Ridiculous Toyota’s: 98’ Tacoma ARB’d

"M.T. Blake" (autohabit) 08/15/2018 at 10:10 • Filed to: toyota tax, ridiculousness, toyota, tacoma, 4wd, truck yeah

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The notorious Toyota tax. It is the price you’ll pay in excess of anything comparable for any Toyota product . !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and a Sienna. The owner of this Tacoma understands they can command a large price . But is he !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to overburden any potential buyers ? Maybe we should throw all the Satoshi grills into the harbor while dressed like Samurai?! Start putting on your armor and taking down the sword off the mantle, we’ve got a revolution to start.

Bumpers, winches, and wheels, OH MY!

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! If you could own one vehicle, many would regard the Tacoma or its international brother, the Hilux, as the ultimate vehicle to ride into the sunset. It is not uncommon to see these trucks, beat up, smashed, rusted, and decaying - yet some how still on the roads providing an important utility. They have become an icon of many industries and outdoor sports. Go anywhere and you’ll see a Toyota pickup doing it all.

Aftermarket switches for all the goodies and a sticker to remind you there are there.

This particular truck is a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with a manual transmission . What makes this truck mostly special is that it has been ARB’d. Front and rear air lockers. These are not cheap. A professional installation can cost well over several thousand dollars.

You want to go off road and not get stuck? The air locker is your best friend. Especially if you get really stuck. The front locker is the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy, rarely use, and when you do - you’ll thank your lucky stars you have it. It is usually one of the last things done to any 4wd project. Everything else almost always comes first if you’re on a budget. To find a used truck with one is a pleasant surprise.

The owner writes that this truck has been re-geared while they were at it to a lower 4.88 to accommodate the larger 285/75/16 ( ~33" ) tires. An Old Man Emu 883 suspension is used to give the ‘Taco the height and travel for off road excursions.   I applaud this set up. Not too big, just how I like ‘em. Perfect for Overland trips and a little more, hopefully to keep you from getting too stuck in the wilderness .

Hopefully the ammo can is included and full of 6.5 grendel.

The interior is well sorted with a clean installation of aftermarket ARB switches on the dash. Looking at this photograph something immediately caught my eye - R Racing floor mats. Oh man. My teenage days slumming at Autozone are back! I forgot about how t acky these have become. The ubiquitous poser Type-R-ish floor mat in blue, yellow, and red. I mean, a better choice in floor mats would have been better as new Toyota mats can be had relatively cheap ( they ain’t no Audi floor mats... now those are pricey ).

Don’t look like most Toyota; worked to death.

In back there is a Jerry Can mount, spare tire, and tool box. This is about as good as it gets if you’re still trying to salvage some bed space. Everything here looks excellent, almost never used looking. The rear bumper is ‘CBI Trail Rider’ and I think it is a great compliment to the ARB front bumper.

Slide on over and empty your pockets for this one.

There is no doubt some coin was spent on this truck. Lockers, bumpers, sliders, and lots of other ‘ERS have been added to this ‘Taco. If you want to buy this truck you’ll be paying some serious tax.

Price with the Toyota Tax: $23,000

I’d have jumped on this truck if it was the 3.4L and closer to 10-grand cheaper. A quality truck no doubt. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

Will the ridiculous vehicle prices ever end? I think not. There is plenty of material out there, and I don’t plan on going anywhere.

More ridiculousness to come! Until next time!

PS: Special thanks to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for some inspiration.

E90M3 > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:14

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I bet if you put some diesel fuel in the tank the value would triple! 

LOREM IPSUM > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:20

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I’ve been told that this is absolutely reasonable, so I’m imagining it’ll end up in a bidding war and will sell for some dollar amount over asking.

Though one could buy one Ranger or S10 for every day of the month, and just leave them wherever should they break. Probably cheaper than offroad recovery service.

Either way though, I guess...

OPPOsaurus WRX > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:21

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Toyotas are known for their indestructibility *

*except those with t he frame that would rust to death

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:34

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The tire dressing on the knobby tires looks ridiculous .

But yeah, the price doesn’t seem unreasonable, which is a scary comment on how insane these have become. That said, you can’t argue with the upgrades and at least in your review they sound like they were done right...

M.T. Blake > E90M3 08/15/2018 at 10:41

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Nothing could be more true. 

M.T. Blake > LOREM IPSUM 08/15/2018 at 10:43

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Whoever told you this is reasonable is the Benedict Arnold in your life. Pick up that box of Satoshi grills and throw! We’ve got work to do!

M.T. Blake > OPPOsaurus WRX 08/15/2018 at 10:44

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Looks like it’s still in one piece to me. Even after they break they’re not broken yet! It’s magic!!!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:45

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... And you wonder why people still buy new nissan frontiers.

Nothing > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:47

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Ok, so I keep getting more and more info for the resale plan. Install ARB lockers. Resell in 19 years for about 80% of what I paid new. Sweet!

M.T. Blake > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/15/2018 at 10:47

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A proper build deserves a properly high price. Regardless we have all drank the cool aid and don’t get too shocked at Toyota prices. It’s unfortunate and we should all examine why we’ve been conditioned to accept it. I blame hippies, any war in the Middle East, and Marty McFly, personally. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:48

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And this is why I just went ahead and bought a new one.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/new-addition-to-the-family-1828302832

M.T. Blake > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/15/2018 at 10:50

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My buddy loves his 2014 Frontier. There are excellent alternatives to a used Tacoma but I still believe a new Tacoma is the best Tacoma. They hold value and cost new the same as everything else in its class. And with this example, you can trick it out, take care of it, and still get a lot of money back out of it. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:52

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Did someone say diesel Hilux?

https://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/d/toyota-diesel-hilux-ln106/6661661923.html

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/15/2018 at 10:57

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What tires do you run on your Disco?

M.T. Blake > Nothing 08/15/2018 at 10:58

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I figured out the formula for how to extract the most money back out of a Toyota! z = x + iy , f ( x + i y ) = u ( x , y ) + i v ( x , y ). Of course the Z is for Nissan, the X is for any BMW X model, F is for the number of laps in a F1 season, and U is for your first car... hmm I didn’t do this right. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nothing 08/15/2018 at 10:58

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Haha - love it!

M.T. Blake > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/15/2018 at 10:59

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Tasty treat.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 10:59

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“ No off-roading has been done other than one two-day camping trip.”

!!!!! smh...

M.T. Blake > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 11:00

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You chose wisely. We came to the same conclusion with our minivan. New Toyota is the best Toyota. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 11:02

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I test drove a one year old TRD Sport with the manual, and the asking price was $4k more than what I ending up paying for mine.

M.T. Blake > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 11:04

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Bahahahah. I love it when that happens. Makes you feel good about your purchase. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 11:05

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Definitely. I feel prett y confident that I could sell this truck right now for like 3 grand more than I paid for it. It’s crazy.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 11:06

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That is a longer story than you might expect. The short answer is: The moderately garbage ATs that came with it.

The slightly longer answer is: When I bought it it had three good, newish AT tires, Wild Peaks, I think, one no-name street tire, and a dry rotted spare. I bought two new AT tires, Cooper Discoverers, that matched the existing ATs, and rotated one of the Wild Peaks onto the spare.  Not ideal, but I wasn’t supposed to be keeping the car.

M.T. Blake > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 11:12

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That would make me almost sell. Almost. 

Nothing > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 11:12

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Close!

Tacoma = MSRP/1.5 + Au^2 + PF + RTT/3 - WT + SCS^3 +( M/Y)^10

Key

Au = Australian parts MSRP

PF = Pelfreybuilt

RTT = RTT also includes cost of Expedition rack or Cap

WT = stock wheels and tires, if still equipped (boo!)

SCS = SCS Wheels.

M/Y = miles per year

And if the frame  was replaced by Toyota, double the MSRP. If it’s stock, 15+ years old and has under 100k on it, the simple formula is 3x MSRP.

AestheticsInMotion > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 11:17

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Realistically, I’d rather have this Tacoma than any new truck I could buy for the same amount of cash. $23k will get you base model full-size work trucks and *maybe* a slightly optioned mid-size..? 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 11:26

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Nope. This one’s mine.

jasmits > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 11:27

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I’m pretty sure I could get nearly what I paid for mine with 25k on the clock and obvious signs it’s been wheeled. Probably full what I paid if I took the time to buff out the pinstripes and clean out all the dirt from nooks and crannies. 

Nothing > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 11:27

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I paid $31k for mine 3 years ago.  In April, I had 2 dealerships offer $29k for it. The near lack of a depreciation curve on these is insane.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nothing 08/15/2018 at 11:33

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Hahaha! Got mine for $32.5 - we’ll see what calls I get in a couple  years. =)

gmctavish needs more space > M.T. Blake 08/15/2018 at 11:52

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This is why I generally look at first gen Tundras when I look for 4x4 Toyotas for sale. The Tacoma market is totally insane. 

Nothing > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/15/2018 at 13:07

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Hmm, see, now you’ve got me thinking. Right now, I don’t have anything to teach my son how to drive a manual on. Hmmmmmmm. If I get a decent trade in offer, I’d only add a handful of payments, right? Doh.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nothing 08/15/2018 at 13:11

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I mean, we’re all here to help each other make suspect financial decisions, right? =) The ‘19s will be hitting lots soon, so they may be trying to make room with deals on ‘18s (assuming you can find a suitable manual in inventory somewhere).

M.T. Blake > Nothing 08/15/2018 at 16:51

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Haha. Love it.