You can definitely do better than THAT, especially for 8 grand. Sounds like that truck was abused. Tacomas may be bulletproof, but they're not invincible. And, in my opinion, the 2.7L can't get out of its own way. It's a strong engine for a 4 cylinder, but it's still very slow coming up to a freeway on-ramp (especially if you'll be towing). I would definitely try to test drive a 3.4L, and they aren't that much harder to work on, just 2 more cyclinders to change the plugs in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />
The older 3.0L V6s were a pain in the ass and not as reliable as the 3.4 (from what I've heard from many owners), so don't nix the V6 idea just because the 3.0L has a bad rap. The 5VZFE V6 is a good, reliable, solid engine. Up until my recent head gasket leak at 160k miles, the truck has been nothing but an absolute DREAM (even with the added wear and tear of using a supercharger).

happy hunting!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />