2012 Tacoma TRD Sport (32k miles) vs 2020 Tacoma SR5 (91k miles)

I have a 7‑day return window on my current truck and need to decide soon whether to keep it or swap for another option. I feel like Im paying quite a lot for an older truck with low miles and could rather get a newer truck with more miles, but both having great long term reliability.

• 2012 TRD Sport – Double Cab Long Bed, 32k miles, one owner, excellent service history. Price: $32k OTD. Obviously steep.
  
  
• 2020 SR5 – Double Cab Long Bed, 91k miles, one owner, great service history. Price: ~$34–35k OTD. With leather seats which is a plus and a more desirable color.

Both are 4×4. Both are in great shape for their age and mileage.

The 2012 is obviously much older but has incredibly low miles and has been taken great care of. The 2020 is much newer with modern tech and safety features, but has nearly triple the mileage.

I’m torn:

• Keep the 2012 TRD Sport with almost no miles?
  
  
• Or go with the 2020 SR5 for the newer platform and updated features, even though it has higher mileage?

I’ll be daily driving it, doing occasional off‑roading, and plan to keep it for years.

What would you do?

 

Welcome to TW.

If you or the truck is/has been in the rust belt, check the frame very closely especially on the insides near the catalytic converters, along the C channel where the metal is laminated, front rear spring mounts, and front cab mount area. Tacomas have a terrible history of rusting frames.

What the 2012 has going for it is a 4.0V6 which is a solid platform. The 2020 has a 3.5 which needs to rev to make power. The 2020 (3rd gen) also has more reports of transmission hunting vs the 2012 (2nd gen). There are third party tunes to address this. It really comes down to what you like. I, personally, think the 2012 is overpriced and low miles could mean very short trips not allowing the engine to warm up. Of course, that might not be the case - no one knows but the original owner.

I love my 2013 and the 4.0 engine but if I were in your shoes and only had those two vehicles to choose from, I’d probably choose the 2020 if all else were the same.

Good luck

 

Thanks for the breakdown. Ive heard about the 3rd gen having higher revs and searching for gears. Just test drove a 2021 with 55k and i didnt mind it, though it definitely felt less truck like than the current 2012. 2012 seems like it was taken great care of, but im going to look around for those rust points you mentioned. Thanks

 

looks pretty darn good? Is that yellow stuff some sort of rust prevention?

 

I put many miles on the 12 and 15 Tacomas. Liked everything about those trucks but the front brakes …they were garbage after 20k miles.
I think any third gen 20+ is worth considering.

 

Yes, that’s rust inhibitor that was applied on a TSB. It hard to tell but it looks like they installed the plastic covers where the frame turns into a boxed section. Inside that section should have the same inhibitor applied. I’d, personally, spray the rest of the frame with Woolwax, Cosmoline, or Amsoil HD Metal protect. I used Amsoil on mine. Dries to a waxy film.

 

Neither. 2012 too much $$$ for a 13 y/o Taco. . 2021 too many miles for a 4 year old truck.
Figure out your budget, how much max you can spend then look for a truck that is newest truck you can find with lower mileage. Be sure to check for rust and be sure you can get the maintenance history.
Remember age and mileage is the killer of vehicles. Mileage is the most important but things fail and wear out due to age too.
Good luck, take your time.

 

Man, I’d love my 2012 to only have 32,000 miles on it. Sitting at 191,000 now and still love it. Seems a little high price wise, but maybe you can talk them down a few thousand. No doubt a very rare truck with that low of miles.