Buying a used truck from Canada?

So I haven't posted here in a while and nobody knows why.... My old Tacoma got traded in for a 2013 TDI Golf. It was an awesome car and super fun to drive however it got totaled in the Boulder flood this year.


So I've decided to use that money for my 3rd Tacoma. This one is a 2009 access cab with the TRD Offroad package. Original owner with 41K Miles. He said he would give it to me for 20K. There are no accidents and the vehicle is clean except for the 12'' crack in the windshield. I understand that though this is Colorado. However he did buy this truck in Canada and took it down to CO and got it registered. So other than the speedometer being in kilometers is there anything else I should look out for? Does that seem like a good deal for the truck?

Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Canadian tacoma will have a block heater standard and the 4 leaf rear spring pack. It will also run on poutine and be better at hockey

Go for it

 

hahaha thanks I those are both awesome upgrades. Essentially then if I left the engine plugged in all night will the heater in the truck be warm as soon as I turn it on?

 

Unfortunately not. The block heater keeps your oil warm so it flows better on start up when its really cold, your in cab heat comes from the coolant I believe.

I usually only plug in our vehicles if its colder than -15c even though my tacoma has started in -40c not plugged in its better for the engine to plug it in.

 

I had to do the math on that one... do you know what -40 Celsius is in Fahrenheit?

 

haha no fahrenheit is still a mystery to me even though I lived in Avon CO for two winters.

 

-40 is -40 is -40

 

I think that everyone can agree that -40 on either side of the boarder is damn cold.

 

I bought mine from canada and its a trd sport. The speedo is different which to be honest is no big deal. Mine had 28km on it so only 17500 miles. Mine few minor tree branch scratches and i got a cb, bed rack, alld the TRD options, block heater, rear leaf pack and upgraded toyo MT. I paid 15k for my 2011 bc the company was going tits up. Drove the truck 1800 miles back to Idaho. Havent had one issue with it except let my buddy drive it and he was looking at KM instead of MPH so when he was going 40 in KM we were getting honked at for going slow haha.

 

Mine did not come with a block heater. Depends what part of the country you live in.

 

This

 

A good idea these days considering the US dollar is worth $1.11 on this side of the map

 

So I went and checked the truck out. It had some scratches a few dings, needs new tires, but mostly there was kinda alot of rust on the axels, leafs, and looks like some surface rust on the frames and some bolts. What do you guys think? 2009 TRD Offroad 4z4 35K Miles for 20K. I'm thinking I should be able to talk him down a little more.

I think I'm going to have the truck taken to the mechanic to have it looked over. Would you recommend a local mechanic or take it to the dealership?

 

As CanadaToy and OZ-T said, the block heater isn't a standard Canada-wide spec, but the 130A alternator 27F battery is even without the tow package, as are the 4 leaf rear springs and DRLs. You're off warranty, so no worries about coverage being valid, so the speedo/odo is the only real "inconvenience".

That truck would sell for more than that here, even with the exchange rate factored in. Other than that, you'll have to compare it to others in your area. As for where to get a mechanical evaluation, I'd probably choose the dealer since their techs should know the common trouble areas and be more likely to notice one of them. Unless you know a good independant shop that knows tacomas, in which case, I doubt you would have asked.

 

If it has alot of rust, that's why it's so cheap. I'd be afraid if it's not just light rusting here and there. I always get my truck oil sprayed because of it.

 

right, I was thinking the same thing. I let the guy know this morning that I wasn't interested in it anymore due to the rust. Thanks for the help guys!