Would you guys travel to buy a truck, if so how far would you?

I just want to know if people would travel far to get a truck. I want to buy a truck in Kansas, but everything is just so expensive, like 2008 trucks with 200k miles 20k, that's just ridiculous. I had seen some good deals like in TX, but about 10 hours far from where I live. I have 20k cash to invest in a good deal, but nothing comes.

 

We bought a new 2021 Tacoma for my daughter last year because she was in Japan and was transferring back to the states. She needed a vehicle and was very specific in what she wanted.
I flew from Louisville, KY to Austin, TX and drove her new Taco back.
Since it was brand new, there was no hesitation about the potential disappointing condition of the truck.
From the time I left my house until I got home was 26 hours straight through.
Yeah, I'd travel for the right truck.

 

I dont know about prices but when I searched for the truck I have I went to central Indiana, southern Illinois, and maybe about an hour north of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. Looked at multiple along the way to each place. Maybe a 1000 miles of total driving. Pretty much most of the trucks I did see were pretty scratched and beat up or if they weren't then they were almost perfect and outrageously priced. Maybe find a few you like and do a road trip and hit them all up along the way like I did so you only make one trip but you see a bunch of trucks.

 

One truck I dream of owning is a syclone. Even though it has a bed and looks like a truck, it really isn’t seeing how little trucking capabilities it has, from what I remember it can carry something like 500 lb.

There was one being offered by a fancy dealer specializing in exotics, low mileage, unmolested, and of course they wanted a ridiculous amount for it.

For one of those, I’d make a cross country trip.

As far as Tacoma’s go, when I searched for mine it took about 7 months. But I specifically wanted v6, manual transmission, regular or access cab. That was a couple years ago. Now with the chip shortage play havoc on the market, I feel bad for anyone needing to buy now. What sucks further is once the shortage ends, used car values will settle back down, whatever you buy now will lose some value. If you have to buy now that sucks. If you can live with what you have, or fix whatever is wrong with it for now, I’d go that route.

Even buying new is difficult, I heard order now, expect delivery December 2022.

 

That 2008 for 20K. Run. Fast
Def not with that!!!
Yes yes yes I would travel for something I wanted. 10 no prob

 

Very unlikely I’d travel far for a used vehicle purchase.
Not unless I knew the person, history, and it was a low mileage truck.

I’ve wasted a lot time, gas, and money going to look at used stuff.
In my experience, 90% of the time, it doesn’t look as good or sounds as good once you get there to see it.

 

Ya I’ll travel for the right deal. Most of the time a waist like Tnshooter said. Gone from Arkansas to South Dakota to get a 4runner one time. It was worth every mile. On the other hand just took took a 3 hour trip one way to Texas and a 6 hour trip to Missouri to look at trucks that looked way better in the pictures. Wound up finding the Tacoma I was looking for 2.5 hours away.

 

About 4 years ago I drove 200 miles to get an aged Tacoma. I had a GTi that I loved but knew I was on borrowed time with that car.
Here I am 50k+ later and still am very happy with the ridiculous(to me) travel that I took.
That being said, today's market being vastly different I don't know that I would do it again.

IF the right deal comes up in a REASONABLE distance from you do it, otherwise just be patient, these trucks are popular and there are 'barn finds' to be had.

 

I flew from Seattle to Miami to buy my truck, enjoyed the 4 day trip back across county. After driving 30 minutes I realized it didn't have cruise and Googled "add cruise to Tacoma" and discovered TW!

 

I await the day a vehicle presents itself to me worthy of the adventure of flying to it and driving back. I've shipped 2 motorcycles from Texas to Seattle sight unseen, the thought of a 2,200 mile road trip on a superbike with a 150 mile fuel range doesn't appeal to me though

 

Yes I’ve wasted plenty of time doing the same. Once to look at a kz650, they had pushed it out of the garage and trying to get it started. I was asking questions, dude ignored me so I left.

 

@Tombiology70 is willing to drive at least 1500 miles for the right truck

 

Oh btw I'm selling my 2nd Gen with ~155k for 18.5 in VA if anyone is willing to travel, seriously

 

Flew from Florida to St Louis and drove my new 2013 DCLB Pre Runner home!

 

This is exactly how I feel. There are always surprises and most of the time they are not pleasant surprises.

I rarely buy used items regardless of what they are.

 

A few years ago, I located a new Ford Super Duty diesel in Texas (from Louisville KY) that was "exactly" the color and optioned the way I wanted it. It was priced lower than any other similar Super Duty I could find anywhere else on the "net'. A trip to Texas would have cost me, food, fuel and lodging, about 400 bucks. Another dealer within 25 miles of me, had "almost" the same truck for 500 bucks more than the Texas truck (the difference being dealer options; floor mats) Bought the local truck.

 

back in 2015 i flew from ny to oklahoma to purchase my 2012 used private sale tacoma (had found the car on ebay, and then later found the car listed for sale here owner was also TW member)
seller picked me up from the air port and we went direct to the bank, signed the papers over, i dropped him off at his house and i drove back up to ny

at the time people thought i was crazy buying a 3 year old truck truck with 24k miles for basically the same price of the brand new 2016 3rd gens rolling out that year at the time

looking back, i have zero regrets, i did not want a first year third gen, i did not want anything other than my manual 6 speed off road in spruce mica

if you know what you want you know what you want

 

Week before Christmas last year I flew to NJ from Maine and took a 45 minute Uber to buy my Tacoma. 10 hour drive home that same day and it was worth it! Absolutely will travel to get the right truck.

 

Was closer to 1700- Thanks again for co-piloting on that adventure