Should i buy it?

Hey folks, brand new to this forum. So I'm interested in a Tacoma. I currently own a 2006 Dodge 3500 with 5.9 Cummins. To make this short, it's just too big for me. I'm not working it the why it needs. I love my truck but I have no use for it. Moving on, I am looking at a 2005 double cab Tacoma with a long bed TRD Sport. It has 80,500 miles. I looked at it and told the dealer it needs a new frame. They couldn't believe me so they took it to Toyota and voila, a nee frame is ordered for it. The body is mint as well as the engine. I did test drive it and it rode very nice but the breaks were mushy. The deal so far is going for 17,900 bucks. They are willing to discount it further if I deal with Toyota. So, were am I at with this? Is it an unreasonable price? Anything I need to be aware of? Let me know what you all think as I'm very new to Tacoma's. Any help would be great!

 

That seems about right..the double cab long beds are hard to find. I got my 06 extended cab a little over a year ago for $16k before tax with 64k miles on it. The frame being replaced is a pretty big deal so I would take that into consideration and maybe get the dealer to drop the price a little. The downside to a new frame, is they basically are building a new truck and it could change the truck. I had my frame replaced over the summer due to an accident and now its better than before, but it took almost 3 months for them to do it and since august I have been in and out of the shop so they could tweak everything. I am confident now that the truck is changed for the better now so in my opnion, it was worth it. Last but not least, I would see what recalls have been done and the ones that need to be done.
Hopefully my rambling helps lol, good luck

 

I agree that you're close to a deal, especially with those low miles and a new frame.

You will need a coolant change and trans flush at 100k, the coolant flush will probably be done with the swap, that's a couple hundred worth. Take a good look at the fuel and brake lines, they may be pretty crusty by now. I think that 2005 will have the mechanical limited slip diff, that's a bonus too over the new electronic one.

 

I believe with a new frame the fuel and break lines will be changed along with a new body bolts and a few other brackets and gizmos. I'm thinking if it has these low miles and a new frame I'm staring at a new truck for the most part. Again I love my Dodge but need something smaller. How does the Nissan Frontier compare to the Tacoma? If I can score this TRD Sport for under 16k I'm sure I will be driving a new Toyota. Has anyone else dealt with a new frame? I've read they turn out nice.

 

I looked at the frontiers. I liked them. But I know more about toyota than nissan. Only experience I have with nissan is my dad bought an altima once.

A good friend of mine has an extend cab frontier 4x4 that he loves. Says it is the best truck he has ever owned. Since I've known him he has had a RC Silverado, and an extend cab F150

 

I had an 09 frontier it was fine no problems bought it new and then traded it for my trd off road last week there good trucks but the taco will hold more of its value

 

KBB in my area has that truck priced 18,900 - 22,450. As for frontiers, all the guys I know that have them say they are happy with them. Like everyone else said though, tacomas hold on to their value like a hooker holds her street corner.

 

We have been soured on Nissan 4x4 after our 97 Pathfinder, at 8 years old, needed a new clutch, and the new clutch was higher than vehicle blue book value.

 

I had an '06 Frontier paid 24k for it. Traded it 6 years later for 10k for the Tacoma. My Tacoma is worth more than when I bought it. Frontier's ride more like a truck but have a horrible turning radius like a full size. The '05 to around '10 have issues with transmission/radiator cross contamination which usually results in a new tranny. I was glad to ditch mine before I got bit.

 

18k for a 10 year old truck with a rusty frame. Yes it's getting replaced but it has over 80,000 miles. That price just seems too high. When I was looking for my truck in the summer of '13, the dealer had a '10 DCSB 4X4 with just over 35k and he was asking 24k. I also came from a CTD to the Tacoma. Without seeing pictures I think you could do a little better.

 

even though the dodge is big..... your probably going to get about the same MPG's fyi.

 

I heard the 4.0 V6 doesn't get "great" fuel savings and to expect around 18 to 20 mpg. What would be a good asking price? Should I hit him below 15k to start?

 

sounds reasonable..... given the truck needs a new frame... who knows what else is rusted through.

BTW your going to be lucky to get 18-20mpg on the highway especially in the cold months, even more so if its a 4x4. Expect 18-19 during the cold months if you stay at 65 or under on the hwy.... city expect the 16mpg they advertise.

 

This is interesting. Tacomas get FRAME REPLACEMENTS?

Except with hardcore Jeepers, I'd never heard of that. When a frame went...if you could, you got rid of the truck; if not, you took it to Bubba's Welding and Bubba would patch the frame up...maybe hold together another year.

So. You can just order a NEW FRAME from Toyota, and they'll PUT IT ALL ON THAT FRAME? At shop rates? Sounds like the parts and labor would cost more than a new truck!

 

OP, I turn between 16 to 18 MPG in mine and it'll go down even a bit more if it's really cold. I'm guessing your '06 is probably turning 18 to 20 seeing it's a 3500. My '96 2500 got great MPG for such a heavy truck. I was getting an honest 24 highway. The plus side is that gas is way cheaper than Diesel in CT, at least where I am.

Justpassin': Toyota is replacing the frames on warranty. There's a number of threads about it.

 

The toyota frame rust issues have been around for a long time. The first gen trucks had a frame 'warranty' for 15 years (which is currently expired).

The 2nd gen trucks have a similar frame rust warranty 'service campaign' -
Toyota will inspect the frame. If it fails the safety inspection, you can receive a new frame. Search the forum - lots of information about this. If your frame passes the safety inspection, you can receive an underbody rust prevention coating (or whatever they call it).

Soo ...No, you can't order a frame. The trucks must go thru a frame inspection first.

 

From some basic research I've done it seems Toyota puts aproximently 11k dollars into the frame and labor once a defective frame has been identified. So they are just about putting more into the vehicle than what it's worth. Bonus? I think so.

 

It's worth it for toyota to fix a frame problem to keep customers happy and loyal. Imagine if toyota never fixed or replaced any of the frames that have rusted out.

 

Not hard to imagine. Ford, in the late 1960s/early 1970s, had issues with frames rusting out. After about five years, typically.

They offered nothing but smirks. And now Toyota, which was a fraction of their size in those years, is a much-bigger worldwide seller.

Just the same...it's kind of troubling. In my extended family there have been about ten Toyota cars in the last twenty years or so...NONE of them had rust issues, even though some of them were used in the Great Lakes area. I had thought Toyota had learned something about rust prevention.

Now this. It doesn't affect me, not now, not directly. My 1999 is a documented southern truck, taken west and then traded in. My 2015 is two weeks on the road.

But...still. Something not-very-comforting to watch.

Anyone know if the new frames or new trucks are better than the older ones?

 

I am understanding the steel is better along with the corrosive protection Toyota is applying. Maybe someone with first hand experience can chime in on this subject.