I'm getting a truck soon (hopefully) and a tacoma is on the top of my list. I saw an 02 Xtra Cab 4cyl 5spd with 24k miles with a matching color fiberglass cap and black side steps at one of the local dealerships. I want something with good gas mileage, I'll be using it as a dd and trips to HD.
I'm a little concerned about the 4cyl engine if it has adequete power and if there are any issues I should pay extra attention to.

Any advice/tips or any other info would be greatly appreciated.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Expect low 20's mpg and the 4-cyl pulls pretty well - it's so much better than the 22RE in your sig. Aside from normal used car due diligence, there isn't anything to fret about on this model truck.

I have the same 4cyl in my '04 Tacoma, and am happy with it. I would only get it with the 5 speed, though. It is a great engine that should last forever and provides adequate power. Powerwise it is nearly the same as the 3.0 V6 found in the older Toyota pre-Tacomas. With the stock sissy wheels and tires I get around 23-24 MPG. When I put on the mud terrains it drops to around 21 MPG.

Hell an '02 with 24K is nothing. My '04 that I've had less than a year has that many miles. I would see if perhaps there was a maintenance log done or something to indicate that oil changes were performed. Other than that, I'd be all over that truck.

Thanks for the info.

I held off on buying it because the dealer wants $18999 for it. I saw two 05 base tacomas at another dealership and their sticker price was $19750. When I called them to get more info they told me they were both sold. They're awesome plain and simple Xtra cab tacomas 4cyl 5spd black bumpers grill and wheel wells covers no power anything!.

As for maintence log there aren't, carfax came back with a MA registration record and it looks like it was purchased at an auction. I can probably get it for $18500.

Still thinking about it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Wow $18999 sounds way high, so does $18500 if you could get them down to it. I would try to find a private seller, and would hold out for someone who kept records of what he did to his truck. You may already be familiar with www.tacomaterritory.com, but if not you could check that out,too. They have a classified section where owners sometimes try to sell their Tacomas.

Those new Tacomas you found for $19750, those were 2wd right?

Hey you should check out www.tacomaterritory.com, there are a couple Tacomas for sale in your general area. One guy is in Baltimore with a regular cab '97 asking $6800. Another one in New Jersy is an '03 v6 xtra cab loaded with the offroad package, plus a bunch of mods. That one sounds like a really good deal, he is asking $19000.

Thanks for the info I'll check it out. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Howdy
I bought a used 02 Xtracab 4x4 2.7 5sp with 12k miles in Nov 03. Shopped ONLINE, found the truck 400 miles away from home at a dealer. Advertised price $21K. Since I shopped and located the truck ONLINE, and I was willing to commit with a downpayment AND travel to buy this truck, he made me a 'special INTERNET deal' of $18400. I requested and received a bunch of emailed photos, and made the commitment. When I got there, the truck was as represented. In essence, brand new with 12K miles on it. UFB.
Its the EXACT truck configiration I wanted, powertrain, body,color, etc. Exactly. I ALMOST jumped due to lack of patience and bought one of a different color, but a bud stood beside me and said "Wait, the truck you want at the terms youre happy with is OUT THERE.."... sure enough, it was...
Bought a brand new shell for it... city driving 20-21mpg. freeway driving... 24+
Happy shopping

For you and cctk2, keep an eye on this news as it unfolds; make sure that any Taco you look at to get the VIN and mfr date off the data plate. Once you make your purchase, more than likely it'll be on your shoulders to contact your local dealership to put your truck into their database.

Good luck; hope you find a sweet rig!

Ball Joint Recall

Thanks for all the good info.

I'm currently checking out the following 4cyl, 5spd, 4wd Xtra cabs:

1.Toyota dealership 2003 $18500 24k miles GREEN
2.Chevy dealership 2000 $10999 89k miles GREEN
3.?? dealership 2002 $16999 22k miles GREEN
4.Toyota dealership 1999 $14977 63k miles BLACK

I ran carfax on all of them and it came back normal. The black is a six cyl 5spd and carfax showed that it was serviced every 3k miles. I was leaning towards this one, wife thinks I'm nuts. What kind of stopped me was the HG issue on the six cyl, saleperson had no clue about any HG issue. I'll do a search and see what comes up.

If anybody is interested in any of these pm me and I can send you carfax report, I can only buy one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
A few other ones around here most of them come from MA according to carfax.

Thanks again for all your input <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />!!