My new to me Tacoma!

Late last year I ended up getting a teardrop camper, now while yes my 2010 Outback 2.5L can tow it, and did, I sure did notice that camper back here. I thought about maybe finding a good use 3.6L Outback that wasn't CVT, but that didn't also solve the cargo space issue which a bed would. So I thought well shoot, I'll look at trucks. I'm not overly comfortable driving full sized, even test drove one to confirm that.

So I started looking around, looked over the Rangers, Dakotas, I shied away from the Tacoma's at first due to the used price, until I really started to do some reading and talking with people to find out they are basically the best mid sized pickup. So I was looking around then found two of them, a 2011 TRD Sport and a 2012 SR5.

My first stop was for the 2011 TRD Sport and I get there a little before 9:30AM before my appointment, someone was test driving the Tacoma I had requested to look at. Since they were looking to buy it, I had to wait a bit to see if it went through and it did, so I lost out on that one, but hey I said no hard feelings, the guy drove like four and a half hours the night before and stayed locally to the dealer to get there when they first opened to look at it. Props to them for doing that! That just confirms how wanted these trucks are!


So I go up to the next stop with the 2012 Taco. I took it out for a drive, spun my wheels some with the sales person then took a 2019 out as well. Had them run the lease numbers and while the 3 years at 10K miles would have worked out for me, the buying out would have been a bit more than what I wanted to spend monthly (I didn't mind doing a lease, just can't predict my situation in a few years to afford the monthly financing). I ended up getting the 2012. I asked why it was on their lot for a few months as I saw it on the Carfax they had it for a few months, turns out someone several states away was trying to get it and it just got complicated and it did not go through so they stuck it back out for sale.


They are dropping it off at my apartment on Monday when I'm at work and locking the other set of keys in. They are over 60 miles away and are doing this for free. I also get free oil changes for 2 years/25K miles as well, and $30 synthetic oil changes/tire rotation/car wash every visit after. I'll have to price the synthetic changes locally, 120 miles for an oil change that I pay for might be a bit much!


It's a 2012 SR5 Double Cab, 4X4, V6 4.0 with over 173,000 miles on it. I'm sure it'll run for quite a few more. It had the class IV receiver on it, Sirius XM radio, bluetooth hands free, backup camera, keyless entry, home link mirror with auto dimming, 17" offroad tires, factory towing package, etc. I found it on Truecar and got it for $13,650 + tax. Overall I think I did great!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome to TW!

 

good luck with it an welcome to Tacoma World

 

Looks like a nice find. Good luck and welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

I'd say you did OK, Tacos are hard to find cheap - you have to balance years and miles - but this looks like a good find for you! It will last. Have a ton of fun, and welcome to TW!

 

Nice truck

 

Welcome!

 

Nice! Welcome to TW, I just got my first Taco last week, I had a similar journey haha, so I’m sure you’re glad to be done with it, I know I am.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thanks everyone! They finally delivered it on Thursday due to being busy. If I had gotten it Monday I would have been not able to drive it, they mailed the temp tag LOL. I took it to work yesterday and everyone loved it. Sounds like my co-worker is going to look at a 2009 today and possibly might get it.