Chance to Buy, Need Help: 03 Tacoma w/ 63,000K Original Miles

Aloha — I live in Hawaii and have an opportunity to possibly purchase a one-owner 2003 PreRunner v6 2WD with 64K original miles + Snug Top (literally my dream truck). The pictures of the rig look phenomenal. Garage-kept its whole life, oil changes every 3K, and in immaculate condition. The owner just replaced the timing belt, water pump, radiator, spark plugs, and coil pack at 62K.

Here's the deal:

I'm going to look at it this Friday. He's got it listed for $23K while KBB has it valued at $15K in Excellent condition. Am I crazy for offering $15K if everything checks out, and it's one of those unicorns? Talk me into it / talk me out of it.

EDIT: I already own a 3rd Gen 4Runner (2002) with 130K miles, so I'm very familiar with the engine. If I bought the Tacoma, I'd most likely sell the 4Runner. I just like having a usable truck bed. More practical for me.

 

I would pass on it....

 

https://www.kiefernissanofcorvallis.com/used/Toyota/2003-Toyota-Tacoma-corvallis-or-b94b6cfa0a0e0a9919d887d567a069d1.htm

Found this earlier.

Supply vs demand. The truck you are looking at is ‘overpriced.’ But what does that mean? You won’t find many in that condition, if it’s really that clean.

Just remember what else you can get for $23k.

 

Also remember it’s a 20 year old truck. Mileage isn’t the only factor in aging parts.

 

What island are you on

 

Also you know how Hawaii guys are, show up with 18 grand in cash It would be hard to resist

 

Just found the add on Facebook, truck is clean, show up with cash and I’m sure that guy won’t say no

 

An 03 with 64k miles. Either 2 mile trips it's whole life, or it sat for YEARS. Either way it's not a good thing. Rubber gets old, plastic gets brittle, fluids get degraded. I'd rather pay less for a vehicle with double that mileage.

 

Yeah this. Especially on a tiny island. There’s already nowhere to go. Probably just short trips to the store and such, no opportunities to really warm it up.

 

there is no way in fuck that truck is from here someone brought it in haha

 

I've been looking at ~10 year old, low mile vehicles. I look at the Carfax and see if the miles are put on slowly, evenly through the years or if it stopped accumulating mileage for multiple years. If it sat, I pass.

 

Check the frame too probably rusty being in Hawaii, my buddy is a lifeguard in hb and they use 3rd gen tacomas only a few years old when I go surf with him I check out their rigs and already have a lot of surface rust

also old trucks and low miles aren’t always great I jumped on my 2010 Tacoma during Covid only had 50k miles while it runs flawlessly it did have a valve cover gasket leak which I think might have occurred because it most likely sat for long periods of time

 

Not 4X4
Pass

 

My 03 extra cab 4x4 all manual TX with electric interior controls had 63K on it in 2018, 81K now. Looked like they put all new seats/carpets in it. I (waaaay) overpaid for it at just under 14K but it was the truck I wanted. I might have gotten lucky, minimal rust but the tires were shot, tire shop wouldn't even replace valves so rubber parts is a big concern. If you really want it, offer blue book value or pass.

 

Smells fishy

 

I mean he’s in Hawaii. Tiny island, not much that requires 4x4.

 

IMO no one should be paying over 15k for one of these trucks. Idc if it has 1,000 original miles. If anything it could be just about ready to blow a head gasket or throw a rod from sitting for so long. At least if it has 250k I know it's been maintained well enough to get to that point, and consistently driven.

 

Tell that to the market. Easy to find a first gen listed for $20k+.

As long as people buy them, which they will, the price will remain high. But at $25k for a clean 20 year old truck, if you can afford it, just buy a new one.

 

They might be listed for that, but that doesn't mean that's what they sell for. IME the ones posted for I-know-what-I-got prices have just been sitting lately, unless they're on BAT where people have FU money to throw around.

 

Don't let the low mileage scare you off. If it was well maintained, garage kept, and driven somewhat regularly I bet it's more than fine.

My truck is a 2003 with just under 63k original miles as well, but has the 2.7 not the V6. I bought it back in 2010 with 22k miles on it. I drive it at least weekly but it sits in the garage for the most part. Sure the rubber bits are old but nothing is to the point of being brittle or dry rotted yet. It runs like a champ and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere.