Advice Needed on Tacoma Purchase

Admitting I haven't read through all the posts. But I bought my 2004 with 41000 miles (now at 5100 roughly 9 months later) and I push this truck. Granted I have Foxs, but stock control arms and leafs. Gotten feet of air on multiple basis, survived Hidden Falls 10+ times and Gilmer twice, not to mention all the more recreational casual off roading. For street uses being a 2WD, I doubt any real issues for quite a while. My truck was in Hawaii for a while but showed minimal rust.

As for the interest rate, I'm no expert. I worked at the dealership I bought the truck from, but managed to get 6.5% as a high school student with no credit history. I paid $16000 with $8000 down.

 

So it depends on what you want to use it for? Do you need a truck with 4x4? Or will 4x2 suit your needs. If you don't have plans to go offroad a bunch or drive in deep snow it should work for your needs. If it's going to be a truck for just around town on pavement it not a big deal to note have 4x4.

 

I'm not going to do anything crazy with it. Sometimes very easy trails, that my Rav4 4cyl can do. I don't need 4x4. My biggest issue is paying $17,000 interest included for it. As carafe shows, no real maintenance except tires.

 

Trd was an option still for the prerunner. I had a 99' pre-runner non trd.

 

If it's not TRD idk if I'd jump on that offer.

 

I didn't know this.

He doesn't really need a locking differential anyways so... But I agree the price is a little too much for me. But it's worth it if it's worth it to you.

 

It's not having it or not, it's more of the price. That much for a TRD sounds alright to me. For 17k after interest I better get the damn TRD package.

 

The nice thing with Toyota's is that age doesn't really effect them, true it won't have all the bit's and bobs however a tacoma like that will run forever if you take care of it. If I were you I'd see if they would let you take it to a mechanic of your choice to get it checked out by an unbiased party so that they could check to see if you need to fix anything, and also check for any prior accidents.

 

I live 3 hours from the dealership. I don't know any mechanics out there. :/

 

In that case look into some mechanics in that area that do vehicle checks, before I got my truck locally I was looking at trucks that were around 3-4 hours away and I just looked up "mechanics that check used cars" and was able to find auto body shops and mechanics that did used vehicle checks.

 

Yep. Aka PrePuchase Inspection. Depending on what company you go to, it could be up to an hour.

 

And I also don't know about pricing were you live, however in my mind its better to spend a little and not have to worry instead of dropping a good change of change and learning it has problems.

 

Ask him what the invoice price is and offer a little above that.

 

Ok, I asked him. He's gonna get back to me. I'm gonna see what @opteron has to say too. Then if that's all clear, I'll get down there and schedule time with a mechanic. In the mean time I will keep searching, and try to sleep on this truck for another week.

 

Good luck man. Hope you find a good deal.

 

Send me a PM....we can talk tomorrow morning.

 

When you're crunching your numbers for real cost don't forget all those "other" fees. Dealer fee, taxes, tag etc.

 

Good thinking, ya when I would negotiate price it's a good idea to make sure it's stated that price is "out the door" including all fees and taxes. Dealers like to throw on all sorts of dumb fees for this or that.

 

Based on what @opteron checked out today, I think I am going to pass. The dealership is not being straight with me about the taxes, title, and registration fees. They won't show me the invoice price. They wouldn't let him test drive it. Heavy smoker. And touch-up paint in numerous places. Underside and engine looked pretty clean. Not 4x4 or TRD. So $17,000 after interest PLUS all the extra fees. Looks like I am going to keep looking!

Thanks to everyone for helping me out.