Looking to buy a First Gen, looking at Auction...

Hello everyone. First post here.

I have been searching the web looking for a first gen for about a month now with no avail. I've even expanded my search about 200 miles from my location with no luck. I am specifically looking for a double cab with 4 Wheel Drive. The closest I came to one was $6500 with 260k miles. It had a near perfect frame, but there were other miscellaneous things wrong with it and I decided not to do it.

Saying all of that, I decided to start looking at auctions (IAAI and Copart). I've heard some horror stories from Copart so I'm mainly looking at IAAI. I'm mainly looking for one that runs and drives and isn't destroyed on a side or something. I found one with 123k miles on it.

https://www.iaai.com/VehicleDetail/42025282~US

It looks OK, but I have no way to see the frame. I would have to buy it sight unseen and have it shipped. My question is, would you guys take the risk at a certain price? Or is there enough horror stories on frames to where you would only buy one in person and see everything yourself?

 

I wouldn’t buy one sight unseen. I also wouldn’t trust a third party inspection. People suck and they will screw you over for a buck. Look south, plenty of good opportunities to get a solid truck

 

Also check this thread out

https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-for-sale-finds-on-other-sites.40093/page-35

 

Do yourself a favor, buy a truck from a rust free area.

Texas, California, Arizona

you may have to drive distance to get it but having a truck that isn’t a rust bucket will be so worth the effort.

there are many folks on this forum who love to search for used trucks for members and also don’t mind giving their honest opinions. If you find something of interest some members have even been known to meet up with sellers to assist in the purchase process.

 

That's an Iowas truck with front end damage. Stay away.

 

Thanks everyone! Consensus is stay away, so I think that's what I'm gonna do. I will continue to look down in TX. Being located in OK, that is the most reasonable drive for me for the "rust free" areas.

 

Indeed. And be sure to read up here if you haven’t already. Many, many nuggets of wisdom here.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

 

just like buying ANY car or truck. If you can't inspect it yourself. You're asking for trouble.

these are 20year old trucks. Expecting one to come with zero issues is highly unlikely and you had better be ready to put in your own work and $$ to get it into tip top shape.

 

I guess I’m confused - you heard horror stories on Copart - so look only at the other side of the salvage duopoly IAA ?

Why ? The sellers sending things to both companies are basically the same - neither company actively buys/sells much themselves - it’s mainly selling wrecks from insurance carriers and depending on the yard - maybe 10-25% selling lower end donated vehicles for places like Cars4Kids/Veterans groups or other non profits that allow people to donate an old car/boat/camper for the tax write off.

If it’s a wreck - be assured someone has looked at it and said no way is it worth fixing / including the prior owner. Then keep in mind both these places have deals with exporters who LOVE buying salvage Toyotas as they command serious bucks overseas. It’s tough ti find a deal at either on a Toyota or Honda in my experience.

Better bets would be donation sales away these 2 (volunteers of America / Goodwill) or repo sales. Again - buy here pay here’s will scour these sales as they know Toyota trucks are good collateral and sell well amongst their clientele - but you’ve got a better chance of buying something without major headaches.

Salvage sales are generally “run and drive” - meaning it starts and will move 5 feet. It means nothing as to reliability of the vehicle which is a common mistake buyers make and get burned on - they think they are buying a “drive home ready” vehicle and it’s often not. Auto body shops know what these trucks are worth too and don’t let many slip away if they can acquire them cheaply.

 

At the places you are looking, even if the frame is solid and bodywork is good, you're going to have to budget for a timing belt change (unlikely you are going to get verifiable receipts for one having been done PROPERLY already), ball joints, fluid changes, worn front end parts, probably a radiator plus other 'fixes' that have been put off. You want to have a good $3k set aside, probably more. These are old vehicles and things will need replacing/fixing.

People selling these trucks generally know what they have, so they command a price. The ones that end up selling at the lower tiers of vehicle sale channels are likely to be dogs that couldn't be sold anywhere else. Anything good is going to be snapped up by dealers. Anything they pass on, well, you probably should too.

 

I have bought three tundras from copart. Yes it's not for everyone and you are taking somewhat of a chance. First was a DC with hail damage and I drove it for two years and did not cost me much when sold. Second one was AC and needed more work than I wanted to do so I used it as a parts truck for the third one. I used carfax and toyota owners site for history. Most do have a salvage tilte but I am happy with this third one. It is my daily but also have other vehicles if need be.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/copart-rebuild.153963/

 

If you can live with a 2wd, there are like 30 for sale and some are REAL NICE

This should give you a radius of about half of texas, and the whole lower half of Oklahoma, LOTS of listings, scroll thru them and see what you can find.
https://dallas.craigslist.org/searc...tundra&search_distance=310#search=2~gallery~0


Here is a clean 4wd in Dallas but says salvage title, would need to dig into that one and see why.
https://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/d/dallas-2004-tundra-4x4-double-cab-137k/7823257611.html

SOOOOO many nice looking 2wd like this one and more
https://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/d/sugar-land-2005-toyota-tundra-owner-not/7821141525.html
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/houston-2005-toyota-tundra-sr5-doublecab/7827019466.html

Crazy thing is the newer body style is typically cheaper now
https://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/d/sugar-land-2008-toyota-tundra-crewmax/7827088922.html

These are on CL, but FB market place gets tons more listings.

Also, check this junk yard truck in Texas.... Man the under side of the trucks down south is so nice... Way different than you find elsewhere, the only thing rusty is an aftermarket trailer hitch. Everything stock is mint.
https://austin.craigslist.org/pts/d/spicewood-toyota-tundra-parts/7818796226.html

 

These ^^ x1,000

I was reading through, like, "what I'm gonna say?" only to see, "damn, ain't gotta say nothin". Yet here I am saying something. Hmmm...

 

I looked at auction sites when I was searching. My father in law has his dealer license and I got to look at all the auctions going on.
Sometimes you can call the auction house and they’ll give more information or pictures if you ask them.
And as everyone else said, look outside Iowa and be patient. Good luck.

 

Yeah, I agree with you all. I guess I'm just getting a little impatient. Trying to find one under $7k so I can still have some money left over for maintenance, but it seems like everyone is pricing these like gold. The last 2 that were posted in Oklahoma sold in under an hour (FB Marketplace).

I found this one a little far away....

https://www.frielingautosales.com/details/used-2006-toyota-tundra/109943717

I do not see any Timing Belt changes in the history though...

Really tough search. I feel like I messed up passing on the one I saw for $6500.

Edit: That dealership has some bad reviews, so I'll probably stay away.

 

Shoot me your wish list. I’ll share whatevers local here

 

This is the statement that describes where I am at right now. After completing $3600 in needed maintenance (includes brand new BFG KO2 tires) I can’t help but find another $10,000 worth of things I’d like to do. I have to remind myself that right now I have a really solid running truck for an all in price of $10,000 and don’t need to run right out make it show room quality (yet) …lol

 

4WD and Double Cab. Not very picky past that. Thanks for looking.

 

shut up. Keep going

 

look down here in the south. Plenty in the price range you're looking for that will need the usual "LBJ's/Timing Belt/Water pump/maybe radiator/ and other typical bull shit people neglect" and rust is NORMALLY not an issue down here.

it'll probably put you right at the $10k mark after it's all said and done.

luckily I inherited my truck. But even then, my dad had his........"over sights" ......lol so I've dumped about $3k(?) into it and I'd trust her cross country (280k miles)

 

Below budget, 232k miles. Some lift action and bigger tires.

 

I’m also in Oklahoma (Muskogee) give this guy a call and tell him you are on the hunt for 4WD 1st Gen Tundra. He is a top notch Toyota mechanic and has his pulse on all things older Toyota for sale around Green Country. Hope I’m not breaking any rules if I just post his business card. I fell in love with his old Toyota pickup that he kept on his showroom floor which is what ultimately led me to going w/ a 1st Gen Tundra. It’s worth a try.

 

Thanks! I'll give him a shout.

I just messaged him. Thanks.

 

Perhaps members near a prospective purchase can eyeball one for you, allowing you to expand your search area. I just checked Sacramento craigslist though and am shocked at the prices too! I have no problem looking at a truck if you happen to find one in the Stockton/Sacramento/foothills area.

 

I thought you would like this Used 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 for $16000 on Autotrader http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/2BE423FF.

 

I don’t have Facebook so screenshot is the best I can do.

 

Don't forget that coastal areas of CA, TX, ETC can definitely still have rusty trucks. I'm a mechanic working in Huntington Beach, CA. Some of the trucks you would think are from the rust belt. Not as bad, but plenty of surface rust.

 

So....I found one, but here's the kicker.

365k miles. Rough condition, but it drives. I might be able to upload some pictures later today. I'm waiting on frame pics from the seller.

At that many miles, if it runs and drives and the frame is solid, would you guys do it?

They only want $3,500....might be able to talk down from there and it would make an interesting project.

 

I have to keep telling myself “Point of diminishing returns”, now that my truck is rock solid. I’d love to dump $10K to make it showroom quality however in my case (2WD) it doesn’t make financial sense to do that. These projects really add up fast. I’m cheering for you and sure hope you get to check it out in person before you commit.

 

365K? I would keep looking.