advice please?

I am a former taco owner and love the tacomas (I totaled my last one and am in search of a used tacoma). I am looking at an 09 model that is loaded with every option available. I have two questions that concern me. 1. the truck has 102,000 miles- should this concern me? asking price is 17.995.00

2. The truck has had 4 owners since 2009, each kept the truck around a year? I have never heard of a taco owner with all available options, bells and whistles selling his truck after a year? much less 4 owners? would this concern you? thanks for your advice!

 

If it were me I would be concerned about the miles. I would find something with less to be on the safe side. Especially if you plan to have it for a while.

 

Miles are not bad if it was taking care of. Problem is with 4 owners, who knows if it was. Yeah I'd be more concerned about why so many owners.

 

Carfax & dealers record? Reasons for selling maybe of a concern but if the truck checks out I think you're ok. All original? No accident? Price is not bad dc 4x4 trd?

 

What states if it's rust free no accident all records checks out I'd go for it

 

I think i would shop around and look at a few more if you can wait, that many owners would concern me being a 09.

 

miles does not concern me at all. But 4 owners in 4 years hell yeah. Something wrong with that truck.

 

thanks guys. the truck is the TRD off road and the car fax is clean. I also ran the vin # through toyota.com and the service records there indicated only routine stuff. Just can't figure out 4 owners in 4 years on a loaded taco (leather with all options). 3 different car dealerships that the truck has been through. It was not a lease truck. I am puzzled. wish I could talk to one of the owners but in reality can't. thanks again for your advice

 

Job loss, change, needing bigger truck could be coincident could be an issue. Keep in mind 2009 - 2011 is a big economy crap down in the US. Lots of construction job loss. I bought a mustang with lots of owners so far so good every time it changes owner it needs to be certified so lots of needed repair and maintenance is done to it. I use it as dd in the summer and weekend tracksters no problem

 

I watched the market for over a year...I saw BASE 2001 models with 110,000 miles selling for $13,000 2WD! and not many period... that had under 100,000 miles. I finally found a one owner base model 07' Prerunner that was 150 miles away with 70,000 miles for $12,500 which was the closest to an actual good deal that I had ever seen so I jumped on it. But yeah even 100k I might be weary of a TRD with all the goodies and 4 owners. When I went to look at the truck I now have, I took a flashlight and crawled up under the truck and inspected every nut and bolt. Looking for signs of abuse like mud in areas it shouldint be for a DD etc....Looking at the heads of bolts to see what had been torqued on and off recently. Looking for signs of replaced parts. Etc..

You never know you might find a great deal, so dont rule it out, but just inspect carefully.

 

x2

 

I concur, and hold the dealer to the flame and ask them what types of people owned it. I asked them who owned mine and they were like "well that's confidential." Duhh, So I asked Well what I mean was not who specifically owned it, but was it adult owned? was it used for a company vehicle? etc etc... dig for answers.. they have the owner info. They told me a guy in his 60's owned mine which was reassuring. While obviously it's confidential, they can definitely tell you little pieces of info that are not specific to the owner's identity.

As said above, people keep these trucks. Most owners love them, so you dont see too many with such a turnover. Although take into mind the dealer might lie as they always do just to sell it.

 

How do you know a 60 year old owned your vehicle? You don't. A salesman will tell you anything you want to hear to sell you a vehicle. Always assume salesman are lying, in every instance, all the time.

 

Not always true... When I sold the mustang the dealer asked me if the new owner(s) could contact me if there were any questions.

When I bought the tacoma same thing. Had the previous owners name and phone number listed on the pre sales sheet. I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with the previous owner going over almost everything from day one he owned it. Now granted my tacoma only had 22+K on it when I bought it. But the guy let me why he got rid of it and all the info I wanted.

So basically it can happen.

 

just for curiosity i dont believe leather was ever an option in a tacoma untill the recent limited "softex" correct me if i am wrong

Sometimes it happens. My 2012 had no real issues but its on at least its 3rd owner.

first bought it and drove 2600 miles, decided it could not tow his boat so he traded it to the chevy/nissan dealer. 32k new

i bought it for 28900 drove it to 9k ish miles and wanted a manual access cab traded it to toyota 27900

they sold it (im sure by now 6 months)

 

but with 100k already, and $17k i would pass as well.

not that i think its a bad truck, or mileage means its going to break down. But its a good chunk of money for something that is more or less half worn out.