'02 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4wd w/260,000 miles - all records - scary or worth look?

[Rozzi]

My dad is looking for a Tacoma to do some light modifications to. Found a Tacoma Double Cab one owner, says he has taken great care of it since day one. Would this be something to consider or the mileage simply too high? I have no idea how long the 3.4 V6 engines go. Also, the automatic transmission...just how many miles are these good for? 260,000 is a lot of miles. Any ideas/comments?

 

[87FoRunner]

I would buy it.

My 98 3rz Taco had 175K and purred like a kitten.

My 87 4Runner is at 278K on the original trans.

My 05 is at 98K.

 

[Mr. Leary]

The mileage is less important then the fact that it was well taken care of. Generally speaking, the more accurate the records are, the better care and maintenance was kept up. If it looks good... pull that trigger!

Make sure the timing belt has been replaced at recommended intervals.

 

[tacollie]

Don't let the miles talk, that truck could still have some good life in it.

 

[Rozzi]

He's asking $8500 for it. I'd have to go through those records to see what's been done/needs to be done. I am sure the price is fair based upon the year/etc. However, the specific records/condition aren't exactly known until I see it.

 

[CJCA]

Presuming the drive train is original, 260,000 miles is a lot of miles. I’d be expecting to replace major components soon with that high of mileage. Like by the time the odometer rolls over to 300,000 I’d say the drive train is certainly due, despite all the Toyota fan testimonials to the contrary. And I am a definite Tacoma fan with that said.

If you are prepared for lots of personal wrenching, give it a go. Paying a professional to fix things for you could make total investment easily 50% higher than the original $8500 it was bought for. Without a blue book handy, I’d give a SWAG value of around $6000 for a 9 year old Tacoma DC with 260k on it.

If it was me, I’d look for something with 175,000 miles or less. Then if it was a properly maintained Tacoma, I’d expect to get another 100k out of it before major repairs. JMO & YMMV :smiley_drive:

 

[Rozzi]

Presuming the drive train is original, 260,000 miles is a lot of miles. I’d be expecting to replace major components soon with that high of mileage. Like by the time the odometer rolls over to 300,000 I’d say the drive train is certainly due, despite all the Toyota fan testimonials to the contrary. And I am a definite Tacoma fan with that said.

If you are prepared for lots of personal wrenching, give it a go. Paying a professional to fix things for you could make total investment easily 50% higher than the original $8500 it was bought for. Without a blue book handy, I’d give a SWAG value of around $6000 for a 9 year old Tacoma DC with 260k on it.

If it was me, I’d look for something with 175,000 miles or less. Then if it was a properly maintained Tacoma, I’d expect to get another 100k out of it before major repairs. JMO & YMMV :smiley_drive:

You've made some very good points. Thank you very much.

 

[mtnbike28]

as a side note...

Since I have and love the same truck, I was thinking about this the other day.

How rebuild-able are modern trucks? Do you ever see folks doing a "frame off" restoration on say a 2002 Tacoma the way folks do on FJ40s and Series Rovers?

To your question... I had a 91 Toyota truck that I sold (and still regret) with 250k and NOTHING wrong with it (other than my teenager couldn't fit in the back) I would have left for anywhere in that truck the day I sold it.
I would be nervous buying something with that many miles, but if it has had the timing belt done several times, AT fluid changed every 40k or so, no oil leaks and a compression check, I would feel say go for it. Just know you might have to add a couple grand to fix front end rubber parts and o2 sensors, small stuff to baseline the truck so you feel good about driving it.

 

[mdnky]

As long as they're maintained these little trucks are very hard to stop. That being said, it's really a matter of how comfortable you're with making repairs that might surface. Price-wise it's just too much IMO. A better price would be $5K to $6K.

KBB (standard options) for private party on that is $6260 (good condition), $6910 (excellent), $5385(fair). With the age/mileage I'd imagine it's fair or at best good condition. The link is to the report using Baton Rouge's zip as local. Toy Taco 4WDs tend to demand a much higher price down here in the southern part of the country than elsewhere, so might be worth switching to your zip.

He's asking full retail assuming excellent condition, which is near impossible for a vehicle of that age/mileage/ Officially it's already beyond the "limits" of the vehicle by most states' legal definitions.

 

[onelastcast]

I would be more concerned about the trany. Regardless of proper maintenance on the drive-train, everything has a lifespan. Solenoids might go bad, valves might start to stick or wear, torque converter clutches might reach their lifespan. The engine is easy to check but the trany, well you need to tear into it to check it.
On the other hand, you could be getting an awesome deal if engine and drive-train don't show too many signs of wear and tear. I'm a tacoma fan as well but look into it deeper.

GL!

 

[peekay]

In October 2007, I sold my 2001 Tacoma Dcab 4x4 TRD V6 SR-5 with 130k miles for $10,500. I don't think I could have gotten much more than that. Based on that, I would say that a 7-8 year old Taco with 260k for $8,500 is about $1000 to $2000 too much.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Presuming the drive train is original, 260,000 miles is a lot of miles. I’d be expecting to replace major components soon with that high of mileage. Like by the time the odometer rolls over to 300,000 I’d say the drive train is certainly due, despite all the Toyota fan testimonials to the contrary. And I am a definite Tacoma fan with that said.

x2

The Tacomas are rock solid trucks, but I don't think all aspects of them live up to the longevity of their predecessors.

A few items that come to mind:
Steer Racks, very common to see them in need of replacement at ~100k on well-used lifted truck.
Power steering pumps. 150-200k and they can fail
Rear diffs can start to develop a bit of play
Carrier assembly on the rear driveline
Front half-shafts
Ball Joints

Of make sure it saw a second round of timing belt replacement and ideally a water pump in the 200k range too.

 

[juicebox]

I'd walk up to him and say "I'll give you $12,000. Take it or leave it."









...and then say "Sike!"


But seriously, 8500 is alot for anything with 260K on the clock, even if it is a toyota. Mine is a 2002 and it only has 60K, I keep it immaculate and maintain it like fluids are going out of style, and I drive like a 65 year old grandpa but I can still see a difference from when I bought it at 30K miles 3.5 years ago. Everything gets older and wears out. As far as the engine goes, I am sure it's not in bad condition, especially if it has all the records of maintainence because the miles are so high it's probably 90% freeway miles.

I think I would worry about the tranny more than anything, you could do a 5 spd conversion on it when the auto goes out if you are into manuals. I think a good price for it, if it's in pristine condition, is about 7000, 6-6500 if it's in pretty good condition.

 

[juicebox]

In October 2007, I sold my 2001 Tacoma Dcab 4x4 TRD V6 SR-5 with 130k miles for $10,500. I don't think I could have gotten much more than that. Based on that, I would say that a 7-8 year old Taco with 260k for $8,500 is about $1000 to $2000 too much.

Another thing to consider is inflation.

My friend just sold his 2002 tacoma with 89K (in really great condition) for somewhere near 15K. he didn't tell me exactly what he sold it for but I am confident he got at least 14K. I don't know if it's the demand in this area or what, but they certainly go fast and there is a price you pay for quality around here.

That being said, I attribute alot of it to the weak dollar, I bought my 2002 in sept. of 2006 for 14,350 with 30K on it. Sure, I got a great deal on it, but I am confident if I put it on the market I could get 15K for it. It's not that it hasn't lost value but I just think it's a combo of them holding their value well and money just isn't worth as much as it used to be.

 

[Mr. Leary]

II think I would worry about the tranny more than anything, you could do a 5 spd conversion on it when the auto goes out if you are into manuals. I think a good price for it, if it's in pristine condition, is about 7000, 6-6500 if it's in pretty good condition.

All the research I have done tells me that a manual conversion for these trucks is a PITA. It is not plug and play.