Would you hesitate to buy a Taco with 100k+ miles???

I recently bought my 03 tacoma with 104K. I bought my 98 Camry 5 years ago with 88K and now have 183K on it with no issues. I bought my previous 87 Mazda 4x4 with 114K on it and drove it 10 years.

As stated by others, if has been taken care of, buy it.

 

The truck on the left in my sig had 175000 miles on it. That picture was taken at the dealers just before it was loaded on the flatbed to be crushed. The truck ran as good as the day I got it (new). The frame rotted out and it was bought back by Toyota. I'm one of the guys whe get AARP letters every month, and I took good care of it. If you find one with a good frame that looks like someone cared for it, I see no problem with a high mileage truck.

 

My first Toyota was a 1987 4x2 pickup 4 cyl 5 spd. I bought it from my neighbor (the original owner) with 442k mostly hwy miles on it. I knew him and knew how anal he was about his truck. He was a salesman for an oil company and had changed the oil religiously every 3k miles. It had never had any major repairs and in fact the valve cover had never even been off it. I trusted him and the price was right so I bought it. Man, I loved that truck. I towed my boat all over Tennessee with that thing. The original clutch had to be replaced at 450k miles because it would slip a little pulling the boat up a steep hill. Other than that I had no problems with it at all. It used about a qt. of oil every 1500 mi. and ran real strong. I sold it to my business partner (long story) with 480k mi. on it. It was still running like a champ. Stupidest thing I ever did.

The one I have now is a 98 Xtra cab 4x2 4 cyl 5 spd. I bought it from a dealer with 93k mi. on it. Because of my experience with my 87, 93,000 seemed like low mileage. I've only owned it a few weeks but I drive a lot. It just turned 96k today and that includes towing my boat about 500 miles from GA to OH a couple of weeks back. I drove it down there to get the boat and then towed it back through the mountains of N. GA and East TN. It worked real hard on that trip and never ran hot and didn't use a drop of oil. In fact I just had the oil changed and it had gone 3k miles (including the boat towing trip) and hadn't used a drop. I think this one's a keeper.

All that to say no, 100k is not too many miles. Have it checked out by a mechanic you trust and if it gets a clean bill of health and the price is right, go for it.

 

All great answers,rule of thumb;

1) check a car fax for ALL of the recalls;were they done and by who???
2) Can you transfer any of the "Frame warranty" with the purchase??
3) The V-6 should have the timing belt done at around 90-100k and the 4 cylinder could go on forever ( it is not the 22R BUT dam close 2nd ) provided it has been maintained .....

Check the prices,the Toyotas hold and keep their value because they EARN it.....

Good luck in finding one ......

S

 

Can I get a link to the recall info?


Any comment on rebuild titles?

Thanks a ton guys.

 

are you implying you heard bad things? Or are you just saying you heard more good things about the I4 than the V6?

 

I've heard more good things about the 4cyl, from the 22r to the 2.7 I've heard great feedback.I know that some of the older v6 had some head gasket issues but I'm talkin pre 1995

 

Some of the better vehicles I have owned have had higher than average mileage, but each had complete maintenance history.
I've seen as many 22RE/22R engines blow head gaskets due to poor maintenance. Yeah, Toyota had the recall with the 3.slow and I believe that recall remains open. People don't flush the radiators/overheat the trucks constantly. I'd look for a solid maintenance history.
100k miles is nothing if maintenance has been followed.
My 1986 4runner has well over 200k miles and runs flawlessly.
My 2002 Tacoma has 150k miles. The 3.4 V6 is extremely reliable.
Our 2005 4runner has 100k miles and runs like the day we bought it.
Find a seller that took it to the dealer every recommended service interval per Toyota schedule and buy from that guy. He/she will have a huge binder filled with window sticker and all the Toyota receipts. Just like the guy I bought mine from.

 

I know it's incredibly hard to find a tacoma with less than 100k that doesn't cost multiple appendages. Kind of the sacrifice you have to make for quality. I bought mine with 136k miles, and it's a 4 cyl. I think I made a wise purchase. If I were to do it again I'd probably get the V6. I don't need it now...but I probably will.

And yes the need to push the engine harder due to lack of power concerned me, but then I realized that these engines are TOUGH. Aluminum heads, forged steel crank, and Chris Rado was able to get more than 1000hp out of a 3rz (maybe 1700hp, some ridiculous number).

BUY ONE!

 

I just bought my 2000 2.7 4 cyl with 145k miles on it. This is like new for me....LOL I'm 46, and this guy was older than me. Man, that must be really old..... The 4 cyl last longer than the 6's do.

 

Bought mine from my brother in law for $4K with 136 on it. Still runs new, and looks great. I plan on putting another 136K plus on it...

 

And that is why WE own Toyotas......past experience or great advice....
My wife is on Camry #4 and they all have had 100k+.....

Yes the older V-6 had head problems( sons 4-Runner was done a 2nd time,we ate parts,dealer labor) BUT as posted here,if YOU maintain them,they will rack up miles by the thousands trouble free

For a "link" to recalls...just search Tacoma recalls ,it will POP UP....along with a couple of Chevy ads ( as if )......

S

 

I saw a Gen 1 Some 90s year on the side of the road for $3500 it had 250k miles on it and the next day it was gone. I wish the Americans would learn from Toyota and start building stuff designed to last longer than the loan. Toyota builds stuff for the rest of the planet, third world, where Maintenance is spotty, and roads are just trails. Stuff has to be tough or it gets dumped

 

i just got mine about 2 months ago . i bought it with 158000 miles its an 01 double cab v6. i didnt think twice. so far no problems except a few dents and it was in need of a good detailing

 

Check out my noob post regarding my totalled 93 DX Xcab 4wd 22re. I had it since 95 @30K miles. Hardly had to do anything on it (not even brakes or a clutch) for 200k. It was due for new exhaust from sheer age. I was going to keep it forever, and buy a new car in a year or two. Then the tree fell on it (and I still could have driven it away...). AAA gave me $5100 for a 16-year-old 4-banger truck. That is value.

I didn't think twice about upgrading to the latest year good 1st gen I could find. Basically, they are refined DXs. I wanted a 2004, virtually impossible to find in the spec I wanted (V6 man xcab 4wd sr5). I couldn't find anything from private sellers (craigslist) cheaper than about 13 grand, all at about 100k miles or more. I ended up with a 2001 built in Aug 2001 (almost an 02).101,900 miles.

These were key criteria for me:
* Single previous owner
* Clean carfax (technically doesn't mean it has never been in an accident, but good indicator, and I could find not evidence.)
*Had major service records (Toyota dealer) at 30k, 60k, and 90k, including timing belt.
* Relatively low mileage for a 2001

I spent two hours going through it with a four-page checklist, couldn't find anything to worry about.
Snapped that puppy up. I anticipate getting at least another 200k out of it.

Grab a Haynes and make an inspection list, plus operate everything with a knob, light, switch, or that goes BING!
inspect it cold so you can check the coolant and get a cold startup so to make sure all that stuff works correctly.

And go for it. 100k is nuttin.

 

Not at all. Like everyone says, look at who owned it and check it out. My rig was owned by two older women who never did anything to it in 120000 miles. They never even noticed the locker module was missing from what looks like the factory. Good luck.

 

IF you were to sell your 2000 taco, about what price would you ask?

 

Umm, LOL, What Model..?? Reg cab or Xtra, 2wd or 4x4, 4 or 6 cyl, miles, do I need to keep going?

 

Let me add to those praising the 1st gen Tacos even with high mileage.

Bought a '97 2WD std cab over the summer for $3700 from the original owner. It had 103k miles, 2.4/AT/PS/PB/AM-FM Radio. No other options. It ain't the prettiest Taco out there but you can tell it's been well loved by the first owner.

I've put about 3k on it and it runs great (save a small idle issue I'm working out), drives smooth (now that I put new shocks on it) and is VERY reliable.

 

No, your not the old guy, I have you beat youngster. There is someone else on this thread that has me beat....