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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 27, 2015 - 09:03pm PT
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Hey all. Friday night. Good times.
I have been looking to buy a truck for work and lifestyle etc. Mostly work; purchase is a straight deductibel This one nominally fits the bill.
Listed at $10k, I have the dealer down to $9500 with tax, "fees", etc. included. My relatively good NESCAC college arithmetic leads me to believe this is ~$8500 purchase price, far below anything similar on the market. And tomorrow is the last day of the month; I know they're itching to get their units sold #s.
VIN report has one accident ten years ago, with damage to the right front center column (A pillar?).
One tire has stepped wear which could mean new shocks needed ASAP or normal 4wd wear.
175k mileage means timing belt and water pump replacement very soon at $1100.
Thoughts, hoi polloi?
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Feb 27, 2015 - 09:09pm PT
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Year and model?
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 27, 2015 - 09:09pm PT
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timing belt and water pump replacement very soon at $1100.
$150.00 if you do it yourself.
Make sure you also replace the idler pulleys with the belt.
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 27, 2015 - 09:11pm PT
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2002 Tacoma extracab (or "Xtracab" or whatevs)
175k mileage
Big noisy tires
Reasonable price, but...
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Feb 27, 2015 - 09:13pm PT
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http://www.kaltire.com/commercial/truck/tire-wear-conditions/
Shoulder Step
What's Happening
This condition is typical of certain tire brands and long wearing tread designs. This condition is not linked to any maintenance practices.
Probable Causes
This condition is related to tread designs that provide extremely long wear. It is not seen as a major problem since the tread on the tire is wearing so slowly and the accumulated mileage on the tread will be so great.
Corrective Action
Tires with decoupling grooves appear to have a lower incidence of shoulder step/chamfer wear. If you have many tires with this condition, consider a tread design with a decoupling groove.
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Feb 27, 2015 - 09:28pm PT
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4 cyl (2.4L or 2.7)or 6 cyl (3.4L)?
Basic, Trd, or SR5 package?
What zipcode?
Price does seem good.... too good for a dealership.... can you get it checked by outside mechanic?
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 27, 2015 - 09:43pm PT
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3.4 L V6
TRD and SR5
"too good for a dealership" exactly
(did the link work, in original post?)
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Feb 27, 2015 - 09:54pm PT
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Are you paying cash, or getting financed? If you're a cash buyer you can do better; if not, this is probably a square deal. Did you ask the dealer if it's a salvage vehicle? Sounds like it's not. 175,000 is a bit of mileage at that price. I've got an 02 with 125K and it runs as well as the day I bought it.
edit -- it has a shell AND racks? That might be the kicker making it a very square deal.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Feb 27, 2015 - 10:41pm PT
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I have an '04 bought when it was 2 years old...now has 130K..
Goddam, I love that truck. (Mostly.)
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Feb 27, 2015 - 10:42pm PT
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At that mileage if you go in far enough to do the timing belt and water pump you have to do the belt tensioner, cam seals, everything you can get to while the front of the motor is opened up. Skip anything you'll be sorry.
fwiw I had a tacoma about the same mileage, water pump went. I did the whole gig as above. I sold it to a friend at 200+K and he's driven it hard for several years no problems.
The accident thing would scare me off, personally.
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 27, 2015 - 10:56pm PT
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To echo some comments above, it is on the cusp. But as it needs to be a daily (work) (city) driver I think I can do better. Accident history, minor or not, plus soon to be required maintenance leads me to believe it might be just --barely-- too good to be true.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Feb 28, 2015 - 01:44am PT
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Closing in on 400K on my '98 and I haven't had any problems aside from a little wear and tear. Some HARD miles too, and lots of bumping around 4WD. U-joint, one set of shocks, timing belt every 100k, original clutch... I think the key is that I only change the oil once I start to feel really guilty about it. Definitely eats tires for some reason though; pigeon toed, can't figure that one out. Anyway, the 1st gen Tacomas are the greatest ever. If you don't buy it, maybe I will. On second thought, I want half a million before I trade mine in.
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 28, 2015 - 07:37am PT
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When you have older used cars and you're not mechanically inclined to do a lot of your own repairs then your just throwing your money away.
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Psilocyborg
climber
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Feb 28, 2015 - 07:41am PT
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have you ever owned a toyota?
I have a 1995 tacoma with 300,000+ miles...the only thing I have changed on it is fluids, tires, breaks, shocks and a fan belt. Still runs like a dream, but the valves are starting to make a little noise.
I have a 2003 4runner with 175,000 with only fluid changes, tires, breaks. I think I need to replaces shocks on this one. The 4runner also runs like a dream.
Both of these vehicles I bought with around 70,000 miles. Both of these vehicles have endured heavy off road use in the desert/mountains. The tacoma has full custom long travel suspension system, aftermarket intake and exhaust, while the 4runner is stock.
Maintenence costs are next to nothing on toyotas, and I do all the work myself
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Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
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Feb 28, 2015 - 07:46am PT
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i'm happy with my 2007 Tacoma.
has 4 doors and 4 wheel drive
so the gas mileage ain't stellar.
i work the piss out of it;
i treat it more like a john deere
than a toyota though
it ticks onward.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Feb 28, 2015 - 11:31am PT
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I have a 1995 tacoma with 300,000+ miles...the only thing I have changed on it is fluids, tires, breaks, shocks and a fan belt.
300+K no timing belt, water pump, hoses? I agree the Toyotas are great especially on maintenance, but I've never gotten that kind of service out of one. At least the new ones have timing chains, not belts. I'm up to 100K on an '09, drives like new, not even a brake job yet (although that's right around the corner.)
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 28, 2015 - 11:45am PT
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100K on an '09, drives like new, not even a brake job
Have you even checked you brake shoes yet?
Several sar guys have all destroyed their rotors because they never checked and the pads were worn to metal on metal.
Don't wait too long ....
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Feb 28, 2015 - 11:59am PT
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100k and mtn driving? Your rotors are toast.
While we're talking Tacos... Bilsteins on the 2007 4x4. What mileage to replace at?
Typical forest service roads and shitty California potholed asphalt streets and highways.
TIA
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2015 - 03:51pm PT
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I passed on it. Something just felt funny, hard to say what... it might be just that I cannot stand car dealers.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Feb 28, 2015 - 04:18pm PT
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Trust your gut.
Good luck on finding another one...they're worth the wait.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Feb 28, 2015 - 08:48pm PT
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... it might be just that I cannot stand car dealers.
An instinctual intelligence at play there, Slob. Probably a good call.
I was surprised and a little miffed that I had to change my brakes at 60k on a used Honda I bought at 20k. Then I remembered how many times I've taken it down the Old Priest. Even in second gear the brakes take a beating there, don't they?
One of these years I'll bite the bullet and start taking the New Priest. Forecasting 2023.
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2015 - 08:58pm PT
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It's funny. Given the price (very fair), successful negotiating wiggle room (on my part, presumably others as well), I was a little shocked this afternoon when the salesman texted me --again-- asking when I was showing up with a cashier's check.
I honestly thought someone else would have nabbed it. The fact that the mysterious they have not done so gives me some solace.
Onward in the search! Funny enough, a friend in Seattle noticed this ST thread, texted me, and she's considering selling her Tacoma. Ha! And I know it's been treated well. Only issue: daily driver on the hills of San Francisco with a 5-speed? Should I budget a massage therapist and chiropractor for my inevitable left leg issues?
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Feb 28, 2015 - 09:02pm PT
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I had that exact vintage & model. Tranny died at 135K 50 miles east of Winnemuca when I was driving home from the Creek solo on an Easter Sunday. Interesting tow to Reno where I got a rebuilt tranny from AAMCO that never worked right. I sold it on craigslist for a lot less than they're asking you for, FWIW, and I was worried I was screwing the buyer.
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Petch
Gym climber
knapsack crack
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Feb 28, 2015 - 10:16pm PT
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We are thinking of selling our 2005, 97k miles for $12,000
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2015 - 10:40pm PT
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@ Petch, call me. Or email me. Or whatever.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Feb 28, 2015 - 10:47pm PT
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Have you even checked you brake shoes yet?
Yep Werner I'm on top of it. The main reason they lasted 'till now is highway driving. Rarely in traffic, and on mtn roads I still know how to use the gears.
I bought it new being tired of turning wrenches - your right about that.
edit: 100k and mtn driving? Your rotors are toast. Actually they're not. Had 'em checked last service, said I'd need pads and shoes (rear) next time in. And if they are out of spec it's hard to complain at this mileage, but it's not like they're metal to metal or even close.
Maybe I just drive like a little old lady these days.
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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Aug 22, 2015 - 01:16pm PT
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Has anyone bought a new car in Canada (as a US citizen) and brought immediately into the USA?
I'd like to buy the 2016 Tacoma with a manual transmission, but this configuration is available only in the Canadian market.
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slobmonster
Trad climber
SF (via NH & CO)
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 22, 2015 - 01:20pm PT
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I remember an old Canadian friend who had done this after moving to the States, but I also remember it being described as expensive and frustrating.
Seeing this thread has somehow reached the top again: I did end up buying a Tacoma, in early April. 2000 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab V6, with topper, from a little old lady in Fairfax, who is retiring from her job as a mechanical engineer. It had been her weekend camping rig, spotless, with 90k on the odometer. I've since put 10k on it, swapped out the shocks and struts for Bilsteins, and it's running great! (Knock on wood)
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Aug 22, 2015 - 03:09pm PT
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^^ Smart move. That is exactly the type of deal you should have done.
Tacomas are one of the longest lasting most reliable vehicles there are.
http://www.tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/Toyota.html
If possible buy used cars from original or second owners with maintenance records. How a care is taken care of is more important than anything. An older car with lower miles is often better than a newer care with a lot of miles. So the weekend car often endd up being a great deal.
Dealers throw away any maintenance records so who knows the history. Plus you are probably paying at least $1,000 more than from a private party.
I got a brand new Toyota pickup for $9,400. Of course that was 1986...
Long lasting cars with 50-100,000 miles are great deals. Old enough to be half the price of new or less, but new enough that you will get a lot of miles left in them without having to spend time or money working on them, or worry about breaking down.
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