-cylinder.

 

Updated cabin, nicer seats, better mpgs, better safety features, rear seats that fold flat (would be nice for the dog), 3rd gen looks a little more modern, less depreciation over the next 5-10 years than the 2nd gen... but none of these features are must haves, the 2012 would be just fine for me. Still, i do also want the best value if Im going to be spending 30k+.

 

That's a tough one. I've had my 2005 Tacoma since 2011 and never had the desire get a newer Tacoma. It's a basic SR5 so it's pretty bare bones. My perspective is there's less "tech" to fail/break. One of our guys has a 3rd gen and it does look much nicer and more modern so I get why you'd prefer that.

However, as the other members mentioned, both are priced very steep. Neither is a good deal in my opinion. As soon as you sign that contract for either truck, you'd be upside down on your loan. I would look for a better deal.

 

Maybe. Maybe not.

In % I'd wager the 2g will be less for a few reasons. Condition, miles and folks who like them being big factors.

I do agree with others though, both seem high priced to me.

 

It seems that nowadays you almost cannot start your truck if a sensor for 1 of the nanny features gets damaged or loses functionality, too sensitive and costly to repair. For that reason alone i would probably go with the 2012, but that's just me.

 

Yeah I agree, the prices suck. I can only finance through Carvana right now and they rarely have good prices. It really is my only option and this tacoma market is crazy.

Id definitely consider a different taco, but I do want the DCLB for the dog and hauling bikes.

Other options would be:

2023 TRD Sport DCLB with 37k miles for 42k after TTR
2021 SR5 DCLB with 45k and 39k after TTR
2017 TRD OR DCLB with 49k miles and 39k after TTR

 

That 2020 seems a little steep for 20k/yr on the clock. But they're probably going to be highway miles. If it was used primarily in city driving with lots of start-stops, it'll need new brakes and maybe soon transmission at that kind of heavy use. I'd check the brake pads and the wear patterns on the actual brake pedal rubber to get an idea.

Your market sounds pretty high. I got basically that last one you posted at that price, but mine was a 2022 instead of 2017. But I flew to another state and drove it back so the local market didn't matter. Sounds like that ship might have sailed and you can only exchange.

 

There are no good deals on Tacoma trucks. No seller is going to mistakenly let theirs go for vastly less than the next guy. Not gonna happen.

You could split hairs on this or that mileage, 30k miles, 90k miles, bla bla bla. A few less miles and a few more options? More money. A few less options and a few more miles? A little less money, but still no screaming deals to be had.

You'll tie your brain into knots trying to predict the future reliability-wise. Mileage means less on these trucks than other vehicles, that's why they hold their value.

The point is, just get the one you want. Who really cares about the miles? Years from now when you go 300k plus it won't matter if you got it at 30k or 60k miles

 

I have 29,000 miles on my 2016 and something like 20,000 of the miles have been trips shorter than 3 miles each. Low miles might not be that good.

 

I was thinking this same thing... i feel like I'm caught in analysis paralysis. I wasn't always like this.

 

That 2012 is way too much money. And I’m not sure what that yellow stuff is on the frame.