Looking to buy my first Tacoma (any advice?)

Hello all,

I've been following these forums for quite a while now and finally decided that I'm ready to buy my first Tacoma. I'm hoping some of the more experienced members here can help me determine the best way for me to find the right Tacoma for me.

A little background: I'm a new graduate student at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City) and was hoping to get a Tacoma to last me at least the next 5 years. I don't really have a clue what type of Tacoma I need, but I do know that I want an automatic DCLB for travelling with friends and camping in the truck bed. I'll also be driving in snowy mountains and doing some offroading in Moab, so a TRD model might be necessary?

Any suggestions on the type of Tacoma I should get? Also, where's the best place to find good deals on used Tacomas? DCLB seem really hard to find...

Any other advice you can think of is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

What is the best year for the Tacomas in terms of maintenance and overall reliability? Looking for a used older model, probably around 2007/8 - 2012.

Thanks!

 

New or used?

If used, budget?

Mechanical skills?

Personally, for your description, I'd be patiently looking for a '13 4wd with under 40k miles, full maintenance history, unmodified.

 

07-15 they fixed frame issues and other little things... I got a sweet deal from Carmax. 05 Tacoma DCLB 4x4 with 54K miles for 22k

 

22K ??!! That doesn't sound like a sweet deal to me, even with only 54k.
Is that typical of carmax vehicles?

 

Probably best to avoid the 3rd Gen (2016) Tacoma, until Toyota has most of the problems resolved.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-tacomas-2016.186

 

Hilarious how people say most of the problems. What is the biggest issue ? Trans TSB. The differential howling not widely reported ? Squeaky clutch ? No wait, the greasless zerk and tranny fluid everyone thinks is missing after coming to TW ?
Go to Honda and look at the C clips they forgot to put on the connecting rods in the Civics which halted 2016 sales and get back with us on what a real problem is. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/02/honda-orders-stop-sale-2016-civic-2-liter-engine-blame/
Give me a freaking break. I think you all work for Honda sometimes.

 

Id say not enough tranny fluid is a big thing. But that's just me.

 

And EVERYONE has that problem ? Its a paranoia effect in here.
Would you take a missing c clip or 1/2 quart low of tran fluid ?

 

Never said that.