Posts
2960
Joined
10/14/2017
Location
86oh, CT
US
Edited Date/Time
2/25/2019 6:44am
History: The last few vehicles I have owned I've leased. Some people say its a waste, but its nice to not have to worry about repairs and always have a newer vehicle. I started a new job last year that I drive much more. At this point leasing really isn't an option. My last job I was able to take my company truck home on the weekends so transporting my bike wasn't a problem. I currently have a leased Silverado but I was able to keep the miles down before. As the lease comes to and end I am looking to buy a pickup. My new job pays well but I am currently trying to pay off my debt so I can buy a house in the next year or 2. This means I do not have much in savings so I will need to finance pretty much 100% of the vehicle. I also need something I can put miles on with minimal issues. With work and riding I figure about 20k a year. Truck must at least be a v6 so I can tow a small 6x12 trailer from time to time. I AM TRYING TO NOT BE PAYMENT FOCUSED but the lower the better even if it means a longer term. Once I buy a house in the near future the plan is to get a moto van or maybe a commuter car. I would like to have a sub $400/month payment. The lower the better.
2004-2006 Toyota tundra. I can find them in my area around 100k miles for round 10k. Problem is interest rates suck on a 12 year old vehicle plus most banks only offer 36m financing. not a big deal if its a decent interest rate but don't want a 400/dollar a month payment on such an old vehicle.
2006 and up Tacoma. Same issue with financing unless I get into a newer one. I can find a 2012-2015 for low 20s. Much more cost but I can find one with lower miles and plus get a better interest rate. The interiors are nicer then the 06-11 but basically the same truck. Anything under a 2010 and I still run into the financing issue. Payment will probably be around or a bit more then my $400 dollar budget.
2012 and up Nissan frontier. I can find these only a few years for under 20k and with low miles. Seem to be cheaper then the tacomas but the Nissan is very very dated and gets worse fuel economy. They seem to be pretty reliable though.
HD trucks. Coming from A construction sales back round, many of my customers swear by 2002-2006 chevy 2500hd and the ford f250s from the same era. Same issue with financing plus terrible fuel economy. Would consider a diesel for the better fuel economy but get nervous about repairs.
2004-2006 Toyota tundra. I can find them in my area around 100k miles for round 10k. Problem is interest rates suck on a 12 year old vehicle plus most banks only offer 36m financing. not a big deal if its a decent interest rate but don't want a 400/dollar a month payment on such an old vehicle.
2006 and up Tacoma. Same issue with financing unless I get into a newer one. I can find a 2012-2015 for low 20s. Much more cost but I can find one with lower miles and plus get a better interest rate. The interiors are nicer then the 06-11 but basically the same truck. Anything under a 2010 and I still run into the financing issue. Payment will probably be around or a bit more then my $400 dollar budget.
2012 and up Nissan frontier. I can find these only a few years for under 20k and with low miles. Seem to be cheaper then the tacomas but the Nissan is very very dated and gets worse fuel economy. They seem to be pretty reliable though.
HD trucks. Coming from A construction sales back round, many of my customers swear by 2002-2006 chevy 2500hd and the ford f250s from the same era. Same issue with financing plus terrible fuel economy. Would consider a diesel for the better fuel economy but get nervous about repairs.
V6, 6' bed, has some options, gets better gas mileage than any of the trucks you listed, can be bought for ~$18K and it's new enough you'll get a good loan.
Otherwise, look at real old/beater trucks. Drop $1K on whatever you find. Be it a taco, ranger, Silverado. If you know how to turn a wrench old vehicles are always cheaper than a payment. And depreciation is negligible when you consider tires, batteries, and other normal wear and tear.
And if you only need a truck to haul the bike, a Camry will pull a small harbor freight trailer just fine
I really dont want something that needs work all the time. I built a couple older Vws when i was into cars and I have any tool I would ever need but I have no desire to be trying to fix something when its 10 degrees outside.
But if you want reliable, go with the taco. The frontiers are pretty good, but not as good as the Tacomas.
The Shop
I know buying new is not always the best when buying a vehicle but when you get a shitload off of retail sometimes it is your smartest option. And since you mentioned you have leased in the past I know you are a intelligent person. For the right low mileage driver leases are the best option. You know you’ll get to work on time and you’ll be spending nothing on anything but routine maintenance.
Anyway there’s my advice. Keep us posted on what you find
After months of BS, GM said this is considered normal operation and did nothing for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKM0K0suM1k
That's the exact video. The fact they charge 45k for such a poor build POS is the reason I will never buy another one. And its not just me, thousands have had this issue. The 14-18s are the worse.
https://www.netdirectautosales.com/used/2016-toyota-tundra-4x4-crewmax-…
The used Tacoma market is retarded. No, I'm not paying $20k for your 100k mile '11 Tacoma.
I have a 2000 TRD access cab. Have owned it since 02. Bought it with 39k for $20k, and it has 240k on it now. It's spent its entire life in west Michigan, the last 6 years or so only being my winter truck. To say I love it, would be an understatement. I've had no real issues, aside from the frame rusting away. 3 years ago Toyota replaced the frame under a recall along with a laundry list of parts associated with it, ie bushing, control arms, brake lines, fuel lines etc. all for free, all while giving me a new TRD tacoma as a loaner.
I've always wanted the Double cab (4 door) since they came out as my family has grown. I've been looking the last few years all over the country willing to pay top dollar for a clean rust free lower mile (100k more or less depending on condition). I ended up buying a 14 Raptor, which is sweet, but I miss driving my Tundra. As sweet as the Raptor is, there's just something about the first gen tundra that's perfect. It's not too big like my raptor or any full size truck, and it's not too small like a tacoma. Just perfect.
The resale on the double cabs is pretty steady, and they seem to be growing in popularity with a following as they a pretty off road truck, kind of similar to Land Cruisers and Tacoma's (not THAT crazy, but i might be eventually). But the prices are all over the place depending on where in the country they're being sold.
That being said, if you decide to buy one my advice is, find one down south or west, where ever there's no salt on the road and the truck has spent its entire life there.(there's a lot in texas as that's where they're built i believe) Timing belt is a 100k service, and it's an interference engine, and they've been known to snap, so make sure that's done. Don't be afraid of them if they're higher mileage, and documented maintenance history. Get the TRD package, or limited, as they'll have better resale. If you get one, do all the fluids, especially the tranny.
If you decide to look locally, check to see if the frame was replaced or undercoated. The way it worked, was you get it inspected, if there's a hole in frame bigger than a quarter, they replace it, if it's not, they undercoat it. The undercoat lasts like 2 minutes, and if your frame rusts later, you're not eligible for full replacement.
I don't have any experience with the other trucks your'e looking at, but I know, if I hadn't driven a raptor last year, I'd have two tundra's right now. There's been more than a few times when I'm driving my Raptor, I feel like I made a huge mistake not buying a first gen double cab tundra.
My Tundra has been mine and my friends "rock" if that makes sense. Never have to worry about it, and it is just capable enough to pull a car trailer for when the VW's/audi shit the bed. Those VW/audi dumps are the only reason I never bought a Tacoma as I needed something with a little bit of towing power haha
Pit Row
Tundra's are kind of "bare bones" and lack the fancy BS compared to most other trucks, but the older it got, the more I appreciated the way they're optioned out.
My advice would be to find the best used vehicle you can for under $10k. Drive it for 2-5 years and maintain it well and you are still going to have a $5-8K vehicle years from now when it's time to sell. This is the best way to reduce how much money you waste on depreciation.
Maybe not the answer you wanted to hear, but I think you should focus your financials on saving for your house so that you can maximize your down payment. A cheaper vehicle will also allow you to carry less overall debt which will be reviewed when you do your mortgage application.
Big reason why I was considering a Tacoma is because they hold there value very well. Especially in the north east
Post a reply to: Need used truck buying advice.