Should I trade in?

I have had my 2017 SR DCSB 2.7l 2x4 for about a year and a half and I love it, but especially since becoming a TW member I have thought about trading up to a better trim. I wanted to know if anyone could give me some advice about whether or not i stand to lose too much in the process to make it worth switching. I owe about 12k on the SR (I put almost half down on it) and my notes are $247/month and I would be trying to keep the note about the same. One of the main things I'd like advice on is which trim to upgrade to. I want to go to a v6, though I don't think I need 4x4, I just don't do much off roading and here in the south most of what I encounter is mud and dirt and with good tires I manage fine in my 4x2 as it is. So I'm considering either the sr5 or TRD sport, since i dont think i need the TRD OR even though they look coolest to me (besides TRD pro). Any and all comments and advice are welcome, thanks in advance.

 

FIFY

Sport Tacoma is best Tacoma, except for Pro Tacoma.

 

I just traded my 17 ACSR 4x4 largely because I didnt like the 2.7 engine. Had it about a year took a $3000 hit about 15% of purchase price. The trim level wasn't the issue for me it was the drive train.

 

I traded my 4x2 4cyl for a TRD OR and never looked back.

With that said, I wanted a 4x4 so it made sense to lose out on the trade. I’m sure you won’t keep the same payment unless you put more of a down payment as the other trims are more pricey.

Good luck with your decision. If you want my $0.02, do what makes you happy.

 

I will consult a local salesman I know to find out for sure, but I am hoping that with her help (she's a family friend) I could get a great trade in price and some help on the sales price of a TRD sport and keep a note that isn't too much higher than my current note. I currently have 4.5 years left on the loan and maybe by accepting a new 6 year loan I can manage to keep the note low? It seems like I really need the dealership to crunch some numbers for me to know what my note would be

 

I would start researching the value of your trade in. This way you know what is worth in relation to what you paid and what you still owe.

Then negotiate the price of the new truck you want (should be able to get somewhere around the invoice price). Don't even mention your trade in before you are happy with the new price. Most dealers will always try to screw you when a trade is involved.

 

first off, go onto KBB and check out the value of your truck as a dealer trade in. It is pretty accurate about what a dealer will offer in trade. I suggest you also try Carmax for a buy offer. I don't know what state you are in, but 4x2's area a lot easier to buy. If you are not a good negotiator, you can use Costco or USAA buying service. Lastly, if your credit is good 700 plus, you should qualify for the best rates out there. Finally, don't be a payment buyer, the dealer can work the numbers any which way and usually to your detriment. Just look at the best price you can get, minus your trade and then use a payment calculator.

BTW, if you know the fair market value for your trade and invoice of the truck you like, you'll know if the "family friend" is really giving you a good price.

 

My dad always says "do whatever you're big enough to do."

If the numbers make sense, go ahead and pull the trigger. If not, you're not "big enough" so walk with your head held high knowing you didn't make a silly decision.

Don't forget that a different trim package affects your insurance too and, if it's anything like here in Kansas, you pay a tax on the value of the vehicle every year. More expensive cars mean more taxes.

If I were you I'd shoot for a 4x2 SR5. The bells and whistles on a Sport are nice, but not necessary.

 

That's solid advice, I'm definitely going to take it before I even talk to the dealership. I'm not in a rush this time, I was when I bought my SR

 

Yeah, my head tells me the sr5 is the smart way to go too. Thanks

 

This is a tough one. Been there, done that. Financially, it's not going to be worth it until you have to trade it in on your subsequent Tacoma. The trade in value will help "recoup"(if and when you pay it off) some of the money that will be lost on this trade-in, particularly owing 12K.

However, this trade-in will at least make you happy. It aint fun and good times gettin' into a ride you don't like or are questioning. Obviously, be prepared for a larger loan, and slightly to larger monthly payments, depending on trim chosen. Insurance, tags, fuel will go up some. But again, do what is going to make you happy. We only get one shot on this planet.

How about a SR 4x4 V6? You might as well go 4WD and have a very capable truck. It will help with a better trade in value also.

 

Yeah, I may go 4x4 v6 SR if it turns out I don't like the looks of the note on a sr5 or TRD sport. The v6 is the main thing I really want, though I like all the gadgets on the better trims.... it's a quandry. My wife says go for it, I just really like having such a low note right now.

 

I guess I can give you a decent idea since I was on the same boat last October.

I had a 2016 SR DCSB 2.7l 4x2 with around 18k miles and ended up trading in for a 2017 SR5. I ended up getting $20,000 for the trade in but this is taking into account that some asshat did a hit and run when parked and it stayed in the record so it devaluated a bit more.

If yours is in mint condition, I'm guessing you could get around 21-22k or maybe sell it privately and get like 24k(Which is what my dealership was selling my truck for afterwards) but you also lose the tax credit, something to keep in mind.

I wouldn't go for the TRD sport for a couple of reasons, although it pains me to say it since I love the looks. The TRD sport is lacking a locking differential and craw control that the off road has, meaning that it has no mechanical advantages over an SR5, while costing the same as the superior TRD OR. The sport is basically an SR5 with an appearance package on steroids and a few cool extra gadgets but most of the time, not really worth the price difference.

If you are ok with paying trd sport territory, might as well go off road, otherwise, an SR5 will probably serve you quite well, make sure how to negotiate the dealers down to the last cent so they don't play with the numbers, lowering the cost of the vehicle while also lowering your trade in amount.

If it's of any help, I'm located in GA and after it was all said and done, I got the highest SR5 subtrim(with parking sonar and entune premium plus some other goodies) for right around $31.5k with taxes included, so you should shoot for that out the door, plus around $22k for your trade in.

 

If you have to finance out to 6-7 years then you’re buying too much truck. If you can afford the extra funds, then pay to play.

Nothing wrong with your truck, so be prepared to take a bath for swapping trucks - and you’re going to pay more no mater what.

 

Thanks, that's a really helpful layout of your swap. That kind of brings me back down to reality haha, and if I do trade in it will probably be for an sr5. Honestly, I'd really love an OR, it's just that I never have before been one to go off road, and I don't really have any friends that off roading so it would be overkill for me, which sucks because they're my favorite looking Tacoma aside from the pro. The sports are cool looking, but your scenario is showing me realistically that I would have to pay more than I am willing for a sport, what you traded in for and got your sr5 for are pretty much the ceiling of my comfortable budget, as I would be taking on about 5k more debt if I came out similarly to you.

 

why would u trade in a vehicle u owe money on? not trying to be facetious, i honestly dont understand why someone would do that...?

 

Very realistic haha, thanks for being a voice of reason.

 

Only because if I go with something that isn't too much more than what I trade my truck in for I can get what I want and not have to increase my note that much. I can afford it, in fact I could afford a no cash down note on a TRD if I really wanted to, I just don't like stretching my budget that much, and I don't really need a TRD, though I'd love one. The short answer is that I should've been more patient making my initial purchase, and I may be willing to pay more to get what I want.

 

I mean, you really cant afford the truck you have now if you have loan on it. not trying to be mean, but its the truth. financing a vehicle means you cant afford it, and now you talk about upgrading an already financed vehicle.

 

You think it's weird for people to finance vehicles? I think it's weird that you think that haha. Do you not use credit cards either? It's great if you dont, but most people do.