Is 279,000 miles too many....?

I bought mine in 2010 for $5000, had some minor issues, but only 141,000, put about $1800 into it, tires, HD Bilsteins, inner and outer tie rods, steering rack bushings, new sway bar bushings, added a rear sway bar (I tow) and bolt on frame mount trailer hitch and fixed some other neglected stuff for nothing, just a wrench or three and some time...

Mine looked about as rough as the one you are looking at, but it was an extra cab TRD 3.4L auto....

Been a dream ever since except for normal maintenance, IE, plugs, wires and another set of tires and a set of 17" sport rims off a newer Taco (2010)...

Methinks you should pass, the mileage is just two high IMHO....I guess it depends on your wrenching skills, if you are good at it, beat the price down and then go for it...

 

Lug nuts are stripped?!?! You wouldn't buy a vehicle if the lug nuts needed replaced? Lug nuts are like $20 for a whole set of 24. And if it's the studs….those are like $1 ea.

 

The point I was trying to make clearly went over your head. I understand lug nuts are replaceable but it's stuff LIKE that that starts to wear out.
But seriously? You would be up for the task of trying to remove a wheel and lug nuts that are stripped on? Haha..good luck. Implying it's as simple as "$20 for a set". Those are some junk lug nuts for 24/$20 BTW...

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

I agree. I believe he just threw some TRD decals on the sides and called it a day!
Two weeks ago I flew to Rhode Island ( from Ky.) to purchase my Tacoma. I got a great deal on a 2004 ext. Cab V6 4x4 TRD. The frame was replaced by toyota and a new timing belt. The truck drives great and was well worth the flight! You can't touch these trucks around here. ...

 

If lug nuts are all I have to worry about I would be all set.....To be honest if Ya'll are wearing out lug nuts you need to back off on the torque wrench some.

I visited a used truck lot today that specializes in Toyota trucks....They were closed but had 4 or 5 4X4's on the lot....All had 180,000 plus miles and 10,000 plus on the price tag according to their adds on CL anyway. Other than book value is a 2007 2.7 with 200,000 miles any more reliable than a 2001 with the same miles....?

Brian

 

if you are open to looking in different states there are alot of these in Texas.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/4316450588.html

 

Yes, I should have gone a little more into it. While I do agree that a vehicle with that many miles is cause for concern, and stuff starts to degrade with time as well. I wouldn't turn my nose up at something though, if it required minor repair and maint. and if it could be had for the right price. To answer your question, a resounding yes! I would most certainly be up for the task of removing a wheel that has had the lug nuts "cross threaded" (probably the terminology you were going for). Had it been "Stripped" it wouldn't hold anything and the lug would simply fall off. And what makes a "junk" lug nut vs the lugs that you apparently have on your rig?

 

The "any more reliable" part jumps out. Depends on the previous owners habits.

At first glance I would say that the 2007 was rode hard. And that someone took better care of the 2001,,or thought better of it to not rack mileage so fast. The 2001 could have been a stay at home grampa truck,,maybe.

All subject to change and reversal of that train of thought as it applies to those two trucks,,because I can't see them and put my hands on.

It's a buyer beware type of thing. You have to know what to look for or know specific things to have checked by a competent wrench turner that YOU know, if the seller would allow that. If they won't,,walk away from the deal.

 

OTOH, time degrades vehicles whether driven or not... and in some cases more quickly if not driven.
Belts, hoses, O-rings and other seals all deteriorate with time.
If not driven, oil seals tend to dry out, shrink, and crack.
Radiator hoses are no big deal, but there are more than a couple of feet of vacuum lines and fuel lines that deteriorate.
Coolant depletion and subsequent corrosion of the system, including the transmission cooler.....

Ya... I'd take a 2007 with 200k on it before I'd take a 2001 with 100k unless I were planning to go bumper to bumper and rebuild it into a crawler.

 

Lol you crazyyy

You are correct that some items on a vehicle will degrade dependent on time regardless of mileage. For example, more miles on an engine will degrade it, regardless of age. A low mileage engine from the 60s will still be in good condition while a 2014 engine with 300k on it will not be.

Your tires will wear with mileage/driving. Your tires will also loose elasticity and become firm due to dry-rot (time) and rubber deterioration (UV from sunlight). Things such as interior plastics (dashboard), and the body and frame are mostly only affected by time. Some Tacomas have trashed frames at 70k and some are still good at 300k, even in my salty area.

This being said, you always want the lowest mileage thing possible. Lololol at preferring a 2007 @ 200k than a 2001 @ 100k.

I do believe that vehicles should pretty much continue to decline in price for additional miles until they are just above the price of scrap. One guy on here had a Tacoma with like 450k and was wondering what he should sell it for. IMO, in that situation (100% original drivetrain) I believe that every additional mile is a blessing on borrowed time. The clock has long since run out and anything could break at ANY mile. This is a risk I am not at all willing to take (my time and sanity is more important), and especially not at the price of $5000 or whatever it is.

As much as you Tacoma owners love to deny it, EVERY MACHINE WILL BREAK.

 

If a person is worried about the deterioration of items from years and mileage,,leave the used vehicle lot, head for the dealer.

At a used car lot, it's buyer beware and be smart. there are some really good deals to be had, but there are some polished turds hidden in there as well.

hypothetically, a used car lot, 4 trucks for sale, the previous owner of truck 1 lived in the AZ desert, kept the truck in a garage and out of the sun. Owner of truck 2 lived in the same spot, but kept the truck outside. Owner of truck 3 lived right on the coast and left the truck outside. Owner of truck 4, same spot but garaged and vehicle well taken care of. all vehicles same mileage and year. which one would you choose?.

 

This^ never been offered on regular cabs.