04 Access Cab 4WD Auto with 19k miles!!! What’s it worth?

Found this gem on marketplace in the northeast and it has an extremely clean carfax, elderly owned. 16.5k, is it worth the investment even if I don’t need it?! My wife’s no help so I need some of you to justify this purchase!!

 

How much are they asking?

 

16.5

 

Vehicles are not an investment. They are a depreciating asset. It's worth whatever somebody is willing to spend on it, so if it's all in good shape (verify that thoroughly), and you have the extra money to spend on it, then would you feel like you were cheated if you shelled out that much on a truck?

Given that it's in the Northeast, I personally would not touch it. That's asking for a bunch of rust and problems, but that's just me.

 

Oh sorry. Thought that was the miles. See it's 19k miles. We'll if you don't need it ... but seems like a find and they might have priced it in KBB. Have a DC in the year. Not sure I'd want a Taco XC but also have a 4D tundra for that purpose without need to fit a lot of people in it with bigger engine and payload. Are you going to build it or what would an investment mean to you?

 

You need to inspect the frame being a NE vehicle. It could look as nice as the truck. Or not.

And remember all systems and rubber bits are 20 yrs old. And with only 19k miles, underused. Likely a lot of dry rot.

Unless they have complete service records, there *could* be a lot of things that will require attention.

To me it would command a nice price, but not 16.5. And don't think of it as an investment. It's not Mecum stuff. It's a nice looking unit that you may enjoy.

There are people who will pay that if everything checks out minty fresh. But it will be a small crowd.

Good luck with your research and decision making.

 

I completely get that’s it’s not an investment. Just seems like a good opportunity to own a vehicle for a very long time. I have a daily to haul the family in a gx460. The Tacoma would be just a weekend hauler, so not putting a lot of mileage on it. In my experience I sold my 08 3 years later for exactly what I paid for it. And from what I see first gens are more desirable but again I’ve never owned a first gen. Appreciate everyone’s input

 

Be sure to take a good test ride. Some folks find the seats pretty uncomfortable. As in hard. Might not be a problem for you, or if you only have modest length trips.

IF it passes a prepurchase inspection with flying colors, go with a roll of bills and make an offer peeling off the Benjamins one at a time.

 

If it is clean inside and out this would almost certainly sell for more than $20,000 on bringatrailer.com

 

Exercise due diligence first and foremost; sounds like you're well into that phase. I bought my SR5 in 2004 for $12k and it too was a 1-owner with 99k miles. Today, it has 371,800 and runs just as good if not better than it did the day I bought it. IMO if you have a need for it, the resources to purchase it and can find a mechanic you trust, you should get your money's worth. I've added some personal touches to make it my own along with maintaining it over the years and it feels like a "new" truck to me.

 

I don't foresee a Tacoma ever being too valuable.
I think you'd be better off investing in somethings else.

If you don't need the truck, I would NOT buy it.

It's a 20 year old, nothing special truck.

 

Huh, here we are again another low milage truck with shiny paint and no door badges which I believe are still available, did the elderly couple strip them off?, oh maybe it got a respray? ops lost the headlight trim filler, those tires look like they have more than 18,000 miles on them, this seems kind of fishy.

 

Yep ^^^ That.
Lot's of question here.
Check the frame. Could be junk.
If it was a 19kmi garage queen with perfect underside with zero rust could reach $40k. But, As above, one single photo raises a number of questions -- this truck has been messed with. Price could range widely depends on all the details.
I looked at an ultra low mile NE truck a decade ago. Frame was toast.
Let us know what you learn/do...

 

do you have a garage to keep it pristine? If not, Id pass. Even though Id really want it.

 

FWIW, Here's BaT 1st gen auctions...

 

1st Gen Tacos are absolutely 100% in-demand collectibles.
Red, V6, ultra low Odo. 4WD. Big plusses.
The Auto hurts the value. And, as mentioned, the door and tailgate are missing the badges. Big red flag for poor quality bodywork, IMO. The missing headlight trim isn't uncommon due to age. Interior is pristine, definitely supports the claimed mileage.

I collect Toyota 4X4s. If it was even somewhat local to me, I'd absolutely run a Carfax for giggles. And be thrilled to grab it at that price if there wasn't a spec of rust or signs of bodywork (good or bad).

 

I second this as I was in a similar situation and bought a 40k mile NE truck with a trashed frame and no service records from an elderly person. I have since pretty much rebuilt the entire truck and fighting crusty bolts that haven't been touched since the assembly line. If the frame is in good condition and you do buy it you will need to replace everything rubber at minimum.

 

Didn’t even notice the piece around the headlight, the badging missing is also weird. I did by my 08 with all the badging removed. Could have just been an old man thing.

 

The badging is gone on the tailgate and the DS door. But still intact on the PS door.
To me, that would indicate a partial repaint. Truck possibly sat in driveway exposed to sun on two sides for a couple decades.

The FB listing say "frame in 75% condition."
I don't know what that means, tbh.