My dealership has a 2013 used Tacoma "Limited" with 6k miles. It's only leveled with some 18" chrome wheels and some baby terra grapps. It has leather, but no Nav, and no power seats. But it just sold for about $39,500 before taxes and we literally had it for a few hours. Anyone else find it insane that it's more expensive than a brand new full-sized truck?! I know they've got a very strong following, but really?

 

Nope, When I was looking for a new mini truck back in 1989 everyone at work said buy a Toyota. So I went to the Toyota dealer and they wanted 18K for the SR5 before final cost. I went to Chevy and they had a Full Size truck for around the same price. I went to the Ford dealer and bought a Ranger that had all the options the SR5 had for 13K out the door. 5K can buy a few extra parts. I had 228K miles on it before I sold it with everything under the hood but the transmission original equipment. I just replaced the brushes in the alternator. The valve cover gaskets were replaced under warranty. I heard that the Toyota V6 I was looking at had head gasket problems. I have never looked back.

 

Yeah, apparently these tacomas hold their value like no other too. But hell, if I wanted a "reliable ole Toyota" I'd get a tundra for that money. That's absurd.

 

I knew a few guys with SR5's in school. They had those 22R engines I believe, -"had". What everyone was doing with those (the 4x4's anyway), they gut the engine and trans, - chuck them , sell them or whatnot. Then replace with a Buick V6 and T350 Trans.

Anyway,-KMAC0694 yea, it's surprising that Toyota went so fast or for that much. I mean, IF someone was so dead set on having one of those, you may as well go new. Kudo's to your dealership for getting that trash off the lot at what sounds like, a profit.

 

Oh, I'm glad it's gone and somebody made some money! Worst thing about it was that it had an exhaust on it . . . Repulsive! But the guy that bought it rolled up in a late 90s to early 2000s (I don't know crap about them) gold Tacoma and bought it without even test driving it!

 

Absolutely. Very common to see head gaskets go before 100k. I know a guy who started a successful business as a toyota mechanic back in the early 90's when the 3.0 came out and swears it is what kept his business a float.

Poor exhaust design that wrapped around the back of the head, excessive heat etc.

They do hold their value well. I can attest to the longevity of them. My dad, the most american man you could meet... dropped the ball and bought a tacoma in 96. All basic roll up windows, 4cyl, 5speed etc. It sits with 340k on the clock with a broken odometer from 3 years ago. Has never had a single engine part other than a starter replaced. U joints, shocks and ball joints. It starts like it was just bought. Rides like crap though but don't miss a beat. Ugliest rough riding thing Ive ever seen. But I bet he could still get 4-5k for it when if it was any other truck you couldnt give it away

 

That's incredible. As much as I hate Toyotas, that's great that it's lasted that long. I guess the Top Gear guys were serious for once when they determined that the old Hiluxes (Tacoma) really are impossible to kill!

 

The Hilux is probably the most indestructible vehicle in the world, especially the rare (in the US) diesel.

A friend of mine had one - a 1984 with a diesel. It had about 300k on it, it was all rotted out and didn't have a straight panel on it - he advertised it for $1000 and some guy bought it sight unseen.

 

I had an 82 Toyota truck and that thing was bullit proof. It had the 22R engine. I drove courier in it so it ran 10 to 12 hours a day 5 days a week. I sold it with 430,000 hard km (268,750 miles) on it. No motor work, no trans work. Most expensive thing I did to it was a clutch other than that regular maintenance.

 

I had a 76 Celica GT with a 20R - that thing was indestructible too. I got rid of it with 186k on it, still running like a top. Body was all rotted out but still mechanically sound.

 

New, the truck was probably 30-32. The fact that some idiot walked in there and payed almost 8-10k over sticker is nothing new. Happens all the time. Impulse buys and rich parents are a dealerships best friends.

 

The Hilux is all over Argentina. The new ones down there really don't look too awful. However, thats not saying I'd buy one.

 

The "limited" package alone is about $6500 bucks and they sell for about $35-36k new. But even then, WHY? It's a baby truck that can tow right around 5,000 pounds. It's tiny, it's slow, it sounds horrible, and it's not a real truck. I'm sure it'll last, but hell for that money go get a Tundra if you want that "Toyota reliability"

But no kid who's gonna have daddy buy him a truck is gonna want a freakin Tacoma. They aren't "cool" haha. And if some high schooler did actually want one, when he could get something else for $40k, he probably isn't the star quarterback . . . I'll say that much hahaha