Decisions---> Advice

Hey guys, I joined up mainly because I saw pictures of gjbonner's rhino rig. I've been looking around to buy a new(new to me, could be used) truck. I've been in the sport compact world my whole driving career(10yrs) and am new to pickups and off-roading. I've been trolling the forums for a few weeks trying to get a good knowledge base on models, parts, options and different opinions. Now it has come down to this... Do I buy brand new 2013 model? or a used 2010?

Specifics of what I'm looking for include... well convenience of the TRD off road package for the stupid little things that come with, Manual tranns and access cab. Otherwise I will be Rhino lining, lifting 6", replacing armor and from there taking advantage of what nature has to offer... as well as testing the local sidewalks and obstacles I always dreamed of climbing over in my small coupe lol... maybe even climbing a few coupes lol.

So I ask because I have just found a 2010 access cab local that is trd off road package and 6spd man., has about 25k miles. do I just stop thinking and buy it or wait and find myself paying 30grand for a pickup i will end up "ruining" in the eyes of some... asking price is $24,000 on 2010. Is it worth the 6 grand to buy new?
Kosta

 

Welcome to TW

 

I'm sure other can help you weigh your options on this... but all I have is, welcome to TW.

Frank

 

Really up to you man. But i have a 09 trd off road access cab 6 speed with 25,000 miles and i think 24,000 is a little to high. Vehicle prices might be a little higher on the other side of the sound lol. personally, if i could get the used one for 21 maybe 22 i would go with that depending on the condition. I paid 24,900 for mine with 3,800 miles.

Edit: dont make your decision based on what people here think, decide based on what you need the truck for. For example if you are going to be modding the hell out of it maybe you should look at a base package and instead of paying for all the extras use that extra money for mods. If your looking at a dealership see if they will throw a supercharger in that used access cab for 25,000 haha. Sometimes i wish i went with a double cab instead of an access cab, do you need more bed space or more seats? Lots of options to consider

 

Oh and welcome to the site, now go buy a tacoma

 

haha Thanks for all the replies guys.
@evanmb31, the one i am looking at is actually in jersey. yea they are almost all from dealers. I cant find these being sold used privately, seems like people are trading them in for fuel economy.
You also mentioned that you sometimes wished you had a double cab... under what circumstances was this? I've had 2 door coupes my whole life and never really needed a 4 door. back seats are really for my pit, the seldom company on trips upstate(girlfriend by my side and one or two people max in back seat) and maybe room for a babyseat in the future... far future. It seems I dont really need the extra space. I would love to be schooled on this, but I think id rather trade 4inches of interior space for bed space and manual trans. A friend of mine picked up a Raptor that has a 5ft bed and it really ruins the "truck" kinda like buying a honda, but he carries more passengers than I would feel comfortable ever having in my vehicle(the "other guys" usually tag along with him on food runs or shooting days).
This truck will be used as a daily commuter and for weekend/daily fun, maybe some work in the winter. I want something versatile that I can find useful in any situation I might find myself in, whether in the middle of the city facing a crazed mob with molotovs(unlikely but possible), or trees with clearcoat killer branches.
Im also becoming a cop in the near future so the truck would be a new chapter for me, new career, new toy, new adventures and NO excuse to NOT get to work on time.

Any other input you guys have to offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

so I've also widened my search and it seems the further away from tri-state area the cheaper they get with lower miles... I might be making a road trip in the near future.

 

Welcome to TW. I've just recently bought my first tacoma which happened to be a new 12. From my experience I can offer this as insight. I would say you are on the threshold if you are looking at buying slightly used or new. As it depends on whether you are financing the whole amount. And how your credit is if you are. Cause with the rates you get for a new purchase as opposed to the rates for a used vehicle can make the savings smaller than you might think. With that being said, for me it was worth spending the extra $$ to know that I was breaking it in and that some yoyo didn't beat on the truck during those first miles. Which you'll find plenty of threads on here about whether that matters or not. On the plus for going new, I see they are doing a $750 rebate. I only got $500. But I got no regrets as I love my new truck.

 

either way I will do 60month financing on the bulk of the purchase to be paid in 2 yrs(low monthly premium). but at the same time, financing 30grand and 20grand are different ball parks, not including down payment because its relative to either buy. if i put 5 grand on either payment itll save me $100 a month or so. what i have to think about is how to make these payments for 6months while in the police academy, the paycheck for cadets is kind of grim, therefore -->towards the cheaper payment. even though i have no other expenses right now.

I am beginning to lean more towards a used 08, 6kmiles. seems best price for what I will end up doing to it, and i wont have to worry about electronic garbage control.

New is great, its a great feeling to develop a bond from mile 0. but i dont even plan on keeping the paint on it long before it gets rhinoed, lifted, new armor and hit the trails, so its becoming harder and harder to justify buying new. I really hate that new is soo expensive and hate even more how used is still expensive.

 

"I really hate that new is soo expensive and hate even more how used is still expensive."


Until you go to sell it!

 

Yes precisely!!!! after i posted that, reread and thought the same thing.

 

So about the access cab vs double cab i guess its really what your needs are but i went with the access cab for a few reasons-
I use the truck for work, so i need the bedspace and i need ladder racks for hauling lumber. I knew from the start that i wanted the thule xsporter racks, and with a a small bed the racks would be to close together and hauling 16 foot pieces of lumber wouldnt work out to well. I also knew i wanted a tool box, so short bed with a tool box leaves me less than 4 feet of bedspace, not enough.
I figured that i didnt need the extra seats, if 3 people wanted to tag along with me then thats their problem lol. Before this truck i had a single cab s-10 and sometimes its nice having an excuse to not give your friends a ride.
I also just liked the look of an access cab, at the time i thought the double cabs looked out of proportion, double cab long bed was out of the question, i have driven my friends frontier dbl cab long bed and the turning radius sucks, you might as well get a full size truck.

In hindsight i am still glad i have the bigger bed for work, but when its raining i hafta cram all my tools into the toolbox and backseat and there really isnt much room back there. Sometimes i wish i had the extra seats because i love driving the truck so much and offroading, but it really sucks for anyone to sit in the back, for most girls there is room but if your a normal size guy it is just way to uncomfortable back there. I also wish i had the back seats because there are better options for sicking a subwoofer back there. Now that i see all these sick lifted double cabs the dont look out of proportion, i think i actually like how a lifted dbl cab looks compared to a lifted access cab.
Im still very happy with my truck, my dogs can fit in the back seat but its hard for them to move around. If i was able to go back i would probably still choose the access cab over the double cab. If i was planning on starting a family soon i would get the double cab.
Good luck with your new job and new truck!

 

I love my 6 speed, besides reverse is geared way to high, backing up a heavy trailer smokes my clutch. And ya there is no need to rhino line the bed, tacomas have a composite bed.

 

I havnt had any issues yet, i still have pretty low mileage tho. I prefer driving standard so i can live with the high gearing. Ive got not problem with the foward gears but ya reverse is annoying at times. People have issues with automatic when going up to a bigger size tire right? I think they both have their pros and cons

 

Why would u rhino line a entire new tacoma? For what that will cost u can get rims, bumper, ect.

 

to clarify... i thought by mentioning gjbonners truck y'all would understand... I will be rhinoing the entire truck besides the bed... full armor and I understand there are issues with the 6'' lift but until i learn more about LT or even find use for it, the 6" is how I want it to look. Now as far as manual goes.... I think you guys are onto something here. would upgrading the clutch to a higher stage and putting in a short throw make it a bit more "usable"? or is it just a combo with gearing and power issues that cause the uncomfortableness? I just always told myself i would never drive auto... lol i like to tell people i dont know how to drive automatic hehe.

but even now evan has made me rethink the double cab. if i do end up with two kids in the next 10yrs will i regret not having the extra cab space? now it seems the auto double cab extended bed is the way to go... again i hate auto transmissions and hate that you never know if it will go at 100k miles, especially with beating on it and the occasional heavy trailer...

The defining factor here is the 6ft bed. if you guys are telling me the manual trans. is weak and not worth it and I may find better use for a doublecab in the future, then i think we might be nearing a decision. this is why i brought this discussion to the forums.. a sales person cannot help me think this through they just want my money. you guys have the experience that i need to hear from. i think if one more person tells me the manual sux i may go with dbl cab extended.

 

hence the reason i will be getting used. by saving that 10 grand on buy price ill have room to play. and honestly i just love how the rhino paint job looks... i always wanted a matte black car and the fact that ill never have to worry about a scratch or dent is amazing. if i get a used truck now i will be modding it over the next year, mainly in the summer for next winter.

side note... this is the first time in my life that i am debt free. doing a "project" like this has always been my dream i thought i would never get to do. now it seems actually possible thats why it may seem im going a bit overboard.

 

Just test drive both, now that you know the main complaints about the 6 speed you will pay more attention to it when you drive it.

And whoa rhino lining the whole truck!? I didnt know that is what you meant, i couldnt imagine buying a brand new truck and rhino lining it, but hey if thats what you want then go for it.

 

This is not something that would change my mind. Although i agree with your statement, before i had decided on a taco i was looking at the subie WRX. then realized speed is no longer something i should engage myself in. so having a faster switching trans or fast car in general is not why I decided on a taco. Im just thinking about the future as to which will be the best all-round decision to make. I plan on running this truck to the ground(as long as that may take) meaning it will be a keeper. so if im going to have to rebuild the tranny 100kmiles down the road or twice in the life of the truck, that is something alone that would keep me away from auto. paying labor for clutches gets expensive but by then im hoping to have enough air tools and shop tools to do it at home.

my future wife drives manual and if i ever get another "family" car it will be manual so doing clutch changes will have to become as natural as tune ups.

haha oh and thats another reason I dont really NEED the double cab. my gf has a 4dr and any car we get her in the future, or as i said a family car will be sufficient for a family... so maybe i should stick with the access cab.... does this seem reasonable?

 

x2