Looking To Buy First Tacoma, What Should I look For?

Hoping this thread can be useful for people like me but I'm looking for a reliable truck to have during college and years after which led me here. I'm curious what the big red flags are for the gen 1's and just any info someone should know about gen 1's in particular.

College kid with a limited budget but an addiction to the outdoors needing some advice!

 

Red flags are rust and high mileage on ball joints.

I’d recommend the 2.7 for a college student. It will be a bit easier to maintain.
3.4 is a great engine, but it can be more expensive to up keep. And not quite as easy to work on.

 

Welcome!

Don't be afraid to leave your state but understand that you may have to pay more at registration. That's what I did for my truck. I actually bought it from an old friend - call around some & surf bring a trailer . com - car guru, all the sites. Right now its pricey so give yourself 6 months to look & never jump on the first thing you see!

Toyota & Lexus autos can be looked up on their websites. Toyota owners . com or Lexus owners . com. I highly recommend making an account & plugging the vin into the website. It may give you some buying power & or let you know its a well maintained truck.

GL!

 

Nah get a 3.4. But yes do look for rust. specifically where the front leaf spring mounts meet the frame in the center of the frame as well as the rear shock mounts. Ask about timing belt and water pump maintenance. 3.4 is a non-interference engine, but if you need to get these done by the dealer, $$$.

Not a super critical thing, but if it has ever been driven in water or mud look at the diff breather. Lots of guys do a "diff breather extension" and this is just because the diff breather on top of the rear axle can get clogged/closed shut easily and lead to things like your axle seals busting. If you see a tacoma with a clogged/ rusted shut diff breather, no big deal, just be sure to get a new breather from Toyota for like $5 or extend it in the future above the axle so it doesn't happen again.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys I truly appreciate it, what kind of mileages are questionable? I'm looking at craigslist all over and just wondering on first glance what on first glance to question? Coming from a German sedan so this is new territory for me, in my realm of knowledge 150k+ is questionable. Just looking to test the waters before the winter when I'll need a 4x4!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

just don't buy a 2012 cause of the secondary air pump. mileage depends on oil changes & documentation. without the documentation the mileage can really show if its not a properly maintained truck. never buy a V6 that sounds like a farm truck!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld