Help a Tacoma Newbie Out

Hello - I am new to the forum, and the world of Tacomas, and was looking for some guidance.

The last two vehicles I owned were Ram 1500's (2000 5.9L, 2012 5.7 HEMI) and my most recent has become an absolute money pit with having to replace the engine...twice. Long story short, I'm looking to make a change from Dodge/Ram. I've been on the fence about F150's but the more research I've done into "most reliable used trucks to buy", Tacomas take the cake on every list. Besides, I don't really do any heavy towing so a midsized truck may be a better option. I've been looking at 2nd generation (2005-2009) double cab Tacomas with anywhere from 65-150K miles.

My questions:

1. Are used Tacomas really as reliable and bulletproof as they are notoriously given praise for? I've been very disappointed with Dodge/Ram and am just looking for a reliable truck at this point.
2. How many miles have you put on your Tacoma?
3. Is it worth it to pay a higher price ($17-21k) for a Tacoma that's 10-14 yrs old?
4. What are things to look for/steer clear of in a used 2nd gen Tacoma?
5. Is it worth looking into a used Tacoma with 100-150k miles? If so, what's a fair price (double cab, 2nd gen)?

Thank you in advance for your help!

buku556

 

I think with any used vehicle it depends a lot on the previous owner.. Kept up with general maintenance, fluids, grease, etc? Or did they just put gas in it and drive? Not any easy question to answer if you're buying from a used car dealer.. Also, was it driven in an area that uses road salt in the winters?

The early 2nd gens (2005 and some of 2006 I think) are known for motor mount and head gasket issues as I recall. Many of the earlier 2nd gens are known for frame rust issues. I believe the recall campaign from Toyota has expired on that, but dont quote me..

Late 2nd gens 2012+ have an issue with the secondary air injection pump. Its a poor design from the factory that can eventually degrade and ruin the whole thing (lots of $$$ to replace). Good news is it can be solved with a $10 part from Amazon and like an hour of your time. I think some of the earlier years had this too. Depends on which engine the truck has. Theres a metric shit ton of info about this problem on this site.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...you-own-a-tacoma-you-should-read-this.449563/

A 'face-lift' was done for models post 2011 (2012-2015, hence the 2.5 gens haha) Some new safety features and traction control things, head units and touch screens on some models, general aesthetics, etc

Bottom line, these trucks hold their value and run for a long time. So expect to pay a higher price, but don't be scared away by high mileage alone. If you have the time to shop around before you need to ditch the Ram, Im sure you can find a really good one

ps, this website has the answers to any question you might possibly have about these trucks. The search bar is your best friend for sure haha

 

welcome

 

Tacoma bug-a-boos: frame rust, secondary air pump, although I haven’t experienced an issue with either. Third genners complain about transmission shifting, this may be fixed, but I don’t follow this issue.

Is a previously owned Tacoma worth the premium? I didn’t think so, so I bought new.

 

Welcome to TW

 

Thank you for the reply! Now it's just a matter of being comfortable buying something with 100k miles on it for $16-19k. I'll get there

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW!