Buying my first Taco . . .

You should ask your independant shop that you mentioned. They have no stake in the game. Plus they will be your service provider of choice in the future.

I suggested some ways to find value earlier. I do think it's high priced for a 2wd.

I assume it/you live in non-snow country.

 

i pulled up nada and it shows clean retail is 10k

 

Sage advice...

 

Many of us need 4wd. But if you need a truck bed but don't go off road or drive in snow, a 2wd will save on gas compared to a 4wd plus there's less stuff to break and go wrong.

 

last data point from me....

Carvana would pay $7,100 for it.

15k is clearly way over priced.

 

I shop the salvage auction sites and they give expected retail values. I've bought two 2012 4X4 Tacomas for less than 12K with minor repairable damage, and milage of 72K and 68K respectively. The last one booked out retail at 19K with the lower milage.
Don't fall in love with a depreciating asset.

Just offered as perspective.

 

I blew air out of my nose at this

 

And if you finance a depreciating asset, it makes you a two time loser, said dear 'ole Dad.

Regardless of Tacoma prices and popularity within the semi-cult world, it's still a depreciating asset.

Verified by lenders, insurance and the IRS.

 

You know the market in your area, and you know what you want in a truck. You can always briadenyiur search to the dry states to avoid rust issues.
Don't buy anything because you get caught up in the purchase excitement.
If you will 'never' require the use of 4wd, then don't buy it. But if you honestly think you might. Keep looking for a 4wd.

That's just my 2 cents. Good luck

 

It's great that our trucks hold their value when you own one. Not so great when you want to buy one. Lots of good advise above. Biggest for me is cost to purchase, accident report and Prerunner.

 

I would personally spend an extra 5k and get a newer model with a few K more miles and don't be afraid to travel for the right truck, the 05's are notorious for head gasket failures just my 2 cents. Starting too sound like an echo chamber in here.

 

I just picked up my first Taco back in November. 2011 DCSB Off Road (4X4) with 150k for just under $18K, and it needed nothing. I'd be inclined to tell you to keep looking.

 

I respect that other replies are staying somewhat neutral and respectful but I can't help but just tell you like it is..

This would be a tremendously terrible purchase. I don't even know if the dealership told you if this was a pre-runner or not or if you were first told that by members of this forum, but those things are useless to anyone other than collectors or mall crawlers. And even to them, Thats a bit of a steep price, assuming you're in the US and and not Canada where the dollar is a lot different.

I'll admit that the frame and underbody looks great, but if you're somewhere in the southern US, thats nothing special at all. You know it hasn't been off road driven since it's a poser truck to begin with, but you're much better off looking at a 4x4 and private sale at that age.

 

If you buy it,you better have a long warranty,05 Tacoma's have very expensive head gasket and motor mount issues,personally I would pass.

 

Was quoted my 2007 trd offroad with a new frame and 188k miles (302k km) was worth 15k Canadian so roughly 12k USD at the moment.
Just some food for thought compare how you will.