1st time buyer - worth it?

I’m a first time tacoma buyer and I’m thinking about getting this truck 1998 Toyota Tacoma Xtracab · Pickup 2D 6 ft for 9,500 with 199k miles. Looks like it’s in great condition- Gonna go check in out but wondering if it seems worth it. looking forward to joining the tacoma world…..

 

Hey! just for reference I bought a 2001 Tacoma sr5 V6 4x4 Trd for 8k a few weeks ago. It had 238k with a rebuilt engine, some suspension upgrades(not sure what), 2 owners in California, and a clean title.

the first few days the radiator cracked so I had to replace it. I removed the skid plate just to verify that there were no oil leaks, should’ve verified this first. Overall it’s been running great!


that’s a nice truck!

edit:
Read this in another thread, but if possible pull the carfax. If they recently bought the truck ask them why they’re selling it so quickly. There could be a possibility that there’s something wrong and they’re trying to offload it on you.

 

Check the frame especially in front of where the rear springs mounts. Bring a scan tool and see if she is "smog ready". Unscrupulos sellers will clear the codes knowing it will take a week or 2 for them to pop again.

 

IMHO, $9.5 is too much for a 98. I wouldn’t pay that price but everyone is different. Also, the entire truck seemed to gotten repainted at some point. Honestly, if it’s been repainted, I wouldn’t buy because the paint wouldn’t last.

But the most important for me, especially living in CA, I wouldn’t buy anything older than 2000. I preferred obd plug for smog vs a dyno sniff test on pre-99.

 

Personally I'd opt for the V6 if it were me. But if you don't care about that, this truck looks pretty good.

I'd be sure to ask about valve adjustments and whether or not they've ever been adjusted. If not use that as leverage to lower the price. 3rz's (the 2.7L 4 cylinder in this truck), are known to burn valves and occasionally crack cylinder heads, as they get north of 250k miles, and many think its due to owners neglecting to adjust the valve lash.

So if you were to buy it, I'd put valve adjustment near the top of your to-do list.