4th Gen resale/trade value

[izzy]

Another note for the Gen4, it's also the generation with the most real competition in a long time. The Ranger needed a few years to get a real foot hold, the Colorado came back at the end of 2023, and nissan has decided to do something other than make trash fleet trucks out of the Frontier. All of them now are rolling out sub models to try and compete with the Pro too.

The 2nd Gen was the last to see any real competition, but the "Big 3" had all ruined their trucks and killed them off by 2012. The only "foreign" automakers trucks were the Frontier which has been basically a boring fleet truck and the Ridgeline which isn't really a truck at all. Which is all the 3rd gen had for competition at the start.

Personally I looked at all of them and did a ton of research before deciding the Tacoma was probably still king of the hill. Which is why I picked it, and also likely the reason that despite all the newcomers hitting the ground running, it still has the best resale by far even though it's reduced.

If the Colorado or Ranger came with turbo diesels, it would have been pretty hard for me to not buy one.

Even with the modern turbo diesel upkeep, it's the type of right engine for a midsize truck.

Almost any turbo diesel 4 banger is a better engine for the Tacoma application than the T24A-FTS is to be honest. I have zero attachment to gassers in trucks.

My gfs grandma has a BMW B47 powered 120D and I guarantee you it would win in a tug of war against a 4G. The torque is unreal.

I just bought a Toyota cuz idk if nobody offers turbo diesels I'll go for the brand I know the best. Not really that attached to the brand at all.

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[maxx075]

If the Colorado or Ranger came with turbo diesels, it would have been pretty hard for me to not buy one.

Even with the modern turbo diesel upkeep, it's the type of right engine for a midsize truck.

Almost any turbo diesel 4 banger is a better engine for the Tacoma application than the T24A-FTS is to be honest. I have zero attachment to gassers in trucks.

My gfs grandma has a BMW B47 powered 120D and I guarantee you it would win in a tug of war against a 4G. The torque is unreal.

I just bought a Toyota cuz idk if nobody offers turbo diesels I'll go for the brand I know the best. Not really that attached to the brand at all.

Still can't get past having to turn the headlights on through the infotainment menus on the Colorado...

 

[izzy]

Still can't get past having to turn the headlights on through the infotainment menus on the Colorado...

I mean yeah, tech is implemented poorly in every manufacture, and in like 10 years the Tacoma headunit and cluster is gonna look really aged and crusty for sure.

Same thing happened to all cars that implemented tech in 2010-2015, when "big screen" headunits started to become a thing. It's all super dated and ugly.

I'd still get one if they sold the turbo diesel lol

 

[Will721]

Well unfortunately the small diesels will never be an option in the U.S. unless we dismantle the EPA. The emissions are too strict.

 

[izzy]

Well unfortunately the small diesels will never be an option in the U.S. unless we dismantle the EPA. The emissions are too strict.

It's mostly because the US focused on reducing NOx and the EU focused on reducing CO2 as a whole.

In reality, even if midsize trucks with diesels were sold here the emissions generated by them would be miniscule compared to overall vehicle emissions when looking at transportation emissions as a whole. Good luck convincing Americans to buy diesel since horsepower number go up seems to be all they care about

That and GM producing some seriously terrible diesel products in the 80s kinda soured the whole deal.

 

[TacoWill]

Was interesting for an experiment. 5k depreciation (private sale value) in about 1 year and 16,800 miles sounds about right for the first year. I expect it to slow to like $1500 a year or so until it levels out at $20,000 until / if the truck hits 200,000 miles. As expected, the lowest trim truck doesn't see as sharp of a first year depreciation hit as the higher trims.

Yeah you're putting similar mileage on it, but that depreciation hit isn't as bad. Seeing some of the others on here, it does sound like the SR and SR5 are doing a better job of holding value. Doesn't seem like there's really much of any return on the premium options on the higher trims.

I leased my 2025 SR5 4dr Long Bed 4WD for $1600 (tax and title) down and $269/month for two years. The purchase price was $43k and some change minus dealer add ons, and the depreciated or buy out value at the end of the lease is $33k and some change.

I think it has to do with the market being at a stand still and production back to more normal numbers.

That doesn't sound crazy at the two year mark. I still have a ways to go before hitting two years and mine has dropped way more. I'm hoping the value will stabilize some going forward.

Bought my 2025 SR5 4x4 LB, 39.5k vehicle price, 42.3k after taxes. Actually was curious earlier tonight to see what it’s worth now, and got an offer through Carmax for 37.5.
(step daughter’s bf was debating between new Tundra or Tacoma, so we talked truck prices)

That's close to anything I'm getting. Granted mines a 2024, but it seems the SR and SR5 aren't taking the same kind of hit.

 

[TacoWill]

You always have to consider that dealers lowball to create profit and margins out of thin air. If people would be smart and refuse their offers, they would have to raise their offers, but many people only see the new shiny car and get taken for a ride by the dealer. In my recent experience, dealers was 10-15k room for resale. It’s nice that most people give them that room.

hard to blame them as their business model clearly works. Next time, tell them to take a hike and sell it yourself. I made 14k more on a 911 I sold private party instead of trading it.

Oh yeah, they always start low and drag out the whole process to get to a reasonable number. I've traded quite a few and pretty well know what to expect, but this one shocked me a bit. I've walked away a bunch of times if I feel like they aren't making a serious offer.

There are exceptions, but luxury models and premium stuff more margin in a new sale has pretty much always had more depreciation in the used market. Still helping our daughter shopping, one salesman pointed that out yesterday across vehicles whether brand or packages.

Yet again, another used lot manager asked me if the gen 4 long bed TRD OR was for trade. That's no for me, and the guy said long beds are fewer just like new inventory. For the specific model he said that utility plus the OR's locker are always something used shoppers look for.

Something else that goes on did with the gen 4 models. At first new generations will sell at higher retail prices. In asking about what seems like a fickle market, that was simple too. Higher inventory pressure from prices many cannot afford.

There's definitely more inventory now, so I'm sure they're discounting more which is impacting trade and resale values. Probably bad timing on my part, but I was just checking into the Land Cruiser anyway.

I feel like the long bed TRD OR in the 3rd was a hot commodity as well. I remember our dealer hardly ever had any hit the lot. They'd sell before they got their or they'd have multiple other dealers trying to get them to do a swap.

Another note for the Gen4, it's also the generation with the most real competition in a long time. The Ranger needed a few years to get a real foot hold, the Colorado came back at the end of 2023, and nissan has decided to do something other than make trash fleet trucks out of the Frontier. All of them now are rolling out sub models to try and compete with the Pro too.

The 2nd Gen was the last to see any real competition, but the "Big 3" had all ruined their trucks and killed them off by 2012. The only "foreign" automakers trucks were the Frontier which has been basically a boring fleet truck and the Ridgeline which isn't really a truck at all. Which is all the 3rd gen had for competition at the start.

Personally I looked at all of them and did a ton of research before deciding the Tacoma was probably still king of the hill. Which is why I picked it, and also likely the reason that despite all the newcomers hitting the ground running, it still has the best resale by far even though it's reduced.

The midsize market has really picked up for sure. The GM twins look like nice trucks and I hear good things about the Ranger. Even sounds like RAM might be entering the midsize market in a couple of years. Tacoma is still tops in my opinion, but I imagine that competition provides some pricing pressure and dealers are probably discounting more. Good for folks buying, but less so for me trading. All good though. I like my truck and the Land Cruiser is the only thing tempting me right now.

 

[TacoWill]

Still can't get past having to turn the headlights on through the infotainment menus on the Colorado...

THIS! Crazy to have to navigate through the head unit to turn the headlights on or off. My headlights are auto, but I still have times where I turn them on manually. Foggy morning recently, but had enough light that my headlights didn't turn on, so I flipped the switch and turned them on myself. Can't imagine having to navigate through screens to do that.

 

[izzy]

Doesn't seem like there's really much of any return on the premium options on the higher trims.

To be fair doesn't that usually apply to most vehicles?

Lower trims have less of a fall before they land at their true market value.

Being the first owner of a high trim works out though. You paid a lot but you're also the first owner, as long as you keep it a long time, the math will work out.

If you trade a high trim vehicle immediately though, there's probably not a bigger hit to take.

 

[izzy]

Well unfortunately the small diesels will never be an option in the U.S. unless we dismantle the EPA. The emissions are too strict.

https://www.4x4australia.com.au/news/toyota-australia-hasnt-ruled-out-the-tacoma

I bet it'll be 1GD-FTV powered lol

 

[Will721]

https://www.4x4australia.com.au/news/toyota-australia-hasnt-ruled-out-the-tacoma

I bet it'll be 1GD-FTV powered lol

Nearly the same hp but almost 100frlbs more tq? Yes please.

 

[gpburdell]

To be fair doesn't that usually apply to most vehicles?

Lower trims have less of a fall before they land at their true market value.

Being the first owner of a high trim works out though. You paid a lot but you're also the first owner, as long as you keep it a long time, the math will work out.

If you trade a high trim vehicle immediately though, there's probably not a bigger hit to take.

Yes, that’s true for a lot of things. People shopping used vs new seem to be less particular about upgrades and options - especially the overpriced port and dealer installed stuff that makes a truck “loaded” - so all that stuff has a much lower value in resale or trade.

 

[izzy]

Yes, that’s true for a lot of things. People shopping used vs new seem to be less particular about upgrades and options - especially the overpriced port and dealer installed stuff that makes a truck “loaded” - so all that stuff has a much lower value in resale or trade.

True, people shopping used (myself included) are more open to making the vehicle "theirs".

Used is also where service history can make a bigger impact on vehicle purchase decision making than the options it has.

If I had to shop between a TRD OR that got 10,000 mile OCI for 100,000 miles and an SR5 4x4 that got 5,000 mile OCI, I would spring for the SR5.

I guess new buyers see the rather high MSRP and want the vehicle to be their ideal spec out of the box, which is understandable.

It took a few months after the purchase of my SR but it's now my ideal spec, and in some ways better than higher trims

 

[Someguysomewhere26]

What all have you done to it?

 

[izzy]

What all have you done to it?

Well the big ticket item was the skids. To get any metal under the truck you have to go all the up to TRD OR Premium trim, which is crazy.

These skids from CBI offer more coverage than the TRD OR Premium skid. Goes all the way back past the transfer case too. I'd say they are the aluminum alternative to the Toyota branded ones people buy from the Landcruiser to install on 4G.

They have been used and touched the ground a few times saved my front cross member from a gnarly scratch/dent.

Full skids is basically all you need to really send your shit offroad.

Sliders are nice too, but picking your line can keep your cab away from the ground most of the time.

If you smack your transfer case on something though you're not gonna make it home, skids are key

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