Taco newbie needs opinion on used '09 v6 Prerunner

Hey,

New to the forum, been reading on here all day, makes me more excited to get a Tacoma.

Been looking online for a few months casually, saving money. Found this one on CL earlier this week. Need help deciphering if this Tacoma near me is more likely to be a hunk of junk or just needs some love, which the previous owner clearly did not give. Dealer says paid over $10,500 for it, sounds like struggle finding someone interested in it.

https://www.donscarz.com/inventory/...a-2WD-Double-V6-AT-PreRunner-(Natl)-Topeka-KS

From the listing, it looks like it would need some serious cosmetic work, but I'm ok with a slow build as long as it isn't going to be a dud mechanically when I drive it off the lot.

From what I can tell, it needs...

New windshield (immediate need)
Hood and top of cab repainted
new back bumper
possible new back gate
new drivers side door panels
eventually nix the orange paint inside
figure out the problem with volume dial/audio
generally has a lot of scratches on exterior paint

I don't know that much about Tacoma's so I am generally skeptical given cosmetic condition and price.

Any observations and opinions greatly appreciated!

 

Cosmetic stuff is easy enough to fix over time. The issues I have with it are that it is modified, possibly by the same person who left those door panels loose and managed to loose the rear bumper pad. Whoever did that isn't into details and would make me nervous about the suspension work. Also, big tires are hard on everything else. If big tires are your thing, then okay, but I would rather start with a well maintained stock truck and make my own modifications, that way I know exactly what I have. Do they have maintenance records? A nine year old truck with 110K and no maintenance records, I would walk away.

I bought mine 4 years old and 40K on it with no maintenance records, but it was still early enough in the truck's life that it wouldn't have been due for much more than oil changes. There was a story behind it that indicated the previous owner had intended to keep it long term (extended warranty packet left in truck) and signs that the oil had been changed recently, but not yesterday, if you get the idea. I gambled on the rest, and it worked out, but I wouldn't have done it on a 100K truck, these vehicles are pretty good mechanically, but they need to be maintained.

 

Welcome aboard. I am of the mind that if the exterior has not been maintained then most likely neither has the drive train. Keep looking and something will eventually will catch your eye

 

It doesn't worry me if a vehicle doesn't look showroom new, I'm not one to clay bar and detail clean my truck every weekend. It's truck for utility, not a restored 1965 GTO after all.

But I am OCD about mechanical and electrical, so it would bother me endlessly to have half ass modifications or things that needs to be repaired. I'd be worried that there's important stuff that hasn't been done, like keeping the undercarriage clean and rust-free, reliable maintenance on time, etc.

Me, I'd keep looking because that feels like too much money for a PITA project to me.

 

What is the market for 2WD trucks in Kansas? Probably has something to do with it.

2WD on top of all the other issues?

Pass.

 

I would pass too. Cosmetic stuff is easy to fix but grossly expensive. Easy to send the truck in for a full repaint, hard to drop the cash to do it right.

I agree when someone treats their truck cosmetically like crap, they treated it like crap mechamically as well.

You might still want to look at it in person to verify its not a vinyl wrap on the hood and roof. Looks to symetrical to be just clearcoat. Hard to tell from photos though.

 

my 09 has twice the miles and better cosmetics.i'd be hard pressed to get 10,500.that one is probably 8500 max Id think.