2000 Tundra, 129K, $7900 good deal?

Hey all,
I’m new to Toyota cars… regretfully so. (Should have been sooner)

I’m looking at getting a Tundra or Tacoma but thought I should ask the community. I’m looking at a deal now and am curious if this is a good deal.

This is what the owners comments are:
I am selling my truck of 20 years. It was initially my primary vehicle, but for the past 10 years it has been used exclusively for hauling my boat and running errands.

The truck itself has some exterior weathering (see photos for details), and someone backed into the tail gate when I was getting groceries last summer. However, the truck itself has a lot of rare attributes that matter most.

It has received regular maintenance for its entire life. Because of a Toyota recall, it received a brand-new frame just 5 years ago. Last summer, the Toyota dealership installed new Yokihama tires, new wheel bearings, new rotors, a new brake system, and they also installed a back up camera. It only has 129,000 miles on it. Every feature works flawlessly (power windows, AC, 4WD, cruise control, etc). I am hoping the truck goes to another Toyota Tundra fan. Prices to sell. Serious offers only. I am not interested in trades, and I am not in a rush to sell.

Also the tailgate no longer works.
Let me know what you all think!
Thanks for all any any help as I traverse the used pickup universe.
I have a few more pictures available if curious. I didn’t want to overload the post.

Price is $7900

 

A few questions

Where are you and where is the truck? What state?

How much are they asking?

What do you want it for? Daily driver? Farm truck? Occasional hauler/truck stuff? Chop it up and go 4x4?

The description worried me a bit, then the photos of the holes through the fenders worried me more. I would want to see a lot more of underneath, behind that beautiful black paint there are some horrors. As a daily driver I would pass on this, maybe a dirt cheap 4x4 project truck that I don't need to depend on much.

 

$7900 would be a good deal but...... rust.

 

I live in Minnesota so rust is somewhat inevitable. I am working on a furniture flipping side hustle so need it to haul furniture everyday. Need something more reliable than the current Chevy k1500 I bought to start the business. But would like to be able to rely on it for a few more years without crazy maintenance repairs. They are asking for 7900.

Thanks for the replies!

 

depending on how thorough they were during the frame replacement, you could still be hiding a hurt locker of rusty issues beneath that truck. A thorough rust inspection should be done for critical and high dollar systems. The $7900 asking is within what the current market will bear. Even for a rusty one. But many have found out after purchasing that the rust has eaten some expensive items. Then they are stuck with another bill. Fixing old cars, especially if a shop is doing the work, costs the same as fixing new cars. Except, it's an old car, with little to no value. If your willing to fly down and drive back, better deals in the south. Texas for instance. On not rusted out buckets, but still serviceable examples.

 

$7,900 for a 1 owner V8 4x4 truck that only has 129,000 miles is a pretty good deal. The frame being replaced 5 years ago is a bonus. You will never be upside down (value wise) with that truck. If it has excessive mechanical issues (doubtful) you could always sell it on and probably break even. That truck isn't a candidate for a restoration, so work it till it can't work any more.

 

I would pass. tailgate is easily replaced but that rust would make me run....and if you see that rust, then there is rust you do not see in the pics.

 

If I lived in a rust state this is exactly what I would do. Fly to a no rust state and drive it home, immediately coat it.

 

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...e1=TOYOTA&modelCode1=TUNDRA&clickType=listing

Here's one from someone who clearly doesn't "know what I have".

 

What would you look for specifically to make sure aren’t affected by the rust?

thanks for your reply!

 

Your looking for a truck that hasn't lived in the salt belt. I've never treated my frame and I have no rust issues being a California / Arkansas truck it's whole life. Working on the truck is much easier since none of my components are eaten up by rust. Out west, they all know what they got, very few deals to be had. Here in the south, still some old Tundy's kicking around in the 5-8k range in great mechanical shape with no rust. Be more afraid of rust than mileage. These trucks can go a long time.

 

Definitely overpriced in my opinion. I would stay away from any rusted out vehicle. I’ve seen plenty of 00 Tundras for less and better condition.

 

Couldn't say much more than what has already been mentioned. Behind all those rusted out frame pieces are other big items to replace I bet. It's looking for deep pockets and a full bank account !
"Only good thing it's got going for it is the color black"....said by @Darkness

 

I bet the frame is bad. I've seen better looking trucks that had bad frames.

 

That truck would be a hard pass for me at that price. You could fly down south and find a rust free Tundra and drive it back. Maybe find some furniture along the way.

 

Not even with a fork...

 

Nope. Clearly not unkept with the body panel rust. Walk away and find yourself a truck with minimal rust even if the mileage is higher.

 

Way overpriced for the condition of the body, pass.

 

Right now Down here in the Atlanta area, $7,900 will buy you a 2nd Gen double cab with under 200k miles. No rust.

I’d walk away from that truck

 

There is no shot I would fork over close to $8k for that truck - has rust hikes all over the body and extensive rust in the bed. He may have had the frame replaced but I am not sure I would trust that someone simply backed into that truck. “The tailgate doesn’t work” may mean the damage won’t allow it to operate properly. Even if you replace the tailgate there may be bed / frame damage that are hidden. One owner and “only” 129k miles is something to be taken with a grain of salt…..and in this case there was much salt. Keep looking - a better deal will come along

 

COULD NOT, WOULD NOT, ON A BOAT. I WILL NOT, WILL NOT, WITH A GOAT. I WILL NOT IN THE RAIN. NOT IN THE DARK! NOT IN A TREE!

 

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/d/san-antonio-2003-toyota-tundra-sr5/7344782914.html
too beat for me.

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ctd/d/san-antonio-toyota-tundra-buy-here-pay/7344815094.html
Wish they had a price for this ugly bastard.

 

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/d/ca...uto_year=2006&min_auto_year=2000&query=tundra

That search includes dealers and people that use "Tundra" in their keywords. Click on the "owner" tab and it filters it much better.

 

Phoenix has some cool stuff. But that rat rod beetle in tuscon is calling my name.

 

I briefly saw a beast of a lifted Beetle yesterday but it was oncoming traffic and I had no time to admire or take a pic. Yeah, there's cool stuff out here that make me turn my head for both cool and/or horrifying reasons.

 

I'm about in agreement here when it comes to the rust. Walk away from it. I paid $7k for my '01 RWD Tundra with 205k miles on it, but no rust. Granted, I live in Oregon, so you don't see much rust unless you live on the coast.

 

Walk away from it.

Welcome from NY.

 

This truck is a maybe. As others said, the rust is cancer and generally unfixable. This is worth at least taking a personal close look. Really crawl under it, look everywhere for any rust that has eaten thru or is extensive. A new 5 year old frame is a nice consideration; however 5 years in the rust belt is basically cancer... so it might also be in poor shape. If it is just small body rust parts, that is fixable. The tailgate is fixable. If it's well maintained and no significant frame or body rust, it is a "fair price" for that vintage/mileage.

I agree with the others. A plane ticket to the SW and some patience will get you a rust free one. Drive it home in the summer and get it coated against rust. Probably a better investment.

 

Rust like that on the rear fender. I'd check if the bed is about to fly off or fall through. This is a pass. Get a truck down south or west away from the rust belt. I've seen early 2000s farm truck Tundras and Tacomas with 200-300k in California, look better than that one had the frame replaced 5 years ago...