Is this a fair price for an '06?

My son was in the same situation, really wanted a truck for winter's at school in Idaho. Of course he wants my 22 TRD Off Road, which there is no way he can afford. I had a realistic finances/needs/wants discussion with him. Yesterday he purchased a 2019 Subaru Impreza that was used as service loaner for a local Subaru dealership. Only 12k miles. He paid 24k with minimal help from me. Everything about the Impreza is way better for his needs than the cool factor. Someday he will have his truck, but for now he is in a super safe AWD car that will fill all his needs for the next several years.

 

Mazdas rock.

You don't mention where this 'winter driving' is.

But in a location where the roads are plowed fairly quickly, good winter tires on all 4 corners of that Mazda and a steady driver will take it many places just fine. And safely. FWD works well in hilly considitons too. It's more like pulling a rope up a hill instead of pushing it like a RWD would be.

Sure, 4wd (like the Tacoma) or AWD like some other cars is better. But again, tires are the key.

An extra set of wheels for the Mazda, mounted with dedicated winter tires (Nokian, Blizzrak, Michelin etc) won't be cheap, but way cheaper than buying another unknown vehicle.

No reason to buy new wheels either. Just collect a set from the web or local junk yards.

Winter tires are softer rubber, so remove them when spring is there to stay, store the wheels/tires properly and save them for the next season.

 

^^^^Great Advice^^^^

 

+1 on the Subaru

 

You and many many people have fallen for that "myth". In an overall sense, yes, Toyotas are built with very solid engineering and their principles were ahead of the game back when most manufacturers were pumping out substandard vehicles.

But as others have mentioned already, the other brands are just about as good these days. A lot of it is because the suppliers for the entire industry are just better at making parts and Toyota/Subaru/Mazda/etc are using the same sensors and chips.

 

This coming from a former Insurance Agent of 10 years, most insurance companies do not cover modifications and added equipment as part of their policy
and can only be covered with additions to your policy, ($$$+). Just a FYI. (Hope "Mr. Insurance Expert" doesn't chime in to tell you differently) You could always
call your Insurance Company/Agent directly to gain this info yourself. Good Luck Again

 

Hard pass for a 18 year old modified truck that is known too possibly have head gasket and motor mount trouble.
Of course there is a sucker born every minute.

 

Seller is a dreaming fool to pass on 18k for that truck,we are in a major reccesion.

 

so good to know!

 

We had considered doing winter tires, but he is in the alpine club and going to be doing a lot of snowboarding. Campus is at the top of a hill that can get bad. I know a lot of kids take cars and then they juts aren't useable when the weather is bad, this year that was a significant amount of time. Additionally the drive home is via a mountain pass that is not always plowed and when it is, not so frequently that you can get buy without AWD. I drive it for my job every winter and have seen white out conditions unexpectedly and was very grateful for my company provided Forester. It handles like a champ and was going to be purchased for a steal through my fleet program as I was due for replacement when a tool on his phone rear ended me and the company deemed it a total loss. So that put us here. If we send him with the Mazda I still have to drive 7 hours round trip to bring him home for winter break or anytime the pass is bad, which was Dec-April it seemed this year! Might as well pass it down to his brother and keep it at home and get him in something mom does not have to worry about him driving home the day before Christmas.

 

I'm going to give you a different answer. I'm doing so knowing that it is just my opinion that means nothing other than it is what I would do for myself.

Let's say we know nothing about the guy with the 2006 for sale other than he has a 2006 Tacoma with a 136K miles on it. Other than you said you or he also reported it as "meticulously maintained". You don't really know anything about how it was driven or maintained. If the color, condition, and maintenance was to my liking and the truck was what I wanted, and if for no other reason that the guy spent a good amount of money "improving his truck to his liking" and demonstrated to your satisfaction that he took care of it like it was a "possession of value to him" I would see if he was willing to take less but I would buy it. And, I would do so feeling fine about paying a more for it (providing it fit my budget).

Before I bought though, I would take it to someone knowledgeable who i trust. I would share with him I'm interested in this truck and I know the asking price is high. I am willing to overpay within reason because it "looks to me" like the prior owner put a fair amount of good money into upgrades AND it "looks to me" like it has been meticulously maintained. Can you please tell me:

1) Do you agree it looks like it has been meticulously maintained it there is no sign of it is not a "lipstick on a pig" game?
2) Do you agree the prior owner put a fair amount of money into upgrades and the work is NOT a hack job but it has all been done by someone who knew what they were doing?
3) Can you look at the truck operationally and knowing it has 136K miles and knowing that you can't guarantee me anything other than, you have spent some time to inspect it, and you have not been able to find any unusual noises or starting, stopping, and driving characteristics that look like they've been messed with by an amateur or by someone who otherwise may be an indication of a latent or underlying problem?

The last thing is you haven't said is what state you live in and that is fine. Wherever you are, I would make the sale contingent on the seller guaranteeing the truck through whatever inspection is required for tags, registration, title and tax AND ask for a bill of sale that is NOT higher than the NADA price regardless of what you paid.

Best of luck.

 

By the way time you read this entire thread another Tacoma will be available that is more suitable.

 

I have to same model sounds like a similar truck lift kit has everything but the bar on front but I only paid 12,500 for mine at the same time as you did in July maybe vehicles are cheaper here not sure but does seem high to me I’ve had no trouble with
Mine I know I’m a little late to the convo just saw it

 

Buy him a reliable sedan for his college days, something like a used camery. Good mileage so he comes back to visit you, uber reliable, good gas mileage. I'd get him something he won't be tempted to go out 4 wheeling instead of studying.