New Tacoma Owner, Hello!

Hi folks.

Just moved from the city to rural New Hampshire, needed a second set of wheels. Decided to pickup a 1st gen Tacoma, photos below. Not a car guy by any means but excited to learn more and start some projects. Wondering what you think about the truck and the deal I got on it — go easy, if I got got let me down gently, not looking for instant buyer's remorse!

2004 Tacoma SR5 V6 Xtracab
• 190K miles
• Replaced frame (unsure when, but this frame seems like it's in good shape...to me. I took a hammer and an awl to it before it was fluid filmed, sounded solid and looks clean, couldn't find any soft spots)
• New tires (Sailun Terramax HLT, don't know much, seem kinda budget but fine)
• New timing belt
• New brakes
• New water pump

PAID: $9,249. On the higher end I think, but when compared to what else I was seeing on Craiglist etc that was similar miles with less new components, it felt ok. Came from a dealer as well with 6/mo 50/50 warranty which, whatever...I did a lot of research and spent some months looking and finding very few solid local results. Lots of youtube frame check videos, etc. Hope it paid off.

Holler if you see anything that looks sketchy. I don't know much about these vehicles but I guess here goes nothing!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

You did good getting a 1st gen with a new frame...that's the biggest problem with these trucks. I've had mine sprayed with Krown every year so far and this stuff and Fluid Film really work GREAT! Good luck with the new truck!

 

1st gen tacos are holding some value, you may have paid a little too much, but not enough to feel bad about. 1st thing you need to do, pull the bedliner out and see what all is under it, clean it out if necessary.

 

Whew ok, well, that’s not so bad I guess! Haha. Yeah I know the bed liners can trap moisture. I peeked under there with a flashlight and seemed ok but didn’t properly pull it up. Do they pop out fairly easily? Thanks!

 

Welcome to TW

 

I don’t think you overpaid. The market for Tacomas is competitive and corona’s limiting of the supply chain has increased demand for used vehicles. Especially trucks.

did you buy this from Walsh?

 

Neat Auto in Merrimack, NH. Had a friend who has owned 2 Tacomas through them with good experiences for what it's worth. I could have likely found a better deal through a private seller but I've been monitoring Craislist in about a 200 mile radius and it's slim pickins as of late. I also kind of wanted a 1st gen, V6, also an xtracab, so when you start factoring in that stuff it's not often something pops up checking all the boxes. As long as it doesn't crap out on me in the next year or so I'm feeling pretty ok with what I paid (as ok as one can feel when they say goodbye to 9 thousand dollars ha!) It's also gonna be mostly for around town/dump runs etc so I don't see this thing getting anything more than 10K miles a year — likely less. Hopefully with the right care I'll get many years out of it.

 

I’m with ya. Spent 2 months searching since I had the same requirements- v6, 4x4, xtra cab, auto trans. I drove 11 hours south last week and paid $9600 for one with 141k (they were originally asking $11,800).

 

Haha, exactly! I wanted auto too...NGL I've only driven a stick a few times and would have gone manual if something had presented itself, but in reality my wife needs to be able to drive it too and she didn't want to be bothered learning. To be fair I wasn't keen either. ¯\_(˘͡ ˘̯)_/¯ Sounds like you're psyched! 141K miles sounds pretty ideal!

 

Yep, super quick and easy to remove the bedliner. After you take it out, wash the inside of the bed really well and take it to have a spray in liner put in.

 

Welcome to TW!

With the condition of that frame, I think you got a solid deal! Now go enjoy it!

 

Nice, will do. Obviously depends locally but what should I expect to pay for a spray in liner? Ballpark?

 

Im not real sure. I've never had it done, the trucks I've bought, have already been done.

 

Welcome to TW!