The concept of “right car, wrong venue” can absolutely be a thing when it comes to secondhand metal. After all, I’ve seen Maybachs for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and something tells me the typical Maybach customer doesn’t spend all day on Marketplace. Likewise, every so often, a fancy internet car auction site ends up seeming a bit like a used car lot, such is the case with this Toyota Tundra that recently hammered on Bring A Trailer.
Specifically, we’re talking about a proper base-model 2008 Toyota Tundra, a regular cab truck in fleet white and everything. It’s the antonym of a Cowboy Cadillac, a truck that was very much purchased to do one job, creature comforts be damned. The only options on this thing are a heavy-duty battery and starter, a steel wheel and tire package, and floor mats. As such, it’s almost beautifully basic, lacking even a driver’s vanity mirror.
With a 236-horsepower four-liter V6 under the hood, it’s also not going to win any drag races or tractor pulls. Paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, this isn’t a hero V8, but it’ll keep this Tundra trucking along for ages, so long as it’s serviced regularly. Toyota fans seem to love this engine in the Tacoma of the period, and considering their expectations for reliability, that’s a pretty good sign.
Is it cosmetically perfect? No. The bed has its fair share of scrapes and dents on the sheetmetal, there’s definitely some abrasion going on underneath the drop-in plastic bedliner, and it seems like there’s a little damage on the corner of the front slam panel. This definitely seems like a truck that’s done some work in its life, so why list it on Bring A Trailer? Well, there are a few good reasons.
First off, it has incredibly low mileage for the year, with just 65,000 of them on the clock. Secondly, it’s spent life away from the rust belt, which means that the underbody actually looks rather nice. It’s worth noting that non-rotten Toyota trucks usually pull crazy premiums, and in a niche like that, listing this truck on Bring A Trailer makes some modicum of sense.
However, it made perhaps the most sense to the winning bidder, who snapped up this truck for $13,700 plus auction fees. That’s a pretty alright price for a relatively clean, low-mileage second-generation Tundra, especially since the interior looks damn near new. Most importantly, it’s the sort of truck someone can buy and run for a long, long time. Maybe even another 20 years. After all, the 1GR-FE four-liter V6s in these things are known to go forever.
The auction of this Tundra just goes to show that cars can definitely pop up in interesting places. If you keep your eye out, you might be able to score what you’re looking for in a place where a lot of people who may otherwise be interested in it aren’t.
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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Why is this a surprise? It’s called BRING A TRAILER…like you had to do, literally bring a trailer, when it first started since most were barn finds/projects. Yes, I know now it’s got crazy expensive stuff on it too
Jesus weeping Christ. People keep saying AI is coming for your jobs but I rest well knowing that I’ve got the ability to at least parse this isn’t a good deal.
Talk about buying a giant bucket of ????
There was actually discussion just the other da on the tundra forum about this type of configuration as they stopped making regular cabs not too much longer after they started making these. Finding a 4×4 is even harder. This truck is a unicorn and someone got a serious steal.
Related I saw a single cab Nissan Titan this summer, which is the only one I’ve ever seen in the metal. I actually thought they only came in King Cab and crew cab
“It’s worth noting that non-rotten Toyota trucks usually pull crazy premiums, and in a niche like that, listing this truck on Bring A Trailer makes some modicum of sense.
However, it made perhaps the most sense to the winning bidder, who snapped up this truck for $13,700 plus auction fees. That’s a pretty alright price for a relatively clean, low-mileage second-generation Tundra, especially since the interior looks damn near new. Most importantly, it’s the sort of truck someone can buy and run for a long, long time. Maybe even another 20 years. After all, the 1GR-FE four-liter V6s in these things are known to go forever.”
So looking at my local CL I see at least one Tundra, one year older but only 45k, 5.7V8, SR5 package and looks to be in better shape for the same price:
https://yubasutter.craigslist.org/ctd/d/yuba-city-2007-toyota-tundra-sr5-44/7803800799.html
And it’s also in a better colour too as opposed to boring-white.
That listing seems almost too good to be true.
Its Craigslist so maybe?
Only one way to find out.
That one is a 4×4 too. I would call the one on Cars and Bids overpriced for what it is, and I even like work trucks. Low miles, but still beat up. Easy to find nicer Grampy-spec trucks all day long here in God’s Waiting Room, FL with no miles on them for $14K, your choice of brand.
And you KNOW the white one was driven with no fucks given, and probably sat idling for weeks at a time, even if it wasn’t driven very FAR. Do they have an hour meter in the ECU?
Much nicer truck too with some options like power windows, auto ac, etc.
These regular cabs are very rare, a long bed even rarer. You can’t just go buy one of these on your local craigslist (at least near me, you obviously can) as only like 10k were ever made and they are almost 20 years old.
Your example is very nice though. Should snag that thing!
I would if I needed a gas guzzling, full sized truck. But I don’t nor do I have the room for it.
I used to think those Tundra’s were kinda strange looking when they were new, but they are really a good truck. My single cab ‘14 Silverado (knock on wood) has been great, and is more handsome IMO, but a used Tundra of before the current gen is definitely at the top of my list if I have to replace it one day
It’s because they are. They look like the dog van from Dumb and Dumber.
Not a good buy. Somebody just paid full clean retail for a beat up ex work truck.
I guess it’s maybe a fair price if it’s a truck that you really badly want.
It would be a hard pass for me though. Bare bones trucks are cool but they either have to have the good motor or a stick, or both, and this has neither.
Mostly they need to be cheap. This is not cheap, it’s full retail.
My most recent truck was an ’02 Silverado six. And with plenty of prior experience, I can tell you that you don’t want a full-size truck with a normally-aspirated six.
The EPA says this Tundra gets 15/19 with a six and 14/18 with a V-8. Even if that’s true in the lab, the MPG difference is virtually zero in the real world, and the V-8 will probably get better mileage if you tow/haul regularly. Loaded or empty, the eight will accelerate better.
I used to agree fully, but I have had a ‘14 with the LS-based 4.3 for 10 yrs now, and it really has plenty if you’re not towing much. The F-150s that had the 3.7 of the same vintage were no slouch for a basic work truck either.
Yeah that’s bad. My 2.7l F150 crew cab averages 24mpg and will get 27-28 on the highway. It does fall off pretty hard when towing anything substantial, but I think the empty MPG cancels it out.
Realistically though, you don’t buy a fleet spec 8ft bed regular cab for towing, the whole point is having a dedicated, self propelled, utility trailer replacement. Might as well take the slight fuel savings of the smaller engine.
Want a bare bones work truck or SUV? Check the public surplus for your state.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/browse/cataucs?catid=4&_mls=f
You won’t believe the number of perfectly working, well maintained, low mileage vehicles get listed simply because it has exceeded it’s eight year expected service life.
Of course, always check anything you want to bid on in person, review service records for any discrepancies or major repairs, and don’t “bring a trailer” unless instructed to do so.
> Searches “Grumman”
> Finds only a step van.
FINE, I’ll continue dreaming about LLVs, then.
Lol, you would need to check a different resource for that.
Publicsurplus is mainly local and state agencies. You’re better off finding it on a federal surplus site, like GSA or govdeals.
https://www.govdeals.com/asset/37138/8445
Granted, not quite a Grumman, but you get the idea.
I bought a couple of vehicles from my state through PublicSurplus, as well as some other things, before they switched to the Govdeals platform. I also purchased a number of vehicles from a couple of different local counties back when they did in-person auctions.
I have scored some great deals, over the years, and usually on those that did actually need something. The best was probably my Daughter’s CVPI about 9 years ago. Out the door with tax and a trip permit I was into it for $680. It went for cheap for a couple of reasons. #1 First is was the first one of about 20 to go up for bid, at the old in-person auction. The first one is always the cheapest and the darn caller even told the other bidders that. #2 The reason it was 1st in line was because it was retired shortly after the last auction. Sitting out there for several months meant the county mechanics took some parts for other cars. The entire wiper system, cowl panel, and headlight retainers for one side were missing. Out the door with tax and a trip permit for $680. I spent about $80 for the missing parts from the local self serve wrecking yard and a new set of wiper blades. The next cheapest one that actually ran went for $1100 and it had the typical 100-110k miles on it like the rest of them. Meanwhile the one we bought had just over 60k.
Okay… there are a bunch of properties with tax sales in Appleton MN with current bids at $504 with the ending of the auction on Monday. Let’s each buy one, control the town and change the town name to Autopian MN.
Similarly, I snagged a ’90 Chevy Cheyenne in ’95 with minimal mileage for invoice because my employer was replacing it with a new ’95 to do the daily mail run.
Zero NC auctions on that site. Bummer.
2WD seems to tamp the price down. IMO, $13.5k for a 16 year old “fleet white” 2WD truck still seems like plenty of money.
I was more excited about this awesome two-tone brown GMT400 dually.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-chevrolet-c3500-pickup-gmt400-2/
YES!!!!
Ooh, that is nice!
Huh. I actually think that’s not an unreasonable price given the venue. This truck will outlive you while needing little beyond basic maintenance. I fully expected to scroll down and see a $30,000 winning bid just because it was on BaT and with everyone getting horny for simple Toyota pickups.
I’m sure the HOA who bought it for their residents to share will be very happy with it.
Lol… Best comment this month!
Cotd