Is this a fair price for an '06?

19YO Son and I have been searching for a used 4x4 Tacoma with under 150K and have missed a few in our price range by minutes. Seller is asking 22.5K for this (KBB comes in at around 15K). It is sons dream color (speedway blue)
Very Clean 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 TRD Sport
Has 6" Pro Comp Lift
Pro Comp Xtreme Forged Wheels 35" Toyo Tires
Pioneer Stereo
Go Rhino Bull Bar
AMP Research Retractable Running Board
Tinted Windows Runs absolutely perfect
Meticulously maintained
Clean Title
136,000 miles

It's 4K more than the top of his budget and way more than KBB value, but if this is a fair price I might be willing to loan him the difference. Im not sure how accurate KBB is for Tacomas as it seems every single one is listed for quite a bit more.

Help a mom trying to help her kid make a good decision!

Thank you

 

I think you’re right on the value of these. Not sure you can just plug it in and get an industry accepted number. I’ve been shopping for one as well, with specific criteria, and the asking prices vary quite a bit.

Ultimately the value is going to be in what it is to you. What’s nice is they have spent the money on the lift and tires. What’s not nice is you didn’t get to pick any of that and you don’t know if they did it cheap or did it “right”. Did they correct the things a 6” lift causes or did they put a bandaid on it for a test drive to sell it? Tough to know unless you’re really knowledgeable on these specific tricks and lifts.

To me, $22k seems a little high for a 2006 Sport, but that’s just my gut.

For reference, I’m in the airport right now flying to purchase a 2008. It’s got more miles at around 200k but it’s a 4-door (known as dual cab) and an Off-road package (has rear locking diff). I’m paying $15k.

I can tell you in my search from basically Texas to Montana and everything west, I haven’t come across many blue ones…but I also was looking for a manual and an Off-road. There could have been plenty that were automatics and Sports.

Buying one of these is a lesson in patience.

 

I would talk that gentleman down at least 2K and make sure you crawl underneath that thing and look at the frame especially in the front near the catalytic converters. Make sure you inspect that well that’s all I can say

 

I'm in the same boat as jpdeuce, it's a waiting game unfortunately. To me $22k is way too high for a 17 year old truck, especially considering the sticker price of the highest trim Tacoma in 2006 was $25k with the double cab v6. Good deals can be found but they don't pop up often and when they do they sell fast. For reference there's a Toyota dealer in Salt Lake asking $29k for a 2012 offroad package which is just criminal.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I am glad my gut was right, they are so hard to price but it seems everything in our price range 16-18.5K goes within a day or two. This is a dual cab/4 door.
He doesn't need it until next May as he is car free at college this year. I started looking now though in hopes we can find what he wants. And we could do without the lift. Nice tires are great but the lift is a neutral feature.

 

Thank you. I offered him 18K cash when he listed it and 25K and he countered 22.5. I am holding firm on this.

 

If he doesn’t need it until May, I would just open up the search area on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and be patient. Craigslist is fairly versatile with their search and area to filter things down. I sort by “newest” since I got pretty familiar with what was out there.

 

I would also add- you should strongly consider doing a pre purchase inspection before you buy. I bought an 06 Tacoma earlier this year (ridiculoulousy clean, 67K miles with a new frame and complete carfax history of dealer only maintenance records), but wanted to play it safe and had my mechanic check it out anyway. It was in early April before it got hot so I didn't check the A/C system. My Mechanic did however & found the compressor was bad & probably saved me about 1K in repairs.

 

Even 18k is too high. 05/06 trucks can also fall victim to head gasket issues whitch can be $$$$ to fix.

Keep in mind that 6 inch lift means the front subframe is cut out of the truck and unable to be put back to stock or run a smaller lift.

For 18k there are much better options out there.

 

I say keep looking for something better. It is pretty much Tacoma World fact that the best year of the Tacoma is between 12 and 15. I say start your search there.

 

Keep looking. 6 inch lift means the frame has been cut for drop bracket installation.

 

I feel like $20k could go towards a relatively newer simple car/sedan that would not have so many miles or so much history of modifications.

I get it - the truck is the kid's dream vehicle - but stuff just gets old and starts breaking and you can't avoid it. Tacomas are too much hype and also a weird compromise that many of us long time owners understand.. not big enough to hold or haul as much as a full size, has a car-like seating position but is nowhere as comfortable on long drives as a real sedan. Gas mileage quite terrible for the size too. (especially now with 1/2 ton quad cabs with hybrid/turbos that can get 27mpg highway).

 

Hell no, I’d pass. For all the reasons stated above. Plus, those trucks from 2006 aren’t very safe. Might want to look for something with side airbags.

 

I would never buy or install this type of lift. (but that's just me) It's a looks thing and the frame has been cut to install it.

Another looks thing to compliment the lift, but an expensive maintenance item. Look up how much 35" tires of good quality cost.

Another looks thing. If you hit something with it it's likely to cause more damage by folding into the truck.

More gadgetry.

It might. But a pre purchase inspection, including the frame and a compression test would be very worthwhile. On any higher mile vehicle.

Everyone's is. Unless it isn't. The proof is in the inspection results accompanied by a pile of verifiable receipts.

If total cost of ownership matters (purchase, payments, insurance, basic maintenance, operating costs (gas, oil, tires, brakes)), almost no truck is the right thing, unless it is needed to support doing work.

A college kid will do well with a mechanically sound, cosmetically ok plebeian vehicle that does not attract attention. Campus life is not vehicle friendly nor does it lend well to the DIY type. Sure, there are exceptions, but those are the 3% group.

The best you can do to help him IMHO is show him how to budget and project costs. As mentioned, it's way more than the 'payment'. Then if he wants to proceed with something that you disagree with, let him. But if it becomes a struggle, let him solve the problem. There's more to learning than book learning.

Best of luck!

 

I wouldn't buy any used truck that was lifted. Especially not a Taco above 2.5 inches.

 

Any truck that old you better check frame!!
Some dealers have sold them with rusty frames
Not sure where your located but I’m on my 4th Taco
All 3 previous ones-the frame rusted

 

Pro comp 6” lift = hell no.

plus:

 

You offered $18k and he countered you to $22.5k? Sorry, but no way is that truck worth $18k! $10-$12k is much more realistic, if that. Run, don't walk from that deal while you still can. JMHO

 

No. You’re welcome.

 

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