Finally, I found a GOOD, local T100. Its a 1998 - SR5, automatic, extended cab, 4wd, automatic, loaded to the max and in excellent conditions. It is a 1-owner, w/71K actual miles. NOW, I have lined up about 3 fairly local Tundras - ranging from 2wds to 4wds - all access cabs and all V8s for about $7200-9400 and ranging in mileage from 100K-140K and all in excellent conditions. Now I checked the value guides and they are estimating the value of this T100 right up there with the newer Tundras. Should this be so? I really like both, but if I can get a newer Tundra for the same price, I would like to go that route. Not that I do not like the T100- I really do, but wondering- should it really be valued at the same as the Tundras, being a older style, and 2-3 years older. Yeah, the mileage is lower, by about 30K-60K.

Also- any trouble spots with the 98 T100? I know that the 93-94 and even the 95-96 had head gasket issues, but what about the 98s? I am assuming that most "bugs" were worked out by 98'? I am guessing that this person will want about $10K for this T100- which seems high, because as mentioned, I can get the Tundras for $7200-9400 range and the $9400 is a 100K mile 4wd, V8 model, with the TRD option. If they will go down to $8000 on this T100 I think I should go with it? If they went down to $7000 or less, I would take it in a NY minute.

Advice? Thanks in advance!

 

If he bases his price not by the book, but by what other T100's with under 75K miles are selling for, he'll probably be closer to $12K. There were two on ebay last week that were over $10K when I quit watching and they both had under 100K miles. 4WD Xcab T100's with 150K+ miles regularly list on ebay, Craigslist and Autotrader for $7K - $9K.

Here's one in Denver similar to what you're looking at for $14K!

Finding a low mile, good condition T100 gets harder every day so they tend to hold their book value. They only made 55,000 of them. I bet they sold more Tundras than that just last year, so the Tundra prices are a little softer. Supply and demand in effect.

No head gasket recalls for the '97 or '98 models. The most common problems are dried out speedo cables, broken clutch brackets on the manuals and seatbelts that don't retract. Ever.

It's your money, but I'd take a truck that's been babied over a longer period rather than a new truck that's seen more miles in a shorter amount of time. But if ya gotta have the V8 or the access cab doors, than ya gotta get a Tundra!

 

Thanks Bagger. Actually, its at a dealers. They know I was looking for something $10K or less. She called me this evening and said it just came in and would relay more info tomorrow - photos included. Hopefully she remembered that I wanted one less than $10K. Actually, $9400, because I want to borrow no more than $10K. Hopefully I will get a real bargain on it, since it is 8 years old. Sometimes new car dealers will wholesale the older models.

So, lets say I could get this truck for $9400 or a 2000 Tundra SR5 access cab, V8, automatic, with 104K for the same price.... which would be better in the long run? Ironically, I think that the NADA on the T-100 with this mileage is only about $1000 less than the Tundra. Seems like the T really does holds its value well.

Thanks again!

 

As stated above -- the truck will bring more than $10k

As far as comparing a T-100 to a Tundra --- Well in my opinion that's like comparing the price of a 4-Runner and a Tacoma -- There is no way to compare them!
I myself prefer the T-100 over the Tundra <-- But I would suggest you decide which one you really want before you buy, because it is very possible to find a Tundra cheaper than a real clean "T"

Just my .02

 

I paid 7k for mine and it was in almost perfect shape with 184k! Then again it also had a brand new engine w/50k. The oens your looking at will fetch 10k.

The one thing you will find out is that T100 is a better built trucvk through and through as it was made in hino japan! Yes the Tundra is the best american made pickup besides the other yotas but it has nothing on the build quality of the T100.

The only thing to look for is for the frontend steering components that will be replaced for free and in late 95 and in 96 the head gasket. My truck has 185k and although it has alot of new parts and was well maintained I like it much better than the tundras I took for test drives.

My only real complaints are the lack of aftermarket support and the seats tend to be uncomfy. I been thinking about having them redone and beefed up or finding some kinda pad. I dont wanna swap the seats out for anything else.

The final and only annoyance is its lack of highend power, once your doing 60 it takes an awful longtime to get up to about 80mph, but what do you want for a 4k + lb truck? A supercharger and URD 7th injector kit would fix that right up for about 2k'ish.

 

Here's the problem I see if you're looking to borrow all of the purchase money - because the T100 is 8 years old, you'll be looking at a very short term to finance from a conventional lender. 36 months probably, 48 tops. The older the vehicle the less time they will finance it for. Sometimes the interest rates are a little higher on older vehicles too, which makes the payment go up.

However, with the Tundras you're looking at with over 100K miles, you might run in to problems there too. Most lenders don't like to lend money on vehicles with over 100K miles. Even on a diesel truck, which seems really dumb. Maybe you're going through your own bank and this doesn't matter, but keep it in mind if you'll be financing through the dealership, which I wouldn't recommend but you do what you have to.

Hard to say which would be better. The T100 will hold its value a little better because of the supply and demand thing, but that depends on how much demand there will be for T100's in 5 years...? I would go with the vehicle with less miles and better maintenence or the one whose payment best fit my budget.


CJM - your truck was NOT made in Hino Japan!!

 

Doy! What I meant to say was: It was engieered and partially built by the yota subsidiary, Hino in japan. Rest of it was made in a japanse factory.

 

Of these choices, I would go for the T100 or the '00 Tundra with 114K, but that's still almost 20K miles a year vs. 9K miles a year on the T100.

That V8 sure is peppy though and I really wish I had access doors on my T100....

Sorry, am I helping here?

 

Thanks for the replies. About the financing- you are right what you said toward the end....thats not a problem. I am going through my local credit union and it does not matter how old it is. The loan term is determined by how much you borrow. $8000 or more is automatically 5 years. As far as the value goes, they will loan up to the "high retail" NADA value, which is always high in my opinion. I think NADA values this truck over $13K (high retail). My bank on the other hand, goes by the year model... and probably would have went 2-3 years at the most- which is why I am not going with them.

 

we got my truck estimate the other day cause i was gonna get a f250 for graduation and it was right at 10 gran... i have 120 k miles and the only problem i had was my water pump broke and the tie rod recall.. i decided to keep the t cause im gonna keep it and help my parents pay for my new truck.. i love this t.. its like a weekend wheeler that you can drive daily and not many things go wrong..

 

Private party these things in good shape fetch 5-8k, at a dealer expect 10k. Throw in some real mods like better wheels and tires, trans cooler, bumper/brushguard, lights, winch and you got yourself a truck worth 12k easy.

Technically I do have 185k but have all service records and I have a new engine w/50k and mine is in perfect shape I could ask 12 easy...

 

Thanks. Well, the saleslady that was supposed to get me photos and price sent today (Wednesday) was off. Imagine that. I will call her again tomorrow (Thursday), unless she contacts me first. I called again today and spoke to another salesman, but still no reply. I bet someone there at the lot wants it.


Well, I can get all of those mentioned Tundras for around $9000 and even one of the 2wd's for $7200. I think I would go as high as $8700 on the T100. Anything more than that- I think I would rather go with the V8 Tundra. They typically wholesale out the older models, so that is what I am hoping that they will do with this one. Its closer, so hopefully I can work out a deal on it. So, me paying $9400 (which is the max I was going to pay for anything) would not be too much if it is indeed like new and well maintained as stated? I guess why it seems to high to me is that this style dates back to late 1992 (as a 1993) and I would feel like I was in a older truck.... even though I loved the 96' T that I tested w/183K. I guess what is - is that I would not want others to think I was in a older truck, but why should I care what they think? LOL

Thanks again!

 

my 2cents
Being a T100 owner, the only thing I really would wish for is the extra cab doors. Otherwise at 190,000 miles, all original, its a sweet, reliable, workhorse, and I have no desire to lose it. (Paid $7k used)
I was surprised that some trails in NC which gave my 87 runner grief, were no challenge for this T100.
I think the T100 belongs to a more 'affinity' motivated bunch of owners, we love the idea of the truck. Same reason I own an 87 runner and a 94 runner and a 97 runner. All unique creations.

 

Since book values, both NADA and Kelly, has the '98 T with 70K miles for almost $12K, I'd be very surprised if you got it for $8700 from a dealership.

NADA lists it as $12,500 -avg retail, Kelly lists it as $11,900 avg retail -
so yeah, it's a heck of a buy if you can get it for $9400, but don't count on it.

You may have told them you wanted to only spend $9400 on a a truck, but that doesn't mean they won't call you on a truck they plan on selling for far more if they think you're a hot buyer. They are trying to "bump" you into a more expensive truck, happens all the time.

Dealers wholesale older crap, not immaculately maintained, low mileage hard to find 4WD Toyotas. I'm speaking from experience here, having worked at a Totota dealership for two years. Don't count on them wholesaling a money maker like a nice T100, especially if they took it in at a good ( to them ) trade price.

As far as what you want to be seen driving, well that's up to you -

 

And I could ask for a million dollars for mine. Ain't neither one gonna sell for that though.

Dealers can only sell them for book value for their year and miles. Mods, maintenence records and new engines are not "adds" in either Kelly or NADA books. Lenders also will only lend the amount of the book value, some up to 120% of wholesale, not retail, value. Mods and new engines don't mean squat to a lender either.

 

This is quite true, but I was talking about private party or auction sales on ebay where stuff like that means $$$ more in your pocket. I had someone offer me 10k the other day for mine and they were totally serious about it. I wouldnt sell it, no way..

The more rare something is with the more work thats done and if its a desirable vehicle it will fetch more. Take for instance a 72 vette vs an 84. A 72 even in good to poor shape is worth more than a 84. Reason being an 84 is an undesirable year, expect to pay at least 10k for a decent shape 72 but no more than 5-7k for that 84 in excellent shape-you understand what I mean? Find the right buyer and you can ask anything you want within reason and you may get it. A dealer dont care at all, the truck could be a rustbucket or in perfect shape and they will still offer you the same pretty much..

A dealer if they know you want that thing will do everything they can to bump up the price, like you said especially since its a rare truck.

 

Drats... she was off again today, but the other salesman called me back. He said price in the window was $14,000 !!!!!! Heck, I could buy a BRAND NEW 2006 TUNDRA 2WD W/23 MILES at our local Toyota dealer for $15,000!

I told him, that I had told her $10K or less and he said well, that there may be a sale price on it and it could be less than $10K. She is supposed to call me tomorrow.

If not, I guess I will get the 2000 Tundra SR5 V8 model.