should I buy this tacoma

Hey guys I'm hoping this is the right forum to get some input on this. If it isn't please delete this thread.

So I've been keeping an eye out to purchase a 4x4 4dr tacoma at a good price. I'm not in a rush to buy so I'm waiting for the right deal. This is what I found:

2006 tacoma, trd sport, 70000 miles, black with bed cover 4x4 automatic. Its sitting on some aftermarket chrome wheels that ate kind of rough and tires aren't too great either. Aside from that the muffler isn't stock and its quite loud. The motor is really clean and the rest of the truck is decent. A few weird dings but nothing major and the front bumper is quite chipped from bugs. The interior is fair also with some scratches on the dash and burns on the seats but over all clean.

We're at 16k right now. My bank will finance me but I'm not sure of taking the plunge. Its definitely got low miles for its age but its also an 06. I'm wondering if I could just wait and maybe buy a newer one for a ccouple grand more if I just wait. I have found others for a bit cheaprr but always prerunners. I don't need 4x4 during the year but winters we drive to to Wyoming and I think the 4wd would be necessary for the snow.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I don't normally make threads like this but I'm seriously torn on what to do. So I appreciate any advice!

 

If you want it, go for it. Pretty good price considering it only has 70k.

 

Pictures would help. What's kbb? Seems high for a 2006

 

Sounds like a fair price for 4x4 and sport package with 70k. I'd say go for it!

 

Based on your description, by KBB definition the condition of the truck is considered "good", with a book value of $21,425 for zip code 77640. Check for collision damage and verify it is indeed a TRD Sport (i.e. don't go by the bedside graphics alone).

 

Yeah, rusty frames are an issue. Take a creeper and roll under the truck. Check by catalytic converters as they come down from the engine. This is where a lot of rust perforation happens.

If they steam cleaned the motor, check the timing cover on the passenger side for evidence of an oil leak. There was a TSB for the cover leaking in this area on the early trucks. That's a 9 hour job to fix.

Burns on the seats indicate a smoker. I don't know how you feel about that, but on humid days you'll smell it, even if they ran an ozone machine in the interior.

Don't know much about the pricing, but at least you have some solid information to make a decision.

 

The wheel/tire condition would worry me. Either the vehicle had great rubber and the dealer put on junk or (more likely) the truck had real hard use, maybe a lot of off road. Who knows, but be careful.

 

I'd have to think there may be something wrong if its that cheap IMHO.

I just picked up a 2006 4x4 4dr Trd offroad for 19800 with 100k and new tires about a week ago in Washington state. Value was 19600.

For me the dealer actually messed up. They had it at that price and I asked if they would take 19,000. They said the couldn't because it was marked wrong on the site. The next day I looked on their site and they corrected their mistake and had it listed at 22,950.
I attached images to compare. Hope this helps.

 

Buy it, get it to me and I'll drive it for you for a couple years to make sure everything's good.

 

Good price.

 

Do like others suggest regarding oil leaks and rust,although unless this truck is a transplant from the north, should have minimal rust. Definitely run a carfax to see the history. Price is good for a 4x4 but it seems the truck was not really taken car of going by your description. Fair interior with burns(smoker, smell very hard to rid of..), loud exhaust, wheel/tires in bad shape. Thoroughly check the engine/trans/differential/shocks for leaks, undercarriage for rust. Test drive it on rough/smooth streets along with highway speeds for suspension quality/vibes. Engage 4x4 and check all a/c heat, etc.. Keep in mind the additional cost to replace or fix the obvious items such as wheels/tires, exhaust etc..That $16K will be like $18-19K fast and will not be worth the value of the truck. Post some pics.

 

+1

always check every function on used. if they won't let you, walk away. as you said you are in no hurry. there will be plenty of good buys out there.

 

Take it to a mechanic of your choice and have him look over it.. It may cost you 100-200 bucks but it will be worth it to get a neutral opinion on the truck...

 

Hey guys thanks for all the helpful input. This car is from an individual not a dealer so thats why the pprice is a bit lower than the guy above who just got his. Also if it was a dealer, I bet with a nice detail the truck would look in much better shape lol


Its a tx truck so rust doesn't really seem an issue. I checked under the bed and the frame rails in the front as well as behind the grill and the core support for signs of rust or wrecks but didnt find anything significant. The wheels are some Aftermarket chrome wheels with chipping chrome. Tires are indeed worn though. Let me shoot you guys a couple pics

 

Btw truck comes with a roll up bed cover which I like and some westin bar in the front.

 

Cant tell much by the pics of the interior but the seats and carpet is dirty mostly also the radio had a huge scratch going across it.


As someone posted above, my concerns are also that I might get it for 16 but then I'm gonna have to turn around and get tires and crap and thats whatll make it not a really good deal. Although finding a tacoma with these miles at this price range is also unheard of so I'm a bit confused


One more issue with the truck is theres a light on the dash thats lit. Its an airbag or airbag sensor light. Looks like a guy sitting with a bubble infront of him. Sorry if this is a bad explanation lol but the owner didnt know what it was. I remember in my old f150 I had that because some sensor was broken under the seat that detected someone on the seat for the airbag.

 

Again, thanks everyone for their input

 

It is impossible for the bed to rust if you found some run like hell

 

hahaha I was referring to undercarriage more so. If the BED had rust, I'd have many a picture for proof lol

 

I'd also like to ad that for a 70k mile truck it definitely has been used. My last f150 I sold had 110k and it was Clean. and i put 60k of those miles on it. I have a 1st gen with 260k and I'd trust it to go anywhere. So I wonder if I'd be better off with a newer better looking higher mileage truck as opposed to this one