Finding a V6 access cab is tough

Sounds like Joey has your truck.

 

Thanks for all the comments everyone (by the way, I already like the community here)! I actually was able to take a quick test drive of the I4 just now, and I honestly just did not feel satisfied going up one of the hills here in Atlanta even with an empty bed. I'm probably going to test out the V6 tomorrow or the next day, and we shall see how that all goes.

 

One thing I noticed in the op, you want a truck with <100k, imho not very likely economicly speacking, I spent three months searching and it had 130k on it.

 

My bank has some new rule that they only finance vehicles under 100k miles. Their rate is also so low compared to other banks that I figured I might as well just get a nicer, newer truck. Another bank had not only high rates but a sliding rate scale based on the model year. Kind of put me in a bind haha.

 

Soooo, for a lower mileage truck, you're going to be financing a MUCH higher dollar amount at a lower interest rate. I paid cash for my Tacoma, so I'm no expert, but it seems to me that you would be money ahead buying a truck with a little higher miles for less money at a slightly higher interest rate. I hope you're not talking interest rates in the teens.

 

Well if you have cash mine has approx 170k miles , I would want $12000, depends slightly on the how much I spend on dclb.

<100k I think is carmax price range.

 

+1.

FWIW, OP, I agree with your assessment regarding ease of finding V6 Access Cabs. I've owned 3 Toyotas ('92 Xtra Cab, '04 Xtracab, and '13 AC). All have been V6, 4x4, MT. All took months to locate and close deals.

 

I've got a 2.7 mt access cab and absolutely love it!! I just towed a 6x8 enclosed trailer loaded slam full of luggage estimated 3k trailer and bags on a 300 mile trip and averaged over 16 mpgs the whole trip!! Stayed in 4 most of the time but could run 5th on the flats and downhill... I wouldn't trade for v6 for nothing!! I found mine with 140k miles in south east Virginia with power windows locks mirrors lumbar seat and clean title for 11k from a one owner older lady!!

 

Evan, I am with you. I now own a 2015 2.7L 5 speed. I previously had a 98 2.7 5sp. I have never felt that the trucks were underpowered and I pull a 6x10 cargo trailer into the mountains of WV on a regular basis. I am beginning to think that unless you can pull a few Gs when you step on the pedal most people are not satisfied.

 

By far the most common configuration around here (Northern California) is the DCSB followed by the DCLB ... and they're typically outfitted with the V6+auto. PreRunners also seem to outnumber 4x4, and those outnumber the non-PreRunner 2WD.

I test drove an I4-auto under the less-than-ideal conditions ... it was HOT, three adults in the cab, and we were going up some considerable hwy grades. I was not at all impressed with the performance. I was struggling to maintain a steady hwy speed, and the auto transmission wasn't helping. Switching to "manual-shift" mode helped somewhat and driving around on the flats really wasn't a problem aside from slow acceleration. That said, I do recommend you test drive an I4-manual in your area to see if it'll meet your needs. If possible, drive the V6 as well so you can really get a good feel for the power difference. If the I4 makes you happy, you stand to save quite a bit of cash both in the purchase price and with fuel costs over time.

Keep looking... and look early and often. There are trucks out there that are exactly what you want, but they sell very fast. I got super lucky in my search

 

Expand your search radius to different areas of the country, even if you have to buy a one way plane ticket if you find the right truck for the right price. I found my 2012 access cab offroad for sale in West Virginia back in 2015 with 12K miles on it, paid 25K cash for it and that includes TTL. The same setup with higher mileage was selling for around 28K in my area at the time, just had to take a weekend trip to pick it up and drive it home.

 

I have seen a couple go through Carmax....and they will bring the truck to you!!

 

Searching for used Tacos led me to just buying a new one. The prices were crazy on clean low mileage 2nd gens. And I'm not gonna drop $20k or more on a 100k+ mile Tacoma when my 2015 was only $26k out the door.

I'm also not at all disappointed in getting an AC 2.7 5mt 4x4 when it comes to what the truck can do. The most I haul is a couple dirt bikes usually. And I haven't had any issues with towing a 6x10 open trailer loaded with bikes and camping gear.

And around here, access cabs are pretty rare. 90% of what I see are DCSB trucks. The AC and DCLB trucks are few and far between.

 

An access cab can be a base model (with the black bumpers and black grille). But I don't think they made the single cab with the SR5 trim level.

 

I've got a 2013 Base ACLB with 6MT 4x4 V6, purchased with ~80k miles. It took some hunting to find it and a lot of patience, so when one came up in good shape I jumped at it. I used CarGurus, Craigslist, Autotrader and eventually found the truck at a dealer a few hours away.

 

When I bought my SR5 6sp AC PreRunner, there were 2 available, 1 in North Carolina, 1 in Arizona (going thru Toyota website). This was in May of 2009. Flew to Charlotte and drove home. Eight years and 66,000 miles later still love it. My estimate would be here in Memphis double cabs outnumber AC's 20 to 1.

 

I had an '83 4WD LB and loved it. A guy made me an offer that I could not refuse, so I was also on the hunt for an access cab. I am from the Athens, GA area but was assigned to see the doctors at the Augusta VA. Had some extra time before an appointment and found mine at Milton Ruben Toyota. It was on their used lot. We haggled back and forth but they said there was no wiggle room because I was not trading in anything. I said let me think about it. I was walking around the showroom and an older guy came up and asked if I had any questions. I asked for his card...and it was the sales manager. I told him what I was looking at. He point blank asked what it would take to make the deal work. I said take $1000 off, throw in a set of the bedrail tie downs and follow me back to Athens and I will drive you back to Augusta. I had already seen the service sheet, new brakes, fresh service, new Brigstone tires, great paint, clean inside. He asked who I had been working with. I told him. My sales guy came over and said we had a deal. We signed the papers, got in the truck and I got to the be the owner of a 4 year old Tacoma with 31,000 miles on it. I have had the truck for 3 years now and the only thing I have done was new tires and regular service (other than the mods that I learned here on the threads). I now live in Valdosta and just last week I turned down $12,500. I paid $11,359 for a 2010 in 2014. I would say that they hold their value if you dont wreck it. Always get a CARFAX, and know who you are buying from.

 

I looked semi seriously for about 6 months to find my 2008 but I had the additional requirement that it was an Access Cab with a stick shift. Mine happened to be a TRD, which wasn't a strict requirement. I came close to buying a new one (a 2014 or 2015 at the time) but even finding those in AC with a stick wasn't easy. As it was I at least spent less for a used TRD OR than a new SR5, so I wasn't too upset.

To the OP, I replaced a 1991 with a 22R-E and 5-speed with a V6 and 6-speed and it's definitely more powerful, but I wouldn't call it like driving a small block Chevy or anything. I think I could live with a 2.7L, especially at the lower elevation where you live. It's not that much different.