Purchasing Advice Please

[Jsosa]

Trying to decide between a 2001 land cruiser and a 2008 Tacoma double cab w/ 5' bed. I am 6'3 and wife is 5'11 we have a 6 year old a 5 year old and a 4 year old. They are all about 6" taller than most kids their ages. Someone in our family is almost giving us the Tacoma for $8,000 and it has 80,000 miles. The cruiser has 140,000 miles but is in great condition the tacoma is in great condition also. The cruiser had an arb front bumper with winch, arb rear with tire and Jerry can holder, sliders, 3" ome lift, 285 BFF mud terrains, and a Baja rack put on last year. 90k service was done at 100k and at 120k all fluids were replaced, bearings packed, drive belt replaced, and axle boots replaced.
The cruiser would cost us $18,000. I think it is over priced but is also exactly what I would want in a cruiser so I don not mind paying a little more if I am going to keep it for 20 years. The tacoma has to be the be the better value its kbb value is 18,500 and the owner knows that but says he doesn't want the tacoma anymore and wants to sell it to us cheap since we have 3 kids and he knows how expensive that is. My commute is only 13 miles roundtrip and I drive less than 6,000 miles a year. I have never been a truck guy but the truck has a camper shell. I would have already bought the tacoma but I feel a little quilty for taking the offer and also i do not know that my family would fit in the tacoma by the time they are tennagers of course as soon as the 1st one turns 16 they will proabally never ride with me anyway so that might be that big of deal.

Share with me your thoughts thanks

 

[theside00]

For that size of a family I would say go with the cruiser. That tacoma sounds like a great deal but fitting the entire family in there would be real tight.

$18 for the cruiser sounds a little on the expensive side. You can buy a base cruiser that year for right around $10-11K. with 3-4K extra you can add all the other stuff.

 

[Colonal Angus]

I'd say the Land Cruiser. Did you test drive the Tacoma? Might be worthwhile to run by a Toyota dealership with the kids and have them all sit in the back to see if they fit comfortably. They could cram in there but if your going to be traveling...you'll want those kids to be happy and comfortable (same with mama). I don't know the situation with the owner of the Tacoma (family member, family friend, or just an extremely wealthy person with a modest and giving heart or what) but to take a bath like that on a truck doesn't seem right. Like I said, maybe he's legitimate but to take a $10,000 hit on truck...I'd be cautious.

Either way, good luck with purchase....either is a great choice.

 

[Danimal]

I had a 2011 Taco double cab and it was pretty tight with two car seats in back and wife up front. I now have an 80 series, which really doesn't seem to have much more room for the back seat (middle row). I'm not sure what the real measurements are for the two vehicles you're considering, but you may try and get the whole family out to try BOTH to see if the difference is big enough to sway your opinion or not.

On the other hand, it doesn't sound like you really want the truck as much as the Cruiser. If you're really thinking about keeping one of them for 20 years, I think you should go with the one that you truly want.

Dan

 

[p nut]

Even the 2nd Gen Tacoma (given it's bigger than the 1st Gen) is tight with 3 back there. Comfort wise, the Cruiser will win hands down--wider, and more leg room in the back. Seat comfort, auto-climate control, leather seats, etc. will all win over the wife and kids. I can almost guarantee that they will all choose the Cruiser.

Having said that, please provide the seller's info, so I can buy the Tacoma! (I don't have 3 kids).

 

[Jsosa]

Purchase Made

Thanks everyone for their advice, I finally made a purchase. I ended up getting what I think was a good deal on a 2006 V8 4runner paid $7,200 for one with 150k miles. Thing is nice leather all service has been upkept except timing belt. New tires and a battery installed within the last 4 months. Just dropped it off with a friend of mine who is a toyota mechanic he is going to replace the timing belt and water pump and overhaul the brakes for $800. So for $8,000 I think I got a nice 4runner that should be good to go, serving my families needs for many years. If the tiers weren't so new I would be looking for a mild lift.

 

[98roamer]

Thanks everyone for their advice, I finally made a purchase. I ended up getting what I think was a good deal on a 2006 V8 4runner paid $7,200 for one with 150k miles. Thing is nice leather all service has been upkept except timing belt. New tires and a battery installed within the last 4 months. Just dropped it off with a friend of mine who is a toyota mechanic he is going to replace the timing belt and water pump and overhaul the brakes for $800. So for $8,000 I think I got a nice 4runner that should be good to go, serving my families needs for many years. If the tiers weren't so new I would be looking for a mild lift.

wow, nice deal!

 

[mtnbike28]

That seems like a great deal. And a savings of $10k over the LC ; )

 

[82fb]

Don't put too much money into that 4runner. I thought a 5 seater was fine for a family of 5, but boy was I wrong. The third seat in my mind is indispensable for travel with kids. YMMV, but any travel over an hour, and we will be taking the suburban(or landcruiser if we had one).