With the resale value on Tacoma's being so high, does it make sense to spend $25k on a used one?

You seem to be in the same category as @EatSleepTacos . You should check out his build thread. He has done some amazing things with an AC.

 

Sounds good to me, I'll try and find it on the forums once I get back from the gym. Thanks for all the information guys!

And if anyone is in the Nova or Richmond area that wants to come look at a truck this evening, feel free to pm me

 

That's good because unless they've changed the rear seat configuration since 09 the jump seats are only good for your dog and the storage boxes under the seats just take up floor space.
Get the double cab, real life use.

 

so its good that people are throwing out advice long term and stuff and it is all valid.

but its a truck. and I HIGHLY doubt you will still be driving the same truck in 10-15 years. If you're planning on kids in the way future (8-10 yr mark) I think you're safe man (with the understanding that life happens, and unplanned things come up). If you spend your money NOW (in reference to a truck decision) on ideas that you don't PLAN on affecting you for a decade. . .I think that's the opposite end of the poor decision making process (as opposed to rushing to a decision without thinking it through).

I did the same thing. Bought my truck new as a senior in college, about to go off and do good things (AUG 2010). Now look at the truck. If I had known this was what the future held, I would have gotten a base SR5 model since I've redone all the stuff a Sport comes with, minus the hood (which there is a hood swappin thread on here anyway haha).

The important thing is that you are at least leaning forward to make a smart purchase. There are no right/wrong answers, some answers will just require more work one way or another (in life).
Good luck man!

 

Here's my opinion. We live in the now, not the future. There is nothing wrong with planning for the future but telling yourself "some day I'll buy what I want but for now I'll settle" has cost me lots of money that I could have had saved for the future. Example... in 2013 I wanted a raptor really bad but told myself that a Silverado will do everything I needed it to do and was way cheaper. Six months later I was sick of staring at the Silverado so I bought a raptor. I lost close to 10k on the Silverado on trade in. So I would have been better off just buying what I wanted to start than settling. You are in college and hopefully know what your career projectery is. If your going to graduate with a degree in humanities and 200k of debt then maybe the $2000 beater is for you. No can predict what is to come and who the hell wants to be 50 before they buy their fist sports car. Just my stupid opinion but it's what my life has taught me.

 

The second gen is definitely the best value. Sounds like you can maybe do some mods with what you'd save over the -0- mile new truck. I'm super happy with my 2015 extended cab long bed. I drove from FL to Massachusetts to buy it a year ago and it had 8k miles on it. I wanted an off road for the locker so there were only 5 or 6 around at any time available with low miles. I put an icon stage 7 suspension on it and All Pro expedition springs on the rear and it drives like a Cadillac in all road conditions. Should hold its value really well and be a great second or third vehicle for as long as you want. Best of luck with your decision.

 

I believe that you should go with whatever truck makes you the most happy and that you hopefully won't regret after purchase assuming the decision is financially reasonable for you! Don't let people tell you that you can't keep your toys down the road when and if you get married with kids because you can. Sure you have to plan your future reasonably and there are a lot more things that come into play financially when you open the can of worms that is children BUT I think 90 percent of people blow this sort of thing out or proportion. Plan ahead and live within the means of your budget. Think about the future but don't forget to enjoy the now. Take it from Someone with 3 little poops myself good luck!

 

Screw that. Buy for your needs today instead of the what ifs of the future. Unless plans are already in place that you are working towards buy for today.

Everyone told me to buy a dbl cab because my daughter is 2. What happens when she gets older? By the time that she won't fit into the backseat in my access cab I will be in this truck well past the point the truck is paid for. What about car seats? We have my wife's car and my daughter doesn't come alone with me in the truck yet so we haven't had to cross that road either. She will be in a booster for a while and my AC accodates that just fine. Until the time comes that my daughter wants to go camping and my wife can accept living on anything but a pillowtop mattress I can't see family vacations or other events requiring the truck specifically and not our famiy car.

I wish I had every dollar back that I spent preparing for future plans that never materialized or came to fruition. There is a huge difference between accommodating for the future and spending for a future that may never happen.

 

Every situation is different per individual and there is no wrong in asking questions. The hard part is that nobody can tell you which way to go. It sounds like your not one to make a decision without some serious thought so I don't see the end result being bad. Either way, with these trucks, they hold enough resale value that if your future changes in the next year and kids are brought into the picture you could sell it for something more "father" oriented and not be out much. If that doesn't happen, you'll have a great truck you can drive until the wheels fall off. Either way it works out.

I do agree in saying that make sure you have the funds to pay for the truck and any unexpected life situations before spending that sum of money. If it were me, I would be ALL OVER that 2015 if you could afford it. Best truck IMO. On the other end, even if you have the cash to pay for it at once don't. Get it financed and start working on that credit so that when the family and kid do come your way you're already established for your next big purchase. (house, new car, baby)

Edit: I didn't see that you were solely looking at AC but my stance stays the same. I personally prefer the DCSB for the interior room even though I'm not sure it would be enough for a kid. (don't have one and not planning on it any time soon.)

 

i always suggest going with the last year a certain model was made over the first year a model is debuted in the hopes that any issues have been ironed out and the stronger aftermarket and the stronger private sale used market.
much cheaper buying used skids and bumpers than new ones

 

~5 years ago I was dead set on not having kids. Nope, not going to happen. Not me. Don't want them.

Now I have 2.

Ive been through about 6 vehicles in the last 6-8 years trying to figure out which one is going to work for me.

DCSB and keep the tailgate down for the dirt bikes. After you have kids you won't have time to ride your dirt bike anymore anyways.