1st gen pricing

Can anyone give me a sanity check on 1st gen sale price? I have a no rust 03 dubcab 4x4 TRD with 200k. Everything works and has been well maintained with 5k oil changes and ATF drain fills every 15k. Been an amazing truck just doesn't get used much. Always planned on keeping forever but seems lots of demand for them. I have looked online and prices seem crazy but not sure if those are priced to not sell.

I drive it once a week just to start it up but seems silly to be keeping it if someone else would use it for what it's built for. E-locker and 4x4 work I engage them once a month.

 

Four dollars.

 

I’d run it through blue book and NADA, add a couple grand, and then be prepared to negotiate down with a seller.

 

$1 Bob.

 

If on Craigslist, hit the crack pipe and pick a number. I assume that's how the posters picked their prices.

Realistically though, there's a strong market for clean 1st gens, and it sounds like yours fit the bill. You can always post high and then negotiate down, but mid-teens to maybe 20 isn't totally unrealistic these days. Regionality also matters. Utah, Colorado, etc have a higher "Toyota Tax" than other areas. I am assuming based on user name you are in Texas, but don't have much local knowledge on the market down there personally.

 

Yep it's a Texas truck which is how I have avoided the dreaded frame rot. We love Toyotas but I don't expect it to be as strong as in CO/UT or PNW. On the fence if I should let it go to a new home or easy thing to do just keep it. I have a g5 4runner for the trails that replaced the taco.

 

I had a 2003 double cab, 4wd, clean, no rust with 200K on it. When I traded it, the local Chevy dealer listed it for $14,995 and it sat less than a week and was gone.

 

How long ago was this? Car buying last couple years with Covid is nuts. Unrelated to the 1st gen but I have seen people sell couple year old tacos/4runners for almost what they paid.

 

2 years ago, 1st gens around here are high now just like everywhere else

 

In NorCal you could sell that for around 15-20k range pretty easily if the condition is good. As others have stated, region matters. Price may seem crazy to some, but why should you sell the truck for less than you could get? Don't turn yourself into the sucker because others think prices are crazy.

 

Hold on 5 more years and you’ll get $25K for it. I honestly believe 1st gen pricing is just beginning to creep up. These trucks have a following and will be collectibles.

 

Supply and demand my friend. The demand and prices they are getting is what peaked my interest. But it's a classic now is what I keep telling my wife. No longer a depreciating asset but will increase in value.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/692896638?city=Dallas&driveGroup=AWD4WD&endYear=2004&listingType=USED&makeCode=TOYOTA&modelCode=TACOMA&newSearch=false&referrer=/cars-for-sale/awd-4wd/toyota/tacoma/dallas-tx?dma=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&endYear=2004&isNewSearch=false&searchRadius=0&startYear=2001&zip=75201&searchRadius=0&startYear=2001&state=TX&zip=75201&clickType=listing

 

Sometimes things look different in person, but that truck looks extremely clean. Is yours in that kind of condition?

 

For sure my paint is not as shiny as that and also looks like they lifted it and put 33" tires. I was not trying to imply mine is showroom condition.

Mechanically it's been well cared for on its 2nd timing belt and wp. Was posting that link as the high water mark what's being asked. No rust and no accidents with everything still working. Haven't really done any mods other than adding a transmission cooler and new stereo. Some people I think prefer buying a vehicle already modded and others want it with no mods. I debated lifting this but chose not to even though I love the look of 285s.

 

Nice looking Tacoma! I don't mind sharing that I paid $16,900 earlier this month for mine. It is very clean, no rust, and well maintained. It is all current on the maintenance, fluids, timing belt, new brakes, cv axles (aftermarket though) and has ~144,000 miles on it. It has a 3 inch lift and mud terrain tires (which I want to change to more road friendly tires). It runs great.

Overall, I love it and don't feel I overpaid for it. I've looked at some over the years and there was always something I did't like, usually rust. Most anything else can be fixed, I figure. I haven't found many for sale locally that I liked, or for parts for that matter, there just isn't a huge selection. I do see a lot driving around though, I guess nobody want to sell them. I won't ever sell mine, but I just got it.

 

Call your bank and find out loan value.

Call your insurance and find out payout for total loss.

Those represent real 'worth'.

It would likely sell for much more, but will require a heavy cash buyer. And it gives you a foundation.

 

If it were a 2wd you'd probably be looking at $12-$13K as a 4WD it goes up $3-$4K So reasonable about $15-$17K at 200K miles.

My thing would be; if you take care of it and don't need the money? These trucks will continue to go up in value. Due to desirability and the $$ Losing value.

 

Good point on keeping it to keep going up in value. Both my kids drove it thru high school and college. When they were done driving it and ready to get their own first car gave it back to me. They both had multiple people ask them cold if they would sell it. They never understood that it's a truck in high demand.

 

A month ago I bought a 2002 DC 4x4 with 327,875 or so miles on it. Paid a bit more than I wanted to pay but had good service records. I wanted a silver one without mods. Frame/axles/shocks had been replaced due to first owner having it in the rust belt, all good now here in the Southeast. My point is that these trucks last and last and there is great demand for them. There is always someone willing to pay your price

 

Unrelated, but do you all think the auto workers strike will influence supply, similar to what we saw during covid?