Are V6 manuals depreciating less?

So with the 3rd gen fiasco (issues), I decided to forgo buying new and go used with a 2nd generation. I have been dead set on buying a recent year (2012-2015) ACLB V6 manual, but it seems they are not only harder to find, but seem to be commanding higher prices. Is it just me, or is the relative demand-vs-supply on the used market in favor of manual transmission trucks?

I still would like to buy a 3rd gen in 3-4 years, hopefully by then they will address some of the major issues, particularly the buzzing vibration that would drive me nuts (and then I am definitely buying a manual). Meanwhile I want a 2nd gen to tide me over. I suppose selling an auto in the future would be an easier endeavor as well.

Thoughts?

 

There are less of them (manuals) made, so by default less sold, less used.

Some would tell you that they are undesirable to the masses (hence more autos around), therefore worth less; harder to resell.

Others will tell you that they are very desirable to at least a few (usually older, male, enthusiast) and being harder to find makes them 'worth' more.

Same argument is heard all the time in the pre '06 Miatas, except in the other way, about automatics.

So, I didn't really tell you anything scientific, but fairly factual. It's going to depend on you getting lucky.

 

Are V6 manuals depreciating less?
Of course they are because they're the best.

I bought mine in April, after shopping hard for it. At the time, they weren't really higher in price, but they were a LOT harder to find. For my specific parameters ('12-'15 Access Cab, V6, 6-Spd, TRD OR, less than 50K miles) I found only about half-a-dozen in my coast-to-coast Internet search. Only one seller responded intelligently to my questions and provided the extra pics I requested. As added bonuses, the truck is a CPO and they were the only one willing to negotiate on price, which made it worth the trip to take delivery.

@Clearwater Bill is right - luck (and good timing) play large parts in getting what you want. My advice is be persistent and patient, but do not hesitate when you find it!

 

Definitely not easy to find.

 

I found some but they either are from greedy dealers or dick owners (Hello John in Montrose, PA!) or don't meet my must have criteria (which are pretty easy I thought: less than 80k, any package ACLB, all colors except black and brown).

 

And btw, how much did you pay if I may ask?

 

I've been looking for another since my '06 DCSB was written off two weeks ago. VERY hard to find here in BC, Canada, so far I can't replace it for what I paid over 6 years ago, with 72,000km under the bridge.

There are a few more access cab configurations around, but not many double cab models

 

LOL at calling-out "John"! Since you mention PA, be careful buying your truck from any area prone to vehicle rust (e.g., Northeast, Midwest, etc). Tacomas are very susceptible.

When I bought my truck... KBB Retail was $27.3K. NADA Retail was $27.2K. Black Book Retail was $28.8K. The dealer's asking price was $26.3K, but negotiation resulted in us settling on $24.6K (plus tax and title, which I paid when I returned to Colorado).

 

I looked for almost 2 years before I found a 6spd, 4x4, double cab, TRDor, under 40k that was near me but when I did I jumped on it. But I actually got it for a decent amount less then blue book and it seemed to be priced slightly lower then other similarly equipped tacomas with an auto so I guess your results will vary. The sales guy said over and over he had only seen a handful of 2nd gen six speeds in the years he had been working there... he didn't even know how to get it in reverse lol.

BTW if you do plan on going with the standard be ready to replace the bushing where the clutch pedal pivot is and grease the point where the master cylinder contacts the pedal because they make a ton of noise if theyre allowed to go dry..., the pivot bushing was bone dry when I bought it and over the years had worn out so bad that there was a ton of side to side slop in the pedal, a new bushing and a proper greasing its good as new. That is the glaring flaw with the standard though is that they decided to use a plastic pedal and a rather silly pivot assembly.

 

Are V6 manuals depreciating less?

I certainly hope so.

 

I looked for 6 months before I bought mine in 2013 - '11 TRD Off Road 4x4 V6 6 speed under 50k miles. Paid a bit more than I wanted, but was worth it to get what I wanted.

 

My experience was the same as @Norton. Looked for a few months and even finding a new one to test drive was tough. Jumped on one with 42K that came CPO (just under the wire, it was going on 7 years old) at Petersen Toyota up here.

I honestly don't know if they really command (or deserve to) a premium but they are not easy to come by. I ended up paying a bit more than I wanted but having the ability to put eyes on it, test drive and only have to travel 4 miles, I dunno, I figured it was worth it.

At the time, late 2014, early 2015, even new ones weren't easy to find around here. I was weighing new SR5 vs used TRD and had basically budgeted for whichever worked out.

 

If you want a V6 AC MT, be patient - it's worth the wait.

 

Paid 10k even for my 06' AC 6 speed manual TRD 4x4 with 140k.

Guy needed cash or else they were taking the farm he said so that's why I got such a good deal

 

Totally. I test drove an auto when I was looking at them and disliked it.

 

Auto transmissions are terrible. Hate 'em, never have much cared for driving an automatic. Until my foot was in a walking boot for an Achilles pull about a decade ago. I figured out a technique to jam my boot in there and work the clutch but thank God I never had to escape a fiery crash. I still bought another stick shift truck after that because I dislike autos so much.

 

Research throw out bearing issues on 2nd gen V6 manuals. If you are keeping it only for a few years and getting 3rd gen, it may not be a big concern, but if you are looking to keep it long term, definitely worthwhile knowing what you getting into..

 

I thought the issue applied to early 2nd gen years, like 05-08 or so and have been fixed since, no?

 

There was a TSB issued in December 2010. It however does not seem to be a permanent fix, neither is the URD sleve kit (mine lasted 15k miles and chirp/squeak is back again).

 

Are you saying you had both new TO installed (supposedly revised version) and the sleeve kit installed and the issue is now back again? Ugh.