To Buy or Not To Buy? - 2001 4-cyl 4wd

I'm a first-time, potential Tacoma owner considering buying a 2001 Taco, 4-cyl, 4wd, SR5 (no power anything), Xtracab with a camper shell. 110,000 miles. All white. Asking $9200. Was a lease vehicle - has had 5 owners.

I live in the Sierra foothills where it's not easy to find these deals at all. The five owners concerned me, but it otherwise has a clean title with all scheduled maintenance. I have found that these are being priced consistently above bluebook. But I'm clear that this is overall the vehicle for my needs although it's at the very top end of my budget. Any thoughts out there on this decision?

 

what kind of body style is it, reg cab double cab?

 

xtra cab

 

unfortunately, I just received some more photos from the guy selling it and it has a good bit of rust on the underbody (most likely from salted roads). as much as i want one with this combo, i'm going to have to wait. rust scares me since it is so unpredictable.

 

Rust on the underbody scares you? Yikes, don't look at any of the vehicles up here in NY. You'll be terrified.

 

Actually, the rust could be a good thing. In a couple years, it rusts out, and you get a new frame free of charge.

 

Just had my frame replaced on my 2001 AC.
Just like new now.
It would be a plus if the frame was at or near failure.
Then you get a new frame.

 

Had my frame replaced for free by Toyota last March. My 4cyl 4x4 runs great!

 

Id buy it!!

Toyota will replace the frame on it if it gets bad.

 

id buy it to, sounds like a good deal, i just bought that same truck but a reg cab with 88,000 for 7,700 and its been awesome, couldnt be happier, and like they said if the rust gets that bad toyota will take care of you.

 

the bumper is really rusted out as well at the tow hitch. the fact that it has passed around 5 different owners and has rust problems doesn't feel right. and the price just dropped to $8600. pretty tempting at that price if you're willing to deal with fixing rust problems.

 

Jeffro
listen to what everyone is saying. YOU DONT HAVE TO FIX THE F'IN RUST. if the rust is that bad on the surface odds are the frame is shot too. I had a 98 with 150k the body was perfect but the frame was junk. Toyota bought it from me last month for 11,500 and i bought an 01. You won't go wrong buying the truck don't worry about the rust

 

It'd be like buying a brand new 2001 for $8600. I wouldn't worry much about that truck being passed around like that, you can't kill these things (TopGear, anyone?)