Need some advice, buying a rusted frame

Paint is knackered for sure, clear coat is trashed and the roof is probably far worse. If you want to have it painted correctly, you are looking at 5K up. The underside is nice. Someone did take care of it but it sat in the sun a lot and once clear coat starts to delaminate people quit waxing because it just makes it look worse.

 

Grab a screwdriver and jab that frame. If it goes through its bad lol. All in all for that price, I'd keep looking. I just got 01 3.4L 4x4 doublecab with 170k miles for 8k, down from the original 12k asking price. I looked for months on months for a nice Tacoma, and I pulled the trigger as soon as that ad come up. I recommend keeping an eye out for something that is a little better priced or something that fits exactly what you're looking for. The 01 I got lived in Texas it's whole life and it is 100% rust free.

I also personally think that a truck with mileage like 150k is better than a 90k truck that was never really driven. More opportunity for parts to have been replaced already.

I also have a 2000 tacoma 4x4 3.4L extended cab that I had to do a Safe-T-Cap frame repair on the rear sections near the leaf springs. I have some pictures of that process on my profile somewhere. That lived its life in Colorado and the frame was much much worse than your picture. I drove that for 4 years after the Safe-T-Cap and never had frame issues.

 

Have you ever driven a 2WD truck before? I guess if you don’t use it in any snow or difficult driving conditions it doesn’t matter. But ain’t super easy to do truck stuff without 4WD. Just some caution from a fellow northerner. I also know how frustrating it can be to try to find a rust free Tacoma. Ended up flying across the country for the right one and that was after half a year of searching.

 

@ztwatson

Ay I’ll only be using it for city driving, and what it snows a couple times a year here so it’s not so bad. Appreciate the concern here!

Ya I’ve been looking for half a year too, kind of need a truck as well and ya time is up should I say. If this Lemon Squad report comes back clean and I like the look of it Friday. I will likely buy it and try bargain a few k off the asking price.

 

Those trim pieces at the bottom of windows are simple replace and very common to disintegrate. Maybe a small point for negotiation...

 

Cheers @Pbfender15 ! Actually plan to sell that roof rack, so thanks there.

 

What do ye think here? Have some bargaining and small concerns for sure.
@Pbfender15

 

The clear coat fail is common. Up to you how much you care. My '00 had it when I bought it in 2010 and it's probably doubled in extent in 15 years. But the paint holds and it doesnt' rust.

That steering rack leak is a strong point for negotiation. I just had mine done --- cost $2k (!) but there were additional issues. It's a $600 part and most of a day in the shop. It's not urgent, but watch the PS fluid.

I'd want that rubber fixed. And the trim plates under the windows. Would drive me nuts.

I think there is a lot of negotiation room here considering the "weathering." But If you go there intent to drive it home they sort of have you captive and you lose some bargain power. I'd look at BringATrailer for some comps. Make sure to note pre-runner over 4WD.

See this link and click the "show more" at the bottom a few times, then scan all the ones with pre-runner in the title.

https://bringatrailer.com/toyota/tacoma-n1x0-1994-2005/

Keep us posted!

 

Paint is trash. Are some colors and years prone to worse clear coat failure? I'm not paying top dollar for that! You can replace all the mechanical stuff on your time and less dime if you do it yourself but once you get into making the exterior look good your talking down time and big bucks. Don't fall in love with every truck you look at. Use your head make good decisions based on facts you'll be happier in the long run.

 

I walked away from this one. Offered them $9500 given everything said and all of the concerns, leaks, paint deterioration, 2WD etc etc.

They were firm on the $13000 asking price and unwilling to budge. So I’ve passed on it.

Thanks everyone for your help. Honestly, don’t know if I have it in me to keep looking for a pristine Tacoma, that might have been the nail in the coffin.

 

Good on you, with that paint like that and they want good bucks for it they will be sitting on that truck for a minute. Unless they finance then someone will sign for it cause people make bad decisions everday.

 

Pass

 

Good move if they won't budge on 13k. I think your offer was very fair. Find the right truck -- you'll be psyched when you do.

 

Shoot man. I live in Austin and I'm on Facebook marketplace all the time looking at stuff. If you're that serious about finding a Tacoma, I'd be more than happy to keep an eye out for anything that catches your eye. I saw quite a few doublecab 4x4 Tacoma's for sale out here that look in good shape. Do you want extended cab and 2wd specifically? I read that you were mostly wanting it for city driving.

 

Good move.

There are much better out there for $12k

Also that lemon squad is a neat thing to have.

 

OP:

You said pristine, so have a look at these two first gens. The 2000 is da bomb! But you'll need deep pockets and arguably its worth it...not the asking price -- should haggle down a bit. The cat has been deleted so wont pass NYS Inspection, check price to fix. Dealer is close, just across the river, but west coast truck with 18k miles.

https://www.vantageauto.com/used-in..._tFuqru8FIm_QSlVkDZksDT9ujQPID2&search=tacoma

Would be hard to turn that cream puff into a city daily driver, but hey, cars are meant to be driven!

GL~

 

I just called my local dealer and the frames are no longer available.
Looks like my oil spraying routine will need to step it up a notch.
I do it a couple times a year but being lazy would be the only excuse for not doing it every 4 months.

BTW. Some of the "like factory" exhaust components are no longer available either.