New to Tacoma- Philosophical buying question?

All things being equal would you rather buy a Tacoma with 125K miles from a dealer with no known maintenance history or one with 215K from a one owner private party with excellent history. Suppose they look about the same and are the same price. Thanks!

 

If "all things being equal" includes the results of a thorough inspection I'd take the one with 125k.

 

Thanks. That's a sensible bit of advice.

 

I would also have to go with less miles but I would expect to have to fix some issues since a dealer would most certainly have a trade-in truck and when someone trades it in, more often then not they have reasons to trade it in such as neglected maint or known problems they would rather not deal with.

none of that scares me as long as engine and tranny are sound and either truck will need things fixed on it so it all depends if you are able to do your own maint and basic repairs of things (brakes, bearings, front end parts and such) or willing to accept there will most likely be hidden things you will need to have fixed. the lower the mileage the least amount of work you can expect it might need.

when you buy your truck flush and replace the tranny fluid and replace the gear oil in the axles first thing and of course the standard stuff of oil and filter change and new air filter/fuel filter and all replacement oils and fluids should be full synthetic

 

With no additional info, I go with the higher mileage. Assuming same year vehicles, one was driven highway, the other local. A lot less wear and tear on a car with highway miles. Tell me the original owner is 65 years old and that would alleviate most of my fears of a high milage vehicle. Tell me the original owner is 35 y/o and I'd run like hell.