Advice on purchasing a 2002 Toyota Tacoma

Can anyone help me know what’s a good price or even if it’s a good idea to purchase a 2002 Toyota Tacoma Trd Offroad Sr5 4x4 with 171,511 miles from a private seller? Also what should I be looking out for when looking and test driving the truck?

 

History and maintenance record. Frame condition, check for rust at the mid point to the rear frame section. Carfax for accurate mileage, make sure it's not rolled back. TRD model will have a rear electric locker, make sure it function in 4lo. Make sure 4wd work as should.

As for price, check craigslist or fb in your local area. Exterior and interior condition also reflect price.

Some will pay slightly more for lift, rim, or bigger tire. Hard to give you an estimate without seeing the truck.

 

Welcome to the forum!!

In the permanent threads there is a 1st generation buyers guide. Start at the top of this page and scroll down

Just how much wrenching can you do ?? A 20 year old truck lots of maintenance to catch up paying labor will get expensive.

Where has the truck lived ?

Have you ever owned a 4x4?

The drive train Engine / Manual etc

Buying from a dealer in most cases your looking at another 3 or 4 thousand dollars

Happy Truck Shopping!!

 

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/davis-2002-toyota-tacoma-trd-offroad-sr5/7625091760.html

here’s a link to the ad on Craigslist

 

That’s way to much …

 

1. Check the same shit you would for any other used vehicle, it's a used Tacoma not a 911 RUF

2. Frame rust, specifically at the rear where the front leaf pack mounting point is

Not sure what else to add really

 

How’s the reliability on these 1st gen auto transmissions vs. manual?

 

Both stout.

 

I'd buy that. truck looked well kept and ok price. I'll sleep better if I was to pay 13k

 

Same here, checks a lot of my boxes.

Here in the Midwest we can get by with a 3rz.......but Cali drivers really need the 6 cylinders..

So fairly decent price for west coast...

Usually when you acquire these they almost always need a lot of updating....
this one not so much.......and thats a big deal with oem part prices......

Silver paint ages well....


Pull a plug and tap on the frame....

 

it really comes down to who owned the vehicle.

Some people can destroy anything.

Well maintained I would choose manual over automatic far less that can break.

 

If the truck passes your inspection and road test .

If you really like the truck offer $10,000.00 and let the horsetrading begin .

Knowing Full well your limit to start.

 

$10k offer on a double cab 4x4 would get him thrown into the ignore pile; he wouldn't be able to negotiate at all after that.

Should meet the buyer in person and inspect said vehicle before making any offer.

 

That seems like a ton of money. But then I completely understand. If she's in good shape and you have 13k sitting around buy it and never look back. Life's short, g1s are hard to find. Live a little.

 

Yeah I think a lot of you cheap skate's prices are way off...
......we all cant luck into something thats been sitting in someone's back yard for 10 yrs....

these are only 500K engines if they're well taken care of......they can go down hill...quick.

Any of the 2001 and newer are gonna fetch a premium.
....never mind the plastic water bypass tube coming off the thermostat they went to...that all eventually fail and overheat something.....



I run with the other crowd......there's no feeling like having a tacoma ....with a brandnew engine in it......
.....and then celebrating its birthdays.....with fresh oil and coolant....


So yeah.....there's a lot of different angles with these.......

the pink crap has never touched my new heads.....or radiator.

 

This is not the mid to the east coast with zombie panels and frame. I bet all these folks saying its price too high probably overpaid for their turd gen but say it was a good deal after all. LMFAO

 

That truck is priced right.

Could probably fetch $17k for the right buyer.

It's under 200k miles, 4x4, rear locked, and double cab.

If you've only owned 2nd/3rd Gen trucks then it'd make sense to say it's a lot of money.

 

A lot of people say 'yeah I want it ...save it for me',,and never show

Soooo....show up with cash....cut a deal...

.......cash is King.....


just make sure its not an oil burner.....or a white smoker......


oil burner will cost you a short block....

white smoke is head gasket job.....
.....or worst.....a new uncracked head.


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.
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Has anybody asked about the timing belt....last done..
.....thats pretty damn important.....

......same on the lower balls joints......that's hundreds more $....


Just doing the timing belt ....if you dont do it yourself is gonna cost you a grand plus parts.......and your supposed to use the kit and replace all the other parts ....

Timing kit- Toyota V6 3.4L 5VZ-FE 4Runner, T100, Tacoma & Tundra Aisin OEM Timing Belt Kit w/ hydraulic tensioner & Water Pump (1995-2004) TKT-025 (yotashop.com)



https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/jdm-3-4l-swap-parts-list-double-check.778288/#post-28772928

 

Everything is way too much now. Crazy.

 

It’s gone. Did you buy it?