It is far from a sure bet that a 15-year-old $3K Ford is the fiscally responsible choice. It's kind of the reverse of the problem of people spending too much on cars -- someone getting focused on the absurdly low price and not factoring in what it will actually end up costing them over time.

The difference in up front cost between an '04 S10 and an '08 Tacoma will put a whole new drive-train in that S10, twice.

As far as used car values go, the Tacoma is significant outlier.

Drivetrains don't usually fail, anyway, it's all the little bits around the edge that nickle and dime you to death.