2004 Tacoma with 200,000!

Hey all,

I've got an opportunity to buy a 2004 Tacoma double cab 4x4 SR5 V6 with 200,000 miles! My good friend is moving to another country & is selling it for 5000.00. I think there's some wiggle room though. He's meticulously maintained this truck since he's owned it which has been for the last hundred thousand or so. It's got new tires and exhaust and runs/looks excellent for a 13 year old truck. Anyway, I'm looking for some input from y'all in terms of concerns, troubles, or just overall advice on this. Should I forget the whole thing considering the high miles? Yes, they're highway miles but does that really matter? What about transmission related problems? I'd be looking to get 3 years or so out of this truck...who knows maybe more..ha! Obviously, I'm new here & I don't know a ton about these trucks.

Thank you all for your knowledge & help on this..very much appreciated!!

 

If it's mechanically sound and has little to no rust, that's a good deal for a TRD 4WD DC. Assuming everything is good, that's easily an $8-10k truck around here.

Three years of average driving is another 30-40k miles. I'd jump on it. As long as you keep up maintenance, you could probably make a few bucks when you sell it in a few years.

 

owner history is more important than miles. if you know it's been maintained well that's a plus in my book. 200k is almost nothing. Timing belt replace maybe but as long as no rust then I'd say it's priced dam good

 

As always the frame condition is the deal breaker or maker!

 

^ What he said. 200k is not as high as it sounds. For most cars, it is high. But Toyota put a pretty solid engine in these trucks, be it the 2.7 or the 3.4. Maintain it like it's your religion and you could realistically get another 100k. I plan on joining the 300k club. I'm halfway there.

 

If there's no rust, no leaks and fluids and the timing belt have been changed at intervals then you sir have found a nice truck.

 

That's great guys, thank you for the quick response! This is the kind of input I was looking for, good or bad. Yup, I was thinking timing belt replace too. My friend replaced it when he 1st got it, but that was 100 thousand or so, so yeah it's time.

 

If you're decently mechanical, you can do the timing belt yourself. It's easy on that engine

 

Where do you live??? Is rust an issue??? If rust is NOT an issue, than that is a damn steal, especially since you know it has been maintained. That's an easy $10,000 truck where I live.

Also Toyota truck miles aren't the same as regular car miles IMO. If its just been driven back and forth to work on the interstate to rack up those miles, I wouldn't sweat it if it the truck is in nice shape. My 2004 Tacoma has 184k on it, it feels tight as a drum still, doesn't use any oil, paint still looks great.

 

I live in New England & rust is definitely an issue if you don't take care of your stuff. I've gotten under this truck & miraculously it's clean with no evidence of rot or serious rust; in fact it's got some type of under coating on the frame.

 

Sounds like it may have been undercoated by Toyota under the extended frame warranty program. If that is the case, the frame is covered for rust through for 15 years from the original "in service" date, so there is still a couple of years coverage for an '04. Run the vin and make sure, or have a Toyota dealer check the coverage and the frame.

These frames rust from the inside, so it may look fine on the outside. This is particularly true here in the NE. Get it checked by a dealer. Then you'll have peace of mind and a great buy on the truck.

 

Buy it,buy it now!!!

 

Well...as the old saying goes...you snooze you lose!! My friend has sold the truck unfortunately. I lost out on a good one & I'm totally bummed about it. I decided that I wanted the truck & was applying for a loan from my bank when my friend told me he had already sold it. I waited too long & he's in tough position because he has to sell a lot of his stuff before his move in Jan. Although never said I think he's probably more comfortable having sold it to someone else rather than me should something gone seriously wrong with it. Oh well...gonna keep looking for a Tacoma guys; thank you all again for your knowledge & input!!!

 

Bummer!!If it wasn’t meant to be it wasn’t meant to be..
Won’t be the last truck around,the search continues .

 

Exactly, my wife said that same thing! Yup, search cotinues..keep you guys posted