Looking to purchase a 3rd Gen TRD sport- 2016 2017 2020 can use advice

So Im new to the Taco world; Ive always wanted a tacoma and never could afford one until now. A manual transmission is mandatory for me. I plan on holding on to this truck for the longhaul so longevity, reliability are huge. Also I don't want to have to worry about any sooner than later expensive maintenance/ repairs.

3 models I'm looking at and I'm playing them all against each other to see which is a better deal; they're all manual transmission Trd sports. and all around the same price give or take 1k or 2.

--a 2016, lightly driven, drives like new, 31k miles, one owner, 2 minor front end accidents, no warranty from dealer. ( dealer is trying to overcharge me)

--a 2017, 2 owner, no accident, 80kmiles, being sold by Toyota and is silver certified which gives me a year warranty powertrain. Also had brakes pads and rotors replaced.

--a 2020, 1 owner, no accident, 75kmiles. offering a lifetime engine guarantee. Is currently being serviced because the clutch supposedly shit the bed after someones test drive, still unsure exactly what the problem is, but upon repair and proper documentation and some sort of a trans warranty I'm considering it to still be in the running (unless y'all advise me different) and use this major repair as an additional negotiation.


What are your thoughts Taco enthusiasts? I appreciate any and all advice you have to offer and Thank you in advance.

 

I have a 2020 TRD Sport, purchased new currently with just under 54,000 miles. No issues to date. Who is offering the lifetime engine guarantee?

 

Right on, Thank you. The dealership is offering it.

 

Got any pics of trucks in question?

 

A little bit after I bought my 2020, another dealership was offering a lifetime warranty on anything that came into contact with oil. Engine, transmission, differentials, whatever. That was part of the reason I declined to purchase the extended warranty. Engines and transmissions are big dollar items, and my truck is no different from the ones the other dealership was selling.

 

the dealership is including the lifetime engine warranty I mean and I'm gunning for a trans one as well once the clutch is repaired

 

What are the prices of the 3 trucks??? Kinda need this info..

 

The 2016 they’re trying to do 31000
The 2017 is listed at 25500
The 2020 is listed at 29500

mind you I live in Jersey so taxes and all that jazz comes in at around 3 k more. Thanks for helping.

 

Life time engine warranty? I'd have to see how it's worded, but that'd be a huge selling point to me.

 

My personal opinion. Those warrantees mean nothing to me. The 2017 would be the one I'd consider.

 

Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?
The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy; well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser, and your daughter's knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.

 

Gosh...I was just saying the other day how everytime anyone posts a real-world-price on a truck, you get all these nay-sayers jumping in saying "TOO MUCH $!"

I don't want to be like that, but seems like a LOT of money for used trucks.

In any case...I did exactly what you are doing a few years back when I bought my MT 2nd gen "forever truck".

I looked at a lot of private sellers, and also ended up having to go further south to find a good deal on a truck with no rust under it. I would never buy any used truck without getting under it. The worst one I saw was at a dealer, and they were asking a chunk for it. Best one I found was out of the snow belt in southern TN with no rust for less from a private seller. I drove down there (like 5 hour drive one way) got under it, drove it, bought it....keeping it forever.

Good luck!

 

I found a great deal in Louisville and drove 2 hours to get it. Set your search to a larger area and don’t be afraid to rent a car once you find the one you want. I’d be hesitant of a dealer engine warranty. Probably not worth the paper it’s printed on. Carmax has great extended warranties also. I would pay extra for a Toyota gold certified Tacoma though.

 

Are you required to do all maintenance with them to uphold the warranty? I know some "lifetime warrantys" are structured liike that...

 

That’s interesting. I never thought there would be that kind of stipulation. I will dive deeper in to it. Thank you

 

Welcome to the forum

The lifetime engine guarantee is usually worded so that you need documentation of every service and everything "recommended" must be done, sometimes at select dealerships only.
DIY service is always an issue.

As for the trucks themselves the 16 & 17 would not have the Toyota Safety Sense system with the notoriously finicky radar gizmo in the grill and camera module on the passenger side of the windshield, some folks have had issues after a windshield replacement with the camera calibration and need an expensive dealer service.

If you feel the TSS system is valuable or not is your own decision, however my take is "the reliability of a part that isn't there is infinite".

Like you, I purchased for the long haul and am glad I don't have said system.

Also the desirable trailer towing package was optional for the first few years, if the truck has the plug in the photo below it has the towing package. No plug, no package.
Look carefully, the non-package trucks have a blank of the same shape.



The big issue is rust of the frame, brake lines, lower body, etc. Get under there with a good strong light and get well aquainted before you open your billfold.

For a big purchase like this flying in and driving home in a rust free truck you can properly protect with Fluid Film, Wool Wax, Cosmoline, Crown, etc is worth the extra effort.

 

Right on. Thank you for yours advice . I’m leaning toward the 2017- it does have the tow package. And is being sold by Toyota and is silver certified. Which is a peace of mind

 

The Toyota certified does have more value than an independent dealer warranty.

 

Any pics of the accidents the 2016 has? My old S2000 was totaled (quarter panel crunched), but Carfax still report it as "minor damage".

The 2017 is probably the one I'd consider the most off that list.

 

Yeah, the 2017 sounds best of the 3.