Buying my first Tacoma

Hey there. Been reading threads on here for awhile and finally realized I just need to get opinions from people who drive Tacomas.

I’m buying a used Tacoma after leasing a couple of crappy cars. When I thought about it, my favorite, most reliable vehicle ever was my old 2000 4Runner — never should have given it up. But these days I’m not hauling kids and pets but more mulch and lumber — hence Tacoma.

I’m on the fence between three options.

2006 Prerunner with just over 100K. Off-road package but not 4wd. $12,999. Totally stock. Seems like a really good deal.

2012 Prerunner 81K. $22,000. Also off-road, no 4wd. Worth the extra $?

Scrap them both and get 4WD. I live in the PNW, not major snow country and I’m not into off-roading but we’ve got great mountains and I’d probably find it handy a few times a year.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

First I'd ask myself. If l didn't have 4wd would l ever wish that I did?
That could make the difference in really enjoying the truck. Better to have it and only need it a few important times, then not having it when you'd really wished you did.


But that's just my thoughts.


I'd keep.looking. Price seems high on the 2012 for a 2wd.

 

Well that's a bit of a spread...

The '06 sounds less overpriced, although if it's a V6 it has a few known issues like weak motor mounts on the frame and a penchant for blowing head gaskets, and if it's a 2.7 IMO it's way high. Depending on what cab you're looking at... crew cabs, when I was looking the beginning of the year, were like a $4-6000 upgrade over a similar access cab.

The '13 sounds crazy high... to me anyway. Granted my '11 is a half a body style older and had 50k more miles on it, but it's 4WD and I only paid 2/3 of that.

 

I should have mentioned, they are both double cab. And six cylinder.

The 2012 is at Carmax, which could be why it is more expensive. The 2006 has an accident on the Carfax, which is listed as “no damage to vehicle”.

It’s hard to buy a used Tacoma. They hold their value so well!

 

Definitely go 4wd. I’ve been in the pnw my whole life and now Central Oregon for the last 5 years. If you ever go over any passes or if we ever get snow, 2wd will be sitting in your driveway!

 

Welcome Meredith... My wife an I are also in nw, and had to look for a long time to find any kind of a deal. These trucks are in high demand in this area and the price reflects. We actually went out of state, and bought one with a branded title, after thoroughly checking it out four months ago. Been a lot of fun having ever since... These are great trucks, very well thought out and a joy to drive and own. Also the truck was a little less because of it being a six speed manual, which is an awesome tranny in these trucks... the wife and I will never have an auto tacoma. The 4wd does jump the price up, but I'd definitely buy one also... we don't really take it off road either, which is a shame as these trucks are awesome off road, but the resale value will always be there if you go 4wd. Enjoy the search, have fun with it... and when you pull the trigger your going to love your tacoma.

 

06 in my picture I just bought less than a month ago. 12500. 114000 miles on it. Don't even consider a truck without 4x4 . I looked at the Honda Ridgeline right up to the point your 4x4 goes out at 18 mph. If your not into off roading, beach or live in dry climit Ridglines are actually cheaper and you damn sure can't beat a honda for reliablity. Just hate there 4x4
I have a dodge 3500 Dulley 4x4 Laramie but have it custom built for our other hobbies just didn't want to put that in the sand or beach.
Toco is mama's. Look on Auto Trader. Your going to spend 2 to 4 grand more buying from a dealer. I did but she feel in love with the truck. Awesome GF she gets about what she wants. Right to start with 5 to 800 fee for selling you the truck. Check NADA on it. Dealers are going to make 3 to 4 grand on each sale. Watch them . They will shoot it over NADA on you in a heart beat.

Serious never ever buy a truck that does not have 4x4. Even my dodge needs it once in a while and were in flat country but the dodge is 15000 pounds with the camper and front boxes. .

 

The 2012 is way overpriced. The lease buyout price on my 2015 PreRunner with <40K was less than that.

 

When I was looking around to buy a Tacoma it was mostly Prerunners in the beginning. Then I read “Better to have it and not needing it than not have it and wishing you had it”. I’m not into off-roading either but I’m glad I got the 4wd. Good luck with your search.

 

4x4 is my suggestion....can't use it if you ain't got it

 

I'll get for saying it, but unless you're offroad all the time you really don't need 4WD.

 

4x4 gives you options.

 

I had bought a 2016 Tacoma , not 4x4, regretted it and just this past February went back and got my 19 taco 4x4 . Now I feel complete lol

 

Don't just buy a 4x4 for the heck of it. You'll pay out the butt for it now, and gas mileage will be significantly worse for the 99.99% of the time you're driving it in 2wd. You'll also have to be patient. I looked for over a year to find a 4x4 Off Road DCSB without frame rust with less than 100k and under $20k.

I only need mine about 4-5 times per year, and I still don't know if I REALLY value it that much. I mostly use it on ice and snow when driving to work, and have used it when climbing in and out of various terrain while camping and backpacking.

For what its worth (FWIW), a buddy of mine drives the exact same truck that I have but one year newer and PreRunner. He's gone on the same camping trips I have, drives in the same ice and snow, and his truck gets better mpg and feels a little more nimble in a daily driver situation. I definitely sometimes wish I had one. But like others have said - when you need it, you need it. You just have to decide if those 1-2 times per year are worth the extra thousands of dollars, wait to find one, and worse gas mileage.

Question for those who know - does Toyota make a PreRunner with locking differential? If so, that would be a nice middle ground, IMO.

 

The vast majority of time you are absolutely correct. I used to have 2wd pickups that all l did was put weight in the back and mount 4 winter tires. Got me through winter after winter. There were a few times l did wish, and cold have used 4wd. But l made it through.
4wd gives you more options l think. It's definately a personal situation choice.

Where l lived at the time, l could get away with winter tires and weight. But I wasn't going off road. It really depends on what people plan on doing, and if they're willing to take the chance to save a bit of money over the long term. It really depends on what the person is gong to do with their truck.

Right now l have a 4wd and l have used it more in the last year, than I did the last 10 years. But that's because of where l live.

 

Carmax is nucking futs. Not just in this instance... in pretty much all of them. They're pretty well always $2-5k higher than market, and I'll tell you a secret... they claim to be so picky, and eleventy-billion point inspection... they're trying to pass off crap with minimal/improper repairs just like everywhere else.

I'd look at an access cab if you're hauling stuff and not needing to carry 3 other people. You get a useful size bed, and you get a lot more truck for the same money. I wanted a 4-door this time after living with a 1st gen extra cab for 14 years, but I just couldn't justify several grand for the occasional time I take the whole family. The $16k I spent was about my self-imposed limit, and to get a 4WD crew cab I would've been looking at '08 or older with close to 200k miles.

I've wondered if a Prerunner with a good locker and decent tires could be good enough 90% solution for those who don't go wheeling. The answer is probably so, but if you're paying someone to do the work, you'd probably be close to what a 4WD would cost, and still have lower resale. It's got the advantage of being lighter and simpler and probably better gas mileage, but it's not turn-key simple.

Edit: damn, didn't realize the Prerunner TRD-OR still got the locker. That'd be kinda tempting to me, although I'm not a fan of the fact the E-locker is downsized to the 8" diff, especially in a 4 door 2nd gen... I still prefer 4WD in snow on-road (you can claim all day long it doesn't handle any better, but if you do, you're wrong) but it'd at least go a long way to not getting stuck in wet grass.

 

My opinion on the 4x4 vs Prerunner topic is its definitely better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. If theres any chance of snow, mud, even less than well maintained dirt roads than 4x4 should be a must.

Good tires and weight in the bed will only get you so far. Try starting off on an incline on a slick road in a 2wd truck and that will become apparent.

 

Thanks for all of these responses everyone. It’s honestly pretty discouraging to see how high the prices are for Tacoma’s. I know they hold their value and will continue to do so after I buy, but man! When I consider other vehicles and what I could get for the same price ... Still, I know I won’t regret it, which is the danger with something else.

I’m also feeling like this search is taking over my life! I need to get a vehicle so I can get some other stuff done.

As for the 4x4 vs Prerunner issue — I’m thinking 4WD is the way to go. Winters here aren’t bad enough for winter tires, so I’ll just use a typical all-weather tire. And with the boosted resale, I agree it might be better to have and not need. Back to the ads.

I’m also tempted to just set my budget at $20K and get the best deal I can find at that price.

 

Definitely best to get 4wd if you can. Better to have it than not!
I for sure won't be buying a 2wd again.

 

You should buy this one.

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/d/beaverton-2010-toyota-tacoma-trd/6882795326.html