4x4! ...or PreRunner?

oops my bad. 2006.

 

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2011 V6 DC tow pkg alloy wheels ... back up camera is standard now.. TRD OR package automatic...$28,200

 

It's crazy how disparate the pricing is even in neighboring regions - I got my 2011 DC PreRunner V6 TRD Off-Road for $25,500. That's with the All-Weather Mats, Auto Dim Mirror and the stupid ToyoGuard package that they put on down here in Southeast.

Fink

 

Boy, I'd love to buy a new Tacoma. But honestly the 8-10k more I'll have to spend is really the breaking point. I simply cant afford it right now. If I set aside my plan to buy for another year I could probably swing it. But I dont want to wait that long. As it stands now I may have to wait til the end part of this year to get a 4x4 DC...

 

I should mention that I am generally NOT a fan of buying new - so it's unusual for me to want a new vehicle. In fact this is probably the only vehicle I would consider buying new. But a new Tacoma's pros outweigh it's cons as far as I'm concerned.

 

Just out of curiosity, what's on your list of cons for buying new?

Fink

 

With the current economy and the crazy prices dealers are paying for trade-ins now is the time to buy new... assuming the credit check passes. My lovely bride just got me a 2011 TRD Sport 4door Prerunner. They gave us 5k for a 2001 Blazer that leaked EVERYWHERE (Transmission, coolant, windshield wiper fluid, ect...) drivers door did not lock, gas gauge did not work and had a bad ball joint. After taxes and license fees we paid 24k. I looked for almost a year and never found anything 2008 or 2009 for that price. All were 25k+, and with the warranties and comfort knowing this truck has been treated right its entire life (unless a sales guy went crazy in those first 13 miles) are worth the extra money.

As to the Prerunner vs 4x4... paved roads and fields are about all it will ever see. I love it.

Besides the mudflaps will stop me from getting into anything the locker could not handle.

 

Most cars lose a HUGE chunk of value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Tacomas have a crazy high resale velue that mitigates that loss to quite a large extent. That paired with its major pros makes it valuable enough to me to pay 'new' price. (If only I could afford it!)

 

Unfortunately I drive an 11 year old SAAB. These cars have one of the highest depreciation values out there. I'll be lucky if I get 1500 for her

 

Check them anyway. Mine was 10 years old and I was fully expecting to get the 1-2k scrap metal price.

 

i am on my 4th tacoma. the first 3 were trd o/r 4wd. i traded my last one in and got a prerunner. i debated it for about 3hrs in my head at the dealer. even when i lived in virginia and travelled to west virginia i never needed my 4wd. i spent more time worrying about engaging it monthly to lube it and it wasn't worth it. the prerunner i got the side airbags, better stereo, traction control was more important to me. i would use those more than the "one day you might need 4wd". i also get 1 to 2 more mpg in my prerunner. my only regret is when i see a 4wd i wish i had mine just to say i had it.

 

The high resale value of the Tacoma is mostly realized AFTER 5 years, Over the curb resale is not much better than any vehicle. A dealer is not going to give you $26K ACV for a truck he sold to you for $30K six month after purchase. He would have to sell that truck used for $28K MINIMUM and no one in their right mind will shop for a $30K truck and buy one used to save $2000......

As a buyer I would have to save more than 10% off new which means I would not pay over $27K for a used same year truck. Cheaper financing on new as well. Incentives further erode used pricing. A used 3-4 year old Tacoma is the best value out there right now if one realizes the ASKING prices are not the selling prices. They were asking $23995 for mine. 08/24K miles TRD 2WD DC I bought it for $20,500 OTD. The dealer likely paid $18K ACV for it to the previous owner.

 

That's a great deal! Wish I got it that cheap.

 

zul,

I would check out Overstock.com and go to the Cars section - the prices you see on there (after adding the packages, options, etc) are true prices that you can get dealers to commit to.

It's similar to USAA pricing - they all use the same pricing engine/data.

Go on there, spec out the truck you want and then put in your info - you'll get a price guarantee confirmation sent to your e-mail which will list three dealerships in your area that honor those prices. Print it, take it with you and bam...negotiations are done. I always try to get $1,000 less than the Overstock.com price but that is tough to do unless you have a good trade to hammer them with.

Just some friendly advice from somebody who very recently was in the same boat you are,

Fink

 

I actually looked at my paperwork and I got it for $26,200.

 

I say go with the Prerunner. I had the choice and I chose the Prerunner because honestly I don't off road and a Warn 8000 winch will pull you out of anything. I just went to an offroad class for my job and we had to get a vehicle stuck in a mud hole that was up to the doors. Vehicle was an Xterra 4x4. Anyways, once you are totally stuck, if you put the vehicle in neutral and understand how to use a winch you can just winch your way out of anything. I used to have an 86 Toyota 4x4 truck and although I loved it, I still had to winch out of a few spots.

Love the Prerunner and with the extra cash I bought and ARB and a winch. Your call though.

 

That's more like it - I figured trucks are inherently more expensive up there given that they are most likely in higher demand.

Toyota is worth it, regardless.

Fink

 

I'd say choose what you really desire, but I went with a 2011 pre-runner and its more satisfying than i would have ever thought. the gas mileage is great sometimes it's better than certain V6 cars gas mileage! Then again 4wd would be funn but with a brand new truck even if it were a 4x4 i wouldnt off road in it just yett. i live in new jersey and it's mostly all just flat grounds n highways here

 

Fink - thanks for the tip and link! That is extremely valuable advice. I may actually put the idea of buying new into motion! It will still require more saving, but the info you provided takes the worst part of buying a car (dealing with salespeople) out of the equation.

Off to spend another night researching and crunching numbers!