Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Used Toyota Tacoma

Hi All, I read the Tacoma 100,000 mileage thread. My story, after 15 years my old s-10 is due to be replaced. Been looking for a Tacoma for awhile now. Found an 2002 that is exactly what I want right down to the color.
Its a 4 cyl 4x4 with 5 speed, air, limited slip rear,brush in bed liner,bed cover, and tow pkg. Just as I would of bought new!
Now questions, it has 118,000 miles on it, price is $7500.Body in great shape, looks like garage kept,only couple spots that have been touched up. One clear at bottom under rocker panel had surface rust that was painted. One nick in fender. Price looks to be a little under book? So betting they won't deal much on it. Haven't test drove it or checked car fax yet. If it checks out good,is this a decent deal??
I keep vehicles a long time, would only be putting 4-5000 miles a year on it and towing about 2600lb trailer and load 4 trips a year. I think it would do will for me,any info or input welcome!
Thanks.

Be sure to look at the Edmund's "private party sale" price, not the retail book. The private party price is more appropriate and might provide you some leverage.

Look at the drive line and make sure they haven't let the u-joints go dry. Look for rust in the frame, especially on the top of the frame where it bolts to the body and can trap road salt.

Those engines are sturdy, 118K is nothing if it's had regular maintenance. If it's a private seller, ask to see the records and get a sense of oil change frequency.

You won't have any trouble pulling that trailer. If it was an auto, I'd consider steep hills, but that 5 speed will be fine.

I had a 96 with a 4cyl/5 speed and it would pull a trailer of nearly 3000# just fine. They're good trucks. With the amount of miles you'll drive, you'll rust the body to hell before you'd ever wear the truck out.

PeaEye,checked edmunds,some room to deal.Its a dealer so since they were closed today, I did a good check of the frame and underneath,looks good,didn't think to really check the u-joints.
Do plan to do car fax check on it tomorrow, then go back on next day off to test drive and see if they will deal.

tzone, I thought it would do fine, after doing research on the towing rates for them. Yeah I would only drive it in winter, and to haul once in a while. That's what happened to the s-10,went from daily driver of 12 years to just once in a while. Just to point of tired of working on it to keep it going.