What makes a 23yo Tacoma worth $11,000?

[Rokbar]

It's a TOYOTA. Be honest while driving down the road to look how many toyota's are broke down on the shoulder. If they are it's probably out of gas. Everywhere you go people want them. Pretty dang dependable vehicle compared to most. Resale is unbelievable. And if I could jump high, I'd say "Oh what a feeling."

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Lol you should craigslist 30 year old dodge Cummins.

 

[Rob5589]

The original owners attain great value, subsequent owners not as much. Unless those people who are spending 15k + for a 20 + year old pickup with 300k miles get another 200k + miles. It could happen, it may not. You're really just paying for the previous reliability. That and the cult status. Jeeps are the same way.

 

[LostArra]

Asking again....WHY? What makes them so special?

I hate to say it... The Taliban

 

[bobr1]

Toyota was smart with their engineering, they didn't go for max power on the engines. They went for max durability. I have a 2000 land cruiser I bought in 2016 for around 13K, it only had 70k and was babied it's entire life. Those are much rarer than any tacoma or tundra. I see them around where I live but they are never for sale now. They are extremely reliable and have a huge aftermarket. I know if I sold mine I could make a profit but it is so reliable I would never do it. Toyota wanted land cruisers to have a minimum of 25 year service life. Good luck finding that with a domestic or any other company to be honest. It's also the standard vehicle of NATO and I wish the US could get the turbo diesel manual version but whatever. I'm happy with mine. So yeah the prices can get stupid but they are also reliables vehicles. I just replaced the orignal O2 sensors on it. So it was built in 1999 and replaced the sensors in 2021.

 

[S.Clancy]

Pandemic has not affected my employment. And I've never smelled a Stimulus Check. I got ZERO free Cheese like everyone else. I thought everyone was broke, and out of a job? These prices are insane....and these vehicles are gone in a day.

I moved the 4Runner to get a used Outback...lol. It's way better in the snow. But it aint a Duck Dog, Marsh Masher. Hence the search for a Tacoma

They've been like that in MT for years, maybe over a decade, so it's nothing new. I have no idea why the demand is so high for them. They can't tow shit, my Honda Fit accelerates faster, and the fuel economy sucks. The engines last a long time, but I still don't get it. But, a ton of people LOVE them, my brother included. He's had 3 or 4.

 

[Islandchanel]

They are reliable and I think there is a resurgence of nostalgic reasons why the demand and price go pretty high.

 

[Billinsd]

Tacomas are Toyotas and Toyotas are reliable and dependable unlike any other automobile maker except Honda.

 

[Billinsd]

The original owners attain great value, subsequent owners not as much. Unless those people who are spending 15k + for a 20 + year old pickup with 300k miles get another 200k + miles. It could happen, it may not. You're really just paying for the previous reliability. That and the cult status. Jeeps are the same way.

Original owners will always attain more value than subsequent. Jeeps are the same way except they aren't and have never been reliable. Jeeps are tops for aftermarket parts to make them off road worthy and transform them into a cool but still unreliable truck!! Toyotas and Hondas exceptionally reliable as they are still can't defy the laws of physics and can't drive much over 250,000 without a new head gasket, motor mounts, and over 300,000 without engine and tranny rebuild. People figure they will rebuild the engine and tranny eventually. I got 145,000 on my 2002 Tacoma. It's not my daily driver, it mostly sits. BILL

 

[Billinsd]

I hate to say it... The Taliban

View attachment 285173

If I was dropped of in some hell hole and could only pick one truck and weapon to survive it would be a Tacoma and AK47.

 

[Dioni A]

I don't get it either. I've had an 84 toyota pickup an 87,93,94,97,06 and a 2016. Yes they were all great vehicles but they don't hold a candle to my 2020 f150. And with the cult like pricing I can buy a lot of parts.

 

[SHTF]

wife just picked a brand new 2021 Toyota 4runner TDR Pro for 42k its a very nice rig.

 

[Maverick1]

Asking again....WHY? What makes them so special?

To provide some actual data/metrics, and answer your question:
Dashboard Light: Manufacturer Quality Index Rating

 

[darcytribe]

I have a 96 4x4 auto 3.4 liter extracab ,tacoma that I purchased from the original owner 4 years ago. Had 319K on it. It was a southern truck that had never been off road. Origional everything- still has it's original muffler and windshield. I have 340K on it now and it's a solid truck, runs like a top, really nice, and it's tight. Crawls anywhere. You really have to watch the frame rust on these tacomas. I too believe it's the historical drivetrain reliability that their trucks and SUV's are still riding the coat-tails of. I'm not sure if their newer models are as Bullitt proof as their older ones. I do hear good things about the new Tundras., but I hope i'm still putzing around in this one when I kick the bucket.

 

[darcytribe]

I have a 96 4x4 auto 3.4 liter extracab ,tacoma that I purchased from the original owner 4 years ago. Had 319K on it. It was a southern truck that had never been off road. Origional everything- still has it's original muffler and windshield. I have 340K on it now and it's a solid truck, runs like a top, really nice, and it's tight. Crawls anywhere. You really have to watch the frame rust on these tacomas. I too believe it's the historical drivetrain reliability that their trucks and SUV's are still riding the coat-tails of. I'm not sure if their newer models are as Bullitt proof as their older ones. I do hear good things about the new Tundras., but I hope i'm still putzing around in this one when I kick the bucket.

oh and I paid $5000 for it

 

[Dioni A]

Your 2020 is 1 year old...report back with 300k miles.

I'm going to drive it for 80,000 and move on to the next one. I literally don't care if it makes it to 300,000 miles. It drives handles pulls and feels 10,000 times better than my 16 tacoma. That's what I care about. Oh and it gets better mileage while having 100 more horsepower.

 

[Vandy321]

I'm going to drive it for 80,000 and move on to the next one. I literally don't care if it makes it to 300,000 miles. It drives handles pulls and feels 10,000 times better than my 16 tacoma. That's what I care about. Oh and it gets better mileage while having 100 more horsepower.

And it has a fancy sync system to keep you entertained while you wait for the tow trucks.

I've owned 3 fords (raptor and 2 powerstrokes). I could have had bad luck, but the 2 diesels were bottomless pits of repair costs. The raptor was nice, but for twice the price and half the resale, I'll take my Toyota. My taco is not my daily driver, agree they are not super fun to drive, but when I'm in the woods reliability us king.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Ok here are the reasons in no particular order.
Besides frame rust and rear springs.

They are one of if not the most reliable vehicles built.
Cost to own is low, easy to work on and cheap parts. Parts interchangeability is high.
Tons of aftermarket accessories, anything your hear desires. Sas, long travel. Etc etc.
The drive train holds up well to large tires.
I believe they were the 1st truck to use a strut so they ride way better and have less stuff hanging under to catch.

That being said 1st Gen tundra is the way to go.
All the same attributes but some actual room and power. Not quite as much aftermarket parts.

 

[Billinsd]

I have a 96 4x4 auto 3.4 liter extracab ,tacoma that I purchased from the original owner 4 years ago. Had 319K on it. Origional everything- still has it's original muffler and windshield. I have 340K on it now and it's a solid truck, runs like a top, really nice, and it's tight.

Original coil and leaf springs, engine mounts, dash lights, water pump, no oil leaks, shocks, no new power steering hoses, radiator, alternator, windshield wiper motor/tank, suspension parts, bushings, ac? How do you know what previous owner had repaired that owned it 22 whole years before you? Your truck is 6 years older than mine with WELL over double my miles and yet "original everything"? What is your definition of original? Hasn't been replaced? Shazam

 

[BluMtn]

In our part of the country the 80's and 90's Toyota pickups are king. If it has the 3.4 and independent front end you pull it into the garage and put a straight axle under it. If it has the straight axle and the 4cyl. everyone is jealous of you. If you are lucky you have one that has the double transfer cases in it with the 4cyl and a straight front axle and the bed has been chopped at the rear tires and it has 40's on it. Those are $15,000 pickups no matter how beat up they are. Also it will have a full roll cage going to the frame on it also. We have a ton of those running around here in South Eastern Washington. It is a right of passage to have one when you are in high school. My day it was CL5 jeeps, now Toyota pickups.