2006 Toyota Tundra limited

I’ve been truck shopping for a bit and I have a pretty difficult budget of 16k. I came across a 2006 Toyota Tundra limited with only 43k miles on it. Everything looks to be in great condition interior and exterior and I didn’t see any rust on the frame although I hear it mostly rusts from the inside out. I don’t know what to look for in an old tundra as to what I’d have to possibly restore and I’m wondering if this is a good deal. I was able to negotiate to 14k which is below my max budget. Also wondering if this is too much a risk as the truck may have been sitting for a while. I just can’t seem to find anything with decent mileage or price in my budget so this one is appealing to me.

 

We need more pics and for you to basically look at it yourself. Where are you located?

Low mileage trucks come with issues too because they aren't driven enough.

@shifty` can help you more with that. His truck had like 63k miles on it?

 

I personally would have no problem purchasing that truck, even with the low mileage and 2 previous owners. The interior/exterior looks in great shape and IF it lived in Orlando it's whole life, frame rust should be very minimal. I would not necessarily go over board but would definetly treat it as if it had 100k miles and perform appropriate maintenance…..fluids, timing belt, etc

2006 Toyota Tundra Limited 4dr Access Cab SB - $15,995 - CarGurus

Service History attached....

 

Please read this thread, it's going to inform you about much of what you need to know: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

$16k isn't a difficult budget. I've got at least one in my area right now for $4,500. The three others with it on CL are under $12k, or were as of 2 days ago.

It's a great looking truck externally. If it's V8 and 4WD it's totally worth $14k. Just know what you're getting into with such a low-mile truck, low-mile in these has its own drawbacks. That thread I linked explains more. But don't let low mileage scare you off. I'd just prefer 125k-175k at its age.

It's definitely got a lot of good options for a base to work with.

 

It’s not 4wd. I wouldn’t pay $16k. It’s probably more like a $10k truck. But it’s all relative. In Cali, they go high. Around where I live, they go normal. No one pays $15k plus for 20 year old tundras here.

 

Ah, just now looked at the I'd go $12k-$13k on a low-mile grandpa truck if 2WD, despite it having the 60/40 front and no jumbo center console. I also see no timing belt service listed in service history, so there's antoher $1,400 in labor. But yeah, I think OP's bigger problem is working with a dealer. +20% or more using one. They probably took on trade for under $8k, or scored at auction for under $10k.

 

Oh that sweet maroon; I'd have a hard time passing on that one but 4WD was a must for me. FYI OP, I bought my truck at 42.5k, did all the timing belt/water pump, all fluids drain and fill, etc. etc., and just hit 43k and it drives like it's a brand-new truck. Definitely read Shifty's post linked above, but I wouldn't hesitate to try to negotiate to buy that truck if 2WD worked for me.

 

It was originally listed for 19k and sat for a while on the lot and the guy dropped it to high 15k. I went in and finally got him to show me the invoice price and he got it for 12,500 at an auction apparently and refused to go any lower than 14k.

 

Might've been a bad purchase on his part then. $12.5k is about right for that truck. The novelty of having a low-mile truck is about the only thing most would pay the extra 1.5k on. But honestly, it looks pretty clean. The only thing that'd be bugging me is what kind of gunk and crust you'll find under the valve covers, but way more expensive than that, when the last timing belt change was, if ever. Toyota recommends 9yr/90k miles on changes, whichever comes first. We know it's not at 90k miles, but belts get old, weather, crack ... has it been changed ever, in its lifetime? If not, that's a spendy investment right up front.

I'd feel confident *IF* it's OEM belt, letting it ride 10yr, 12yr, or their respective milages but once I cross 33%+ more than the manufacturer recommendation, I'm not feeling so confident.

Especially if it's a no-accident truck, and 1-owner, I just can't imagine you'll be unhappy with it.

 

I paid 15k for my 2005 ac 2wd with 73k miles the timing belt was replaced at 71k so to me it was a great deal as it was in great shape inside and out.

 

That's ballpark what the dealership wanted for my 2005 AC V8/4WD Limited with ~62k miles, which I bought off their back lot before it 'processed out'. Truth is, I think they would've run it to auction. Southern Alabama truck, all its life, near-immaculate.

That said, my truck is extremely well optioned, and the couple of things it didn't have inside, I added. I think it's probably all perspective, but ... I dunno.

I don't think it's a bad price, and maybe $14k makes sense in todays bloated-used-market environment. Knowing I'd be paying dealer fee/tax/tag/etc. on that, $14k still probably lands OP around $16k OTD. If it was $14k OTD, I'd say "GO FOR IT!"

But I also guarantee you, OP will *NOT* find another 2WD Limited (though cloth 60/40 bench and lower-tier console/dash sucks) in that condition with those miles any time soon. If it's truly a southern truck and didn't see lots of salt water, I'll say it again: It's a compelling buy.

 

100% agree. Even at 16k it still beats paying 35k+ on a newer truck. If you like the truck and fits your needs I would go for it. I was happy with my purchase because it was all I wanted and needed.

 

Ain't that the truth?! ^^ These are damn fine trucks.

 

It bothers me they use a Tacoma 3d model instead of a Tundra 3d model. C'mon Toyota. Do better.