18' tacoma manual 120k miles worth it? Dealership asking 28k+tax title

Hello everyone!

Thinking of buying this 18' tacoma since I know these trucks can last longer than typical cars however am hesitant as it is an older Tacoma with 3 users based on carfax and has been listed for a couple of months. I have gone to see it and test it and everything mechanically seemed good except some cosmetic issues. The original price was 30k and i tried negotiating it and threw in an offer but they just told me thanks but we will let you know of any price drops... 3 weeks later its at 28k... they didn't call me back or anything regarding my offer....

Pros: Manual, 4x4, certified preowned toyota, frame/exhaust doesn't seem like it has much rust,

Cons: 120k miles, 3 owners, some paint scratches, scratches on dash and console, has original shifter but is faded partially, 6 years old....

Is it worth?

 

Not even close to worth it. About $7k more will get you a brand new 2024 or 2023 if you can find one left on the lots.

 

Check for timing cover leak and crossover coolant pipe leak. If those are good still not worth it and the three different owners is a red flag. I’m sure you could find an original owner truck with less miles even if you have to pay a bit more.

 

They are fishing for that nische buyer. And they may find them.

 

Wow, I paid 32k for my 2017 in 2018 with 5k miles. I know inflation but geez. Maybe I should sell my truck and get a new one haha

The good and bad of tacomas. They hold their resale like crazy so it’s expensive to get into one.

 

Is it an SR. SR5, Sport, or Off-Road?

 

It sounds high,, but so is everything at this point. Have you tried any of the online sites to compare? I would start there. And as @TnShooter mentioned, trim level is an important part of the equation.

 

Based on being a ‘18 manual it’s at least a Sport, OR, or Pro. I’d say still not worth it no matter what trim it is though. I’d find something a lot closer to new for not a bunch more money.

 

its a trd sport magnetic gray metallic..... Also its my first truck so im not sure if i should wait or not and theres not many manuals ive found maybe 5 within my 200mile range

 

FYI, that is a TRD Off-Road, not TRD Sport.

 

TRD Sport?

 

its a trd sport, thats what the carfax says

 

It looks like an OR and since it doesn't have a fake hood scoop, it's not a Sport or the hood was swapped out. I think it would be crazy to spend that kind of money on a truck that old with those miles,,, manual be dammed.

 

Also considering everything already mentioned... what would be a good realistic price for the truck? and what money should i be prepared to spend in the near future

 

Go by what the bed of the truck says. And also the sports have the silly hood scoop. It’s an off road.

 

lol im confused now as to why the toyota dealership is advertising it as a sport

 

here are some more pics

 

Buying a truck these days is not easy. Good hi mileage 1st gens are still fetching mid to high $teens. Good 22’s or 23’s are fetching mid to high thirty’s. New 24’s are $40k to $70,000. Are any of them worth it? Not for me to say.

Hell, a few months ago I paid msrp on a 2 year old Tacoma with 18k miles. If had I asked 10 random people whether or not the truck was worth it - all probably say hell no. The truck I bought this past April was a 22 Pro that I paid 53k for - papers were signed on the hood of a 24 4x4 Sport that the dealer was willing to sell me at 48k.
-Was it worth it? Oh hell yeah it was!

 

Dealers screw that stuff up all the time. My previous truck was a top of the line trim and their listing had it as a base model. The one you’re looking at is an Off-Road, based in the bed sticker, wheels, and lack of a scoop on the hood. Rear axle locker switch on the roof console would also tell the tale. Sports don’t have lockers.

 

3 previous owners over aprox 7 years in existence - meh as long as the big stuff checks out clean. It's CPO which helps a bit.

Manual Transmission - ok, you got my attention! I'm personally too old to be fucking around with a clutch, but if I were younger and didn't live in Metropolis!

120K miles - another meh. Unless you are one of those drive 30K per year guys then the truck should last a good while

$28K - that's a little steep, but people forget we are not in Kansas anymore! I just paid over $6 bucks for a bag of fucking potato chips.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.