'99 Tacoma - frame rusted through!

Ugh. I just got back from the dealer for an inspection for their frame rust through program, and it failed :-( I like my truck and I really don't want to sell it or take on yet another loan to buy a new one.

But... I just looked up the KBB value on my truck with the options it has and it comes out to 8,408 without the bed cap included. 1.5 times that is 12,612, so actually that's a really good deal. I didn't think about getting a used truck to replace it, but that might work out with no debt needed.

Has anyone done this deal and settled for other than a pickup? Do you like the 4Runner vs. the utility of the pickup? I use my bed all the time to take trash to the dump, haul deer when I'm hunting, throw camping stuff in when towing the camper, in fact I just brought home a exercise bike in it last night. So, can the 4Runner do all that? It would be cool to have the extra back seats, but I also don't want to give up the room in back to carry large things -- and of course need the towing ability as well.

Any other ideas for a towing/hauling vehicle with useable back seats and under $12k?

Thanks!
Bryan

 

Just an Idea for you:

http://www.vanderstynetoyota.com/used/Toyota/2003-Toyota-Tacoma-aed769290a0d06490064064b8d52324e.htm

 

Just get another tacoma

why the hell would you get anything else?

A 4runner would be cool, but like you said..why give up the utility of a truck? 12k is plenty to get another 1st gen.

 

Sounds like you need a truck and the 12k will go a long way.. Start your search ASAP, as a clean 1st gen in great condition and low miles can b a b***h to locate; took me about 2 1/2 months to find mine and had to travel 3+hrs to get it.

Congrats and GL!

 

Thanks, guys. Well, I got the call from Toyota yesterday, and they want to give me $15,177 for the truck, wow! I said "sold!"

I am not considering another Tacoma only because I have had a shell on the back of it since I bought it in 1999. Having the shell really makes it into a 4Runner with no back seat, you know? The benefit of a pickup over the 4Runner is that you can carry a higher load, but the shell on mine restricts that. So I have been comparing the RAV4 with the 4Runner, and I think I am leaning toward the RAV4 for what I need. It can come with a V6 and AWD (but not true 4WD for sure), but has a locking differential. I do not use the truck for any off-roading, so I think the unibody frame and higher gas mileage would be a decent tradeoff for not being able to go off-road or have 4WD low gear.

With the tow package, the RAV4 can tow up to 3500 lbs (vs. 5000 for 4Runner or Tacoma), which is plenty for my pop-up camper. The interior room is just slightly less than the 4Runner in cargo space, but the rear seat room is larger in the RAV4.

So I think I'm looking for a used RAV4 with V6 AWD and tow package for around 14k. The one thing I'm bummed about though is that it seems most SUVs these days do not have a manual transmission option. What's up with that? I'd much rather have a clutch than a auto trans.

 

winning

 

I think the first time you have a haul a deer out or a trash bag leaks in an SUV you might regret getting rid of the pickup bed. The Rav-4's are nice but to me it sounds like you really needed the detached bed. Just a thought. For $15,000 you should be able to find a nice AWD Rav-4. Happy car hunting!

 

DUDE $15,177 !!!??!?!!! That's a freakin amazing offer.. how did they figure that? its almost 2x KBB... what kinda options/mileage does your 99 have?

good for you man!

but from a Taco to a Rav..... (my mom drives a Rav..)

.. whatever works for ya... congrats and GL!

 

This/\ x 2

Did test drive one for my wife and all I can say is if you get a RAV4 get the V6 option. 269 HP in that little SUV is amazing. It will smoke most ricer cars. Get what best suits your needs. As long as you stay with a yota!

 

Not sure if this is a worth while post for you, but we owned a 1994 4Runner a while back. Got the same sort of mpg that the Tacoma we just bought does (1995 4x4 3.4). We've been driving a Camry, but missed the ablity to do "truck" stuff so always wanted a Tacoma and bought one.

Observations when we had the 4Runner. Road and drove okay, nice to have the interior space to throw purchases etc. Can fold the seat down for larger items. Seats not the greatest on that year at least. Long trip would get "numb butt" as we called it. Nice to have the ventillation of power roll down rear window so would roll it down 3-4 inches and just open the front windows a bit and get a nice breeze without a load of wind noise etc.

Big downside was being limited on size of things that could be carried. Also, you are using an interior space so even with throwing in moving blankets you still had worries about staining or goofing up the interior. We had a rubber mat we threw in there, but still. Doing some work around the house or garden stuff and it was really a worry hauling leaky plants that were too tall to fit in, sheets of wood or boards, blocks or pavers etc. etc. Had to rent a trailer from Uhaul to bring a BBQ home from Sam's. List goes on.

So, 4Runner good for carrying people/pets and small store purchases, but in no way has the true ablity of having an actual truck bed. With a truck you can have the covered portion as you did with your camper shell, but at least you could remove it and haul large items (which don't have to be too large before they really don't fit in a 4Runner and forget about the Rav4 haul space). Also, if you end up hauling some greasy old car parts, gravel, plants or whatever then the truck bed is a much nicer place than in your plush carpeted interior. Don't get me started on how easy it is to scratch the plastic side panels in the 4Runner hauling stuff.

Anyway, it comes down to whatever is more important to you use wise in your choice. I hope that helps a bit.

Too bad you are NY, could really use some gray bucket seats to swap in place of my 60/40 bench lol.

Cheers

 

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'm going today to test drive a '06 RAV4 and a '07 Highlander. I have to stay within that $15k amount - can't afford any more debt.

So I hear ya about the utility of the pickup and I would really miss it sometimes. But I just can't go out and get another Tacoma without at least trying the RAV4 and possibly Highlander as a tow vehicle for our camper. I don't do a lot of towing other than the popup twice a year, so I really don't need a beefy tow vehicle. The rest of the year, even with a V6, that 23 mpg really sounds good!

I'll definitely stick with a yota though... the RAV4 and Highlander both rate in the top 3 for small/mid SUVs every year in Consumer Reports. One thing that would put it over the top for the Highlander for a camping vehicle is if I could get the hybrid. You can leave the camper plugged into the car with it turned on and get unlimited electric power for very little cost. The hybrid works just like a cheap and quiet generator! But I don't think I'll find a hybrid under $15k.

Regarding messing up the carpet and whatnot... I wonder if there's a fitted rubber mat or something that can go in the back of the RAV4? You're right -- deer blood and spilled trash wouldn't work out too well in you can't just hose out the back. ;-)


Oh, the reason they gave me so much for the truck is that they take the *retail* blue book value and multiply by 1.5. I just couldn't pass that up, as much as I really would rather keep the truck. But it's worth $0 now and won't pass inspection with the holy frame. Oh well... she's been good to me, but it's time for the crusher.

Thanks!
Bryan

 

Double Cab Tacoma with shell.

 

I tried the RAV4 and Highlander and the RAV4 just doesn't do it for me. It may be able to pull a trailer and has some power, but it just feels like a little vibration-machine to me.

The Highlander was much nicer and is the one I think we are going with, only in the 2008 version so we can get the bigger V6. I also want to ride in the Hyundai Santa Fe first though.

With the 4-seat Tacoma, I wonder what the use of the bed is, since they take away from bed length for the second row of seats. Why not get a 4Runner instead? Although for me, I'm looking for a more car-like ride than the truck ride of the 4Runner.

 

Before I bought my '06 DCLB I had a 4Runner and my girlfriend has a 2002 Rav4. The Rav4 (4 cyl) is basically a nice little commute car. It's ok to drive. but I don't prefer it. The 4Runner was nice, but it had it's limitations as well as far as cargo. I decided to get my Tacoma because it would work for me in just about any situation that I could think of. It seats 5 people, I can tow up to 6500 lbs (although I would limit myself to no more than 4K lbs), I can carry a lite cabover camper, and I have a tonneau cover so I can just throw gear in the bed and not worry about it. I can also haul dirt, patio pavers, sofas, and other large items if I need to. I hope to use this same truck for at least another 10 years unless I really like the new Tacoma...when they come out with a new model. Plus the resale on Toyota trucks is out of this world. For example the blue book on your '99 was over $8K after 13 years of use.

 

Yup -- 8K trade-in that is. They gave me 1.5x the RETAIL value of 10K. I have the $15k check in my hands and about 3k cash today... looking for a 2008 or newer Highlander with AWD and Tow Prep pkg. At that price, it's one hard car to find! But I will be saving my pennies and may have another 1000 or so in a couple months. When it comes to buying cars, time can be your friend!

 

Consider a plastic motar box for hauling messy goods in a Highlander or similar. It is light weight, cheap and easy to install and remove.