Buying 2019 4x4 5th gen from rental company

definitely go visit in person. them watching you walk out the door will be far more incentive to give you a good price. once you have one offer, take that to the next place and continue. people are buying TRD off road premiums for 37k OTD. a base model sr5 isn't worth anywhere near that. should be 33k otd
 
definitely go visit in person. them watching you walk out the door will be far more incentive to give you a good price. once you have one offer, take that to the next place and continue. people are buying TRD off road premiums for 37k OTD. a base model sr5 isn't worth anywhere near that. should be 33k otd

The out the door price is tricky as I have one of the highest tax rates - 9.25%. I have on my spreadsheet about 30 dealerships I got in touch with and 4 of them don't even have 2019 SR5 4x4, many others don't have the colors I want. Only few have exact model, exact colors I like. Inventory is getting sparse. Also, I've been told it's possible that Toyota might take incentives off 2019 model so they could technically become more expensive. I don't know fully how to play that game. I've seen $35,500 invoice price. If I was to purchase for $33k out the door the dealer would have to sell it to me for approx $29k (as title + tax is approx $4k here). That means dealer would be selling over $6k below the invoice. I don't think that's possible, is it?

I will go in person once I figure out who is worth visiting.
 
I managed to test drive one 2018 SR5 4x4 from Hertz today with 40k+ miles. They want $28,900 for it which would be out the door approx $33k. I drove it over gravel and grass and it went really strong. Suspension in my opinion is real nice, drive is smooth. Engine sounds weird, like a toy RC car. I don't like that sound. It's not TOO loud for me, it's totally ok but the pitch is weird, a bit annoying. Also, flooring this car doesn't do much. My 2016 Camry is much snapier and Camrys are not known for being sport cars. Handling pretty ok, brakes pretty strong. I'm convinced I will be very happy with the car. If only acceleration was a bit better...

I don't think that spec at that price makes sense, so I keep looking.
 
What I'm worried most is the 4x4 drive. I'm afraid somebody might have engaged it and drove on pavement. And I don't have a way to detect that. Obviously I will test drive the vehicle and inspect very well around the joints but that might not be enough. If one driver engages 4x4 and leaves it on, would new driver after starting the car also have 4x4 engaged?

So just a heads up, the manual tells you to drive it at least 10 miles a month in 4hi

"Four-wheel drive usage frequency: You should drive in four-wheel drive for at least 10 miles (16 km) each month. This will assure that the front drive components are lubricated."

Also, as far as I have seen, it doesn't say to avoid/not use 4wd on pavement.

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The out the door price is tricky as I have one of the highest tax rates - 9.25%. I have on my spreadsheet about 30 dealerships I got in touch with and 4 of them don't even have 2019 SR5 4x4, many others don't have the colors I want. Only few have exact model, exact colors I like. Inventory is getting sparse. Also, I've been told it's possible that Toyota might take incentives off 2019 model so they could technically become more expensive. I don't know fully how to play that game. I've seen $35,500 invoice price. If I was to purchase for $33k out the door the dealer would have to sell it to me for approx $29k (as title + tax is approx $4k here). That means dealer would be selling over $6k below the invoice. I don't think that's possible, is it?

I will go in person once I figure out who is worth visiting.

I'm in WA, our tax rate is close to 10% also for use tax on cars. Hasn't stopped people here from getting decent deals. I still vouch that showing up in person will net a better deal. A dealership knows people are emailing around just for price check. Being there in person ready to buy and them watching you walk away is better incentive.

Yes the 4Runner is a slouch. It's a big SUV with an old (but reliable) engine
 
Don't buy a 4Runner for acceleration or gas mileage. If you are not planning on keeping it a really long time I would look at something else. Just about any other SUV's (non-Toyota) I would recommend an extended warranty. A Hemi Jeep may be fast but you couldn't get me to buy one. I have a lifetime warranty on my Ram, thank the Lord.
 
I was in the same boat as you. I almost went with the hertz used car. I have two friends who are very happy with their purchases from them. But overall the savings from a used to a new car isn’t all that great! So I decided to hold off until I save enough for a brand new one.
Got a 3rd gen until it’s time.

I’ll be following your journey! Keep us updated
 
I'm in WA, our tax rate is close to 10% also for use tax on cars. Hasn't stopped people here from getting decent deals. I still vouch that showing up in person will net a better deal. A dealership knows people are emailing around just for price check. Being there in person ready to buy and them watching you walk away is better incentive.

Yes the 4Runner is a slouch. It's a big SUV with an old (but reliable) engine

What would be the decent deal for brand new 2019 SR5 4x4? $36k out the door? $35k out the door? Lower than that?
 
A Hemi Jeep may be fast but you couldn't get me to buy one. I have a lifetime warranty on my Ram, thank the Lord.

I don't know who mentioned buying a Jeep SRT but I would highly advise against it. Ask me how I know? haha

Massive electronic and mechanical problems ranging from ECM (electronic control modules) randomly shitting the bed which cost about $1500CAD to replace (dealerships have to program them so you're in bed with them), ring lands shitting the bed, floating valve spring issues, and regular misfires requiring you to replace the cam and lifters around the 80-100K kms mark (that's if there's no interference from the rest of the engine requiring you to replace pistons and heads). I've been part of a Jeep SRT group on FB for quite some time and there's always one poor soul that pops up about once a month that has around 80-100K kms on their car reporting a cylinder 5 misfire.

The only way I'd ever own a Jeep SRT again is if I were to lease one. For the money, I'd rather just buy a lightly used c6 z06 and save a buttload of money.
 
I don't know who mentioned buying a Jeep SRT but I would highly advise against it. Ask me how I know? haha
I need RELIABLE car for family with kids that I can transport their bicycles and other fun stuff. We camp a lot and we do outdoors activities. Currently I have sedan and it doesn't work that well anymore as kids are getting older. Again, the car has to be RELIABLE, I'm way too busy lately to deal with car problems.
And I hate vans, I couldn't drive Sienna or Odyssey. My options are somewhere between 4Runner, Highlander, Lexus RX/GX, Subaru Ascent, and maybe Honda Pilot as these are reliable vehicles. I like the looks of Grand Cherokee a lot but I've heard too many horror stories about reliability, so I'm not considering any Jeeps.

Got first email today with the offer of $36,900 (out the door) so now we are in $36k range. They were pushing for phone calls and closing the deal today (Friday), I respectfully scheduled them for Monday morning - phone call. I haven't shared my phone number yet with anybody. Apparently Mondays are pretty slow in car sales and Monday will be strategically at 4 days before end of the month. I let them wait!
 
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I bought my current 2015 5th gen SR5 (4x4) back in January 2017 from Hertz in Anaheim, CA with about 30k miles on it. Got a deal much better than any dealership here in southern california. No issues whatsoever.

Knew I was going to be building it up - went from a Jeep TJ to the 4Runner & never looked back. Do it fam!

GL!
 
I'm going to be talking over the phone with few dealerships who offered best prices so far ($36.9k - $37.5k range). One of the dealers has 2018 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4D Sport Utility 4WD that I would consider taking if the price was right. Do you think dealer will have extra pressure to get rid of 2018 model? Any reasons I might not want that 2018 one? Whether he can sell it for my dream price, $35k out the door, is another story.
 
I bought my 4runner 4x4 from a dealer @ 29k$ with 37,000 miles back in Jan 2016 (so that was 7k less than msrp). I thought it was a leaser as they said, but then found a rental car sticker on the door some months later. It was the only one in stock and I needed to move cities.

I have 103K miles on it now. I haven't had ONE problem with it (except for a very annoying reverse camera that is common with 2014s). I'm passed the drive train warranty now.

I have put on about 4k worth of add-ons...including Bilstein 6112/5100 @2.5inches, 285/70/17s, FX Pro 8.5in Wheels, Baja Rack, Sliders, Skid Plate, TRD Pro Trimming. I've been across the country. Overlanding through CO to UT to NV to AZ to CA and then some. I've had multiple GF's in the back. I've rock crawled, used Atrac multiple times to get out, gotten stuck ONCE while high centering in deep snow in the Sierras.

Not once did I ever suspect any bad things from the 4runner cause it might've been a rental. I think 4runners are pretty tough cookies that can withstand a few bad egg renters.

Now at 103k it doesn't even matter. The miles and adventures I've already put on it has made it all worth it and then some. The amount of money people would have paid to go on some of my overlanding trips to the destinations have already paid for the car itself. And just from driving it, I know it's gonna last at least another 100-200k AT LEAST.

So stop listening to these internet 4runner forum junkies who live and die by internet reviews. They're the same kind of people that have to research 10X just to buy a freaking tshirt or choosing a restaurant. Jesus. H. Christ.
 
Most people that can afford to rent premium vehicles are not going to abuse them.

EXACTLY.

To rent a 4runner is going to cost heaps more than any other vehicle in the fleet. People that afford them aren't going to drive them like some maniac that rents a Kia sport sedan.
 
EXACTLY.

To rent a 4runner is going to cost heaps more than any other vehicle in the fleet. People that afford them aren't going to drive them like some maniac that rents a Kia sport sedan.


ok a few things: And why I disagree. ANd why i would NEVER buy a rental.

1) With my own stuff I treat gently (almost baby it too much) but with rentals and such I always push them to their max in steering, acceleration, cornering, and "experimenting." Think i slow as much for a speed bump? Nope. Think I've caught air on a speed bump? Yep. (Granted I dont do that anymore, but point is made)

2) You are assuming people pay for them, and the more elite crowd gets them. Wrong. Many high end rentals are "paid" by companies and rented out/earned by status. (e.g. consultants who live on the road as I did/still do) For example, I can choose any vehicle on the lots of most car rental companies for years, totally free to me. Many of those like "me" were kids in their 20s. And i watched them all act out #1. Aaand when you arent paying for gas, lets just ay you arent as "gentle" on the pedal. ;-)

3) That's in general for all cars. Now, the 4runner: the 4x4 functionality in the 4runner has specific rules around the gears. For example, you should never run it in 4LO on cement. Or run it too fast in these gears on turns, as you can prematurely wear the differentials. (correct me if this is wrong and there are toyota safeguards here, but this is what i heard). And this assumes they read the manual on how to progress through them 4Hi 4LO. I assume almost no one reads this, as see #1 and #2.

I have driven rentals and been around people driving rentals for 16 years. (Case in point my OWN car is a 2001 and has only 70K miles on it.) That said, I would never buy a rental.
 
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Another upgrade. I test driven 2019 SR5 4x4 today with 15k miles on the odometer. I took advantage of 2 hour complimentary drive. Car was in really good shape. Few scratches here and there but overall I would feel pretty ok buying it. The problem is, numbers don't make that much sense anymore.

Hertz wanted for that car $34k out the door.

Dealerships are currently at around $36.5k level out the door.

Also, I'm taking the loan. APR for used car is higher and over the life of the loan, I will pay over $500 more for used one vs brand new one. For the ease of calculations, I'm just going to add that $500 to the price of Hertz vehicle. It presents like that:

2019 SR5 4x4 from Hertz (used): $34.5k
2019 SR5 4x4 from dealership (brand new): $36.5k

Now that's only $2000 difference. I will work more on dealers and I think I can get it even lower. At that point I'm leaning towards purchasing from the dealer. Let's see what happens next :).
 
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