Would you buy this truck?

[dusty3030]

That would be my choice as well.

A base model new Toyota 2WD regular cab would cost about what that 2004 would have cost along with an extended warranty.

Trouble at the moment would be finding one in stock. With easy financing EVERYONE is buying trucks, and the Toyota dealers also seem to
like to load-up their stock trucks with all sorts of options, so that is all a lot of them have in stock at the moment.

I have noticed that one CAN find new base Nissan Frontiers, and the extended cab Nissan is priced about the same as the standard cab Toyota.
Now that Ford is no longer building Rangers, all the auto parts stores around here than used to run parts in Rangers are switching over to
the Nissans. There is an O'Reillys up the street here that still has one old Ranger and also one new Nissan. They park them side by side. The Nissan
is quite a bit bigger than the Ranger, I noticed. The Nissan is getting to be the replacement for the Ranger in fleets.

Back in the 1970's the Datsun was the mini truck to have. One could get after market 4WD kits (no factory 4WD) and also step side bed kits for the
Datsun.

My 1978 Toyota Hilux was second fiddle to the Datsuns.

Toyota has dropped the regular cab Taco's

If I see a new one on a lot 4wd I'm liable to buy it.

 

[HHR]

The current Tacoma is pretty dated at this point and the new model appears to be on the same platform. In 2005 I liked the Tacoma but hated the seating position. I'm waiting for a Duramax Colorado chassis cab.

 

[Capricious]

Trucks are selling at a premium right now, due to relatively low fuel prices and relatively easy financing.

If the kid needs transportation over mostly decent roads, a car might fulfill that need, and be cheaper.

Again, it's a matter of "needs" vs. "wants" and how much Dad wants to spend.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

IMO, one of the best used trucks in the 05-07 range for value/reliability is the Tundra. Just pay attention to the frame as mentioned previously. I had an 06 Taco and an 06 Tundra. The fuel mileage was 1-2mpg difference between the 2 trucks(in the taco's favor), but the Tundra has SO much more room and smoother ride.
I'd still have the Tundra today with a smile on my face, but i needed to go bigger for pulling a camper.
Travis

Taco

Tundra

 

[Capricious]

The trouble with Toyota trucks is that Toyota has jacked-up the price to turn them into a cash cow.

Example: In 2013 we bought a new Corolla to replace a 1996 Corolla we also bought new. Both are/were bottom-of-the-line Corollas with auto- the 2013 has a few more "do-dads"
than the 1996 had but they are really close to the same.

We paid just under 20% more for the 2013 than we paid for the 1996, cash sale in both cases.
20% price increase after 17 years.


In 2001 I bought a new Ranger with V6 and auto, and paid $11,750.00, also cash sale. At the time I also priced regular cab Toyota 2WD 4 cylinder trucks and could have bought one of those for about the same money.

To buy that same Toyota today (assuming any regular cabs are left) would cost at least $18,000.00
Better than 50% price increase over 14 years for the truck, vs 20% price increase over 17 years for the Corolla.

Way back in 1986 (after Reagan/Volcker killed inflation and the economy as well) I bought a box-stock Toyota 2WD regular cab 4 cylinder manual shift
for $5,835.00 cash sale. Only option was a step bumper (not standard in those days, nor was a radio or A/C). So that is better than 300% price increase over
29 years. Yes a new one would come with radio & A/C standard, but still one heck of an increase in price.

Back in '86, one could buy a Toyota pick up cheaper than a Toyota car. But that was before Toyota realized they could turn the trucks into cash cows.

Of course, all the makers of trucks are doing the same thing; one need on look at historical trends in transaction costs.

This chart only goes through 2013, but the trend is continuing and accelerating:
http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/Pricey-pickups.png

 

[newbury]

The only thing I know is he's looking for a good first truck for a 17yr old kid. I suggested a regular cab, manual transmission, 4cyl. Hard to get in trouble with those and your insurance will be a little bit cheaper since it's a regular cab. <snip>

Plus it's difficult to jam 4 rowdy friends in the cab.
Right now is a poor time for buying small trucks due to graduation and a lot of people wanting them.

SWMBO, who drives about 2,000 miles per year has been due for a "new" Ford vehicle to replace her 2004 Civic Hybrid. It's GOT to be a Ford, only dealership in town. She just shocked me when she said she might consider a F150, versus a Fiesta. Of course I immediately drove her to the lot, not realizing she knew nothing about the difference in sticker price. Oh well, it was close

The trouble with Toyota trucks is that Toyota has jacked-up the price to turn them into a cash cow.
<snip>Back in '86, one could buy a Toyota pick up cheaper than a Toyota car. But that was before Toyota realized they could turn the trucks into cash cows.
<snip>

And Toyota seems to be the terrorist weapon mover of choice. Perhaps all the tailgates we see on the news is good advertising for Toyota.

 

[MH8675309]

Would I buy this truck? Not with a fox not in a box not in a house not with a mouse.

 

[crashz]

If he were my kid, I'd buy him an 80's model 2wd chevy or ford 3/4ton truck. Lots of steel and slower than anything else on the road.

Chances are, it will be wrecked either way, so why wreck an expensive truck when a $1500 beater will do the job?

 

[dfkrug]

Back in the 1970's the Datsun was the mini truck to have. One could get after market 4WD kits (no factory 4WD)
and also step side bed kits for the Datsun.

My 1978 Toyota Hilux was second fiddle to the Datsuns.

Back then, and ever since, Toyota seemed to have bigger engines, vs. Datsun. The Datsuns were WAY
better looking (73-79), however, vs. those oogly Toyotas. IMO, of course. I loved my 74 Datsun, but when
Toyota came out with 4x4, I had to get one (1980).

(My PUs: 71 Datsun, 74 Datsun, 76, 80, 89, 04 Toyotas.)

 

[oldpilgrim]

I had a 71 Datsun pu.

Really tough engine...... 4 main bearings in a 4 cyl engine was unheard of. Only problems were the aluminum heads were prone to warping and the bodies loved to breed rust.

Really basic simple machines. No luxury at all.

My new bought '14 Tundra is the best vehicle I've ever owned.