Help Me Pick a used 4x4!

[lordofthereef]

I currently have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with just 15k miles on it. I love the truck to death, and as a result, baby it more than I should. Here in Iowa, winters suck and rust is an issue... something I didn't consider when I bought the truck in Cali. Rather than sit and watch the truck deppreciate, I want to sell it and get something a little older that I don't feel I have to baby so much.

Some criteria....
I drive pretty infrequently, so a 6-8 cylinder would be great. I'd like the towing power.
I do want it to be a 4x4
It doesn't have to be a truck... but if not a truck, it would need the towing power so I can haul a trailer
Needs to be reliable. I don't want something with a track record of breaking down on me.

Ideally I would get an early 00's Tacoma or Tundra due to their great reliability, but they are pretty tough to find around here. I have also looked a little into the Rav4, although finding one with the towing power is pretty tough.

From there, I have looked into Land Rover, specifically the Discovery II. I head read horror stories (which is likely why they are cheap ~3-5k with 100k miles), but have also read of people super happy with them.

"American" trucks are sort of out of the question, as they are still priced quite high and I read equally bad horror stories, plus I guess I am a little biased against them, especially Fords (long story, I won't get into it).

So... any suggestions? I'd like to keep my spending limit around $10k. I want this to be something I don't have to beat myself up over dents, dings, etc.

So... any suggestions?

 

[lordofthereef]

In an attempt to keep things on track, please don't ask why I "need" a 4x4 or want to stay away from American. Let;s just say they are personal preferences and lave it at that.

 

[Dark Jedi]

You want reliability? Look at the older Dodge Ram Cummings Turbo Diesels. It would WHere as the Tacoma/Tundra I will give it to last about 250,000 miles. The CTD is just breaking in. People have driven these trucks from 500,000 miles to 1 million miles. Plus towing you cant be a Diesel.

You really shouldnt turn away from american. You will leave your options very limited.

My 03 Dodge Dakota 4.7 Quad Cab 4x4 has 100,000 miles on it and never had a problem with it except the ac going out. I change the oil and other fluids and its still running strong. Plus you can buy a version of my truck for like 6 to 8 grand. I can promise my truck can out do the tacoma in every way as my cousin had a 00 tacoma version of my truck. He even said my truck could haul more heavy load in the bed and the interior didnt look cheap.


So really you already chosen what you want. Get the tundra or tacoma.

Why not keep your 08 and get the undercarriage sprayed to help prevent rust. get a car cover to cover it so the elements dont take a toll on the paint. Everyone knows a toyota rusts quicker than any other manufacturer out there. You trade your truck in and your going to take a big hit in the trade in value. Try to sell it on your own and its going to take forever.

 

[330D]

Newer toyotas use a different grade steel than the old ones. Keep your truck, you are wasting money buying something else. The toyota has already lost it's value. I would say undercoat it, and keep it washed in the winter, you will be good to go.

The older toyota pickups (1st and 2nd gen tacomas) had issues with frame rust, and have had a massive recall on them with many people being paid top dollar from toyota's buyback program, or have had their frames and related components replaced for free. That is why they are tough to find, People either keep them forever, or they were crushed.

 

[lordofthereef]

you are wasting money buying something else. The toyota has already lost it's value.

Actually, not really. I purchased for $25k in late 2008 and it bluebooks for $23k today, and have two people lined up to come see it (I priced it at $22k cash). The local dealer offered $20k cash, but figured I could get an extra few bucks. Losing $2-3k over 3 years, is better than losing 50%+ value of the car over a few years when I am not driving it much at all IMO

Here is a bluebook link, for those that care to take a look...
http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/toyota/tacoma-access-cab/2008/private-party-value/pricing-report?condition=excellent&id=197779&equipment=2147741|true|2147757|true|2147809|true|2147762|true|2147764|true|2147768|true|2147775|true|2147815|true|2147836|true&mileage=15000

 

[lordofthereef]

You want reliability? Look at the older Dodge Ram Cummings Turbo Diesels. It would WHere as the Tacoma/Tundra I will give it to last about 250,000 miles. The CTD is just breaking in. People have driven these trucks from 500,000 miles to 1 million miles. Plus towing you cant be a Diesel.

You really shouldnt turn away from american. You will leave your options very limited.

Honestly, I haven't heard many good things about American trucks to be quite honest. That's really the reason I wasn't considering it. I am not mechanically inclined (when it comes to cars anyway), so I wanted something that I wouldn't expect to break down on me in the future.

I don't doubt your truck has treated you well, but all I honestly have to go on is overall customer satisfaction/surveys (again, I am not clever with vehicles), so that is mostly how I came to my conclusions.

My other worries with a diesel are starting up in cold weather? I understand a heating element is required if temperatures get below freezing?

 

[330D]

I still don't really understand why you want something else.... What are you trying to gain? 95% of newer vehicles are made with the same steel, it is all recycled, generally bought from China. New Toyotas don't rust like old ones. So if you love your truck, keep it! I would kill for a newer TRD Tacoma. It has been my dream vehicle for a long time. I live in NY and the salt use here on the roads in the winter is crazy. I can't say as I have ever seen a 4th gen Tacoma like yours with any rust at all yet. Can't say the same for the new Fords, Dodges or Chevys. If you are looking for something bigger, just to have a bigger truck, then I would probably go with a Cummins powered 2500 Dodge Ram. They do not have any issues with startup in the winter, as long as you plug in the block heater on the really cold nights. Newer diesels are much less plagued by the cold weather. I run Heavy equipment for a living, and rarely if ever have an issue with startup (even unplugged on the coldest days.)

 

[lordofthereef]

Essentially I want a beater truck that won't fall apart on me that get me where I want to go within the next five or so years. I don't want to cringe about scuffs, scrapes, dirt, dings, etc. It's stupid. I am the first to admit it. But it's how I am. The dang thing is garaged 24/7 and is washed more often than it needs be really. It's just tough to swallow that I barely use the thing and it's slowly depreciating in a garage without much use.

When I do use it, it's to haul stuff, and it's painful running with anything heavy. For that reason, more power might be nice, instead of the efficiency.

So an older tacoma isn't made of the best quality steel. I didn't know that. I learned something new and am thankful for that, because I honestly had no idea. Still leaves me with the "I would like a fairly inexpensive but reliable v8 truck that will be used fairly sparingly over the next ~5 years" dilemma

 

[lordofthereef]

If you are looking for something bigger, just to have a bigger truck, then I would probably go with a Cummins powered 2500 Dodge Ram.

I guess I glossed over this recommendation. Apologies. I'll take a look at what is available nearby.

EDIT: So... another stupid question: how does one search, say autotrader, for this truck?

 

[lordofthereef]

A few more questions about the diesels... what is considered high mileage? I am seeing locally listed '01 with 250k miles going for $10-12k

Also, I am not married to the idea of a truck, so long as I can get a 4x4 with decent cargo room and towing capability.

 

[330D]

A few more questions about the diesels... what is considered high mileage? I am seeing locally listed '01 with 250k miles going for $10-12k

Also, I am not married to the idea of a truck, so long as I can get a 4x4 with decent cargo room and towing capability.

High Mileage is totally dependent on the maintenance. A Cummins engine can and will run for 500,000 miles with proper upkeep. The truck will literally fall apart around the engine. So if the truck looks well maintained and drives nicely, Mileage doesn't really matter a whole lot with a diesel.

I would be somewhat wary of the older automatic transmissions in a dodge. That was their weakest point. But if it shifts crisply, and doesn't leak, I wouldn't get too nervous.

As far as auto trader, IDK. I have never used it. I can imagine you would just search for 2k1-2k4 dodge ram 2500 cummins 4x4.... Or something along those lines.

 

[Dark Jedi]

250K miles on a diesel is basically just breaking in. I am sorry no truck is only going to depreciate 3 grand over 3 years. mileage or not.

 

[lordofthereef]

250K miles on a diesel is basically just breaking in.

oK... So I can expect how many miles before the thing is worth nothing but scrap?

I am sorry no truck is only going to depreciate 3 grand over 3 years. mileage or not.

If you really like I can provide you my VIN and window tags to show what I paid for it versus what it is worth now...

 

[lordofthereef]

As far as auto trader, IDK. I have never used it. I can imagine you would just search for 2k1-2k4 dodge ram 2500 cummins 4x4.... Or something along those lines.

What do you use when searching for a vehicle? Autotrader was what was recommended to me, but the search system is a series of dropdowns (year, make, model). Can't actually search text AFAIK.

 

[gallandof]

i am not a truck fan, but my friend has a 06 dadge 2500 turbo diesel, and his truck has 350k mile on it and it runs soo strong so id take a look into one of those. I'd also take a look at maybe like a used jeep cherokee, may not be perfect, but I had one and before I bought my new car it had 275,000miles and ran fine. Im not too sure about foreign trucks dont know anyone who has any

 

[Dark Jedi]

oK... So I can expect how many miles before the thing is worth nothing but scrap?



If you really like I can provide you my VIN and window tags to show what I paid for it versus what it is worth now...

Depends on how you take care of it. I have seen 750K miles on them.

WHen I see this I just cant see you getting 23K from your 08. 2010 toyota tacoma 4x4 ext,cab

 

[lordofthereef]

Depends on how you take care of it. I have seen 750K miles on them.

WHen I see this I just cant see you getting 23K from your 08. 2010 toyota tacoma 4x4 ext,cab

Hey man. I was offered 20k at a dealer trade-in and have people interested at $22k. Maybe the guy wants to get out of his loan (in the link you provided), perhaps people are buying these trucks more in my area, or a number of other reasons. Who knows. If you like, I will report back with what I sold it for. I really have no reason to make things up. ----- it is worth noting that this isn't what this thread is about.

EDIT: Thanks for the response about the expected miles by the way. That's way more than I thought possible TBH.

What prices should I be expecting for a ~10yo truck with average miles (what seems to be around 200k)?

 

[Dark Jedi]

lets have your vin number. you can pm me it. I am curious as I cant see it go down that little./

 

[lordofthereef]

Done.

Still don't really see the point of this.

 

[Dark Jedi]

I was just curious as to it. I will admit you was right the numbers was basically spot on. Did you get a hell of a deal when you bought her?

 

[ParishL31]

What do you use when searching for a vehicle? Autotrader was what was recommended to me, but the search system is a series of dropdowns (year, make, model). Can't actually search text AFAIK.

Go to Used Cars -> Dodge -> Ram BR2500.

My friend has one, he loves it. It's got plenty of power when he tows. He's slightly modded, but he gets around 20-25MPG daily driving. He hasn't complained to me about cold weather starts, so I'm assuming it's not that huge a deal for him (we're in Colorado). His is somewhere in the ~270k miles range but still runs like a champ.

 

[330D]

What do you use when searching for a vehicle? Autotrader was what was recommended to me, but the search system is a series of dropdowns (year, make, model). Can't actually search text AFAIK.

I have never searched for a vehicle. I would buy from a local seller or buy new from a dealer I trusted locally. But that is just me. I have heard great things about auto trader....

 

[lordofthereef]

I was just curious as to it. I will admit you was right the numbers was basically spot on. Did you get a hell of a deal when you bought her?

It was $2k off or 0% APR for 3 years. I took the financing since I didn't have the cash at the time. I told them I was looking at $25k total though with tax, title and license. They were just rolling out the 2009 trucks at the time, plus I went at the end of the month (which I guess helps... I am a noob to car buying). All things said and done, I was able to pay about half the value of the car in cash, so they worked with me on the price. I think with tax, title, license, etc. they let me go for about $25.5, which I was ok with.

I do remember another fairly local dealer (with a MUCH larger inventory) basically telling me to go home when I told them what I wanted.

 

[lordofthereef]

I have never searched for a vehicle. I would buy from a local seller or buy new from a dealer I trusted locally. But that is just me. I have heard great things about auto trader....

I was planning on just finding something fairly local. Unfortunately I am only in the area for school. It's been three years, but not long enough to REALLY know anyone selling cars. We do have a mecahnic we trust (my girlfriend takes her car to him and he seems like a nice guy... hasn't screwed as AFAIK). I was planning on having him take a look at any prospective vehicle(s). Do you just tell the person you are buying from to drive it to a shop once you are fairly certain you want it?

 

[lordofthereef]

go to used cars -> dodge -> ram br2500.

thanks good sir!

EDIT: So... here are my options...
RAM 1500 Truck
RAM 2500 Truck
RAM 3500 Truck
RAM SRT-10

EDIT2: Ok, looks like I can go in and modify search (did I mention I was a noob at searching for cars) to bring up only diesel models. Low and behold, nothing within 100 miles rofl.