Looking for I think a 2015 - 2018 4Runner. Plan to search over next few months as I get my 2018 Crosstrek paid down and build up more equity in it. I'm def not upside down but I'd like to be in a better place w it.

Wife said I can make a move if/when I can get payments for something under ~$400. So again kinda looking at 2015 - 2018 models, and I think Trail because I really like the idea of a rear locking diff. I don't need it by any means, and it's not an absolute deal-breaker on an otherwise great 4Runner, but I'd like it.

I'd also like no more than 2 owners and some evidence of regular maintenance, especially oil changes.

Any tips or words of wisdom from people who have already been down this path?

[Also, God I love CarPlay and the new Cement color, but the new ones are just too much money for me ]

Cars.com, autotrader.com, maybe Carvana or Vroom but prices tend to be higher. Anything within 2-3 years of the current model year IMHO is priced so high you might as well go new. Especially if you use a no haggle program like the one offered from Costco which is invoice plus X dollars.

Most of those sites give free carfax or similar so you can see maintenance records. A friend found a nice 4Runner on Craigslist.

I would say when ready to buy just start searching. It may take a while but when the right one comes up jump on it. Leased 4Runners seem to have pretty good maintenance records. Non-Toyota dealers are notorious for mislabeling what they have for sale. For example it is an SR5 and they say it is a TRD. Look at the photos.

As for monthly payment depending on years and rate you are probably looking at around $25,000 financed to keep it below $400. Lots of free loan calculators can show you that.

You don't really save a ton buying used because these things hold value so well. Just find the year you want in your price range and go for it if the carfax looks good and there is little to no rust!

Great info so far, thanks! Been searching Carvana, TrueCar, and a couple others. The ones that show CarFax info do show some maintenance records which is nice.

I've also been using this to make sure that what I'm looking at is correct, re trim levels. I don't need all the high end stuff, but I do like that Trail level.
Vehicle Specification | Toyota Owners

And wow, yeah these things hold value (both a blessing and a curse), I'm toying with buying new for that reason.

And the reliability:
Toyota 4Runner Reliability - Dashboard Light
Toyota 4Runner Reliability by Model Generation | TrueDelta

I wonder if deals are available on 2020 models still sitting on lots?

Buy new. I paid $4k less for a brand new 2019 than what they were selling asking for used 2015-2018’s with 30k+ miles. Plus i got the warranty ill never use.

I had the same plan as you, but it makes zero sense to pay brand new prices for a used vehicle.

Since Toyota has free maintenance for the first two years on new cars, if you have the VIN, you can get the maintenance history from any Toyota dealer or the Toyota web site.

Like others have said - Toyotas hold their value so well that it pushes the advantage to buying new and eliminating the issues that come with used (maint history, accident history, etc.) Also, being in Western NY (I grew up in Rochester) you have salt damage to consider when looking at used. I would want to put any used vehicle in the air to look for rust and other issues.

I agree with biting the bullet and buying new - if you can. If not, nothing wrong with a good used vehicle. It just seems with the 4R you have to go so far back in years or so high up in mileage to see a significant price drop over new...

Anyway, be aware what used to be the Trail changed to the "TRD Off Road". And they have a new Trail Edition out now that I think is more of a cosmetic package for the SR5 and is not the same options as the old Trail and Off Road trims. Double check all that to be sure you get what you want.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

If you can swing a 9 year loan @400 i can put you in a low mileage cement ����

Have you looked at leasing options? You can probably keep it under $400 for a TRD with a good trade in. I just got a .64 residual and buy out vs the market price for a 3 year old model with same trim is 5-10$/k more expensive. I think leasing and buying out is the way to go if you want to keep it long term.

Personally if you plan to get rid of the crosstrek I wouldn't put any more money into it, try and sell it carvana/carmax etc. Sooner the better.

Well I have been lurking for a bit and decided to sign up as I am in the same boat as the OP. So hello everyone! I love reading about what everyone does to their vehicles.

OP, I also wanted to get a 2-3 year old low mileage 4Runner but the prices seem way too high right now as it stands. I feel like I am in a rock and a hard place because I'd love to get a 4Runner, but I do have a budget I would like to adhere to. My only thought to still going the used route is that I never see any APR incentives on new 4Runners either, so if the APR is similar to a used vehicle, maybe it's still a better idea to take the slight discount and go used. Someone mentioned a lease, I never thought about that because I always heard they never leased well, maybe I need to look into that too .

Right now I have a 3.6R 2018 Outback coming off lease in June, and I am sort of hoping with the new Bronco coming out, maybe Toyota will offer some incentives around that time. It's just a hope, I have zero idea if they will or not. Basically I have narrowed my options:

-New or Used 4Runner
-Buy out my current lease and just keep driving the car
-Maybe look at Wrangler deals around at that time as well.

I would really prefer the 4Runner though to the Wrangler, mainly because if I make a purchase its a vehicle I want to keep for a long long time.

If you don't think you'll need it, you won't. Most people think they need it and they don't. ATRAC is an extremely capable system to replicate the effect of lockers. Since money appears to be a concern, skip the lockers and buy an SR5 (or Premium) model. You can easily find those in 2014+ with reasonable mileage (8k or less per year), single/double owners, and maintenance records for under $25k

$25k @ 3.29% for 72-months is $398

I just sold my 2017 TRD-P with KDSS with 45k miles for $32K. I am sure i could have gotten $33k for it but i was happy. I bought it for 40K + ttl and drove it for 3 years and 44k miles. Lost out 8k besides tax.

To me, i wouldnt buy used for that minimal savings, if you can afford new.

TRDP never came w KDSS