1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Should I buy this 2006 Regular Cab 4x4?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by MarkMG, Apr 28, 2008.

  1. Apr 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM
    #1
    MarkMG

    MarkMG [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2008
    Member:
    #6203
    Messages:
    14
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    07 Access Cab 4x4
    I'm in SoCal, where it is very hard to find regular-cab 4WD Tacomas. A dealership near me has a used one (with 22K miles) that according to Carfax has made its way from Arizona to California.

    After talking with the dealership, I'm guessing I can get it for less than $16K out the door, which is a lot less than any comparable truck I'm looking at (all of them access cabs). But I have some concerns, and as I am a first-time Tacoma buyer, I thought it might be worth airing them here:

    --The dealership is having trouble selling it. Is this because reg cabs are so unpopular regionally, or because there's something wrong with it? If it's the first, it's a great opportunity, as I'm fine with a reg cab (no kids, I'm getting a shell anyway, some day I may be grateful for the short wheelbase). But if it's the second, I'm a sucker.

    --It has been modified. Pictures show a K&N air intake, and the grill does not look stock to me (no Toyota emblem). Should these mods make me suspicious?

    --What else should I look out for before making a final decision? Anything in particular to do on a final test drive/inspection?

    If this is a good truck, it's a great deal for me at $16K total. Versus any other ~20K-mi. Tacoma I am looking at, it'll leave me literally thousands of dollars to add a shell and potentially other improvements for off-road performance.

    Here's the link to the ad and pictures. I know this opens me up to potential competition now, but I figure it's worth the risk if I can get some advice from experienced Tacoma owners. Anything in that ad or those pictures seem like a red flag to you?
     
  2. Apr 28, 2008 at 11:49 AM
    #2
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Member:
    #5269
    Messages:
    5,125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Frank
    Rocklin, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2001 prerunner doublecab limited
    2001 with; cat-back side-swept twin exhaust, elbow mod, Westin bullbar with Hella 450 driving lights, Snugtop XTR camper shell, TRD off-road 2x4-black beauty.
    Just my opinion-but chances are the previous owner wanted something bigger and yes for the most part regular cabs are a hard sell..they serve a very small group. Can you find out its history? You should as it's only 2 yrs old. Also, is it certified, or "as is"? If the latter-forget it. Finally, see if you can get a deal on an extended warranty,which would make sense here since it is used.
     
  3. Apr 28, 2008 at 12:30 PM
    #3
    Roland

    Roland My other ride has sails

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Member:
    #4149
    Messages:
    2,398
    Gender:
    Male
    Rhode Island
    Vehicle:
    06 Impulse Red I4 2WD Access Cab
    UnderCover Tonneau, Bed mat, Bug Deflector, aFe Pro Dry S, Secondary Air Filter removed, Synthetic 5W-30 oil, Scanguage II with blendmount, WeatherTech floorliners, Toyota seat covers, Installed OEM intermittent wipers, TacomaWorld sticker, Defrost without AC mod, Hidden Hitch
    Many mods (as much as we like them) lower the resale value of a vehicle so if the mods on the truck suit your taste and are well done it's a bonus. A lot of it depends on how well the mods were done. Some modders are real hackers and others are artistic geniuses. The only way to be sure is to go take a look.
     
  4. Apr 28, 2008 at 12:33 PM
    #4
    MarkMG

    MarkMG [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2008
    Member:
    #6203
    Messages:
    14
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    07 Access Cab 4x4
    Thanks for the feedback, Ridgerunner.

    Yes, I have the Carfax report. From what I can tell, it has had three owners, including the current dealership. It was purchased new in Arizona in January 2006, and this owner put 11K miles on it in one year. The second owner bought it in Arizona and took it to California; this owner put 11K miles on it, then apparently sold it to the dealership. Carfax says no reported issues in any of the categories (salvage, fire, odometer, etc.).

    The dealership offered it as a Toyota Certified Vehicle in February of this year.

    Obviously not as ideal as a single-owner vehicle, but a single-owner reg cab 4x4 in SoCal would be extremely rare, as they don't sell them new here.
     
  5. Apr 28, 2008 at 12:56 PM
    #5
    neontrail

    neontrail ✈ ✈ ✈ ✈ ✈ ✈ ✈

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    Member:
    #5844
    Messages:
    10,109
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2004 NISSAN XTERRA XE/SE
    De-badged, Tint 20%, Blue 48 LED dome-light, .......
    Buy it! ..Seems like a good deal
     
  6. Apr 28, 2008 at 12:59 PM
    #6
    CometKat

    CometKat Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Member:
    #6182
    Messages:
    435
    Carson City NV
    Vehicle:
    08 Tacoma 4X4 Regular Cab SR5
    Reading a truck is a bit of a guess but here is what I think.

    If the mods are limited to the K@N, the grill, and the wheels, I would take this as a sign that whoever owned it cared about it and probably took care of it.

    Since it used to be in Arizona and now it’s in SoCal maybe driving a stick wasn’t going to work in SoCal traffic.

    The Tacoma regular cab is the least practical of the line. So if you have expanded to anything beyond a wife and a dog you probably need something bigger.

    If you can confirm the truck has never been in an accident and/or is not salvage this might be a great deal.
     
  7. Apr 28, 2008 at 1:35 PM
    #7
    HardCase

    HardCase Winter is coming.

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2008
    Member:
    #5087
    Messages:
    430
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Robert
    Kalispell, Montana
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma (Inferno) TRDOR 4x4 DCLB
    You can get a brand new one with zero miles for around $19K. That one appears to have alloy wheels, perhaps aftermarket, as they come with steel rims. I dunno, if it were me I'd be tempted to spend the additional $3000 and get one that's two years newer and with no miles on it. Fewer question marks that way.

    Edit: Oops, sorry, just noticed that they don't sell them new in CA??? Why not? One thing I've noticed is that they are very uncommon in Gen II regular cab configuration around here also, but they can be found if you are willing to be patient and look for them.
     
  8. Apr 28, 2008 at 1:40 PM
    #8
    nd

    nd Radical Town. It's a hell of a place!

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2007
    Member:
    #1047
    Messages:
    12,619
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nate
    Greenville, SC
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off-Road 4x4 debadged
    De badged, 5100's, Black Toyota Baja wheels
    seems a little high but i dont know what they go for out there. it has six lug rims on it? how did that happen? aren't all regular cabs the 5 lug mini's? is that a mod?
     
  9. Apr 28, 2008 at 2:10 PM
    #9
    Khaos

    Khaos Big Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2008
    Member:
    #4570
    Messages:
    6,454
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryant
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC TRD SPORT Prerunner
    3” spacer lift, 285/75/17 KO2, Spidertrax 1.25” spacers
    There are Prerunner and 4x4 Reg cabs. They all are 4cyl 5 speeds and are somewhat rare (though I hate using the term rare for a Taco). They come with the 6 lug pattern.

    Those are TRD Sport Alloys. It looks pretty clean inside as well.

    Because its a Reg Cab 4cyl with a Manuel transmission, the dealer is having a hard time unloading it. People just don't want a truck that small anymore. This can be used for your advantage. I'd offer them $14,500 and negotiate up from there.
     
  10. Apr 28, 2008 at 2:25 PM
    #10
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Member:
    #5269
    Messages:
    5,125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Frank
    Rocklin, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2001 prerunner doublecab limited
    2001 with; cat-back side-swept twin exhaust, elbow mod, Westin bullbar with Hella 450 driving lights, Snugtop XTR camper shell, TRD off-road 2x4-black beauty.
    Hey Mark-you're welcome..to me the fact that it's certified helps me think they are confident in this truck. I say do it but make them throw in that warranty. They wouldn't have certified it if the mods weren't smoggable or if the truck was adversely altered.
     
  11. Apr 28, 2008 at 2:30 PM
    #11
    HardCase

    HardCase Winter is coming.

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2008
    Member:
    #5087
    Messages:
    430
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Robert
    Kalispell, Montana
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma (Inferno) TRDOR 4x4 DCLB
    I actually had to go outside and look at my '08 4WD Reg cab, but you're right, it is a 6 lug wheel.

    I'm personally perplexed by why regular cabs are not more popular. Sure, if you have a family and it's your only vehicle or you use it to go on family camping adventures, etc., that makes some sense, but I've always personally liked the clean and compact look and feel of a regular cab. Seems like every Access cab I've ever been in is full of junk, litter and debris behind the front seats, and double cabs look like an SUV with the back end cut off. Oops, I'd better duck now......:rolleyes:
     
  12. Apr 29, 2008 at 9:10 PM
    #12
    MarkMG

    MarkMG [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2008
    Member:
    #6203
    Messages:
    14
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    07 Access Cab 4x4
    Hey, thanks to all for the feedback. Very useful information.

    That Regular Cab 4x4 in the ad is falling out of the running. The dealership is acting shifty, and I just can't see making a major purchase when I get a bad feeling from the seller. Even if it is possibly the only Regular Cab 4x4 in Southern California.

    I can't believe it, but I'm actually considering traveling as far as Arizona or Oregon to get a Regular Cab Tacoma 4x4. The price difference compared to a similar Access Cab locally is more than enough to justify a trip. Access Cabs near me with 20,000 or fewer miles are all priced $23K and up, and the owners are not budging on the price. When I talk with them, they all act like they have the biggest prize in the world, and they really couldn't care less that they're asking thousands above Blue Book.

    Meanwhile, 4x4 Regular Cabs with the same mileage are listed for $14,000 and even less. That extra space in the Access Cab to put your luggage or dead bodies or whatever apparently costs $9,000. Admittedly, most Access Cabs are also V6 and either SR5 or TRD, but I'd prefer a 4 cyl anyway for the mpg, and I'm pretty sure that $9,000 is a fine budget to enhance a pickup for offroad use.

    And that seems to be what I'm looking at. I can get an Access Cab 4x4 in L.A. or Orange County for $23K. Or I can take a $150 one-way plane trip to somewhere in the West and end up with an equivalent-condition Regular Cab 4x4 and $9,000 in my pocket to trick it out.

    Unless there's something I'm missing?

    Again, thanks to all for the generous feedback.
     
  13. Apr 30, 2008 at 5:12 AM
    #13
    nd

    nd Radical Town. It's a hell of a place!

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2007
    Member:
    #1047
    Messages:
    12,619
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nate
    Greenville, SC
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off-Road 4x4 debadged
    De badged, 5100's, Black Toyota Baja wheels
    huh, i guess you learn something new every day. So do the 6 lugger 4x4 regular cabs have the off-road jacked up suspension or are they lower like the 5 luggers? is the axel over or under the leafs?

    Sounds like a plan to me. most important thing when you're buying a car/truck is to get what you want. if you dont want the access cab then dont pay for it and regret it later. if you have to go out of state to find one that sucks but you gotta do what you gotta do to get the truck you want. I know what you're saying about the access cabs and double cabs. i have a double cab cause its my daily driver and convenient for trips and friends etc. But if i had the money, i'd love to have a trail rig, and my first choice would be a regular cab taco. those things are so badass! Just not really practical for someone that goes on alot of trips like me.

    Have you tried asking your local dealer to have a reg cab 4x4 shipped or driven from another dealer in another state? my dealer didnt have black so they had someone drive it down from NC. My truck had 300 miles on it when i got it but that was fine with me, i got exactly what i wanted and didnt have to make a trip to get it. all i did was leave a check with the dealership which was un-signed, sort of like a good faith gesture that i was serious and they had it down two days later. might be worth looking into
     
  14. Apr 30, 2008 at 5:29 AM
    #14
    Burns

    Burns Excellent Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2007
    Member:
    #1871
    Messages:
    3,943
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    17 DCSB Off-Road
    Bilstein 5100's @ 2.0", Wheelers 1.5" AAL, 265/75/16 Firestone Destination AT2's
    The reg cab pre-runners are on 4x4 frame and suspension, just without the front rear. :thumbsup:
     
  15. May 1, 2008 at 10:54 PM
    #15
    MarkMG

    MarkMG [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2008
    Member:
    #6203
    Messages:
    14
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    07 Access Cab 4x4
    An update on my progress toward becoming a Tacoma owner...

    I test drove that original Reg Cab 4x4, just because it was the only one anywhere near me (even though it was 45 miles away). I was cracking up the whole time. The thing had been hot-rodded within an inch of its life. A non-CA-legal air intake, some exhaust modifications -- the salesman and I could barely hold a conversation on the freeway because the truck was so loud. But at least I got to drive one of those rare SoCal-dwelling Reg Cab 4x4s.

    I'm looking at various out-of-state options, but conversations with private sellers are scary. On the phone today with the owner of a 2007 Reg Cab in "excellent condition" who was ready to "sell now," I only found out toward the end of the conversation that the upholstery was damaged, the windshield may be faulty, the dash was damaged during installation of a new stereo -- oh, and he doesn't have the title yet. But he will as soon as he pays off the truck. Well, at least he didn't wait until I flew up there to tell me.

    So I'm thinking of "settling" for an access cab I can get locally. Here's one I'm looking at that seems like a good deal.

    2007 Access Cab 4x4
    Less than 10,000 miles
    Manual 5-speed
    SR5
    Cap (which I was going to get anyway)

    Asking price is $20K or best offer. Don't know yet whether it's a V6 or 4cyl. Pic attached.

    What do you think? A good deal for <$20K?

    tacoma-side-view.jpg
     
  16. May 2, 2008 at 8:19 AM
    #16
    Khaos

    Khaos Big Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2008
    Member:
    #4570
    Messages:
    6,454
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryant
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC TRD SPORT Prerunner
    3” spacer lift, 285/75/17 KO2, Spidertrax 1.25” spacers
    Off him $18,000 and negotiate up from there. It is a 4 banger (they have a 5 speed as opposed to the 6 speed in the V6).
     
  17. May 2, 2008 at 8:26 AM
    #17
    MarkMG

    MarkMG [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2008
    Member:
    #6203
    Messages:
    14
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    07 Access Cab 4x4
    Thanks. Happened to also just get confirmation from the owner right now that it's a 4 cyl.

    Bluebook appears to be about $18,500, so I think your advice is good. If I can get an Access Cab 4x4 "locally" (this one's actually almost 2 hrs away) for anywhere near Bluebook, that seems to be pretty good in this market.
     
  18. May 2, 2008 at 8:31 AM
    #18
    nd

    nd Radical Town. It's a hell of a place!

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2007
    Member:
    #1047
    Messages:
    12,619
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nate
    Greenville, SC
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off-Road 4x4 debadged
    De badged, 5100's, Black Toyota Baja wheels
    Yup, Da Hui is right, the manual 5 speed is for the I4, the V6 manual is a 6 speed. i also think you should offer around 18 and negotiate from there. What about asking your dealer to bring one in from out of state? did you ask them about that? if you want a regular cab i dont see the point in paying extra for something you dont want. dont get me wrong, i think the access cab is more convenient but if you have your heart set on a reg cab i would wait for it.
     
  19. May 2, 2008 at 8:32 AM
    #19
    nd

    nd Radical Town. It's a hell of a place!

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2007
    Member:
    #1047
    Messages:
    12,619
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nate
    Greenville, SC
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off-Road 4x4 debadged
    De badged, 5100's, Black Toyota Baja wheels
    i would definitely not pay over kbb for it
     
  20. May 2, 2008 at 8:45 AM
    #20
    Buzz

    Buzz Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2008
    Member:
    #4057
    Messages:
    42
    Just make sure you understand what fees will be due if you purchase a vehicle outside of CA and then register it.

    Maybe things are more simple now. When I moved to California 15 years ago, getting a vehicle registered in CA that was purchased out of state was potentially expensive.

    I googled the rules and found this: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/os.htm

    Also check out the fee calculator: https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorWeb/index.jsp
     

Products Discussed in

To Top