Is this 2011 Tacoma a decent buy?

Lol, trust me I thought I'd be driving one the rest of my life. I've put half a million miles on the stick shifts I've owned and enjoyed all of them except this one. I still own my 2004 access cab (peak Tacoma as far as I'm concerned) and enjoy the hell out of driving it. Replaced the original clutch at 270k and it's at 285ish now. It's a joy to drive. On the 2013, even without the loud whining in all but 5th gear and the garbage synchro's (a known issue with these trucks) it's just a sloppy clunky transmission. Truly sad as it's one of the last couple MT trucks you can even buy. I searched for months on every used car site I could find within 500 miles for the right MT and I thought this one was it. I've only ever owned Toyotas (and a Scion car, Subaru/Toyota thingy) and I've never experienced issues with them so didn't bother researching issues with the MT because how could Toyota screw up a MT, lol? Just throwing this all out there so you don't end up where I'm at. I'm stuck with this truck now. Please do yourself a favor and test drive a few of them and see if you can deal with the tranny.

-Dan

 

Thanks for the advice and experience. I’m not taking this lightly, I need to absorb as much of this stuff as I can to make a good decision.

 

Means the frame is rusted out,ripped seats also,yet he say's the truck is in EXCELLENT shape,lol

 

Just called the dealer and the girl in service looked up the truck. She said this truck has an extended warranty for frame rust repair/replacement that goes until September 2023. She said that the frame is the ONLY thing that’s covered. Everything else is out of my pocket. Also they have to determine what they’re going to do, frame coating or frame replacement based on the amount of rust present. Seems like this is something that will be a huge expensive drawn out hassle.

 

If the dealer is halfway decent they will work with you to make it a tad bit less painful. If their buttholes, your in for a nightmare.
You could end up with coating for a few years then having to go for a replacement, its a lot of BIG unknown to take on as a new owner. especially as you are putting out a mighty good $$$$.

 

I’ve been looking around for a few days now on so many sites (autotrader, CarGurus, etc.) and this price actually doesn’t seem that high. Still would like to go lower because of the “noted frame rust” thing but I really want to take a look this weekend.

I found a few more that I like like this one down in TN.
2011 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab V6 4WD - $17,955

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/248923716
Anyone around that area willing to check it out and take it for a spin?

Seems better than the original one I was looking at but has more miles but also it’s a southern truck (southern-ish) and TRD sport...what ever that includes.

 

Trust me man I love Toyota but if you can avoid dealing with that BS I would. Dealerships are always shit to deal with and once you give them fine lines and paperwork to work with, they find ways to cheat you out or just barely get by.

There was a thread just today I think that someone had the frame replaced and all the old rusted bolts and shit were put back on. Guaranteed failure real soon if not fixed. Ain’t that something?

Look at the frame. If it’s bad or on the way out, avoid.

 

TRD Sport includes the TRD seats, Bilstein shocks, hood skewp, decals, and 17” wheels.

As for the truck there’s no picture of the frame but the truck itself looks good. Go get under it and take pics and post here.

 

I hear you. I’m trying my best to avoid but it’s the only one I can visit so far that has what I want. One can hope the frame is in good enough shape. I guess I’ll see on Sunday.

 

Ah yes, a kewl skewp.
I’ll post pictures of the original one when/if I go see it. The one in TN I won’t be able to check it out. I’m not going to spend money to go down there just to look and come right back, I’d go down to buy. Unlikely someone here would be willing to take a look but it’s possible.

 

It’s all subjective. I’m just like that- I’d walk away due to it.. but then again I’m in California so it’s not as common here and I have a good chance at finding a Taco without major rust.

 

I'm in TN and my 09 has frame rust. It's not terrible, but it's certainly unacceptable in a state that only treats the roads a few times each winter. The last time I took it in for an alignment, the guy asked me if "it was from up north" . I said no, and he said, "because it has a lot of rust (on the frame)"

My point is that unless you're getting a truck from a desert state, there is going to be some frame rust because of the crap paint used on them. If you want the frame to look like it should (no rust) it's going to cut out 95% of the market

 

Thanks for the insight. I am looking for as little rust as I can so I’ll stick to the southern dry states. I could be going too crazy with the rust thing but being in CT I would want a truck with as much of a head start as I can get. Just takes a little more homework.

 

You're in the rust belt, along with me. I'd seriously go over that frame in detail. If it has rust, just walk away especially for that price.
If you really want a clean frame, you're probably going to need to expand your search field to some southern states.
I grabbed my truck a few months ago, down in Virginia beach area, but I was on the verge of buying a different truck in TN. Sucks you have to travel so far for a clean truck, but the damn drivetrain/mechanicals with outlast the frame on these trucks, it's nutz.

 

That's a good looking truck. @11TRDTX Can you go look at it for the OP?

 

Good luck O.P.

 

i can, but won't be able to slide over there until this weekend though.

 

Just found another truck in Portland, Oregon. As far as my research has shown me Oregon is another state with minimal salt. Should I stay away and stick to the south west? There actually doesn’t seem to be that many trucks out there right now.

Here’s the truck:
2013 Toyota Tacoma for $14,991 on Autotrader - Portland, Oregon

http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/1fad00f8

 

Holy Crap! You don't want that one! A real quick Google search for that VIN# revealed that it's a flood damage truck that sold at Copart in February with a salvage title for $6100.

https://en.bidfax.info/toyota/tacom...013-charcoal-27l-4-vin-5tfux4en5dx021903.html

 

I JUST looked that vin up, holy jebus. I’ll add that to the maybe pile...