Is this 2011 Tacoma a decent buy?

I’ve been avoiding posting this Craigslist truck I found last weekend. Not really digging the red and that it’s a 2006, but the price is lower. It already has a new frame that’s 3 years old...which could already have started rusting. Thoughts?


2006 Toyota Tacoma SR5
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/d/wallingford-2006-toyota-tacoma-sr5/6982604938.html

 

Also looking at this one down in Florida. It has a couple open recalls Carfax says. Tire pressures and exhaust pipes or something.

2014 Tacoma - Sanford, Florida
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/783677467/overview?aff=share_other

 

I just picked up a 2015 with 100k miles for just under $14k. $17k doesn't sound like a good deal.

 

I would much rather drive a 150K mile TRD OR than a 70K mile bare bones base model. Even a TRD sport has the simulated LSD. A 4WD without a locker or limited slip of some kind is really a 2WD.

 

But you bought a used truck and it could of been abused badly by previous owner/owners - most don't exhibit these problems if driven properly - worn syncros usually means abuse by ramming into gear or not using clutch etc. Just because you got burned doesn't mean all these transmissions are junk.

 

Any idea what the older pickups had? I currently have a 1994 Pickup 4WD. Is that the same as the base Tacoma 4WD? Or does that have a limited slip? I definitely don’t want to go down in 4WD capability.

Edit: And also the 4 cyl doesn’t have a locker or LSD as an option, right? All they are are base regular 4WD. I mean I haven’t seen any TRD 4 cyl trucks yet.

 

From searching I have only seen a few in that price range. One was the salvage title from Oregon. Most I’m seeing are 17-19. And KBB shows that’s about what I should expect... I just think you got a very good deal and that’s not to be expected.

 

Don't know what your '94 would have. Jack up the rear axle and spin the wheels to see if it has LSD.

All of the TRDs are V6.

 

Price wise I would say that truck isn't too far off. MT are worth just as much as autos if you are looking to purchase one and harder to sell because it limits the market. I bought mine last winter Private Party for just over KBB trade in and its frame was rust free but I do live in GA. I can say the trans isn't the smoothest but I do love driving it anyway and couldn't see why you would avoid it because of traffic, but then I just put almost 2k on it over the weekend and ran it in lots of "bad traffic" without a problem.

 

This is confusing me. Is this fact or opinion? Is the 4 cylinder a bad 4WD machine? I’m not rock crawling or going deep in mud but I will be driving in snow and a few weekends a year going on small tree farm trails that are slick with mud, ice and snow. I’m trying to find out what my current truck has because I want it to be as good as that. Weirdly hard to find out and I’m not going to go jack the car up and not know what I’m looking for. What is the point of the 4 cyl 4WD if it’s just essentially 2WD?

Sorry, obviously I don’t have the knowledge I probably should have with these things.

 

Buff up your Google-Fu.

A search on 'how to tell if my differential is LSD' reveals several options, including this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0DeTzQWNBQ

 

Ok yes, I should have done some more googling. The lockers and LSD are good but the open diffs do just fine. According to this post, people are pretty happy with their 4 cyl’s. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-does-the-2-7-4x4-perform-off-road.160544/

I’m not at all worried about the 4 cyl capabilities for what I need it for. Back to finding a truck!

 

Where I go, we have mud. With open diffs on both ends, the 2 tires with the least traction will spin. You can have the left front and right rear tires on dry solid ground and right front and left rear in soupy mud and you will sit there going nowhere with 2 tires spinning gleefully. If you have a limited slip or locker on at least 1 end, you will always have at least 1 tire attempting to move the truck. (Unless you're high centered)

 

Appreciate the info. If I can find one then that’s what I’d prefer but that doesn’t discount the 4 cyl entirely for me.

 

My 4cyl has electronic LSD and it works great. I want to say it started being an option in 08, but you should look that up. Only the trd or has locker, but I've never needed it before. My little truck has pulled much larger trucks up muddy and icy hills without a problem

 

Very possible but my bad synchro is not an isolated issue apparently. Most folks get it in 3rd gear, mine just happens to be 5th. I can't imagine the previous owner jamming the truck into only 5th gear hard enough to cause issues within 100k miles. I'm not exactly easy on my 2004 or any of my previous trucks. It's just poorly designed.

 

Should I just avoid this thing like the plague? Also it says it’s a 4 cyl but has TRD Off Road badging. Is that possible? I also tend to drive cars into the ground. I don’t sell them after a few years. That’s why I’m even considering it. Anyone around that area willing to take a look and give it a good shakedown?

2017 Tacoma rebuilt title
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/spartanburg-2017-toyota-tacoma-access/7001166024.html

 

That's where I bought my truck at a few months ago, around the corner from my office. Pretty straight up dealer, no BS other than trying to sell me paint coatings and window tint ("It's not on the price on the door but we actually already installed it so we have to charge you the $695 for it" "OK go peel it off then cause I'm not paying $695 for tint")

 

Really? The only time I ever got stuck was when the 4' high wall of plowed snow stopped me. But I guess you can find some really neat mud holes in FL. to try and get stuck in.

 

What does "rebuilt" mean on some thing with 38,000 miles?