Thoughts on this Tacoma for son?

$7,995 for a clean 97' TRD V6 Manual w/179,677 miles.

Truck is about an hour from me, so I'm interested in your thoughts. It seems like all of my research is finding the following on the 95'-99' model Tacos. I would love your confirmation.

• $4k gets me a beater truck with higher mileage and maybe a few issues. Tons to choose from though. 275k-325k in mileage. Maybe a rebuilt motor.
• $6k is a decent truck, probably still higher mileage, (above 200k) usually rougher interior or exterior. Some clean models with a mechanical issue or two.
• $8k trucks are usually overpriced $6k trucks or really clean and nice like this one.

Is it worth the extra couple grand to maybe get a cleaner truck with lower miles? $2k spread over several years isn't much of a difference to me. I could buy a $6k truck and put in tires, wheels and a few repairs and probably be in the same budget.

On this specific truck, is it a big deal to put the black fender flares over the chrome ones? Seems like those chrome ones were always rust magnets anyway. This truck looks like it was owned by an older guy, (like me) and garaged the thing. Looks bone stock and has decent BFGs. White always looks good in the pics, so it's hard to tell for sure. Let me know if you see any warning signs from the pics.

Thanks!

 

Be very thorough when checking the frame for rust. If you are not familiar with Tacoma rust issues, google it and research before looking/buying.

 

Being a 17 year old male I would stay away from a 4x4 especially the TRD off road. It is extremely tempting to take it off-road with friends and break something

 

Get under there and grab the driveshaft by the center bearing and push it up and down; it shouldn't move much. Newer shocks and brakes? Clean frame? Well, I guess you have to pay to play.

 

Looks like it's been smoked in, judging by everything looking yellow.

 

Ahh, I bet you are right. Good call.

 

Ha, that's a true point and exactly the reason why he's getting a truck. You've gotta break stuff to learn how to fix it.

 

i'm of zero help, but that truck was my wet dream in high school.

my imperial jade mica 99 SR5 V6 4x4 had manual locking hubs. was auto a TRD upgrade?

 

I'm pretty sure all 1st gen Tacomas that are a true TRD model came with the elocker? So I'm assuming the guy slapped those stickers on there. And I could be wrong on this, but I thought they didn't start making the TRD models until 1998?

 

The vehicle is sold at a dealer and they probably have no clue on the elocker. I thought the TRD was a 98' forward option as well, but Wikipedia says, (yeah... I know):
"TRD packages started in 1997 (if the V6 engine was selected, a differential locker in the rear came with it)."

I think I remember hearing that I should be able to see a dash indicator when placed in 4Low if the elocker is there. I should be able to hear/feel it working as well.

 

I know what you mean. I was so jealous of my friends 4-Runner. I didn't think about the hubs, but yeah, they must be auto.

 

A nice clean 4x4 for under 7 grand is hard to find. Assuming no rust I think you can be confident in everything else. Since it only has had 10k miles a year put on it it was likely not abused. Id get it.

Your kid will love this, probably wreck it, off road it, break it, and need to fix stuff on it so it doesn't need to be perfect.

Assuming this is his first vehicle, a manual is a great choice... he will be a better driver because of it IMO.

 

Make sure the rust is at a minimal & not on the inside of the frame.

 

I searched and searched for a Tacoma exactly like this. I ended up getting one from a dealer instead.

 

This is too true. I just turned 19 last month, wrecked my first truck in an off roading accident, used the money to paid off what I owed on it and started saving for a Tacoma. Bought it all on my own and honestly still wheel it harder than I should. It's taught me (especially being a broke college student who has to pay to play) to work on my own vehicle and I love it, in fact, I plan on pursuing a career in the automotive industry post college.

If your son has any interest in off roading at all, he'll love it. NOTHING beats the feeling of locking the rear and making it up am onstacle that the daddy's money open diff Jeep couldn't that your lil ol' stock Yota could. Maybe it's just cause I'm competitive.

As for the actual vehicle, it looks like it's been smoked in, but a dealership can remove the smell for $100 (at least the one I worked at could). Check for rocks and dirt in leaf spring shackles, bump stop points (don't know what they're called, the thing your bump stops above your leaf springs smack when you jump rail road tracks) and above your coil buckets; after off roading, dirt and rocks don't like to come out of those places. Check the break fluid; if it's low, you could need new pads, which is negotiation. Drive it next to a fence or wall of some kind to check the U Joints and see if they're squeeking. Besides that, I like the truck man. If yall are in the West Texas area I'll happily take your son out to a wheeling trip, never hurts having another Yota haha

 

I can tell you that there is no elocker switch in the factory location. That leads me to believe that the sticker has just been slapped on. Happens a lot on CL around here, plenty of people advertise a TRD tacoma and all the signs point to a "tacoma with a trd sticker" only.

1.) It should have the elocker switch just left of the steering wheel column
2.) If it is an elocker, it will have an 8" rear diff and the rear diff drain plug will be on the driver side of the axle

I mean if you like it, buy it. But don't be fooled into paying for the TRD truck when it's not. It's still a nice looking clean ride!

 

That's exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the detailed advice. I've got the VIN, but decoding that doesn't say anything about TRD unfortunately.

 

No problem! Just didn't want to see someone else buy one thinking its a TRD when it isn't. My cousin got scammed and bought one that he thought was TRD because of the sticker. Then when I saw it I had to let him know haha.

But like I said, it's still a good looking truck. Just don't let them try to "upsale" you because "hey man it's a TRD edition".

 

Well, maybe bad news. I got suspicious and tried google-ing the VIN. The truck popped up on an prior ad from a month ago in a city about 4 hours from me. Prior owner's description:

"I've got a 97 toyota Tacoma xtr . This thing is my baby very well taken care of. Some of its goodies I did myself custom cold air in take with k&n filter , brand new seat belt for driver side, pioneer stereo, all new gaskets for valve covers, cam seals, rear plugs. No oil leaks!! Spark plugs,new fan shroud, and lots more. Like it says it's my baby and I hate to see it go but it recently blew a head gasket and I can afford to fix it right now I'm asking 5000 or best offer!!!"

Sounds like a kid bought it from an old guy, blew the head gasket and had to get rid of it. Maybe traded it in to this used car dealership, or maybe the dealer bought it cheap. I'll be worried the dealer popped some stop leak into the antifreeze and is selling it for 8 grand.

Gotta love Google!

 

looks like my truck when i bought it. it will have it's problems but that's normal. i say go for it.