Anyone live in Leander TX that can test drive a truck for me?

Hi guys! Ive been actively searching for an 06 tundra for a while and i found one i really like!!!

i live in california and market value for toyotas out here are ridiculously expensive so i am looking at out of state options.. I found a truck in Leander and it looks awesome! 170k miles 4x4
and the undercarriage is rust free and looks great. Asking price is 10,500. im leaning towards buying it but wanted to reach out and see if anyone lives in the neighborhood that would want to take a look at it for me. I can pay you for your time... lmk

 

Kinda far from me but it looks like they have a really cool dog park in that city called Cedar Bark Park.

 

Yes. And they have an Inner Space Cavern and host the Texas Pumpkin Fest, as well! Wonder if all expenses will be paid? Might be interested.

 

I'm occasionally in Round Rock for work. But not today.

 

I live a couple of hours north, but unfortunately I'm in Louisiana until mid March

 

Have them take it to a shop in Leander for a Pre-Purchase Inspection on your dime. A good mechanic will give you your money's worth of satisfaction.

 

Just curious we'd like to see said truck, link?

 

as long as you promise not to snatch it lol... it looks like a good deal

that looks awesome!!

 

i found someone to inspect it on friday sale is pending!!!

 

Not to be a debbie downer, but a lifted truck and the owner can’t find a buyer in texas? Something seems not right

 

Anyone have a recommendation for a mechanic in Leander TX? looks like their may be an issue with the o2 sensor. since i live in california, i will need the truck to pass a smog inspection in order for me to register it. So its prob best i get a mechanic to inspect the vehicle.

the truck has a new catalytic converter and o2 sensor. the owner says that the truck is not registering the new sensor... code reader shows a "blow threshold bank 1".

i guess im mostly wondering if this seems like an easy fix or something serious and i should not buy the truck. The owner has put a lot of $$$ into the truck and he seems like a trustworthy guy. He gets his truck serviced at a toyota dealership so i'm assuming there would be records if i pull a carfax.

 

do you live in Leander? do u recommend any mechanics out there for a new owner vehicle inspection?

 

Nowhere near, in Houston, just wanna see what you getting, I have my own Tundra and T100

 

i grabbed it as soon as it was listed... so idk? he said that its priced pretty high for that area. but the price is the lowest ive seen for that truck in texas so far..

 

Clean!

 

Did you ask the seller why he's selling the truck?

The cat install appears aftermarket (?), and that wouldn't be too surprising. That may be why the O2 sensor isn't being recognized. May be a minor problem that's inexpensive to fix. Otherwise, the truck is very clean, with no rust.

What would your decision be if this exact same truck was available in Cali for the same price? There are no perfect 15 yo trucks. The question is, how much money is it going to take for this truck to meet Cali smog inspection. I have no information, but I suspect not thousands. If the secondary air injection system isn't working properly, than all bets are off; that's the territory that comes with buying 15 yo trucks.

Seller will likely remove his Texas license plates, but he should be able to provide you with a temporary transportation permit from Texas DMV that will allow you to drive it home. Check with Cali DMV to see what you will need from the seller to register a Texas truck. For an in-state sale, the seller would provide the buyer with the certificate of ownership (?), free of liens, signed as seller, and a signed Application for (Texas) Title.

https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle

 

The cat is after market. He said he's selling it because he needs a truck that can tow more for work. I can tell he really likes his truck and has put a lot of money into it. He actually told me today that hes having second thoughts about selling and all of his friends don't want him to sell it.. so that makes me feel like its a good truck!!!

I've been actively looking at pricing for the truck i want for about 4 weeks now. I can't find a 1st gen tundra 4x4 that's in California for under 13k without something significantly wrong with it! i would love to find one in my state but i refuse to pay a ridiculous price for one! So if i buy one out of state and get it shipped to me, i'd be saving around $1,500! It does make me nervous buying a truck without inspecting it first but i get a good feeling from this guy, he actually took the time to send me videos and we did a live chat! Im working on getting a mobile mechanic to inspect it this week... I'm not sure if im doing the right thing or not but most decisions in life are not easy!!!

I'm honestly thinking the repairs for the truck to get in to pass smog won't be that much but if it is, or they can't resolve the issue i definitely won't buy it..

thanks for the advice on registering it. I did look into info on transferring the title to california today and about getting a temp tag, it's a little confusing so far but ill make sure to figure it out before i purchase... The most upsetting thing i found out today is it's going to cost $1200 in taxes/fees to register my truck in california. This is super tough to process and California just really sucks!!! it's the land of overpriced everything!!!!!

 

i

it's the nicest i've seen so far for 10k!!! The owner is having second thoughts and might not sell it. so i'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

It is nice, IDK why those steps like that though kinda looks weird

 

Yeah, they are mounted low. Maybe an improvised mounting due to the lift. I had some similar SmittyBilt steps that mounted to the rear spring bolt in the back. They were just below the door sill.

@empty_lord @Professional Hand Model Is the marking below an O2 sensor? Does this sensor install look weird? I wonder if replacing that sensor with a new Toyota version would fix @Luv2_4x4 problem.

 

OK, there's some major discrepancies between the one external shot of the truck and the rest. The step bar is different, a tube with molded plastic step version in the external shot, a tube with welded hoop steps in the close up shots of underneath. It's also hanging incredibly low in that shot, suggestive of a body lift. The tires are also different. BFG in the close-ups, some other AT brand in the external shot. All new catalytic set-up, and I mean all new, not even any corrosion or mud baked on. These are not all recent pics. I would demand to see pics from today, I imagine the tires and steps are newer editions so why the old pic of the outside of the truck? I also would be incredibly skeptical that a vehicle that had new cats put on and won't recognize the O2 sensor is gonna be an easy fix to pass smog inspection, something that isn't done in Texas and you'll only know for sure once you get it to California. And why the new cats? i'm rolling factory cats still from 2000. New cats mean poor maintenance or ignored problems. This truck does not sound like it's gonna save you money. I would never purchase a vehicle sight unseen. I would never take a seller's word for face value. I'm skeptical by nature and this one smells a little fishy. How did your local inspection go aside from the O2 sensor problem and how did they know it was a problem? Check engine light? What's the codes? Be sure that you're very thorough before accepting this vehicle and I sure hope you haven't sent any money yet.

 

I live close but on the road for work. I would not be a good judge to drive it for you especially if you are looking at spending 10k+. I do have a mechanic who has worked on my vehicles. Trustworthy and not over priced. I am not sure if he will do a vehicle inspection or the costs, but worth a call?

Brian Bush (512) 709-9100

Tell him that Sam (with the Tundra) from SRR sent you.

Good luck!

 

this part that you circled is it an o2 sensor? this did look weird to me to.. i thought the sensors are located near the engine. but i dont know much

 

PM sent

 

these are all very good assessments thank you! The external shot is an old photo so the tires have been changed since then.. I do have a video he sent this week of the undercarriage if you want to see it.. (im not sure if i can upload videos to this thread). the video does look very similar to the picture but i don't know much... I am also sceptical of a new cat system that does not register, I told the mechanic that this needs to be addressed. No engine light on, i asked if there was a code and yes it says blow threshold bank 1... He said he replaced the cat because he likes clean trucks and wants it to look nice.. the truck did pass emissions test for texas but i think california's might be more thorough.

I haven't had the inspection done yet but it will be this friday..

i honestly feel like this guy has a lot of money and is constantly putting money into the truck. Truck has new shocks, all new lights, new grill, new tires, he said he took it to a specialist today to fix the rear seals. he has parts in hand to replace oil pan and gaskets for engine has a small leak...

as ppl mentioned before, 15 year old trucks will need repairs but it seems like he has done a lot of work to it... the undercarriage does look really clean to me and i really like that! I'm interested to see what the mechanic says about the truck.. ill let you know...

I did have a video chat with him and my impression was that he's an honest guy just a little weird. I don't feel like he's lying about anything but maybe there are things he's not telling me... He told me yesterday that hes having second thoughts about selling it and all of his friends say it's a nice truck and not to sell it.. so i can tell he is attached to the truck. to me that makes me feel like he takes care of the truck!!

Thank you again for you advise! much appreciated!!!

 

can you show me were you see the steps in the close up shots.. im not seeing it

 

Tube style but with hoop steps




BFG all terrains




Not hoop steps. Not BFG all terrains

 

Likely just an old exterior picture. But why would you not show the improvements? That exterior photo looks like it was taken with a potato. Like a camera phone from long ago, suggesting it may not be recent. A recent photo would better show what equipment is on the truck, paint condition, cracked windshield, tire wear etc. I would insist on getting photos of all tires, all body panels, windshield, interior shots of all seats, carpets, dash and interior as well as the instrument cluster with the vehicle on and running and odometer displayed. A detailed list of equipment the car came with and what's been added. Also would run the Carfax for what it's worth. May reveal prior damage or open recalls etc. They are not fool proof and are only good for the information they contain. But they only contain what's been reported to them. Best of luck, like I said, I'm skeptical of everything,this could be a good rig. But with used cars, guilty until proven otherwise.