Searching for 1st Gen.... too high mileage?

can they just put the 'premium' topcoat over whatever you have? at a later date
I had to go that route because of the black truck and possible fading to gray that definitely works on most other colors (especially white)

 

Never thought about that...good Question

 

The dealership i work for specializes in salvage or rebuilt vehicles and 99% of the time insurance pays out the same for a branded title as they do for a clean title, my taco and sti are both branded titles and have never had a problem with getting insurance or the insurance pay out.

 

Good to know. Thanks for chiming in

 

Well you always have the choice of buying a new Tacoma that will cost you 600-700 a month with insurance for fricken 7 years depending on what top of the line model you get

 

I've been out of the payment world for so long, that it hurts to read that....poor folks that feel they have no choice but to buy new because they can't work on it or want warranty, etc..... Unless you haven't learned financial discipline then buy new and get screwed and learn

 

I bought my 04 extracab with 298K on it for $6,500. Its in decent shape for what I was looking for and to spend. Has a salvage tile. It also had an ARB winch bumper and Front Range Offroad rear bumper on it when I bought it. I added a winch and sliders.
Rear frame over the wheel wells has been plated due to a rear ender. Thats what prompted the PO to get bumpers. I also added a skid plate from Ethan on here.
Truck runs smooth and I have done the front cat, wires and plugs/coil paks. Regular Mobile 1 oil changes and it doesn't lose anything. I did replace the rack due to leaking and the trans mount.
I am super happy with the truck and it's ticking up around 366K now with an upcoming trip to Southern Oregon a week from tomorrow.
Even with all the maintenance and upgrades, I am a happy owner and feel comfortable wheeling in my environment. I know the trucks limits, and mine and have had a blast.
Tacos rule!

 

Off topic, you still have your sprinter? I'm thinking about selling my Taco to buy one and build one out as a camper van. Don't really need the off road capabilities the taco has and want some more creature comforts when we travel.

 

I bought a 2004 v6 auto with around 200,000 on the odometer. I’ve owned probably 10 vehicles personally and in my family we have built and owned plenty more. These trucks are one of the best built vehicles of all time. I’m currently at 262k and the truck runs great. Starts right up, pulls hard, idles smooth, no issues.

I’d also like to add that I’m the second owner and the first owner took very good care of the truck.

No vehicle will last forever without parts but in comparison to most others these trucks will last and last.

In conclusion the fact that you can get another engine for around 800-1200 that will last conservatively 300k is why these trucks will continually hold their value.

 

The "older" (02-06) Sprinters are pretty sweet - if you find one that hasn't been beat to shit. The 05/06 is the best Sprinters many folks on the Sprinter forum have said. I've owned both years and could say they are pretty awesome in a few key categories: MPG ( I averaged mid-20s on the long 158" WB and high 20s on my 118" "shortie" WB); space - tons of it and if you are creative you can really get a lot of shit into one of those vans; the turbo diesel engine - from factory, it's a million mile motor. Now of course what happens between then and now really matters (just like our 1st Gens), and with regular, preventive maintenance, those motors, tranny, and rear end will easily hit high 500/600k.

A lot of people trend towards the newer Sprinters - and I'm not a fan, for various reasons. 1 big one is DEF, the other is the electrical gremlin problems I've heard of in those "newer" 2007 - 12 Sprinters. The older ones, branded Dodge but 100% Mercedes everything, are far more simplistic mechanically - kind of like the 1st Gen Tacos.

Either way, if you can find an older one in good shape, I'd say under 250K and without other various problems of poor treatment, then pull the trigger. They ain't the prettiest and they'll do what you're wanting in terms of creature comforts. PM if you have further desires to chat "older" Sprinters.

 

Cleans your title through Vermont.

 

Where were you a month ago?? Sold it last weekend!

 

What kind of price range are you looking at just out of curiosity.

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. I had a 2wd Taco and wanted 4wd. I wasn’t married to V6 but that’s what I ended up with.

Took about 2 months of religiously searching (sometimes 4-5x a day) until I found one but it had 135k miles. And came with a topper

I’d be patient and continue looking, you’ll find one.

 

Patience is the big key here. The good ones are still out there. I saw a good one but was pretty overpriced, some might say, and jumped on it. Then as I learned more I think I could have eventually done better. My best advice to you is to look for one that’s stock but maybe has a topper on already instead of getting one that already has a lift and other stuff like I did. I basically paid extra for the shit that was on it and now I’m paying even more to undo and redo my new inherited problems. I still am happy with it but my busy schedule has really dragged out my making this truck what I want. You’re better off starting with a stock/ blank canvas. Hang tight and keep looking, they’re out there.

 

+1 here. Mine was mostly stock which was great because I’ve replaced a bunch of parts

 

Agreed. As close to stock as you can get is the best IMO. That way any issues you have came from Toyota and you can easily find out how to fix them here. Second, you can build the way you want to build it. Lastly if it's stock and has good maint records there is less chance it was abused if not modified.

 

I didn't even know I was considering a sprinter a month ago until we went on the most recent long road trip!!

 

I bought a low millage truck. I have spend a ton of money on it. I would rather have bought a high mileage truck and expected to have the same problems. When a truck sits rubber, gaskets and the such deteriorate.
I have already had to replace most things rubber, body mounts, cv axles, upper and lower ball joints, rear axle seals, water hoses, vacuum hoses valve cover gaskets. plus its sitting also lead to clogged injectors, starter issues, alternator issues, fan clutch issues, and I cant even remember what all else I had to do.