Is a used Tacoma still worth it at this mileage?

Hello all, I'm new here. I totalled my current truck trying to get to work in bad weather a couple weeks ago (still drivable, but totalled due to repair costs). I have just been informed that my insurance will be disbursing payment and taking possession of my truck within the next few days. What this means is that I need to find a replacement ASAP. I have regretted not buying a toyota (went dodge instead), and have been perusing the market since I knew my truck was totalled. I have come up with some questions I'm hoping y'all can help me with.

My budget for a new vehicle constrains me to a 2nd generation Tacoma (or Tundra, or 4runner). It also needs to be a 4x4, ideally with a receiver hitch installed. The vehicles I have been finding in my price-range are all very high mileage, as in 150k minimum, with most 200k+. I believe in the reliability of Toyota, but this is still a lot of miles for a used vehicle. My main question: is a used Tacoma still worth it at that mileage, and what do I need to watch out for? What should I look for and/or avoid? I need this vehicle to last. Any tips or knowledge you can share would be extremely helpful.

Thank you.

 

Unfortunately you are under time pressure. The market says Toyota is worth it. -->Inspect the truck frame carefully for rust.<—

 

skip 05 and 06 for potential head gasket and frame caving issues at motor mounts

07-08 - are good years if you want no nannys (traction control, vsc were NOT standard as well as side air bags NOT standard - all were an option but rarely chosen)

09-11 - got side airbags and TC/VSC standard

Skip 2012 v6's as they got the SAIS pump introduced without a shutdown purge which results in premature failure

2013-2015 were all essentially the same though 2014-15 did see some features removed (outside temp, auto dimming mirror)

Good luck in your search, but I personally wouldnt be buying a truck with 150k miles. Id buy a cheap beater to get me by and save up for a newer truck.

 

If you don't have the savings to hedge your bet against the possibility of a transmission repair or a head gasket replace, then maybe consider expanding your search to a lower milage vehicle.

 

my 08 has never had a check engine light in over 150k miles. The basic low power engine does not have enough moving parts to do that like a complex German car designed to be thrown away after 10 years.

I got it in a sunny state where the frame was not rusted

Toyota trucks used to be designed to last forever (pickup)
I think the last of that mentality is 1st gen

2nd gen is the time period where they started designing with stupidity in mind (see: throwout bearing)

I often wonder what life would be like if I bought a 1st gen 5VZ-FE. Timing belts do not scare me. They also have better visibility

the way I see it, the less you spend on the truck, the more money you have for good mods improving it above the stock configuration which for example, stock suspension rides horribly

any 4Runner, pickup, or 1st Gen is cheaper
and given how many people refer to 1st Gen. As “best gen” I imagine there may be some truth/reason behind that statement

 

You don't have to skip the 2005, IF the person that owns the 2005 has already had that issue and has the Paperwork to back that they had the issue fixed and the milage to show when the Head Gasket issue was repaired at. My 2005 had the Head Gasket issue at 137,000 miles and I had a Well Known Shop fix it. I Now Have close to 250,000 Miles and it is running like it just came off of the show room floor. But I have no plans on selling until the doors fall off.

 

the idea of me DIYing a head gasket job does not address motor mounts punching through a frame

mounts are likely worn out by now and not great to begin with when new

there is a guy here who sells welded solid ones (not completely solid, they have urethane sleeves) but that may not matter if there was a previous design with weaker mounting points (this is the first I’m hearing of this but am inclined to believe it due to experience seeing Toyota stupidity first hand)

 

Look it over real well. My 2005 doesn't show any signs of my motor mounts going through the frame. My truck has spent it's life down here in New Mexico. Almost no salt.

 

might make a difference if it’s used for its intended purpose (off road trails) or not/limited to streets and malls

 

Mine doesn't offroad hard. But it does spends October to February offroad hunting. So it does see a lot of time off the pavement in Unknown Types of conditions.

 

At some point Toyota started gusseting the mounts. My 07 has the gussets. But even those can fail if there is enough rust rot.

 

Solid Offroad is the name

even without rust they can fail. A stock mount with miles has slop that makes the motor jump around and knock putting weight through those spots like a hammer.
Probably why Solid Offroad is better IMO; minimal or no NVH increase, keeping the motor solidly in place.
When my stock mounts were acting up I looked up OE replacement and surprisingly, they were not cheap. Toyota is very proud of their melted rubber.
I assumed they would be, given they are on other vehicles.
For example, Audi A4 people often swap in stiffer Febi-Bilstein S4 (B5?) which are only like $50-100 a pair, or at least used to be.
And in terms of do the job once/right the first time, it's not something I'd wanna do twice.
Some cars? Easy. Plenty of room with a longitudinal 4cyl, couple bolts.
4x4 Tacoma? Giant pain of a job

pro-tip: use blue or orange loctite on the hardware
you don't want it shaking loose having to re-tighten it, or a bolt falling out