Considering 2018 Tacoma Limited -- What do I need to know?

My current ride is a 2006 Chevy Colorado 4x4 Z71. When I bought it new in late '05, I got a supplier discount, and I have been mostly happy with it. Top complaint has been the range (25 mile commute / 15 gallon tank times ~17 mpg * 0.8 to not run it empty = fill up every 4 days), and the number of blower motor resisters I go through. It is at 239K miles with only brakes, tires, oil, and a couple of sensors. I am not getting rid of it, but my kids are going to drive it. I offered to get them something smaller, but they would rather drive my truck, so I get a new one.

I do drive it like a truck, at least on weekends and I drive (not too far) on a gravel road every day. I haul camping gear for scouts. I don't drive it off road, unless you count driving it in fields. I do deem the 4x4 essential for the occasional snow in the Mid Atlantic. I ended up putting road Mud/Snow tires on it after the first or second set of Off-Road tires, and I like the way it drives better. SWMBO told me that I do enough truck stuff that I need to replace the truck with a truck, so no complaints here.

I have admired the Tacos for a while, and now that I have driven one (a 2017 in a test drive), I am pretty sure I want one. Picking which one has been harder.

The 2019-2020 colors are all wrong for me. I like blue vehicles, but neither the Voodoo Blue nor the Cavalry Blue do it for me. The earlier Blazing Blue Pearl is just about perfect. It is pretty much the color that I wished I could get when I settled for the slightly darker blue on my Colorado.

In addition, since I am going to put some wear on it, why NOT let someone else take the initial depreciation for me? So I was looking for 2016 or 2017 vehicles.

The (pointless, fake) hood scoop on the Taco that I drove got in the way of my view of the road during the test drive. So, that pretty much rules out the Sport and TRD Pro trims. Otherwise, I would probably be looking at the TRD Sport.

Ride quality (on highway and gravel roads) is more important to me than off road performance. How is the suspension on the Limited tuned, compared to the Sport or Off-Road?

I have found several Blue Tacomas in the low 30's that would fit. I have one being transferred to the local Carmax for me (free transfer), and you probably can't talk me out of it, but what should I be aware of?

It is a 2018 Toyota Tacoma Limited Double Cab in Blazing Blue Pearl. Most of the "options" are standard on the Limited, but it also has a bed cover, and I think it has some side steps. It has 42K miles (a bit high for the 24 months of use), and they are asking $33K. It is the 6 speed automatic, because I don't drive a stick and I wouldn't care to on my commute. It is a few inches higher and longer than my Colorado, but it should fit well into the garages at home and work. I don't love the brown leather interior, but I think I will like it well enough. (The gray cloth on the Colorado is starting to show wear.) I like that it has a sunroof like the Colorado, and that it has a backup camera. It seems like a solid upgrade all the way around.

So, what do I need to know? Either about dealing with CarMax, or the 2018 Tacoma, or the Limited Trim, etc?

With CarMax, I figure I am paying them a premium to sort through the cars, select the best, detail them, and maintain a network so I can find what I am looking for. I can live with that. I have checked prices and another dealership has a similar 2017 with identical mileage for the same price.

 

Oh, and yes, the other reason it needs to be a *blue* Tacoma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akr2yIozFfg

 

As the owner of a 19 Tacoma Limited, I also wanted the Blazing Blue Pearl but wanted a new truck, not used. So I had to buy a different color as that color was not available for 19. I There are some Tacomas that vibrate so I would NEVER buy one without driving it first. My second gen vibrated but I got "used" to it. My buddys second gen vibrated and he got "used" to it. My new Limited does not vibrate, buy my buddy also bought a 2019 Limited (he bought his as he liked mine so much compared to his second gen) and his vibrated and the dealer couldnt fix it after numerous attempts so he ended up selling it. So you HAVE to drive it. If it vibrates, it will vibrate at freeway speeds or when accelerating from 20 to 30 or decelerating from 30 to 20. I think the main problems are weird shifting (mine seems good, my buddys shifted weird and a lot compared to mine he claimed), and some have minor oil leaks from the timing cover. Some have differential weeping, so take a look at the third member. Mine had minor weepage, I retorqed the diff nuts, no weepage now. Some trannys are underfilled, mine was, filled it, no big deal if you are mechanically inclined. Maybe thats why mine shifts better and less frequent than my buddys, he never checked his fluid. Some have third brake light water leaks, take a good look around the rear headliner, window, behind and under the rear seats for signs of water leaks. You didnt say, are you looking for 2 or 4wd, they make both, be careful there. Good luck, I loved that BBP color! I think but not positive, order of stiffness is this: the off road is softer than the others (so it can flex while off roading), then the Limited, then the sport which is stiffer. I bought the Limited 4X4 because I use mine for towing (boat ramps), skiing, and to have 4wd, during our occasional snow storms, and bow hunting (some minor muddy/snowy roads). I dont like the scoop or the sport wheels, and dont like the OR wheels and black fenderwells and didnt need the OR tires, which is why I chose the Limited. I keep my trucks for a long time and always buy them as loaded as I can. Good luck, make sure its some long test drives! Hope this helps.

 

Secure your own financing.

Carmax uses finance companies whose best percentage rates are in the double digits.

And do an extended test drive if possible. Some guys (me) don't like how the 3rd gen drives, though most have no issues with it.

 

If it’s blazing blue make sure you take a good look at the paint. If it’s in good shape you may want to consider ceramic coating it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-paint-issues.536165/

 

Too much money for the mileage and year.





‘If you already bought it, congratulations, you’ll love it!

 

Get the OR instead. Get a new one, comes with a warranty.

 

Things to check super carefully during test drive:

1. Paint condition of Blazing Blue Pearl paint
   • some have had paint issues, especially this color
2. Vibration, especially at:
   • Highway speeds
   • accelerating 20 to 30
   • decelerating 30 to 20
3. Weird Shifting up and down
   • If it develops later, check transmission fluid leve
4. Oil leaks from timing cover
5. Water leaks from 3rd brake light

Thanks JimmerHeck, this is exactly the kinds of things that I was looking for.

Regarding used vs. new, I just priced out a new build Toyota Tacoma Off-Road at 43K for the way that I would probably spec it. 10K more for 2 years newer and 42K less miles seems reasonable. No goofy hood scoop, but I would have to decide between "Voodoo blue" and Barcelona Red Metallic. I think I need to at least go look at some new ones too. The truck "holding its value" works both ways, and in this case it is working against buying used.

Thanks for the anti-recommendation on CarMax financing. I will keep that in mind.

Yes, planning on a 4x4 model. As I told the salesman back when I bought the Colorado: "Two wheel drive trucks are an abomination. Do you have any trucks to show me?"

 

Buy NEW. It's not that much more.

. . . and what Masterofnone said about finiancing!! Post #4.

G.

 

I worked sales at Carmax, though years ago.
Yes, you pay more through Carmax than other dealers. But I thoroughly believe in their whole process. I've bought and sold some of my and family personal vehicles there. My son actually sold his 2020 4Runner Limited to Carmax this morning because his wife didn't like how small it felt after 4000 miles. Going shopping for a Sequoia or Land Cruiser.
But if you can find a large name dealer besides Carmax you trust, with your inventory choice, you'll probably save a bit of money.
Also Carmax has their money back return. Used to be 30 days. NOTE, again NOTE: if you trade something in, it will go away within a couple days. Either to an auction or to another dealership, depending on its year, condition. If you decide the vehicle you bought isn't the right one and take it back, your previous ride will be gone. So you buy something else from them or walk.

 

Thanks to the comments on here, I am considering buying new. If I do, I am looking at a Tacoma Off Road, possibly in Voodoo Blue. SOME of the pictures look really great. but there have been some hideous ones as well -- not on here. Most of the time, it seems like a bright medium blue. In some of the pictures it comes out looking a washed out almost "baby" blue.

I have been browsing the "Show off your Voodoo Blue" thread, but there are too many other blues there to keep it all straight. (Previous blues, previous generation tacos, custom builds, and even photoshopped tacos.) If you have a great picture of your 2019-2020 Voodoo Blue Taco in real life, please post it here. I am not sure, but some of the pictures I don't like might be from intense fluorescent lighting in a photo booth.

Also, if anyone happens to have a picture of a Voodoo Blue WITH a Blazing Blue Pearl, it would be interesting to see the comparison in similar lighting.

Other than getting the right color, does anyone have experience with the Multi-Terrain Monitor? It is actually useful, or it just a gimmick? Are the side cameras enough to make it useful in parking situations, or is it ONLY an off road feature?