In the market for my first Tacoma

I've wanted a Tacoma since I was 16, I'm currently 35(for context). I'm finally in the market looking for a USED 4X4 4door. I will be trading in my 2021 Jeep GC Laredo X. I would just like some advice on purchasing one. I see there are 4 Generations. Would it be better to get a 2nd Gen vs 3rd Gen? I definitely will want Apple Carplay installed if it doesn't have it. Duh lol. I cant really afford a brand new one. Anything will help! Thanks in advance!

 

Tacomas hold their value really well, as I’ve just found out with my first Tacoma purchase last month. The price difference between a brand new 3rd gen and a slightly used low mileage 3rd gen is not much… in some cases I found brand new ones for the same price as low mileage used ones! The 4th gen is about to hit the dealer lots so that’s probably out for you as they’ll be more expensive.

I don’t know too much about the 2nd gen tacomas since I only focused on 3rd gens. the 3rd gen I found is a beauty.. slightly used 2023 TRD Sport Premium 6 speed manual that had 8000 miles. Leather, heated seats, Nav, car play, moon roof. Got it for $41.5k. Absolute blast to drive and about to become even more fun with the OTT tune going in this week.

It took me roughly 3 months to find the one I wanted. I did look at brand new ones but many of them were marked up and didn’t have all the options I found in my slightly used one, for a much higher price. Keep looking daily in cars.com, cargurus.com, edmunds, etc.. you’ll find yours eventually. Try and go with the lowest mileage available and I’d go for the 3rd gens after 2020 which come with car play. Just be ready to spend around the mid $30k’s for those, even with mid mileage. If you know how to drive a manual I’d highly suggest a 6 speed MT too. Good luck!

 

Both 3rd gen and 2nd gen are solid trucks. If you're looking for something with lower mileage, I have seen some 3-4 year old trucks with 50-70k miles for around 33-35k. SR trim is always going to be the cheapest and they aren't that much different from the higher level trim packages. I have owned a TRD off-road and SR5 and and SR and found them all to be very similar inside.

Keep an eye out for frame and body rust. When in doubt if its private party don't hesitate to have a dealer do an inspection. Good luck with your search!

 

Have you test drove a 2nd gen or third gen? See if you can do that first. Have a budget and start looking. Anything decent with sell fast. Prices for any gen is still stupid in relation to any given year in my area.

Look at listings daily and be prepared to buy. I don’t know if interest rates are having an impact on supply and demand yet. When I was casually looking in 2018 I wanted an affordable 2nd gen. As I kept looking I was noticing the prices of used were creeping up fast.

By the time I was really in a position to purchase in the fall of 2020 I gave up on getting a good used Tacoma because they had become ridiculously priced compared to new.

Covid issues and the cusp of chip shortages were starting to loom large.

Dealer just received a shipment of the last of the 2020. 6 in total. By the time I called they only had 2 left in the trim I wanted. @1.9% financing for up to 72 months they were going fast.

Had a choice of black or white. Purchased the white one sight unseen over the phone. Never even test drove it. Thank goodness it was the first year of the power adjustable drivers seat so my shorter wife could drive it.

Thats what it took to get ours. Kinda stupid but it was just the current situation. Despite all that we really love our 2020 TRD Sport DCLB. 3years later no issues.

Hopefully you have a better experience. Good luck finding the truck you are looking for.

 

Solid advice in here. If Carplay is a must, you're looking at aftermarket (or at least head-unit swaps like getting a 2020 and putting it in a 2019) unless you shoot for a 2020+ Tacoma. 3rd Gener's can correct me, but 2016-19 don't have Carplay or AAuto. Similar to @rambandit73, due to the market being insane it took me 3-4 months to safely find one that was: In my budget, in my rough spec and in decent enough shape. I went full send on 2nd Gen because I wanted less frills, less tech and something stable and reliable. Not my daily, but for projects, camping and hauling/work and the 2012-15 refresh met my needs. Since you're coming from a 2021 GC Laredo, I have a feeling you'll be more at home in a 3rd Gen. If this is your daily, the fit, finish and styling is obviously more modern; has slightly more creature comforts. Just check the frame thoroughly regardless what year and gen. Test drive various years if on the fence; seeing and feeling is believing. Oh, and use aggregate car searchers like autotrader, cargurus, etc. to hunt deals inside and outside your immediate area. FB/CL are OK...but...well do your due diligence and be on guard.

GL happy searching!

 

If you’re anywhere in the rust belt and looking at anything old (ie, 2nd gen), have a long look (and hammer) at the frame.

 

I think it also depends on the extras you desire. If a sunroof and leather are your thing, you are looking at more money. If you want a power driver seat, newer year. Do you plan on off-roading, need that locker? Sport or OR? If you plan on upgrading suspension components and wheels, i would stay away from a pro. I think it all depends on the driver and their desires, needs, preferences (last). There are many different variations that are within the tacoma trims, but they all hold the same core.

I opted to buy an OR with all the bells and whistles. LED lights, sonor, leather, sunroof. It came with a nice A.R.E camper shell and Yakima bars. But that just fits me. Some people would say I'm dumb for opting to pay for all those options.

As my professor used to tell us, you are all as unique as the person sitting next to you and just as similar.

I think the same goes for the Tacoma. Depends how you want to dress it.

 

This is the best advice: be prepared to buy, they go FAST. The one I found was all the way down in Tennessee (I’m in N Virginia) and I knew it would go fast being a unicorn.. I pretty much committed to it before even flying down there the day it hit the lot. Flew down, test drove it and Bought it on the spot.

 

Bravo.

 

Thanks for the advice! All very helpful. Now I know where to look and prepared to act fast. Also the info on the Trims, very helpful. This will be my daily driver, I would like for it to be the last car I ever purchase. Ive looked on Autotrader so far. I'm definitely in the 2010-2018 price range. I think finding anything newer at this price range would be difficult. Are there better states to buy them in? I am in Georgia.

 

Me? I’d head over to the stealership and you see that one rat bastard sitting there that nobody wants? That’s the one you want. Make a deal. Good luck!

 

Preferably a dry climate state that doesn't salt (for frame purposes). Though I'd think Georgia is pretty safe for that beside the coast. Potentially move your search slightly west (since you're South) if anything (I eventually found mine in the land of AZ). Like mentioned, be prepared to pounce, but don't lack due diligence. Setup listing alerts, contact them ASAP, verify/request frame pictures if not within driving distance, etc.

Personally, I'd narrow down your year range too. If you're only looking for a Tacoma and that's the only criteria, cool. But it sounds like you have some requirements. 2010-2018 crosses generations and small facelifts. Even the difference between your second gen years of 2010-2011 compared to 2012-2015 have some cosmetic differences in both exterior and interior. And some trim lines only became available after certain years (Limited and TRD Pro in 2013+ and 2015+ respectively).

 

Literally just purchased a 2019 TRD offroad with manual tranny. I'm from Texas and purchased in in North Dakota. Low miles, one owner. I figured out purchasing from a locally owned dealer is the way to go. I still had it inspected at Toyota but the local dealer wanted my business and gave me a great deal, including exactly what I wanted for my trade in. They also were still willing to do the appraisal over the phone and even delivered the truck from Bismarck 4 hours all the way to Williston, signed the paperwork and took my trade in back. They took care of a full 30k service/fluid change for me as well. You're just not going to get that stuff from a full fledged dealer anymore. I would recommend a local dealer versus dealerships that are trying to move in volumes and sell you other products along with their markup. By the way, from what I've researched 2019's are solid with minimal issues or recalls. Good luck!

 

Welcome To TW..

 

[QUOTE="

Personally, I'd narrow down your year range too. If you're only looking for a Tacoma and that's the only criteria, cool. But it sounds like you have some requirements. 2010-2018 crosses generations and small facelifts. Even the difference between your second gen years of 2010-2011 compared to 2012-2015 have some cosmetic differences in both exterior and interior. And some trim lines only became available after certain years (Limited and TRD Pro in 2013+ and 2015+ respectively).[/QUOTE]

This is good advice, I think. I had a 2013 DCLB Sport After I sold it, I looked at some 2016 and 2017 tacomas and went with a Tundra instead. Now I'm back in a 1st Generation tacoma and love it.

 

If you want a 2nd gen ('05-'15) the '13, '14, '15 tend to be a bit less problematic in some areas, have a styling refresh and are still 10 year old truck.

Hopefully you have a trusted independent mechanic you can have inspect what you are interested in, assuming you're not comfortable doing that yourself. It can often be worth $100 or so to do that. You'd be shocked how many appear here crying about failing frames and worn out expensive parts because they were lured by some car wash spray wax on a fairly straight vehicle.

And if that's a current pic of you in the profile, you look a little young to be picking your last vehicle.

 

welcome! i can relate to wanting a tacoma for a while. the 2nd gen had my interest, but the 3rd gen sneak speaks in 2015 is really what pushed me to get a house...

to add to this,
SR is a 'basic', no-frills truck. there's no significant options, just standard power locks/windows/mirrors, a/c, and cloth seats.
Sport adds things like the non-functional hood scoop, led daytime running light strips in the headlights, and offers options like an 'upgraded' stereo, heated seats/mirrors, leather interior options, automatic heating/air control. 2020+ can be had with led headlights.
Off-road does a lot of what the sport does, but adds different computerized 4x4 modes, doesn't have the cool hood scoop, and has some suspension tweaks for offroad use.
Pro is really just a special edition version of the offroad.

for carplay, the newer 2020 trucks support it, but any truck without the upgraded JBL audio system(it will say it right on the radio face) can easily get an aftermarket head unit that will do whatever you require with minimal trouble- these trucks use the same radio wiring toyota has used since 1986.

 

Even as good as Toyota's are, if you are a 35-year-old, it likely won't be the last vehicle you ever purchase although that is a commendable goal. I have owned three Toyota 4x4's since 1982. The first was a 1980, the second was a 1994 SR5 and (hopefully) my last one is the current 2020 TRD Sport but I'm 71 years old. Between my former employer's work vehicles and personal ownership, I have driven around 950,000 miles behind the wheels of Tacoma's in all kinds of conditions. Above all else, DO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. It can be financially painful at times but for me, it paid off in the long run. Good luck with your search!!