Would You Pull the Trigger and Buy this?

[Perfection]

Local dealer has an '02 SR5 Sport edition, 146k, no rust, no leaks, no accidents, one owner, all scheduled maintenance done and clean as a whistle. They're wanting $8k plus tax, tags, fees etc. I'm leaning towards buying it but figured I'd ask all you nice folks. ..

 

[combatmedic]

How does she drive? Cold AC? And all that stuff. Check out the 4wd and make sure everything engages as it should. I like it but would feel better paying around 7

 

[Perfection]

Thanks. I did test drive it. 4 hi, low, and multi mode worked fine. It did have the braking shudder which I told them about and they said could be negotiated into the deal. Toyota Owners website has reported that the previous owner had taken it into a dealership to fix an A/C leak, but it cooled fine today in 100 degree heat.

 

[LittleCaesar]

It looks good. See if the LBJ recall has been done. Gotta love the Mr. T. package as well. But the floor mats have to been the first thing replaced.

Is it the pic or is the emergency brake rather bent to the right?

Got any underhood, undercarriage pics?

You should be able to take out plenty of Blue Devils without so much as a scratch.

 

[KHoffRunner]

you should be able to take out plenty of blue devils without so much as a scratch.

Amen!

 

[Perfection]

It looks good. See if the LBJ recall has been done. Gotta love the Mr. T. package as well. But the floor mats have to been the first thing replaced.

Is it the pic or is the emergency brake rather bent to the right?

Got any underhood, undercarriage pics?

You should be able to take out plenty of Blue Devils without so much as a scratch.

It does fall within the LBJ recall range of VINs... I already checked that. Therefore, even if it hasn't been done I'll be off free of charge. The engine has been steam cleaned. I asked about leaking VCGs and of course they said "nope", so I tested it long enough for the infamous oil smell to show up and it did not. Ebrake might be bent; I didn't notice and tested it. And yes, I will definitely not have any problem taking out all blue devils that dare stand in my way :lookout:

I appreciate the comments and advice.

 

[coho51]

What's the LBJ recall??

 

[farmerjon]

I would pull the trigger, seems like a good deal - though I would try and negotiate down to $7K.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

i would, clean 3rd gens (especially 1 owner) are a dying breed:cry2:

 

[coho51]

OK I got it. Lower Ball Joint

 

[rm2fast]

What's the LBJ recall??

Lower ball joints are semi common to fail... normally years 2001 and 2002 were recalled for lower ball joints

 

[coho51]

Is this in the same time frame for Tacomas also?

 

[rm2fast]

Is this in the same time frame for Tacomas also?

yes they have issues as well

 

[rm2fast]

Toyota TACOMA Recalls - DealerRater

All tacoma recalls by year

 

[Dous]

The E-brake linkage could have that angle because they replaced it with a 96-98 version...

I thought they were all the same and when I swapped in an older linkage into my 4runner the bolt holes were just slightly different; when bolted in it had the same exact angle as the one pictured

 

[Brutus]

Believe I'd wave 7 G's in their face and drive it home. Looks decent to me.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

At $8K is not a deal but it's not a bad deal either. Hit them at $8K out the door (which puts you in around $7,200 and call it a day.

 

[NorthWestManiac]

Buy it!

 

[Nunyabiz]

Well that "appears" to be a better deal than anything I saw anywhere near Raleigh "from a dealer" last year when I was looking.

Most everything I saw was $8000 and up and ALL of them from the dealers (except for Carmax) were all trashed, I went to go see a couple of them on Capital Blvd for $8K and when I got there they looked like they had been stolen by a family of Ape's driven hard into African brush country and put away wet with the doors wide open so the herds could stomp through.

One of them IMO was not even safe nor legal to drive on the street.

So if I were you I would find a very good trusty mechanic, if you don't know any I would suggest John Hearne over and Hearnes Automotive on South Saunders St. He is good and honest.
Have him check it out thoroughly and do NOT trust "Carfax" that is only good to get just a vague idea of what might or might not have happened to it.

I had to find mine 3 hours away in Charlotte from a private party.
I found absolutely nothing in or near Raleigh last year that I would have paid more than $1,500 for except for some at Carmax but they started around $13,000 there.

Good luck

 

[white_n_slow]

Price seems fair for a dealer that's willing to address the brakes, etc.