2nd Gen Buying Advice

I'm feeling a bit conflicted between going down the 2nd or 3rd gen route. I've been doing a lot of research and it kind of seems like I've kinda gotta comprimise in one of the following: Clean title, Low(ish) Miles, Price, 4x4, Double Cab, and Year. My budget is around $20k. I've got a 2015 I'm interested in and I'll be looking at it later this week.


$18,500
"2015 Tacoma SR5 4x4 with the TSS Sports Package, 187k, clean title. Freshly detailed. This is one of the mechanically cleanest Tacomas out there. No leaks or weird suspension noises. Everything works perfectly. It is a Texas truck so there is zero rust on the frame and body."

Here's the thing, I love the look of this thing but the miles scare me. It kinda hurts my soul to drop near 20k on a truck pushing 200k. (especially since i'm coming from a lovely pos Ford Ranger worth about 5k) I know Toyota's are known for reliability but still. My other problem is that I really like the exterior of this thing but the interior is dated and the 3rd gens look way better inside in my opinion.

So where does that leave me? Well I can buy a 2nd gen like this one, this is the best I've come across after about a month of research... or I can get a rebuilt 3rd gen. I've been searching and searching and I can't find a 3rd gen that meets my "must haves" in my budget with a clean title. I've never dabbled in the rebuilt title market and I don't have the slightest clue how that works. I've always had the inclination to steer clear of anything but clean titles but I don't actually know why. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

If I was going to spend that kind of money on a high milage Toyota I would be looking at an FJ60.

https://bringatrailer.com/toyota/land-cruiser-fj60-fj62/

 

20k is alot for 200k miles. If you can increase the budget to 30k a much newer truck with less miles should be easy to find.

You might be able to get a frontier that is newer and with way less miles, that also meets all those criteria and is in the ballpark of your budget.

 

This is the dream if I’m ever at a point where I can have a weekend/project car, this is what I’m getting.
Anyways OP, if you want a 2 gen for a good price, maybe go pre 2015, 2015 fetch’s the highest prices. Anything past 2006 will last you the same for the amount of maintenance done. 2012+ you get a screen and slightly better styling, but pay for it.

 

2nd gen interior is better in my opinion. It does look a bit dated though not in a bad way. My 06 had more space than my 23. I believe all the airbags and new "features" take up much of this space.

I wouldn't recommend buying a salvage title truck. These trucks being pretty valuable means if they were totaled then it was a good bit of damage causing this. Not a minor fender bender. These trucks while reliable and nice, might not be so reliable if they've been cobbled together by some unknown concoction of junkyard repairs.

 

2nd gen 4.0L with 100K or less and a clean title. Keep looking until you find one. Be willing to travel 1000 miles to go buy it.

 

Do whatever you’re going to do, but don’t buy a rebuilt anything just because it’s newer and priced well.

 

Looks just like my 2015 texas edition. Mine had 185k miles and got it for $18.5k
It's high miles but rust-free and I've owned a few toyos over 300k miles that were still running strong.

 

@MHoward8 - I think you and I are looking for the same truck! I hope we're not in the same area - I don't want to get into a bidding war.

 

Is the TSS Sports Edition the Texas edition? If so that really is exactly the truck I'm looking at, how's it been for you?

 

The TSS package is just a port add-on appearance package, AFAIK it's just wheels and the decals. Nothing really special about it.

 

People go ahead and do it, but I would personally avoid any vehicle with a salvage or rebuild brand on the title...

Maybe different in other states, but in MA there are maybe only 2 RMV inspection stations that will clear a salvage or rebuild vehicle. The inspection is way more in-depth and takes longer. (Does insurance treat them different when it comes time to settle damage claims should you get into an accident? Probably in for a long battle on what they cover and how much to pay... Always fun dealing with that!)

Go for a clean title.

I have owned high mileage vehicles for the last 20 years (05 Jeep TJ Rubicon 4.0L, 04 Chevy Tahoe 5.3L). They don't scare me anymore. If you get the right vehicle!

My son was looking at all vehicles before he began to consider a Toyota truck. He geeked-out and dove head first into all the forums (including this one) before making an educated decision to get a Tacoma.
He found a 2012 Gen 2.5 Tacoma SR 4 door. Not super-high miles, but not low miles... Was about $19k.

His research showed that the Gen 2.5 was the line of trucks with the 4.0L V6 that so many people foam at the mouth for and swear by their reliability. Now that his loan is almost done, he has toyed with the notion of a new vehicle. He says: "I have tried to come up with every possible reason to get rid of the 2012 Taco and can't come up with anything! I just can't find an excuse to not keep it!" Toyota inspected the frame and it was in good shape, so they did not do the frame replacement. But, Toyota was providing the frame coating services to prevent damage. If the frame ever does rot, "I'll probably do a frame swap and keep her another 10 years."

Prices continue to rise on all used vehicles and by the looks of things, not expected to calm down much in the near future either.

I needed to get rid of my 04 Tahoe after too much rust and too many repairs being required to pass RMV inspections here in MA. I was hoping to find a truck similar to my son's... Another Gen 2.5 on the 2012-2014 range.
Around here, low miles is almost impossible to find. So is low price! It is what it is... While I set out looking to the older, I found a Gen 3 2017 Tacoma TRD Off-Road Premium 4-door. It had 65k miles, clean title with minor damage reported. Looked great! Was listed as an automatic. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a 6 Speed Manual! My son almost freaked when I told him! Apparently manuals even more scarce and more expensive... I got it for $28k New, at $50k+ was out of the question for me.

I am happy with my decision. Has all the premium features I could want (heated seats, moon roof, etc.), leveling kit, nice rims, locking rear diff. + A-TRAC system. I see myself keeping for a good long time.

I don't see too many people saying they made a mistake with most any Tacoma. Maybe they are out there, but everyone I run into just LOVE their Tacos!!
Good luck in your hunt!

 

Don’t spend all the money you have on a used vehicle, chances are you could need 3 or 4 k for needed repairs. Especially if it’s something like the AC. High mileage vehicles are for mechanics !

 

100% on that!
I did opt for full maintenance and bumper to bumper warranty add-on package to my purchase. All maintenance service included and $100 deductible on repairs for 3 years/36k miles. More money on the front end, but keeps costs stable for three years at least... I hear that the infotainment head units are $2-3k to replace if they crap out. Wanted to minimize my risk for expensive repairs with that add-on protection.

My son has had his 2012 for about 5 years and had it in for one service call that carried $100 deductible. Other than that... Oil and filter changes, routine service is all he has had.

That is what I love about these trucks!

 

I bought one with a rebuilt title. Nothing wrong with the truck. Local state police office only checked if the VIN matched what was on record. Insurance is a little more expensive but not a deal breaker.

 

I hear that, the only thing I really worry about is engine and transmission issues, that's for sure outside my experience. Besides that I'm pretty comfortable with working on anything else that might break. From everything I've researched these things will run for a long time but I guess you never know what might happen.

 

Are you able to get full coverage?

 

I'm not sure exactly what came on the Texas Edition~it has Texas Edition badging, Texas Edition floor mats, and the black 17" wheels. Not sure if the side steps are part of that package or the previous owner added them.

As far as how the truck has been, been great, no issues except for adding a new battery and just got 4 new tires. The tires that were on it were still ok but got a sidewall puncture so rather than having one new tire I got a set.

It had a 20 pg carfax w/ dealer visits every 5k miles for whatever was req'd at the time.

Ended up just changing spark plugs, a full coolant flush, a full transmission fluid flush, new cabin and air filters, and will be replacing my driver side upper control arm because the ball joint boot was trashed and it looks like the ball joint was replaced w/ a non-oem one since it had a grease fitting. Found a 2020 OEM upper arm so I'll be changing that out next week. Truck runs great, no issues whatsoever, I have little doubt it will get to 350k plus miles. Have had a couple others (83 pickup, 93 T100, 03 4 Runner) that all went 300k+ when I moved on, and were still running well!

Main thing with these high mile trucks, having a good maintenance history, little to no-rust, and no obvious signs of abuse/neglect.
Good luck in your search!

 

Yes

 

I had a friend with a salvage title vehicle. It was a long, drawn-out fight to get claim settled. The insurance was claiming a lot of damage was old damage and denied a lot of stuff. He wouldn't have hesitated junking it, but he loved the car and it was a matter of principle that they should make it right. Especially, since it was the other guy's fault!

Insurance is your friend when time for you to pay, but when they have to pay... different story.