Hi All - new to the forum here. After a few too many expensive repairs, I'm finally parting ways with my Audi wagon in hopes to replace it with something reliable and equally capable in snow.

Any tips on where I can find advice on buying used and things to watch for, or shared experiences with buying Certified Used from Toyota would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome! All cars new and used are pretty expensive right now, at least with a Toyota you can hold onto it for a long time due to their reliability. The Car Care Nut is a Toyota service technician and he has a lot of good info on his You Tube channel.

Link: The Car Care Nut - YouTube

Lots of good videos on YouTube. I’m a newbie as well, trying to decide between some models and I’ve learned a lot there and doing searches here on the forum.

I bought a 2008 V6 Limited with 178k a few years ago. It was a one owner, dealer serviced beauty that had been bought by another dealer at auction. I test drove it, heard a whine at all speeds coming from the rear end. i asked the guy about it, specifically mentioning the rear differential. he said he thought it was the worn Michelins. i really liked it, gambled on the dealer being correct. After replacing the gear oil and the tires, no change. After 15K miles of this whine, I finally had the rear end replaced. The part alone was $1700.

I think if you buy a rust-free rig, anything else could be replaced

I found my 4th gen on OfferUp. Met the guy, did a test drive, took a look around, and everything checked out.

Ehh everything is just so expensive right now that I can’t confidently give suggestions. Especially since I inherited mine and was always just a 4Runner dreamer because they are too pricey for my sad ole income


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Welcome welcome!

Coming to a Toyota will certainly get you better reliability than that of the Audi. I find it hard to even consider owning anything else.

As others have said, right now it’s tough. Being the market is so high for used vehicles (and new) that no matter what you do you are most likely going to pay a pretty high premium especially for the 4Runner. But it’s well worth the price of admission! I bought my 4th gen from a Volvo dealer in south Texas. Since it was sitting on the lot next to brand new Volvos that sticker in the $90k area; I think the sales staff and management were thrilled to move it and get rid of it. It came with a one owner history and 12 pages of detailed service records.

Good luck with your search and welcome OP!

Toyota has been tested over the years, proving its durability, as well as its engine reliability. But now inflation, the price of used cars is really not cheap.

Got mine from a used car lot who specialized in Toyotas. They had a pile of older 4runners and found the one I was looking for. A 98 3rd gen.

Welcome! Did you ever find your 4Runner?

They will last!

Welcome!

I did! I can't believe my luck, in the best way. A friend's brother was selling his '08 V8 Limited (with work to be done, i.e. exhaust headers, SAIS CEL, fuel sending unit).