2014 Tacoma 55,000 miles for $23,500 vs. buying a new 2018?

2014 TRD Sport Access Cab 4x4 55,000 miles for $23,500


I've been back and forth on waiting to buy a new one in 2018 that will come with Toyota Safety Sense, or pulling the trigger on the old one to save a few bucks.


I plan to drive the truck for the next 20 years (at least that's the plan)


So what do you guys think?


Out the door price on a new Tacoma (best I found) was $32,450 + Tax Title and Fee's which was close to $35k OTD on a TRD Sport with the same configuration as the 2014.

 

I like the 2gen styling better than 3gen, so I am biased. But, at that price you are basically saving $2000/10k miles. Or even more convincing $2500/year. I bought a used 2010 later in the year with only 5k miles on it and the full weight of a Toyota Certified Used warranty. And, fortunately, I never needed the warranty. Only you can make this decision. But, if it comes with a Toyota Certified Used Warranty, and if you can get a reliable carfax report to verify what has been done to it. I'd be very comfortable saving the $10k plus and going with the used Tacoma.

 

You will be very happy with the 2014. If you treat it right it'll be bomb proof. And you save $10,000. You'll have mod options galore of your plan on doing anything to it.

 

I went through roughly the same decision myself. A client offered me their 2014 trd sport with 50,000 miles for $20k. I thought that was a terrible price at the time, It was actually a really good deal and had I known the value these trucks hold in the used market I would have jumped all over it.
It started me truck shopping though, and by the time I realized it was a great deal it was already sold. I compared that deal to every used Tacoma I saw and couldn't justify buying one after.
Test drove my 2017 and bought it the next day. The only thing it didn't have that I wanted was leather and Clazzio filled that void.
I love everything about this truck, and every time I see a 2nd gen, I am glad I didn't go that route instead.

 

Just my opinion, and I'm a fan of the 2nd gen over the 3rd - but if you really plan on making this a 20 year truck - buy new.

 

Yeah, clarifying the cost on a yearly and miles saving basis is a good way to view this.

My main concern is depreciation. No one knows for sure, but a 2014 with 105k miles in 2023 vs a 2018 with 55k miles in 2023... I wonder which one will have seen the least depreciation...

 

If you are planning on keeping the truck for a long time, I would buy brand new just to know how well it was taken care of since day 1. A lot can happen in 55k. That being said, that 2014 does look nice and I'm sure it was taken care of... but you never know. Best of luck!

 

Depreciation doesn't matter if you plan on driving it 20 years...

 

The quicker you pay it off the faster you can unleash the modifications. Since I payed mine off I've been trying to do 1 or 2 mods a month with a portion of my paychecks going to the suspension rebuild pile (need about 5k) other than that buy the 2014. 55k miles isn't even broken in yet. I'm still biased to the 3.5 I drove one the other day and the transmission is garbage. It feels like my genesis except without the power. Always changing gears.

 

Glad to hear you like your new taco! Any pics??

 

True. I just like having the option to sell if I ever end up being in a bind.

The plan is 20 years, but in the case I get hit by a bus (hypothetically speaking) and am out of work, I'd like to have something that won't depreciate much. Just my thought process

 

Don't calculate cost/year, look at cost/mile. The original owner probably paid about $31K out the door, drove it 55K and sold it for ~$20K. I doubt he spent a dime on repairs other than maybe tires. I figure he is out of pocket about $11K for 55K miles, or about 20 cents/mile.

You can buy new for about $4K more than the 2014 cost new so you're not really saving $10k. And to drive it another 55K you will end up spending some on repairs vs new so that also cuts into the cost savings.

The key to getting the cost/mile down is to drive one for a long time. It usually breaks down about the same whether you buy new or used. The original owner didn't keep his truck long enough to get the cost/mile down much.

In my experience you can buy new, drive 150,000 miles and sell a truck for 1/2 what you actually paid. My 07 cost me $28K new. It has 181,000 miles on it and would bring $12K in trade. I've got about 8.8 cents/mile in mine if I traded it today.

If you buy the 2014 for $23.500 and drive it to 155,000 miles it'll probably still be worth $12K or so. You'd have about 11.5 cents/mile in it.

If you buy new at $35K, drive it 150,000 miles and get $17K out of it you'd have 11.3 cents/mile in it.

Financially right around 150,000 miles is the sweet spot to trade. It is rare to spend much money on repairs for the 1st 150K and it will still bring a good price. The farther you go past 150K without major repairs the better your cost/mile looks. But if you run into a major repair such as a new engine or transmission then the cost/mile goes way up.

It is a gamble. I decided to keep my 07 rather than trade it. It is now a 3rd vehicle and not getting a lot of miles on it right now. I expect another 100,000 miles out of it, but it'll take another 10 years at the rate it is being driven now.

All that said. I'd still take the 2014 just because I like them better and I think the resale value will be better with the 2nd gens vs 3rd gens. The actual long term price is not that much different though.

 

...in 8 years who really cares about depreciation?!?

 

@Marshall R is spot on. I sold my 2012 with almost 140k for 17k - it was a base model 4x4 DCSB - no TRD package at all. I think you're getting your money's worth out of either purchase, but driving it long term, I still vote new.

 

A bit off topic...

My Dad bought a new 2015 Tundra and financed it through his credit union, and he decided to get the disability insurance so that it pays the payments if he's sick or injured and can't work. Well fast forward a year and he had a spinal problem and went on disability. That insurance is making his payments every month.

I realize everyone doesn't need it, but it's something to think about.

 

I did the exact same thing; went back and forth on new vs. 2nd gen. For the first time in my life I can afford to buy new, and I really wanted to put the first miles on my new life-partner. Just like you I expect to own my truck for the next 20 years. I went on an overlanding trip and got to drive a 2016 taco half a day off-road and half a day on road. It's a great truck, but just like everyone else I felt the throttle/transmission slowness, lag, gear seeking, etc. was going to be an issue for me. It was sluggish on and off-road and constantly searched for gears on the highway. I just wasn't in love with it.

The 2nd gen is on older technology, but is a battle proven platform (ISIS) and can still go toe-to-toe with 2017 mid-sized trucks. I bought a fully loaded 2012 TRD Sport, with all the mods I wanted, Supercharged!, in great condition with only 40k miles on it. I bought it from a TW user and had it shipped from Virginia to California without seeing it in person. I couldn't be happier with it! I also saved about $13,000, which is a ton of money. I really wanted the Quicksand color, but I saved enough to have it painted.

 

I disagree, too much electronic gadgetry which has yet to pass any 20-year test (some haven't past one year), and you can bet that fixing it 10 years from now will not be cheap. In fact if it fails the test of time it may drag down resale values.

My "loaded with gadgets" '98 SL500 cost $101k when new; now, a 100% Florida" car easily a 19+/10- with just 63k miles on it, with a 3-year-old top and everything working (last time I drove it), I'd be lucky to get $7500 for it. All the old gadgetry scares people off...

 

I'd buy new the tech is way better on 3rd gen plus you know the history from day 1 as stated before. The issues they new tacos have will be solved thanks to the warranty you'll have. I love my 2nd gen an got a great deal an needed a new to me truck an this was the best deal for me at that moment in time.

 

Nah. What scares people off is one simple word: Mercedes. German cars are over engineered and over priced, and when it comes to the used market, well they are disasters due to overpriced parts and gutter reliability.

Also, saying the 3rd gen Tacoma is technologically advanced...well it's is a stretch.

 

Asking whether to buy a 2nd gen or a 3rd gen in a 2nd gen forum..... I'm sure the feedback will have no bias