Eastman's Auto [Barre, VT] & Cape Cod Auto Connection [Hyannis, MA]

So the topic of this thread is Eastman's Auto (no Web site) and Cape Cod Auto Connections, located in Barre, VT and Hyannis, MA respectively.

I've been looking for a quality 3rd gen 4Runner for several months now (read 5-speed + 4x4 + low-ish mileage) and these two dealerships seem to have them by the handful. Seriously, it amazes me how many allegedly NICE trucks they have on their combined lots. So much so, in fact, that it makes me a little suspicious.

Now I'm all the way out in Colorado, so inspecting their inventory firsthand isn't exactly easy for me. Buying something sight unseen isn't exactly appetizing, therefore I'm calling on those of you that might live near one of these dealerships.

Can any of you speak to the reputation of either dealership? Assuming one/both prove legit, is anyone willing to go have a look-see at a truck for me? Feel free to reply to this thread or shoot me a PM or e-mail to discuss.

TIA.

Hey, I think I know which vehicle you are looking at at Cape Cod Auto, silver 98 with 77k miles on it? I think there was another with 90k on it that was a manual as well, then a 4cyl one too.

I was planning on going down there to test drive it before I got mine last weekend. I think they are legit, I didn't visit them, but I didn't see any reason to suspect them. Also, Mass has a law that used cars carry a warranty. So even if they say no warranty, the law says it does (Used Vehicle Warranty Law). VT does not have a law like this.

FYI on that silver 98, when I called to test drive it, they said another test driver couldn't get it into reverse, so they had to send it to the shop. I didn't like the idea of a dealer working on a transmission, so I looked elsewhere.

I would go for you, but it is a couple hours away, and I am swamped for the next 2 weeks. You might try to contact someone in a local toyota or offroad club, I know there are some offroader guys down on the cape. Check freedom trail riders, and northeast toyota crawlers. One of them might be close to hyannis.

Also remember, that this is New England; unlike CO, we use straight salt on the road, and ALOT of it. They WILL have rust on the undercarriage, and likely alot of it. I grew up in CO and moved out here to Boston a few years ago, and am shocked every winter at how much salt they dump on the roads. If you are flying to buy a car, I would highly consider focusing on the south and southwest. The one I bought out here had rusted all the way through the differential casing, so I will have to replace the axle housing at some point. I found this out right after getting it home. If I had known that, I might have gone for that silver 98 instead.

Anyway, good luck.

Excellent feedback, thank you. :thumb3:

I'm from oHIo originally, so I'm well aware of the nastiness that is road salt (kinda forgot tho since it has been so long). You practically cannot buy a car there that isn't about to fall apart and I guess the same is true of New England.

Whatever the case, many, many thanks for the comments.

So on a related note, I had the opportunity to look at a 4Runner today that was brought out from New England. Man, that salt is no joke.

The corrosion that was evident on the undercarriage was pretty epic and each fender was bubbling from the exposure. The wheels had taken a beating too from the NaCl. Other than that, it was a nicely equipped rig.

The moral of the story is,well, salt sucks.