What's a 22 year 19,000 Mile Tacoma Worth?

[Lunentucker]

Few things demonstrate the value of the these vehicles better than this auction.
I wish I'd seen it sooner and made arrangements to bid.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-toyota-tacoma-115/

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[chr15m]

Few things demonstrate the value of the these vehicles better than this auction.
I wish I'd seen it sooner and made arrangements to bid.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-toyota-tacoma-115/

What someone is willing to pay for it. Values clearly subjective here, currently at a 33k offer and for me, certainly not worth that.

Having spent some good time in a 02, yeah it was ok, pretty gutless and wasn't as bulletproof as they're sold to be, head gaskets, lower ball joints (possibly catastrophic if not monitored with age). Certainly would not spend that kind of cash on one.

The same model year Tundra was a much better truck that is midsize by todays standards. To each there own.

 

[Janster]

Wow... no way in hell...
I'd be asking A LOT of questions about that frame. The Tacoma's had a lot of frame rust issues over the years. They issued frame rust warranties for trucks going as far back as the first year they came out in 1995. The warranties extended into 2008, 2009... model years.

I'd owned a 1996 Tacoma that I bought in 1999 and sold it before all the frame issues came out.
I owned a 2007 Tacoma that they replaced the frame in 2016.

A lot of the trucks got complete frame replacements... while other trucks got some sort of under-coating that didn't do shit. The frames were rusting from the 'inside out'. My 2007 frame looked new from the outside, but upon inspection.... there was a spot on the inside of the frame under drivers side that you could poke right thru it.

My truck was at the dealership for about 3 days, while they took it all apart..... I have photos somewhere of the 'rolling chassis' after it was complete and the body/bed on a hoist.

Yea...needless to say, the truck wasn't the same after that. I'd had it back for lose bolts & such.
Traded it in for a 2016 Canyon.

So yea... Be careful with those.... there's LOTS OF HISTORY for Toyota and rusted frames.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Anyone know what that cost new?

 

[w00ht]

FWIW the MSRP ($25K) of that truck would have been about $43K in todays money.

I've had a few 80's Toyota 4x4's (both pickups and 1st gen 4runners) and they were fun then, but I wouldn't spend anywhere near what they go for these days. They're great little trucks and all, but things are very different now, especially as vehicle weights continue to balloon and those things roll up into little balls of tin foil when they crash. It's a different time.

 

[w00ht]

Anyone know what that cost new?

$22 - $25K depending on options

 

[Deleted member 57233]

It's worth nowhere near what a low miles J80 Land Cruiser will bring

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fzj80-140/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fzj80-126/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fzj80-3/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-170/

 

[trekkar]

Wow, that's nearly perfect and not surprised it's going for 40k plus after fees. I would never pay anywhere near that but that's collector grade and collector money being thrown at it.

I'd love to know what the owner bought it for in 2022 from the original owner though.

I almost bought a very nice one a year ago for about 17k but 120k miles on it.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sold-excellent-2003-tacoma-off-road-double-cab-v6-4x4.825142/

 

[Lunentucker]

I think the market for these kinds of trucks improves with every new generation of the utter computerized electronic CRAP that all makers are turning out.
Frame? Look at the pictures and then go look under your Gladiator. LOL

 

[Hootbro]

First purchase and title at 9K miles suggest this was a dealer demo/loaner. Might of had two owners but may have had 50-100+ different butts in the seat treating it like a rental.

 

[chr15m]

Wow... no way in hell...
I'd be asking A LOT of questions about that frame. The Tacoma's had a lot of frame rust issues over the years. They issued frame rust warranties for trucks going as far back as the first year they came out in 1995. The warranties extended into 2008, 2009... model years.

I'd owned a 1996 Tacoma that I bought in 1999 and sold it before all the frame issues came out.
I owned a 2007 Tacoma that they replaced the frame in 2016.

A lot of the trucks got complete frame replacements... while other trucks got some sort of under-coating that didn't do shit. The frames were rusting from the 'inside out'. My 2007 frame looked new from the outside, but upon inspection.... there was a spot on the inside of the frame under drivers side that you could poke right thru it.

My truck was at the dealership for about 3 days, while they took it all apart..... I have photos somewhere of the 'rolling chassis' after it was complete and the body/bed on a hoist.

Yea...needless to say, the truck wasn't the same after that. I'd had it back for lose bolts & such.
Traded it in for a 2016 Canyon.

So yea... Be careful with those.... there's LOTS OF HISTORY for Toyota and rusted frames.

There will be people that argue with this, even though its widely known and documented. The 02 that I spent time with had already had the frame replaced and even repainted when it began to show rust again within a couple years.

I've owned a few Toyotas and spent years as a Toyota fan boy. The list to my memory, 2011 FJ, 2008 Scion TC, 2014 4Runner, 2016 Tacoma (lemon law), 2018 Tacoma, 2019 Tundra Pro(wrecked after getting rear ended), 2019 4Runner Pro (Wife's), 2021 Tundra. The 2002 Tacoma was shared with a room mate.

All of those trucks had very noticeable frame rust within the first 2 years of ownership. The 2011 FJ was already in the process of documentation at the dealer to request Toyota for replacement consideration. The Tundras faired the best in progression of rust, the 4Runner was comparable to the Tundra. The Tacomas and the FJ were not impressive, considering I spent time in 4 different vehicles made by Toyota and all had decent rust within 2 years, I'd say it was an issue. My JT has rust on the axles, but none on the frame as of 2 years. The axle rust is at points where something in the road has hit the axle. The rear diff cover, which is my standard for checking (Toyotas were already turning speckled orange after 2 years) has neither oil or rust on it.

If the frame on this 02 Taco is that clean, it was either kept inside almost always or has been replaced/repainted already.

When my 2019 Tundra was totaled it was taken to a shop up in Bellevue, ultimately frame replacement was enough to push it over the total limit. I was in touch with the shop owner a bit and he actually had done dozens of frame replacements on Toyotas, not for accidents though.

Toyota frame rust doesn't happen to everyone, but it is a real concern to keep in mind. Visit Tacomaworld, goto the 1st gen section, search rust..

 

[Janster]

I think the market for these kinds of trucks improves with every new generation of the utter computerized electronic CRAP that all makers are turning out.
Frame? Look at the pictures and then go look under your Gladiator. LOL

The Tacoma frames were rusting from the INSIDE out…… You couldn’t tell from the outside at all. My 2007 looked like that…. nice and black, even after 9 years.

But once the dealership would do their inspections….. they’d start poking at known spots. I think the rule was… If they could poke at any given spot and create A 2” hole - the frame would fail inspection.

Hopefully, they figured out the issues in the newer trucks - since it could take up to 10 years before they see any issues.

 

[AustyPosty]

The Tacoma frames were rusting from the INSIDE out…… You couldn’t tell from the outside at all. My 2007 looked like that…. nice and black, even after 9 years.

But once the dealership would do their inspections….. they’d start poking at known spots. I think the rule was… If they could poke at any given spot and create A 2” hole - the frame would fail inspection.

Hopefully, they figured out the issues in the newer trucks - since it could take up to 10 years before they see any issues.

Weren't the older Tacoma frames partially open C-Channel up until this latest Tacoma refresh? Definitely a weaker design than the Gladiators fully boxed frame. Plus the gladiator has drain holes all over the frame.

I'd recommend sticking a hose into some of those side holes on the frame every once and a while and hose out the inside of the frame, I would do that every time I washed my 2 Door Jeep JK, especially after an off-road trail and you'd see mud and dirt flow out of the frame. At least it didn't get trapped in there! Almost had my JK for 10 years and no signs of rust at all, inside or outside the frame.

 

[chr15m]

Weren't the older Tacoma frames partially open C-Channel up until this latest Tacoma refresh? Definitely a weaker design than the Gladiators fully boxed frame. Plus the gladiator has drain holes all over the frame.

I'd recommend sticking a hose into some of those side holes on the frame every once and a while and hose out the inside of the frame, I would do that every time I washed my 2 Door Jeep JK, especially after an off-road trail and you'd see mud and dirt flow out of the frame. At least it didn't get trapped in there! Almost had my JK for 10 years and no signs of rust at all, inside or outside the frame.

Sections were C channel, even on my 2018.

I was surprised to see the Gladiator was fully closed when I got under it the first time.

 

[Janster]

Weren't the older Tacoma frames partially open C-Channel up until this latest Tacoma refresh? Definitely a weaker design than the Gladiators fully boxed frame. Plus the gladiator has drain holes all over the frame.

I'd recommend sticking a hose into some of those side holes on the frame every once and a while and hose out the inside of the frame, I would do that every time I washed my 2 Door Jeep JK, especially after an off-road trail and you'd see mud and dirt flow out of the frame. At least it didn't get trapped in there! Almost had my JK for 10 years and no signs of rust at all, inside or outside the frame.

It was boxed on the front half……

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