Should I Get a 2003 Tacoma?

Get Off My Lawn

Get Off My Lawn

Artist formerly known as Pink Vapor
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With truck prices all over the place, it’s tough to know what’s reasonable pricing. He’s asking $12k
What do I need to be aware of?
‘03 Taco, TRD Off Road pkg, 4dr, 220k mi, paint matched bed cover, 3” lift, 3.4l V6, AC, cruise.
There are paint blisters under magnetic antenna base, surface rust on frame, no visible evidence of an accident.
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............those are great trucks and if it has been maintained and not abused.....you should get over 300k miles. However I can't justify spending 12k on a truck with 220k. Maybe 5k but not 12k. I think those engines had a timing belt, not a chain. So ask about service work, bring a compression tester, check the condition of the transmission fluid, coolant, ask for service records etc. Give it a good inspection. I still don't think I would pay 12k for it even if everything checked out good.
 
Tough times for vehicle decisions which is why you came here to ask. 212k is getting near the end of needing a new engine or transmission. Personally I would be hesitant not being the original owner knowing the vehicles history. If you can handle a $8k repair in a couple years you may be ok.
 
Another thing that come to mind, and I don't know your needs or budget, so some of this might not apply to your situation, but something to think about. I try to think about what it cost me per mile to drive the car before purchasing. I'm also usually a person who buys a car and drives it until the end, if you trade in or sell every so often this won't apply to you as much. If you just need a pickup to drive occasionally, then this doesn't apply either.

If you buy it for 12k and drive it to 300k..... it's about 15 cents per mile to drive it for 80k miles - not including maintenance, insurance, taxes, fuel mileage etc.
A new one for 50k and drive it to 300k....... it's about 16 cent's per mile to drive it for 300k miles - not much price difference when you think about it per mile.

There are some trade offs... a newer one - insurance and property taxes will cost more, but you shouldn't have any maintenance for a while, while an older one could easily be the opposite. Something else to consider is what the difference in fuel mileage in older vs newer and tire cost. Most cars today are coming with larger diameter wheels and tires are typically more expensive.

Good Luck!
 
Those trucks had problems with frame rot at the rear spring hanger. Was a recall years ago, check it out good. Also if it's been around any salt check to make sure the elocker works if it has one, salt would get behind motor actuator and eat it up. Also keep in mind that Years ago the TRD stickers were like $18 bucks each from toyota, so verify it really is.

Those are good trucks though if they have been maintained. I've had a couple.
 
I'm ready to move it. I'll deal to a point and take some in trade
Get Off My Lawn said:
With truck prices all over the place, it’s tough to know what’s reasonable pricing. He’s asking $12k
What do I need to be aware of?
‘03 Taco, TRD Off Road pkg, 4dr, 220k mi, paint matched bed cover, 3” lift, 3.4l V6, AC, cruise.
There are paint blisters under magnetic antenna base, surface rust on frame, no visible evidence of an accident.
View attachment 488602
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amnesia said:
If it were my money I wouldn’t buy it. I would spend the extra coin and pick up @LeeMajors 14 ram 1500.
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From the picture it’s a good looking truck. There’s been a lot of good information posted. Like @BowWow, I try to estimate cost per mile. Something I picked up from (I think) Clark Howard. While the asking price seems high, when compared to a new truck, the price per mile is not that bad.
 
I wouldn't give $12k for that. It makes me want to sell my 03' Tundra Limited with under 200k if I can get $12k for it. Gas mileage is virtually the same. I remember looking at Tacoma's when I bought my Tundra, Gas mileage was the deciding factor.
 
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I love those trucks and would pick up another if I found a decent deal. My son and I keep an eye out for Toyota vehicles. He currently drives a 2005 Tundra and we bought a 2005 4Runner to flip.

$12k is high for that truck even in the current market. A year ago, it probably would have brought that pretty quick. I'm assuming it is a 3.4l v6 with automatic as most of the 4 doors were. As has been said, they have a timing belt that needs to be changed every 90k or so(around $1000 at shop). They were also known for having head gasket issues. I think they made improvements by 2003 but I'm not sure.

As long as the truck was maintained, you will easily get 300k miles out of it, probably 400-500k without much work. I have seen them with over 500k quite regularly.
 
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GoWolfpack said:
Should you pay 5 figures for a 20 year old vehicle with over 200K on the clock?

Personally I wouldn't. But plenty of people would, and the price seems fair for the market.
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That's just how things are now. I saw a first gen 2wd dakota with 260k go for 7k.

Welcome to inflation, it's not going away
 
I have a 97 with now 252000 miles on it.

I bought it 2 1/2 years ago for 7000.00

I put a grand in it for the timing belt water pump etc. i still get 20 mpg it is a stick shift extended cab 4x4 not sure how the newer ones are but early to late ninetys ar tuff trucks. the 6 cylinder is kinda wussy though.
 
I remember 12yr ago shopping for a $5k truck and every Tacoma was a min $7k. They hold value extremely well. This one looks to be well cared for and has some extras. Combine that with the current market and $12k seems pretty reasonable.

That said, I don’t think I could bring myself to buy a vehicle with 220k on it out of its 300k life, unless it’s strictly a secondary vehicle.
 
Well with regards to the OP. I have a 1996 with close to the same mileage.4x4 with 4 cyl. If I had to lose every other car we own, I would hang on to that truck. It has been the most reliable to date of any of the four other vehicles we have owned in the same time period.
 
Thank all y’all for the input!
Changing gears a bit.
I haven’t had a personal vehicle for 25+ years, we’ve had my wife’s SUV & I’ve been driving a company vehicle. The truck will be for weekends, hunting trip, dump runs, etc. It’s a want, not a need.
One of our great members let me know about a coworker selling 2004 4wd, 4door Tundra with 5.4L, 200k and asking $3K less. Anything I need to know about that Tundra, other than potential frame rust? It was bought new in Boone, he’s had in WS since ‘06.
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
Thank all y’all for the input!
Changing gears a bit.
I haven’t had a personal vehicle for 25+ years, we’ve had my wife’s SUV & I’ve been driving a company vehicle. The truck will be for weekends, hunting trip, dump runs, etc. It’s a want, not a need.
One of our great members let me know about a coworker selling 2004 4wd, 4door Tundra with 5.4L, 200k and asking $3K less. Anything I need to know about that Tundra, other than potential frame rust? It was bought new in Boone, he’s had in WS since ‘06.
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04 Tundra will have the 4.7 V8 which also has the timing belt that needs to be changed every 90k or so. Great truck overall and the engine is about bullet proof with proper maintenance. We’ve had 4 vehicles with that engine, one with the 4.6 that replaced it and a couple of the 5.7’s. I don’t know of any real issues with frame rust on the Tundras. Being bought new in Boone, I’d definitely look it over real good for any rust though.

$9k for that year Tundra is probably a decent deal if it is in good condition. I had to replace radiators in 2 of them right around 200k and the 4runner my son bought to fix up and sell probably needs a radiator and it has 220k and the 4.7. They have a plastic top housing that seems to crack over time.
 
I own an 02 Tundra and the brakes were problematic but the 04's should have the upgraded brake calipers. The 4.7 is pretty easy to work on with plenty of room under the hood, the exception being the starter which lies under the intake on top of the block.

If it is the model with the suicide doors check the plastic toggle latch on the rear door windows as they tend to break, there are all metal replacements available. They tend to develop water leaks under the windshield cowl cover which drips onto the passenger floor, looks easy enough to repair tho I need to fix mine!
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
Thank all y’all for the input!
Changing gears a bit.
I haven’t had a personal vehicle for 25+ years, we’ve had my wife’s SUV & I’ve been driving a company vehicle. The truck will be for weekends, hunting trip, dump runs, etc. It’s a want, not a need.
One of our great members let me know about a coworker selling 2004 4wd, 4door Tundra with 5.4L, 200k and asking $3K less. Anything I need to know about that Tundra, other than potential frame rust? It was bought new in Boone, he’s had in WS since ‘06.
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Same potential rust issues, I think the worst was around the rear crossmember and rear frame arches. The 4.7 engine is a great engine, just have to replace the timing belt.
 
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