Looking at Buying a 2001 Tacoma

What's going on guys. I am currently looking at buying a 2001 Tacoma this weekend. I've done some research on my own but I was curious to see what issues these typically have from the actual people that own them versus some random consumer based website. Here is the basic information on the truck itself:

-2001 Tacoma w/ 3.4L V6, 4x4, Automatic transmission
-Extra cab w/ TRD Offroad package
-122,xxx miles
-Owner is a Toyota dealership mechanic and he has been maintaining it (has the service records)
-He's asking $8995

From what I've seen, 2001's with the above options and miles have been going for roughly $6000 to $7300. Again, I am just curious to see what you guys have to say in regards to things to expect when it comes to anything besides the regular maintenance. Thanks and looking forward to see what you guys have to offer.

 

Sounds like a good deal. I bought my 04 xtra cab v6 4x4 trd 160xxx miles for 8,000 from my cousin. Toyota offered him 12,000 but i wanted it so it was a pretty good deal

 

Awesome. Did you guys have any major issues after buying yours?

 

I must be missing something. Where are you seeing 4x4 Tacoma's like that selling for $6-7k?


I am about to sell my 03 TRD extra cab with about the same miles for much more than that. The price you listed sounds really good. Is it clean? What does Carfax say? Where has it spent most of its life?

These trucks were known for frame rust issues. Especially northern trucks. You can search about the issue and where to look for it on here and google.

Good luck! If it is clean and no rust then it sounds like a great deal!

Edit: and Semper Fi! I was an assaultman with 2/5 from 2002-2006!

 

The price of these trucks don't correlate with the mileage as much as the actual condition of the truck. If the taco he is selling is in excellent shape then 9,000 sounds like a good price. For example, I bought my 01 3.4 ext cab 4x4 for $5900. It had 204,500 miles when I bought it, but it was a one owner, almost mint condition with no rust. I'd offer him 8 and if he says yes then you just got an awesome deal! If not, your still getting a good deal.

 

Nope i havent had anyproblems yet besides regular maintenance. Ive seen so many high mileage tacomas so i think any tacoma is a good buy. Carfax does have high prices and so do the dealerships.

 

Everyone asks for more when selling. He would probably take less if you have money in hand. That's low mileage so truck is probably worth close to his number. I would always do carfax before buying though.

 

The truck OP is describing would go for at least 11K in this area. Here's a 2.7l for sale http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/4480045454.html

 

im bout 30 min from Harrisburg va. man thats a good deal. go for it

 

Thanks everyone for the input. I picked it up this past Sunday (6/22) and got it for $8,000. It needed new tires so he docked off the additional $1,000. The Carfax was clean and it was a one owner. The original owner also took it to a Toyota dealership for every single piece of maintenance and had records of it all which was backed up by the Carfax report. The guy just didn't want it any more is what it came down to. I'll get pictures up before I replace the tires to show the actual condition of it overall in the same way that I bought it.

 

Great deal op! Deals like that are hard to find. I'm sure you are gonna love it.lol
edit: There are a bunch of guys around your location with tacos. They have some trails for all levels near there. Most are 2nd gen,but always welcome tacos!

 

Sounds like you got a screaming deal. I paid 14k two years ago for my 4x4 crew cab with 128k mi and that's after looking for 3 months. Maybe here in Arizona they fetch higher prices as no snow and little rain if registered here all their life?

 

Holy cow! You could turn it for 10k here in WV.

 

Paid $3600 for mine. 2000 extended with 100k on the 2.7

 

I'm a bit confused...you're saying it was a one owner car, but talking about 'the original owner' as if that's not the guy you bought it from. When you mentioned the seller was a toyota mechanic, and then combined with this language, sounds like he flipped the truck. It was probably a trade in. Seller probably got it for like $2000-3000.

Anyway, I guess you got a good deal. A truck like you described would be listed on CL at about 8000-12,000 in my area. I got my 2000 v6 5speed 4x4 sr5 etx cab w/117k for $5200 from a local dealer.
The price was lowered a bit because it was a "handyman special".

I don't regret the truck because it hasn't been too bad, but it's had a lot of typical tacoma problems.
I've owned it for 5,000 miles and here are the problems I've fixed, or it currently has:
both 02 sensors
rear cat
rear axle seals
rear wheel bearings
pretty much the entire rear end assembly from drum to drum was fucked due to the leaking axle seals.
throttle cable is stretched a lot...
moderate spot of bed rust
rusted muffler
soft, mushy clutch
my steering rack is deteriorating due to that roller bearing
that driveshaft support bearing
warped rotors
vacuum leaks so the motor keeps throwing a code for running lean

very surprised nobody mentioned the obligatory "check for frame undercoating application/program" when a thread comes up about buying a tacoma.

 

I guess with op stating it was owned by a Toyota mechanic that frame wouldn't be an issue. Any Toyota mechanic knows the deal. Why didn't you post about frame undercoating program instead of pinning it on others to do?lol

 

Disregard

 

It wasn't a trade in. It was titled in his name and the title was the original from 2001. I was referring to him as being the "original owner" because I am the one that owns it now. Sorry for confusing you. It simply needed new tires; that's it. I had received a PM from 2 other guys from here with a checklist to go over while looking at the truck which listed the big things such as the frame condition, whether it had been painted over, all that good stuff.