If you live in the United States and have trucks on the brain, Toyota Tacoma is definitely on your list. There are 1001 reasons to choose it over other midsize pickup trucks available on the market. Its excellent fuel economy, impressive towing and loading ability, toughness on off-road tracks make it impossible to ignore. 

Nonetheless, it is not only about the raw power. Toyota’s safety sense package, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure control, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, and pre-collision with pedestrian detection, has made it even more desired by many.

If you are looking for the best quality and price for a secondhand Toyota Tacoma in Los Angles, Car Plus Finance is a Toyota dealer that has the best deals for you. 

Why Buying a Preowned Toyota Tacoma Could Be Your Best Option

Even though Toyota Tacoma has one of the most affordable prices among midsize trucks, it still fetches a good price. Paying around $26,000 for a 2021 Toyota Tacoma SR can still be a lot for many people, especially for people out there who want to spend their hard-earned money on a truck. In case you want to buy a secondhand Tacoma TRD Pro or Tacoma TRD Off-Road, the price could be even higher.

So, if you have decided to buy a preowned Toyota Tacoma because you believe that the performance decline that it has is so unnoticeable that it makes the lower price a good bargain for you, you are right. However, there are still things to consider before buying a secondhand Toyota Tacoma. Before going through the parts and aspects to be inspected before purchasing a preowned Toyota Tacoma, let us tell you that a Toyota Tacoma, whether new or used, is an excellent investment!  

Now let’s explore the items that their inspection before your purchase helps you avoid spending money on major repairs. 

Check the Electronics

Yes, our initial perception of the car is all about appearance, but whether a vehicle can function well or no depends on the inside and Toyota Tacoma is no exception. First, we suggest that you ensure that everything that runs on electricity functions properly. 

The most critical parts to be inspected are cruise control, stereo head unit, steering wheel-mounted control, climate control system, stereo display, and the Bluetooth system (Pritchard, 2017). 

Check Low-Speed Vibration

Unfortunately, some Toyota Tacoma trucks experience shaking at a low speed (15-25 MPH). It is not that by avoiding a specific model, you can solve the problem. Indeed, It is very likely for one Toyota Tacoma of a particular model to have this problem while another truck of the same model does not have it all. 

There is no known reason for this problem, and the only remedy is to test drive your car at 15-25 MPH to ensure you are not buying a Toyota Tacoma with a low-speed Vibration issue. 

Check the Leaf Springs

Leaf springs are vital for handling the weight of your truck. Not only that, when you increase or decrease the speed of your car, it is the leaf springs that regulate the wheelbase lengths. So take your time and remove your truck’s back wheels to ensure that the springs are in good shape. 

Check the Automatic Transmission

If the secondhand Toyota Tacoma that you want to buy comes with automatic transmission, it is good to check the shift smoothness. Slipping gears and hard shifting are things that you don’t want to encounter. However, don’t just put the choice aside because you see a problematic automatic transmission! Sometimes all is needed is transmission fluid, and of course, sometimes the problem is much more severe, and you are better off finding another preowned Toyota Tacoma. 

Check for Rust

It is not only a matter of beauty. The rust found on Toyota Tacoma’s frames has raised safety concerns since 2008. Totoya has already recalled its Tacoma trucks to address the rust problem. The recalls have already happened several times and cost Toyota a few billion dollars (Reeves, 2019). 

It is best to ask a professional to check the frame and every part prone to rust and corrosion. Such components include door handles, spare tire carriers, and chrome rear bumpers. 

And Finally Get it on a Hoist

Asking a professional to check underneath a preowned Toyota Tacoma is a must before buying it. Doing so makes many things clear that otherwise, you wouldn’t know.
 

For example, you know whether the truck has been taken care of properly after an accident or whether it is leaking. A professional also can tell you by checking the underneath how carefully the previous owner has been handling the truck on the off-road paths. 

Teague, J. (2019, 16 August). Tips on Whether to Buy a New 2019 Toyota Tacoma or Used One. https://www.torquenews.com/6626/tips-whether-buy-new-2019-toyota-tacoma-or-used-one

2021 Toyota Tacoma. (n.d.). Toyota. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/

Pritchard, J. (2017, 18 September). Should You Buy a Used Toyota Tacoma? https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/09/should-you-buy-a-used-toyota-tacoma-.html

Why Your Vehicle Needs Leaf Springs. (2020, 30 November). Sanderson Leaf Springs Ltd. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from https://sandersonleafsprings.co.uk/the-importance-of-leaf-springs/

Smith, C. (2019, 15 October). Thinking Of Buying A Used Toyota Tacoma? Consider These Things Before You Do https://www.12volt.solutions/blogs/blog/thinking-of-buying-a-used-toyota-tacoma-consider-these-things-before-you-do

Reeves, E. (2019, 6 December). Has Toyota Fixed the Paint Problems on Tacomas? https://www.motorbiscuit.com/has-toyota-fixed-the-paint-problems-on-tacomas/