Would you buy a 2004 with 300k miles

Would you buy a 2004 DC, 4x4, Off Road, with 300,000 miles? New timing belt, clean frame, good tires, the good part is I can buy it for $5700. I've owned Toyota trucks since 1990 and I've bought a couple Land Cruisers with that many miles and never had a problem. I'm just think the 3.4 is a great engine and worst case, I have to find a used motor down the road. I have a Tundra that's killing me on gas but I have to have it to pull my boat so he Tacoma will be for local daily driver. Just thought I would ask other opinions but don't see how I can go wrong with that price.

Thanks

 

There are a lot of things you need to check out before buying a first generation. The first major one is the frame. These first generation Tacomas have a design flaw with their frames rusting out from the inside out.

As far as your concerns with the 3.4 Toyota V6 engine found in these Tacomas, they are great engines, but if they are not well cared for, they will not perform well or last a long time. The main thing to look for is to see what kind of maintenance has been done on a regular basis. The timing belt on these motors has to be changed every 90,000 miles. The 3.4 is also not known for being great on fuel mileage. The best you are going to get with one is anywhere between 17 and 20 miles per gallon.

Good Luck,
Paul

 

Read first generation buying tips in the sticky section before you go any further.

 

Frame was recently checked by Toyota and it's good. Timing belt was changed less then 2000 miles ago. I've owned a 2001 Tacoma and 3 4runners with the 3.4 and 17 - 20 MPG sounds awesome LOL! I drive a 5.7 Tundra with a lift and 35's so getting that kind of gas mileage would be welcomed. Hook my 21' Triton bass boat up to the Tundra and it really gets ugly LOL!

 

For a double cab.
That's a 10k truck up here even with 300k

 

No

 

Not just 'No', but, HELL NO!

 

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, just don't see how you can go wrong at $5700 but that's why I posted here.

 

Possible, I would not outright say no. If the frame is good, and the 4x4 works, I would say that price is not bad.
What does the body look like?....OK the body looks good.

Clean title, not salvage?

Edit to mention pics.

 

I'm going to look at it this weekend so can't say for sure but has a couple small dents from the pics. The owner says no problems with 4 wheel drive and the rear diff lock engages the way it's supposed to.

 

The only ones saying 'NO!!' are 3rd gen owners that will likely have more issues with their $35k+ trucks in the first 50k miles than this 300k mile 1st gen will in it's next 100k

 

20mpg lol sign me up

 

I got that with my 04 on an all highway trip once...and only once...when it was stock.

Now I'm lucky to get 15 on the highway

 

It won't last long, if it is solid. 300K will not deter a Toyota buyer...

 

1st gen will always be the best gen! buy it

 

You'll never save enough gas to pay even 3K for it.

One vehicle will sit too much.

I noticed today from sitting my front CV boots are split and leaking AGAIN with about 5K miles on them. Sits on hot concrete all the time. Taking it's toll worse than driving constantly.

 

I'll keep my Tundra in the garage and I'll still drive it every week so not like it will set for weeks at a time. I drive a lot every day in town so lots of start and stopping so the Tundra gets about 12 MPG...........actually more like 11. Plus I'll keep the miles off the Tundra and at 300k, I can drive the fire out of the Tacoma, not like it's going to loose much more value.

 

Fuck yeah! I’d buy it! Good price!

 

That's a real nice rig OP, even if the gas mileage is ugly.

 

You will be able to drive that Tacoma for a few years and sell it for close to what you paid for it.