Purchasing a 200k mile 2007 Tacoma

Hello,
New TW member and first post.
I am looking at buying my brothers meticulously maintained and babied 2007 Toyota Tacoma. By the time I will get it next year it will probably have 200k. He is wanting the newer Tacoma.

My question is what should I think about replacing or closely monitoring? My brother has a list of what he has done and I'm sure could tell me from memory, but I am kind of looking for other opinions and thoughts. I have never owned a Tacoma, or even a Toyota, but I know how ridiculously reliable they are. I also know things break and everything wears out, but I can't help thinking this may be a gamble with that many miles. Thanks for reading!

 

What are you in, what configuration is it, and how much money we talkin'?

Buying anything with 200k is a risk. Buying one you know has been well-maintained is less of a risk. But it's not like 'oh, it's definitely fooked, don't do it', all depends if you're getting a good deal to make up for it.

 

Where do you live? Corrosion might be an issue. Other than that, everything’s fixable.

Don’t let your brother take you to the bank.
‘07 w over 200K, mid to high four figures at the most.

 

I'd drive it and drive a newer 2015 and compare. My brother's 07 transmission was slipping around corners at 120k. So I told him to go get the tranny fluid flushed. Solved it. I'd have your brother show you where he left off in the manual for maintenance and service and fill in the gaps.

Plenty of write ups on here for differential and transfercase fluid swaps. Spark plugs should be done every 60k that sort of thing. People on here with 400,000mi tacomas, but it doesn't guarantee any of them will make it that long.

 

Also, have your brother read up on the forum about the newer ones

 

if the price is right...
What kind of Taco, 4x4? 4 door? transmission? engine?
there are plenty of Tacos out there driving around just fine with that kind of mileage. What is your personal knowledge to inspect the vehicle yourself?

 

As long as it has been meticulously maintained, I don't see any issue with it.

As someone else stated, check the frame for rust. I think the most common spots (someone correct me if I'm wrong) is the cross member sort of in the middle near the transmission.

Check the serpentine belt for cracks. That's about a $35 part and about 10 minutes to replace.

Check body mounts and radiator mounts. Those go out over time and are commonly replaced with Energy Suspension components. I can't remember the cost, but it's under $100. Maybe even closer to 50.

When was the transmission last flushed? They say the "World Standard" fluid should never need to be changed, but I'd have the dealership do that one every 100k or so. I think that is going to be the highest cost maintenance item. I think it cost me around $350. Stick with Toyota fluid no matter what you do.

Same thing with the anti-freeze. 100k and stick with Toyota fluid. I'd be more inclined to do this yourself.

every 30k

• Spark plugs are recommended to be changed . Easy to do yourself and you can get the plugs for about $3-4 each. Allow yourself about 4 hours the first time and 2 hours the second time. After that, closer to an hour.
• Air filters - both engine and in-cabin.
• gear oil - front diff, rear diff, transfer case (if 4x4)
• grease the drive shaft

Wheel bearings are notorious for going bad too. If those haven't been changed, plan on doing those. At least the fronts. New bearing/hub assemblies can be bought around $120-200 and be done yourself in a couple of hours with the right tools (free loaners from AutoZone).

Check the bushings on both the lower control arms and upper control arms. If they are severely cracked, you can plan to replace those.

While you're looking at the bushings, go ahead and check out the lower ball joint. Replacement lower control arms with new bushings and ball joints are about $120 IIRC.

Check the brakes.

I think that about covers it. If I missed anything, someone will chime in.

For all of these things, there are good write-ups on here for DIY. Now that I'm done writing it, that's a lot of things to check, but it really isn't bad. Most likely, they will make themselves evident before failure; so you aren't going to get stuck anywhere. Everything I mentioned, with exception to the transmission flush, can be done as a weekend project. The money saved and the pride of doing it yourself is very rewarding! Not to mention how much you will learn about your truck.

My favorite high mileage Tacoma is @qnyla: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/400-000-miles.404359/

I think he posted a maintenance log on there somewhere. Remarkably little was done to get it to 400k (when he handed it over to his 2 teenage sons).

 

No info to even bother with giving a recommendation.

 

So I am currently in my wife's 2013 Honda CR-V. It has 60k and paid off. I would most likely be selling this to my other family members.

The truck I would purchase is a 4x4 4.0l with a manual transmission.

 

My brother lives in Western North Carolina. They get some snow with a little salt on the roads but not much. I doubt he will take me to the bank.

 

4x4 with 4.0l manual transmission double cab.

I used to be a automotive technician at a dealership 15 years ago. Worked on GM vehicles, so not too familiar with Toyota, but have the fundamentals.

 

Thats the worst advice ive heard all day!

 

Thats a bit of a range

 

Theyre better than all the others so

 

Totally correct. Details would have been helpful!

 

My 07 has 194,000 miles and I'm not at all concerned about keeping it for a while. But wouldn't sell it to a relative because if something unexpected went wrong I'd feel bad. And so would the relative. I also wouldn't pay what KBB says it is worth.

 

You lost me at next year

 

I definitely do not want issues between brothers over a truck, but we are a close family, so even worse case scenario we should be good.

I was assuming trade in value was more accurate?

 

Yup.

Some variables at play with the most significant being family and that the vehicle is a Tacoma.

I took $5,200 for my ‘07 AC OR from a stranger. It had 351K miles on it. I got offers higher than that but the dude served our country..

I’d think family would be somewhere around this number....