Is there even any value in buying a used 3rd gen vs new

I can't say i'm surprised, but the dealer I traded my 2018 Off Road into has it listed for more than I paid for it new. It bone stock outside a skid plate, trd intake and exhaust.

I'm kind of baffled, because I can get a 2021 Off Road for what they have it listed for. Good for them I guess, I'd have a hard time justifying paying that much for it used.

 

If it's a unique trim or color they may do that knowing potential buyers can't find one the same brand new.

 

Most banks issue a higher interest rate if you buy used. Buying a used Tacoma of any year is going to cost you more than you think. higher cost of finance, higher cost of operation (averaged) and a service life that has been shortened by 50,000 miles. It doesnt make sense to me.

 

The vehicle market and particularly the Tacoma market is crazy now. Supply chain interruptions and demand and other market forces have created a strong market for used Tacomas. The average price of a new car is over 40 K now, absolutely insane. Longer financing terms make the monthly payments bearable for many. My son paid nearly the same price for his used 2017 he purchased last month than I paid for my new 2018 three years ago....go figure. Simple supply and demand.
Though they're asking a certain price there are no guarantees they'll get that price...but their asking price allows room for haggling.

Just my $0.02....

 

How is the 2021 over the 18?

 

When I bought my 2018, a comparable used model was within $3K of new. So I just bought new.

 

I was about to buy a used 2019 last August when a dealer offered me a new one for a shade less than the used one.

 

A Dealer's listing price and selling price are frequently very different. They may have it priced to help new truck buyers rationalize/encourage their decision to buy new.

 

At Today's prices?
Nope!

 

In my market absolutely not. I could buy a 2021 cheaper than the asking price on some used 2018 and 2019s. The value of a used Tacoma of pretty much any year Tacoma just wasn't there for me.

I'll spend the extra couple of thousand bucks to buy a new truck that I'll thrash instead of one that someone else has thrashed for a couple of years.

 

I was originally looking into used. Saw the prices, laughed, and bought new.

 

I had started with new and later switched to used. Anyway a lot I looked at were within a ~5k of new, low mileage 2015s/2016/2017 etc etc.

There was one thing in common with every single one I looked at. When it came down to discussing price, every dealer said the same thing, "we can move hundreds, not thousands" and imo, someone would have to be crazy to be 5k away from new especially on a 2015 and not buy new.

I remember looking at a 2019 Tacoma, calavry blue. 19kmi, not in the best shape (a lot of scratches) but car fax later showed it was a fleet vehicle with some rental company. Anyway, they were asking 33799, I offered 29k which I thought at the time was pretty fair, he basically said no, his manager came over and explained "Hundreds not thousands" I was a dick and told the guy that if i was your manager and you were buying trucks to make hundreds off of I would be looking for a new used car manager. I passed but this is where I learned, every dealer was "in" these trucks hundreds, not thousands.

 

I was the post office the other day while in line 2 guys ahead of me we complaining how hard it is to find a new 2021 taco on a dealers lot, and why they now are priced so high. Told them they sell very quick once dealers get them in stock. One guy told me he's been to every dealer in the area, and they have nothing he's interested in...seems everyone buys the same 2 or 3 trims dealers mostly stock....these dealers haven't even been able to locate a truck for them. I guess one of them will likely order, or may look for a good late model used one. When ask what i drive...told them a 2020 tacoma, and its been an excellent truck. It pretty much confirmed what others have told them too. These trucks are just in big demand.

 

These truck hold their value extremely well. My 2017 has ~35,000 miles on it now. NADA says the "average trade-in" is $27,500 and private party is $31,200. Tha'ts only a few thousand less than I drove it off the lot for new, and significantly more than I owe on it.... It would be foolish for me to trade it in, or even sell it at this point.

The reason I bought both my '14 and '17 new was exactly what you are seeing. Why would I want to buy a 2-3 year old truck with 20-50k miles on it, some amount of warranty left, that you have no idea how it was driven or serviced when you can buy brand new for only a little more. If you're financing anyway, a few thousand isn't going to make a significant difference on the loan payment.

 

The Tacoma gets a lot grief on this forum but in reality owners won't trade them in to get something worse.

 

By the standards here I did trade it in on something worse, a Nissan Frontier Pro 4X

 

even in 2018 it didn't make sense for me to buy used

 

Who buys a used Tacoma at a Toyota dealership? They’re going to break it off...Got my gem ‘17 in January ‘20 w/39k for $26K OTD from a Chevy dealer.

 

There was apparently a couple MT models at one of the big Ford dealers, and at the price they were listed, I’d have been headed there. The Toyota dealer I bought mine from was within 3-5k on all their used ones to what I paid. I wasn’t even looking at trim levels at that point. I frankly didn’t know the difference at all until I had the thing home.

That’s what sold me to new, though. Though I’ve gotten some hella financing on used stuff. Took a lien out on a pickup I already had, had 173k at the time. 1.8%.

 

I traded a '17 F250 for a lightly used (8K miles) '20 Tacoma TRD OR and the dealer has the F250 listed for exactly $1K MORE than I paid for it 3.5 years ago......best used car market I can recall.