Advice on purchasing used Tacoma

Hey guys my first post here so sorry for any wrong formatting etc. But I'm looking to buy a 1st gen and found one for sale near me. Its a '98 TRD 6cyl automatic with 214k miles. The guy got it from Georgia and used to be a Marine's truck and his brother used it to mess around in their field while he was away. The guy who has it now put new pumpkins and drive shaft on it as well as new bumpers. The rust on the frame looks minimal and it runs and shifts without any problems. Sounds healthy to me. But he doesn't know the last time belts and pumps have been replaced. Any help would be great. He's asking $3300 which seems a little steep to me.

 

Yeah I'd go lower - $2500. It needs some love based on the pics and that's not even the most important parts like the frame, which should get a good once over w/ a hammer / screw driver around the front leaf hangers and any other areas that seem like they need it. When you say he put new pumpkins in it, do you mean he replaced the third member in the rear and a new set of gears or a whole new differential in the front? I'd want to see paperwork. Also that body damage can't be swapped out like you could with a door, so you're either going to have to live with it, pay for it to be fixed, or get handy with some body work. If he says he doesn't know when the belts were changed, assume that will be part of your purchase price as well - not terrible if you can do it yourself, but a good chunk of change if you can't. What's your budget? You might be able to get something better if he doesn't lower the price.

 

Trying to stay around $3500, still a college kid haha. But the guy doesn't have paperwork on the repairs, he did them himself and he said he replaced the pumpkins after the original owner tried to run it with just the front 2 wheels and broke it I guess. Body work doesn't really matter to me at all, I'll be using it in the trails for hunting and what not. Also not too sure he'll lower the price, seems pretty firm.

 

I am very inexperienced with automotives in general, but I have been looking to purchase a used tacoma for a couple of months now, so I have been watching local listings religiously, and I wouldn't bat an eye at that price for that truck. I am personally looking to spend more money than that so I can get more use out of the truck, but IMHO, that isn't a bad price...Again, I would like to reiterate, I really am not experienced with these types of things, but I am in the same boat as you, and in my experience from watching trucks come and go on craigslist for about 3 months now, I wouldn't call that overpriced.

 

Then walk on this one. It will take a few more c notes to get that truck ready to daily drive than that. Tires aren't new looking and they aren't cheap even used. I know you want to get a truck sooner than later, but the perfect one will come if you wait it out. You want one owned by an old crotchety guy that over maintained it and has all the service records. Your budget will be best spent on a truck that has all of its maintenance taken care for by the previous owner.

If you go for a truck like this one it could work out fine and be the best thing that ever happened to you. Then again it could turn out to be an expensive learning experience. Take the advice of others on here. You were smart to ask for advice before buying the truck. I wouldn't have done that at your age - shoot I barely do that now. We'll see what happens

 

That price is fine for a 98 TRD. Take a hammer to the frame and double check that it's not rusty.

 

How is it






















































The frame?

 

The market may be different down here in Georgia but I would expect a clean 98 xtra cab with 4x4 and a locker to be listed in the 5-6k range and with the body damage maybe 4-5k or so.

 

I paid 6500 for mine, and have been told by several people here in Colorado that it was a good deal, that I should have expected to pay closer to 8k for that.

 

So you think its a fair price even with the miles over 200k and the pumps/belts/tires needed?

 

If I were looking at the same truck I'd probably offer $500 under asking price, $2800, and try to walk away around $3000. Like I said before i think that truck for 3k here in Georgia would be a good deal even with the body damage, and needed maintenance.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Yes, *IF* the frame is not rusted.
The water pump/timing is important, but not catastrophic. If it fails, it's a non-interference engine so it's won't kill itself but you'll need to be towed home.

 

Beware frame rust. As you may or may not know, these year Tacomas were notorious for frame rot; they had a large extended warranty program for them. I was fortunate and my tacoma was still covered by the warranty program and I replaced the frame earlier this year.

Inspect the frame meticulously. if there are signs of rust on it and it is outside of the extended warranty, you'll be out more than double what you are considering paying to replace the frame...

 

$3500 is not much of a budget for a Taco.

That truck looks like a disaster. Personally, I wouldn't touch it.

Going to be hard in your area to find a non-rusted frame otherwise though!

 

Just FYI of comparison;
Last October I bought a 1999 Tacoma, 5spd, 4x4, V6, 370K miles, extended cab SR5 with a camper. Other than that, it was all stock and well cared for.
Took that puppy for $3000 and it has been a non-issue daily driver since then, just rolled 385K. Even towed my motorcycles on trailer from Texas to Utah. He orignally wanted $6k but was leaving the country and cut it in half for a quick cash sale.