2012 Baja Taco, would you buy if..... (Story inside)

Hey guys,

About 2 months ago I was rear ended and my tacoma was totaled (wasn't actually that bad, but it bent the frame). Reguardless they cut me a check for about 30k. So now I am considering buying another new one..

So I went to the dealer in Dallas, and they had a 2012 Tacoma Baja there. Sticker is something stupid like 38k. It is new, but the kicker is that it has 590 miles somehow... So I figure I can actually get a legitimate deal on this truck (The 590 miles really doesn't matter to me honestly) Its a double cab Baja in black.

I know some people don't think the Baja is worth it, and I will agree to a certain extent. I've also owned MANY cars that I have modified and built, and I can say there is definitely a nice fuzzy feeling you get when the car you want has a no questions asked warranty (as in the stock Baja).

That being said I would like to know what you guys think about pricing? It seems this car should be going for about 34k without taxes (according to what I have seen on here). I was thinking about just offering 32k for the mileage issue. Does this seem fair/overpriced/under priced? Thanks in advance for the help

 

They wont take off more then another $600 for the miles. Or atleast thats how we used to do it at the toyota dealership i worked at.

Dont waste 4k on tire's, a sticker, and 5100's.

 

You're in a good position with a $30k check in hand. They might not deal on it, but let them know that you'll get a Baja without 590 miles on it if they order it in. They might cut you a deal on what they have.

On the other hand, follow the advice of TRDSurgie and don't pay extra for the packaged deal. Get the TRD off road and add tires.

 

if your plan of offering 32k works, do it. I wouldn't spend more than that on a Baja, even though it is a sweet truck. Otherwise you can buy an SR5 for less than 29k and modify it with the extra cash. Maybe even find a 2012 leftover somewhere and could get it for less than 28.

 

Here is what it costs to build a similar truck and get it aligned properly. Note this factors in $0 for installation

Wheels $900+
Tires $900+
Lift $1100
Alignment $100
Lugnuts $50
UCA's $425
Factory Warranty=null and void on any suspension components

I say buy the baja, its not a bad deal if you can get it for mid 30's

 

I agree with this and is one of the reasons why I bought my truck. Steep price I agree but when factoring in buying all of the components here and there it does get a bit pricey and you don't have the factor warranty on any of the parts. I love my Baja AND they only made 700 of them so if you do decide to sell it down the road you could get more coin since its a limited package.

 

5100's don't cost 1100, and he wouldn't need to get wheels, unless he really wanted them.

That aside, there is a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you have a warranty.

 

If you can get a good enough deal on it go for it. Otherwise just buy something cheaper and pick everything to your exact liking. Personally I wouldn't pay more than $33k otd on it. And I know they wont come down for that.

Even if I could get a Baja for the same as I have invested in my truck between truck cost and mods I still wouldn't just because I prefer picking my own stuff out. Besides I've had my lift only a year and I'm only 10k miles away from being out of warranty. And you would only be losing coverage on suspension related stuff really.

I have just over $5k invested and that's gotten me wheels and tires, 3" lift, UCA's, side steps, tint, Satoshi, new head unit and subwoofer, exhaust, and a bunch of other misc stuff. Nothing wrong with the Baja but your money will go further doing it yourself.

At the end of the day its up to you if you like the truck go for it.

 

What dealership in Dallas did you go to? I have now bought two Tacoma's from two different places in the DFW area. Like you, I got rear-ended in Sept. and it rippled the frame just enough to total it...
I have dealt with Cowboy and Toyota of Richardson.

 

He's probably factoring in a whole ULK type setup not just swapping in 5100s.

 

Exactly, trying to compare apples to apples.

I was not trying to calculate the cheapest lift possible.

You have to decide what is best for you, and what you like.

I bought a 2010 and ended up setting it up almost identical to a baja before they were ever out. If i were to be in a position to buy another one, i would buy the baja because it would also retain value better than modding a regular trd off road. No doubt about it.

 

UCAs did not change and the lift they use does not cost 1100.

Here is a artical about what changed. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/09/review-2012-toyota-tacoma-trd-tx-baja-edition/

 

But someone building their own truck could likely end up with a 3" lift in which case UCA's would be highly recommended. And more importantly it just shows how much further your money goes if they're asking $38k if you build your own rig if you don't care about having an off the showroom floor truck.

 

Try lifting a taco 3" and maintain factory alignment specs. Ive lifted both an fj and a taco with the same results. You have to have the added caster adjustment.

Just the rear shocks alone on the baja are over $300, not including the extended brake lines.

Also the front shocks AND springs are different.

I wont post about this anymore becaue we apparently are viewing it differently. Yes you can lift a taco cheaper, but you would be hard pressed to build a baja clone for significantly less money than what you could buy one for.

Apples to apples, it comes down to if a few things are important to you
1. Oem warranty
2. Resell value
3. Not having to deal with installing all of the parts yourself

If those things dont matter, build it yourself.

 

38k is too damn much for a taco! There's a used 2010 Raptor for 42k in Rockwall that I would buy over the baja for that price range!

I was under the impression that the Baja was only $200 more than the TRD OR at which point IMO it's worth it

We bought our SR5 used from Toyota of Dallas and were fairly pleased with them. Their service dept has been outstanding when I went

 

There is a $1500 cash rebate on any 2012 tacoma so I think they can do it for around $32k - Good luck.

 

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Just Fyi, its a 2inch lift. Not 3. They use 5100's up front with Eibach springs. They have the alighnment in spec just like most that dont have new UCA's. So 5100's $150.00 eibach coils for another 150.00 5160 rear shocks 300.00 extended brake lines are 60.00

Odd are that one will never use the warranty on suspesion stuff like this anyways. Not bad for a nearly 10k mark on a SR5 or a 5 k mark up on a already expensive for what you get TRD package.

 

Source?

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/_mo...-tacoma-trd-tx-baja-series-test-drive-7455307



Its actually 1.75 inches of lift.

 

Might want to re-read that article bub, custom valved 9100 derivatives up front and custom valved 5160's in the back.

NOT anywhere close to off the shelf 5100's!

I'll be curious to see if you can buy these from the dealer and what the price would be