At $12,500, Is This 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Everything You Could Want?

A 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 with 185,000 miles is up for grabs on Craigslist for $12,500. The extended-cab Tacoma wears Impulse Red Pearl paint, though the clear coat is failing in spots.

Under the hood, it’s powered by Toyota’s 2.7-liter inline-four, mated to a five-speed manual and a two-speed transfer case for 4WD.

The seller claims recent work totaling $3,700 in parts and labor, including a new clutch, front suspension ball joints, Bilstein shocks, fresh fluids, and a set of PRINX-brand tires. The front suspension is independent, while the rear runs a live axle on leaf springs. Braking is discs up front and drums in back. The bed is coated with a spray-on liner and shows no dents or dings.

Inside, the cloth upholstery is intact thanks to heavy window tint, though there’s some wear on hard plastics.

The extended cab offers lockable storage behind the front buckets, and there’s a sliding rear window plus an aftermarket stereo. Manual window cranks are the only outdated feature. The truck comes with a clean title, has passed smog, and is located in Los Angeles, California. Is $12,500 a fair price for this high-mileage Tacoma, or is the clear-coat failure a dealbreaker?