Thinking about buying a 1st gen with 220k miles

Hey 1st gens!

I originally was going to replace my Audi A5 with a 2nd gen DCLB, but decided I really wanted to keep her. I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler with 250k miles that I use on the weekends to get up into the mountains but was looking for something with some more cargo space (wrangler doesn't have much).

I am thinking about getting a higher mileage 1st gen. I haven't done too much research yet on the 1st gens, as I originally wanted a 2nd gen and spent my time around that.

Is 220k miles for ~$9k a reasonable price? (v6 4wd automatic xtracab)
Should I think about buying something with lower miles on it? How many miles can I expect out of 1st gens?

This will just be used on the weekends to bring out to the mountains camping, some occasional offroad trails.

Thanks in advance! I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions just wanted to get some others opinions

 

Hopefully it's a double cab for that price with those miles, which you'll probably want since they have more space than the extra cabs do. Also, if you want to carry more than one passenger then you have to get the double cab...the backseats in the Xtra cabs are a joke (storage only).

Just be sure it was well maintained, records are always a good thing. Check the frame for rust since 1st gens are notorious for it, if it has any serious rust (or holes in the frame from rust) then run the other way. Also, make sure the lower ball joints are good because they have a tendency to be a weak point on 1st gens and can cause a bad accident if they fail.

 

thanks so much for the info! I edited my post, it's an xtracab. Is the xtracab really that small? We were able to cram in the back of my friends Ford Ranger xtracab, it was very cramped but we made it work heh.

 

I have an Xtra cab and I love my truck to death, but I'm terrified of when the time comes for my fiancé and I to start a family...you simply cannot fit anyone back there comfortably, let alone a child seat.

My fiancé is small, 5'7 and 130lbs and she fits back there but it isn't very comfortable for her. That's about as big of a person as I'd feel okay about putting back there. Once, her brother came with us on an offroading trip and she got to where she couldn't ride in the back anymore so he offered to switch with her......he's 6'2" and 220lbs. Needless to say, he was not comfy at all haha.


So yeah...if you have to you can, but they aren't going to like it very much.

 

ok cool haha thanks for the clarification

Is the pricing okay for that mileage? I just wonder how much maintenance will be needed at such high mileage. I guess I'd be okay swapping my Wrangler for a Tacoma with the same amount of miles though

 

I think that's all right, but maybe a tad high. I sold my 03 4x4 5 speed access cab for just under 10k with 177,500 on it. It sold in 2 hours on Craigslist though so it may have been a bit too low on the price. I would see about getting them down to about 8k-8.5k if everything checks out mechanically. Theyre great trucks! Heres what I said in another post, hopefully it's helpful!

If it is private party I would ask the owner if you can take it for a test drive, and take it to a parking lot or something. Get underneath it and look for any rust, leaks, cracks, dents in the skid plate or anywhere else from rocks, etc. Anything like that. Check the CV joints, leaf springs, shocks, front and rear diff, and transmission. Look for frame damage and anything else you can possibly think to check. Then go under the hood and see if it's dirty, has a lot of oil/grease anywhere, and check the oil, antifreeze, coolant, brake fluid, etc. Then drive it for a while, listening and feeling for anything that doesn't seem right. Run the A/C and stereo. (I forgot to do the A/C on my truck and on the way home I realized it whines, although it works fine.) Go somewhere with a dirt patch and put it in 4x4 hi and then 4x4 lo. Give it some gas and make sure all 4 wheels spin. Listen for weird sounds and feel for anything weird again. Check all the lights and gauges. Look for stains, stretches, or worn spots on the seats. I can't think of anything else really at this point, but remember, DO NOT talk prices until you have checked everything out and are sure you want the vehicle. Then, use any issues you find as haggling points to get the price lowered a bit. Good luck, and I hope this helps!

 

If it’s not going to be your daily driver I wouldn’t worry to much about the miles. As long as you check over it and it doesn’t appear to be a pile. I bought mine when it had around 265,000 miles on it and it’s pushing 300,000 now.

 

Hard to ping a hard line on what to get for what price without a exact example of the truck your looking at.

That said going from my thoughts any Tacoma your looking at thats over 200k should be considered a dime a dozen in way of rarity, and will automatically be closer to the $5k-8k mark barring any other factors. Personally I try to get a truck under 150k myself, but that's just me.

For what your're looking (v6/4wd/auto) for I would aim closer to the 7k mark preferably under 200k miles. And adjust higher or lower depending on various factors like power controls, towing equipment, condition, number of owners, etc.

Also thing to note is that 200k miles from a city that has mainly highway is by far better then a 200k mile truck that comes from a small town with nothing but stop and go. So, I'd factor that in as well. Usually can infer the info based on where the truck is located (including carfax info on where the truck was renewed at).

 

Dude, being in CO you're not going to find a Tacoma in good condition with under 200k for less than $7,000. Not gonna happen. I looked off and on for a couple of years and found out very quick that anything less than $7k will be beat to hell, or has 400k+ miles.

I found my '00 Xtra cab, 4x4, v6 a few months ago for $4,400 and that's only because it needed some work (needed new tires, shocks, timing belt, ac compressor and exhaust) and it has hail damage. Plus, the guy was the original owner and didn't know what he had. I showed up 30 minutes after he posted the ad and was already 3rd in line, with 2 others waiting when I got back after the test drive. Hell, I've even had 2 friends offer me $7k twice for it.

Tacomas demand a ridiculous premium here in CO. Something rust free (good luck!), in good condition, 4x4 and under 200k miles is going to run you closer to $10k. The week I bought mine, the local dealership had a 2004 xtra cab 4x4 non-TRD base model (manual locks and windows) with 145k on the lot for $15k and it sold in 2 days. If you don't mind fixing something up, you can find a better deal for sure.

 

I had the same dilemma. Bought an 04 Xtra cab brand new in 2004. Drove it for ten years until my wife and I had our second child. So I sold it and bought a second gen dbl cab. Drove it for about a month then sold it because I hated it. Then bought another first gen but this time a double cab that has suited me well an can fit three car seats.