Buying my first Taco . . .

Hey everybody ~

I'm looking at buying a 2005 Tacoma with 84,000 miles. The dealership wants 15 k , and they're not budging on the price, because of course they know someone will pay that for it.

I'm writing here to ask, Is it crazy to pay 15 grand for a 15 year old truck ?

The trucks is in immaculate condition. All the 100,000 mile services have been done, and the interior is perfect, because they replaced any panels that had scratches or anything. Brand new times, 3500 mile warranty, etc , etc.

What do you think ?

Is 15 k too much ?

Any thoughts ?

 

Take a really good look underneath for frame rot. Ask the dealer if you can have someone do it for you if you don’t know what you’re looking at. I see you’re a new member and figured you may not have heard the horror stories but the frame would be my biggest concern. Others will chime in, possibly about head gasket issues, but I think that was mainly in some of the ‘06 models.

 

I'd be concerned about the frame and head gasket issues. Both are very expensive to fix, if needed. I'm sure owners of the 2005 Tacoma will chime in about any other known issues.

The frames are notorious for rusting, especially by the catalytic converter. The head gaskets seem to be an issue in the 2005's and early 2006's.

Keep us posted, and welcome to TW

 

Thanks !

I asked about the frame and got this :

 

Any tips on how I could find any problems with the head gaskets when I visit the dealership ? I'm planning to take it to a mechanic for an independent assessment . . .

 

Call a credit union and ask what they'd loan on such a vehicle. That is their view of the 'value'.

Call your insurance carrier and ask what the payout would be if such a vehicle were totaled. That is their view of the 'value'.

The number that is between the price and the average of the values is what you are spending 'at risk' should the worst happen.

Doesn't mean you should not buy. Just gives perspective to the dollars.

 

Ask him to include a compression and leakdown test and a cooling system pressure test.

All those will do is tell you if it's ok 'right now', and offers no guarantee on what could happen in the future.

With 84k, if it passed those tests, I'd likely take a shot.

 

Thanks a lot yall.

 

Frame looks clean.

For a little more history, open a toyota owners account and punch in the vin to see any and all dealer performed work

 

Dang that is clean.

 

Seems like the biggest risk is the head gasket issue.

Should I ask the dealership to do a compression test ?

 

Ask for a compression and leak down test, and get their raw numbers. That's not a huge job for any mechanic. Generally speaking, the truck looks to be in great shape, so I understand why they are firm on their price.

 

15K for a ‘05 prerunner? They’re smoking crack.

 

If you look around what they're going for, it doesn't seem crack-headed to me !

Can you find a single-owner 2nd Gen Taco with under 90,000 miles, for under 14,000 ?

I've been struggling to !

Here's the Carfax if anyone is interested :

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHisto...Rku73P3ktspl90bGdlCVpP3y4WxjvvKz4Yp0ocRvyFrio

 

The frame is clean and it has low miles, but the transfer case, front dif, and front driveshaft are missing.

I wouldn't pay 15K for a 15 year old 2WD truck. I would rather buy a Corolla.

 

Not much work done at dealerships, but here is what was done

04/2019 E02-INSPECT & REPLACE REAR SPRING LEAF ASSEMBLY-TACOMA,INSPECT AND REPLACE SPIRAL CABLE ASSY,D0L-INSP/REPL SCREW/SPRING KIT BOTH SIDES - TACOMA,90L PDL & FLR MOD, REFLSH, RMV SND MTL, CLN CRPT TACOMA,DEPARTMENT 1 SERVICE / REPAIR,OIL CHANGE,LOANER VEHICLE,DEPARTMENT 1 SERVICE / REPAIR,PADS (VALUE ADVANTAGE), FRONT BRAKE - REPLACE AND RESURFACE ROTORS OFF-VEHICLE,MISCELLANEOUS AIR CONDITIONING - REPAIR 77,126

08/2009 30K 04/NEWER DLR SER,SPARK PLUGS / 6 CYL,ELECTRICAL,FUEL INDUCTION SERV.,POWER STEERING FL EX,CABIN AIR FILTER,ENGINE 41,101

 

What do you see going on there ?

Anyone seeing anything strange in the report quoted in the message above ?

 

Personally, I wouldn’t buy a prerunner even if it was $5K, but that’s just me. Better to have 4WD when you need it. Regardless, a ‘10 or ‘11 4WD with 150K miles for $15K would be a better buy.

 

I can't thank yall enough for this input, by the way.

 

mostly recall work.

Rear springs were replaced
Spiral cable is part of the air bag system. Lot of issues early on with them
i believe the screw spring kit relates to the seat belt system
they cut the gas pedal. there was a big to do around 2007 related to run away toyota's. mostly it was idiots putting mats on top of mats, but the solve was to cut the gas pedal
they did a computer reflash to update the software
new brake pads and resurfaced rotors.
i didn't look at the detail of the AC fix. that would be a true fix. i'll let you look that up if you are interested

the second entry is just general maintenance.

i don't see any major red flags in the data i have reviewed or the pic of the frame. if the price is right, worth considering.

note. i did not stay at a holiday inn last night