Soon-to-be father anxious about high mileage taco

Kids grow. Your Tacoma will be too small in 5-6 years. Trade up to something bigger then. For now, your good to go. My 07 has 222,000 miles on it and in 15 years the only thing I've replaced other than normal stuff like tires, brakes, batteries, etc. was the alternator. I think you'll get a few more years and miles out of it.

 

Maybe the Pro and Con lists only work for cars and trucks.

 

Save your money man. 135k aint too bad.
Even if you do get stranded just keep extra food and water in the truck as you should in any vehicle when driving through rural AZ, someone will come by, it’s not the outback.
Seems like most old tacomas have slow failures not sudden breakdowns

 

Yeah, This!

 

I would be more scared of breaking down with a 3rd gen. 2021 owner here.

 

Keep it dude. I traded in my 08 Tacoma for a brand new 3rd gen and I second guess the decision often. You have one of the best model year Tacoma’s and can realistically double your mileage. Sure you could need some repairs here and there but with a kid on the way your not gonna wanna be chained to a $500 car payment. Yes you could probably get a nice trade in on your rig but prices for these things are stupid inflated and now is not a good time to buy. Enjoy the truck and teach your kid to drive in it in 15 years

 

Hey James, congratulations on becoming a dad. I have a 2008 with over 384,000 miles on it. We drove across the country and back pulling my 5x8 enclosed trailer. No problems at all. Just keep up maintenance and the oil changed regularly, and you will be fine.
Remember kiddos are more expensive than you think or even plan for.

 

Yes, you are. If it's running well and you maintain it well, I would expect 200k with with no issue.

 

Buy a new one and be worry free for 10 years! You’ll have enough to think about and do without unplanned breakdowns and fixes

 

It seems like the wife's Honda is higher mileage (you can see where I'm going with this...). I was never married (I used "strafing"), but your wife might rlike the idea of a newer and safer ride for the child and making her happy might win you some brownie points, just something to consider as well. In the end, it's up to you both to determine the best fit for the circumstance, a lot of good advice here though.

 

You’re about to be a father. It’s better to have a car without any payments… kids aren’t cheap. And your taco is young it only has 135 on it. Second gens make it well passed 250k. These trucks are too expensive right now to consider them

 

I’d take a 135K mile Toyota all over the country and back, before I’d take a Chevy or Ford with half that milage. Hell, I’d have no problem taking my 235K/25 year old 4runner coast to coast right now if I had that kind of freedom nowdays.

 

Just when we had him talked off the ledge you had to make one more comment! Oh Vey.

 

Just here to add to the chorus of “keep it” comments. 135K isn’t really that much in the grand scheme of things, especially if you have maintained it well as you said, and if there are lots of highway miles. Enjoy the fruits of your dedication!

 

I traded in my 2010 this past summer for a 2021. My biggest concern was frame rust and the end of my Toyota frame replacement coverage (12 years from date of first use).

I was also able to buy my new Tacoma Off Road at MSRP and was offered a very good trade in value for my old truck (nearly $20K).

In your situation, I’d keep what you’ve got, assuming you’ve maintained it over the years.
- living in AZ, frame rust isn’t an issue
- you’ll be paying a premium for a new truck right now
- my 2021 isn’t really that much “better” than my old 2010

You can buy an entire new (Toyota) suspension as a new truck take-off on here for a few hundred dollars. I put a practically new (500 miles) Off Road suspension on mine.

A new head unit will give you all the audio features you’ll find in a new truck. Mine included Apple Car Play, hands free, GPS, etc.

You might want to consider buying some seat covers (I have Wet Okole, but RC get good reviews at half the price). Kids will spill a ton of stuff in your back seats, so waterproof and washable covers will be appreciated.

If you want a new truck, let the kids dirty up this one the trade it in when the prices return to reality in a few years.

 

Sienna is what I would be driving if I had this Tacoma paid off.

 

This.

And congrats to the OP.

 

Best advice here by far. I don't understand why every time there is a thread like this they give the OP a lecture on the evils of borrowing. No one else knows the OP's financial situation or philosophy but the OP. The ability to use credit responsibly is a powerful tool. It's only bad when it gets out of control. If people don't agree and think using credit of any kind is bad that's fine, you do you. But don't assume everyone should do the same.

 

Good point. I need to redo the suspension, which is far cheaper than the down payment I was considering.

The seat covers are a great idea as well, with those cloth seats and all..

 

After 3 months pf lugging the baby carrier into the rear of that Fit, either you or most likely the Mrs. will be thinking minivan or small suv. Keep the Taco for dad.