From 1st gen 4runner to 1st gen tundra - "Is this truck a decent deal" questions

Hi all, just sold my 86 4unner after 7 years, 30k miles, 1 DIY engine rebuild, and a lot of wrenching. Located in Oregon. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199/magnet18-1986-build-thread-296954/

Loved the 4runner but time for a 4 door truck big enough I can put a car seat in the back of - I work from home so it's a secondary vehicle I'll probably drive ~2k miles per year.

• Wanted a pickup this time
• gotta be toyota
• older tacos are too small to comfortably haul car seats
• don't like the look of 2nd gen crewmax
• don't have budget for anything newer than that

A bit more research and boom I have narrowed myself down to 05 or 06 dual cab Tundra - what looks to be an amazing truck. I have read the very helpful "start here" post https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

One has come up for sale right in my neighborhood that I'm going to look at tomorrow, 2005, 270k, 1 owner since new and it looks almost like it just rolled off the lot. Very well maintained with service records to prove it, timing belt last done at 200k so that's coming up again soon. Ball joints, shocks, brakes, etc. all done in the last few years. It averaged 57 miles per weekday for 18 years, and it looks nearly brand new. Owner is asking $11,500 OBO - it's been listed for a full week already and hasn't been snapped up and I'm thinking that's a bit high for a nearly 300K truck. I am hoping to get it for between $10 and $10.5k.

I wanted to ask the regulars if that seems fair.

I haven't bought a vehicle since 2018 and these post pandemic prices are really weirding me out. I bought the 4runner for 3K and sold it for 8K. The world has changed and I'm really trying to wrap my head around whether it makes sense to pay 5 figures for a truck with nearly 300K miles but that seems to be what they go for here in the northwest.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! I agree that it sounds crazy to pay 5 figures for a vehicle with that kind of mileage. Maybe it's a good sign that it is still available a week after being posted.

 

Yea I hear you. Prices for vehicles are definitely way higher out here which is why I'm reeling a bit. I moved out here from the rust belt a year ago and they appear to be double out here. Of course the rust belt has its name for a reason. Here in Oregon a friend recently sold an 03 4runner with 300K miles for $17K. My sister just bought an 04 4runner with 210K miles for $14K and was pleased she got a good deal. .

For reference here is all the 1st gen double cabs currently for sale in the northwest sorted by time on market, if you want sticker shock and to feel good about prices in your area LOL.

 

Wow! $12,500 for an EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD SALVAGE TITLE?!?!?!? That is INSANE!

 

Come down to ATL cheap trucks or Miami Florida

 

Dude you're telling me. And that blue one listed for 19K just sold, so these aren't all just sitting for ages.

This one sold in under 3 hours this afternoon. With both the A/T Oil Temp and the check engine lights on. Tho I'll admit I love the color.

I haven certainly thought about it. I've done that before for bigger things like motorhomes. As tempting as it is by the time it's all said and done it's usually just cheaper to pay an extra 5K for something

 

Yeah, it sounds like you could easily save more than a plane ticket and gas to get home by buying elsewhere.

 

I'm thinking someone who likes driving could make a living picking up sub-200K trucks in Atlanta and driving them back to the northwest to flip them

 

Well maybe I'm still on the hunt and not looking at that one today after all, apparently somebody swooped in this morning and put a deposit down sight unseen

 

Update - ended up getting a 2008 DC. 1st gens would probably be a good investment though as they seem to already be in "collector" territory here out west... collector truck isn't exactly what I'm looking for right now though, I'm pretty happy with the 2nd gen.

Started a build thread here

https://www.tundras.com/threads/magnet18-2008-dc-build-thread.129429/

 

You even got the fastest color!

 

Yes, and I just ordered some stickers to make it go even faster

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Thanks!