Buying a new (to me) Tacoma

[Rando]

I found one

Okay, so I just looked at a possible new car. First the good,
2001 Ex-cab Limited V6 auto with 87,000 miles and all options. No topper but otherwise looks to be in good nick. Carfax says one owner not salvaged and no accidents, serviced at dealership in GA for first 60,000. Only flag is one odometer discrepancy, but only off by less than 10,000, could be a typo. It is an auto and a V6, but it is the only vehicle with less than 100,000 and newer than 2000 that has been in my price range (asking $8,900).

The bad - It is at a dodgy used car lot. One of the other cars I looked at there had a salvage title, no mention of this from the sales person. In general I would prefer to buy from a private seller, but for less than $10k I have mostly seen 95 -99s with 125,000+ miles. So I am a bit worried that this looks like too good a deal, especially from a dealer who should know what to sell a car for.


Anyway, if I can stomach going back to the car lot I would definitely want to take the car to an independent mechanic for a thorough check out. Any Denverites have any suggestions for a good Toyota mechanic in the downtown/East Denver area? Anything I should look for before even taking it that far? The frame looks to be mostly rust free, just some slight surface rust.

 

[jh504]

Okay, so I just looked at a possible new car. First the good,
2001 Ex-cab Limited V6 auto with 87,000 miles and all options. No topper but otherwise looks to be in good nick. Carfax says one owner not salvaged and no accidents, serviced at dealership in GA for first 60,000. Only flag is one odometer discrepancy, but only off by less than 10,000, could be a typo. It is an auto and a V6, but it is the only vehicle with less than 100,000 and newer than 2000 that has been in my price range (asking $8,900).

The bad - It is at a dodgy used car lot. One of the other cars I looked at there had a salvage title, no mention of this from the sales person. In general I would prefer to buy from a private seller, but for less than $10k I have mostly seen 95 -99s with 125,000+ miles. So I am a bit worried that this looks like too good a deal, especially from a dealer who should know what to sell a car for.


Anyway, if I can stomach going back to the car lot I would definitely want to take the car to an independent mechanic for a thorough check out. Any Denverites have any suggestions for a good Toyota mechanic in the downtown/East Denver area? Anything I should look for before even taking it that far? The frame looks to be mostly rust free, just some slight surface rust.

$8,900 seems very cheap for a an '01 with all the options and under 100,000. Sorry to ask this but is it a 4x4? Have you actually looked at the truck or did you just talk to them? I have been told something was a 4x4 before and it turned out to be a prerunner.

 

[Rando]

I have actually looked at it. It is 4x4 and it looks nice, so the deal seems to good to be true. The car lot is a small independent place, and I ran the VIN on another truck I looked at there and it turns out it has a salvage title which makes me think the dealer is less than honest.

I think I am going to pass on this one due to the sketchiness factor and wait for a decent deal on a private party sale.

$8,900 seems very cheap for a an '01 with all the options and under 100,000. Sorry to ask this but is it a 4x4? Have you actually looked at the truck or did you just talk to them? I have been told something was a 4x4 before and it turned out to be a prerunner.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Re: Shells, if you plan on sleeping in the back, you definitely do not want a cab-high shell. I made that mistake when I got this:

A year later I sold it on CL and got this instead:

The difference is amazing.

A high rise topper will run you $1000 minimum for a stripped down one, which is the bad news. The good news is you can find them on CL for much less than that. I paid $150 for my first one (with a broken rear hatch that cost $210 to replace) and $300 for my second one that was intact and fully functional except the seller didn't have keys for the back so I just unbolted the lock and took it down to the local key shop and they made me two keys for $15.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Another alternative?

Of course I like Tacomas, I drive one, but if money is an object you might consider a Ford Ranger 4x4. Your $10k will buy a much newer, lower mileage Ranger.

I had a 2wd Ranger I bought new in 1999 and it didn't have a lick of trouble in 4 years and 93,000 miles.

Rangers are as common as Tacomas which means finding used toppers on CL is very easy.

 

[Overland Hadley]

The car lot is a small independent place, and I ran the VIN on another truck I looked at there and it turns out it has a salvage title which makes me think the dealer is less than honest.

I think I am going to pass on this one due to the sketchiness factor and wait for a decent deal on a private party sale.

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[bigreen505]

Any Denverites have any suggestions for a good Toyota mechanic in the downtown/East Denver area?

Astro Automotive, near Alameda and Cherokee. Great guys.

 

[Jacket]

Any Denverites have any suggestions for a good Toyota mechanic in the downtown/East Denver area? Anything I should look for before even taking it that far? The frame looks to be mostly rust free, just some slight surface rust.

Comprehensive Car Care - E. Evans and Washington.

If you are looking at trucks with 90-120k miles and the V6, find out if the timing belt/water pump service has been done. IIRC - this is a maintenance item in that mileage range for the V6 engine, and an expensive one if you're not expecting it.

 

[Rando]

Thank you all for the mechanic suggestions. I will take which ever truck I decide on to one of these mechanics.

 

[Cackalak Han]

I would most definitely get the 6 over the 4. Even if you are focusing on MPG's. Actual difference is, with the I4, you get about 24-25MPG on the highway. With the V6, 21-22MPG. I'm at about the same elevation as you are, so the MPG's will be the same, I'm sure. And those figures are with a 100% stock rig. Now, when you start loading down with gear and such, the gap will close. IMO, MPG difference becomes a mute point.

Also, I have hauled stuff with my friend's Tacoma with 3RZ/5-sp, and it was a bit underpowered even with one motorcycle on the back (~500lbs) going up a canyon. The thing just struggled. With the 3.4L V6's, it wasn't even breaking a sweat. I've owned three 3.4L V6's now and they are one of the best engines Toyota has produced. Another thing you might consider is that the 3.4L is a non-interference engine.

If I were in your shoes, I'd get an ex-cab TRD with a V6/5-sp. Or if you're a true minimalist, get a regular cab.

 

[czenkov]

Rando - correct no sleeping platform. I really like mine. 2004 V6/Auto came with the topper. Retiree had it and had only put 11,500 miles - of course I paid a bit more than your budget will allow. Take your time and look for the right one. I sold my 80 LC and went without a car for 5 months (understanding gf) when I found this. I get on average combine city/highway 20mpg. Not great but acceptable. If you are just driving it to the trailhead and hiking in why not a Pre-Runner? Or are you planning to do at least some 4x4 driving?

 

[fatrat]

I went through this exact search about 2.5 years ago before buying my 01 ext cab Taco. I looked everywhere and one day while at a Chevy stealership looking for the wife a new SUV I saw it in the back parking lot, a bright red Tacoma TRD. I asked the salesperson and he stated that it was dirty and come back in a couple of days. Anyway, I looked at it then (as I had been looking for about 4-5 months already) and it was a fully loaded SR5 TRD 4x4 (even factory moon roof) with only 47k miles. I ended up getting it for $14500! The only thing I would change is a crew cab instead of the ext cab. I test drove both the 2.7 and 3.4 but the 3.4 has a lot more power. I average about 15mpg with 3 inch lift and 32's. I have a Bestop Supertop and have slept in it a few times but a taller top would be a LOT nicer. The poser pic below is a couple years old but you can see the supertop.

 

[Rando]

I noticed that pre-runners and 4X2's are a LOT cheaper. However one of the main uses of this truck will be heading to the mountains for resort and back country skiing. I can't think of anything much worse for driving on snow packed roads than a 2wd rear wheel drive pickup truck! While four wheel driving is a means and not ends for me, I often encounter 4wd only roads while trying to get to trail heads and canyons in CO, UT and WY.

You got an excellent deal! In CO there are almost too many Tacomas to choose from, about 3-4 that meet my basic specs appear on CL everyday. Unfortunately they all seem to be rather overpriced for their age/mileage. I guess I will have to wait for some little old lady to sell hers!

Rando - correct no sleeping platform. I really like mine. 2004 V6/Auto came with the topper. Retiree had it and had only put 11,500 miles - of course I paid a bit more than your budget will allow. Take your time and look for the right one. I sold my 80 LC and went without a car for 5 months (understanding gf) when I found this. I get on average combine city/highway 20mpg. Not great but acceptable. If you are just driving it to the trailhead and hiking in why not a Pre-Runner? Or are you planning to do at least some 4x4 driving?

 

[Rando]

That is good to know that mileage isn't too different between them under real world conditions. The vast majority for sale here are V6s, if they are not that mush worse than the 4 I don't have to feel so guilty.

I would most definitely get the 6 over the 4. Even if you are focusing on MPG’s. Actual difference is, with the I4, you get about 24-25MPG on the highway. With the V6, 21-22MPG. I’m at about the same elevation as you are, so the MPG’s will be the same, I’m sure. And those figures are with a 100% stock rig. Now, when you start loading down with gear and such, the gap will close. IMO, MPG difference becomes a mute point.

Also, I have hauled stuff with my friend’s Tacoma with 3RZ/5-sp, and it was a bit underpowered even with one motorcycle on the back (~500lbs) going up a canyon. The thing just struggled. With the 3.4L V6’s, it wasn’t even breaking a sweat. I’ve owned three 3.4L V6’s now and they are one of the best engines Toyota has produced. Another thing you might consider is that the 3.4L is a non-interference engine.

If I were in your shoes, I’d get an ex-cab TRD with a V6/5-sp. Or if you’re a true minimalist, get a regular cab.

 

[czenkov]

Seems to be a lot of Tacoma's out there in the $14k range w/47,000 miles. If you are willing to travel here is a pretty good resource.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=443

This is from a quick search on KSL - quad cab but you could probably do up something in the cab to sleep.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=&nid=443&tab=list/view&ad=1157494