`01 Limited 2wd Purchase...

[Imola.ZHP]

Roommate purchased an `01 Limited 2wd from CarMax and is having some buyers remorse, here are some questions/concerns...

Is it normal for the gear shift lever to move around while driving down the road? It doesnt pop out of gear or anything, but it definatly moves some...

The rear suspension seems a little rough. Is that just because we are both use to cars and this is definatly a truck? No trailer hitch on this 49,000 mile `01, so I dont think its been pulling heavy loads and wearing out the rear suspension, any ideas?

The HVAC fan makes a slight noise at lower fan speeds. I know this is picky, but his `98 ES 300 with over 180,000miles didnt make any noises at all...

Did the rear cargo cover some standard on all 4Runners? What about being standard on the "Limited" models? CarMax said they would buy it if it was suppose to be there, but then they said it wasnt suppose to be there. If someone can point me to some proof, it would be helpful...

Is it normal for the engine pullys and belts to be a little loud? The engine was obviously cleaned, and it could just be some cleaner/degreaser/whatever they use to "shine up" the engine bay on the belts, but he's curious about that as well...

Overall the truck is awesome, I love it and I dont understand what his problem is. I'd be extatic and happy, but he's all worried. He's not very mechanically inclined, but c'mon, this is his 3rd or 4th Toyota product, you'd think he'd know by now that they just last forever...

One last thing, price, CarMax doesnt haggle and he's allready purchased it, but has 5 days to change his mind. Purchase price was $18, 147 (before TN's crazy taxes). Truck is an `01 Limited loaded to the roof but 2wd, with only 49,000 miles. I'm not sure of the standard equpment on the "Limited" but this truck has ABS, Sunroof, Homelink, 6-disc in-dash, auto climate control, keyless entry with alarm, leather, fog lights, 16" wheels with 75% ('ish) tread on them, rear roof spoiler, and ugly "gold" badges...

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Yes,a little gear shift movement is normal for any vehcile since the tranny and engine have to have a little movement from the chassis so that movement isn't transferred to the driver as much.

Yes,it's still a truck.

I'd think in Limited trim it better have the cargo cover since my SR5 has it standard on the Highlander model.

Pulley noise is probably attributed to a cleaner used but also your friend might be just being a little anal.

For that price he could've got 4wd in the deal since that is a bit much for a 2wd that's almost 7 years old now.

 

[Imola.ZHP]

I just re-read my post, I guess I didnt mention for sure that it has an Automatic transmission...

The gear selector, once put in drive and started driving down the road, will kind of move. You can definatly feel it if you leave you hand on the gear selector as he must be doing. I guess since its not a manual, he needs to retrain himself to put that hand on the wheel. He was telling me that his lexus doesnt do that and I tried to explain to him that in his FWD lexus, the transmission is no where near the selector, whereas in the 4Runner being RWD, is probably more directly connected and thus moving slightly...

Thanks for the info. We actually dropped it off at a Toyota dealer and they are going to check the whole truck out. They said, too, that the rear cargo cover should be in the truck. He said as well that the price is slightly high, but she's got such low mileage. He doesnt need the extra maintenance from a 4wd, he doesnt plan to go offroad and we usually have one or two of 365 days in which we have ice. He's got the FWD lexus for that...

Keep the help and comments coming, all is appreciated!

 

[Cubfan]

I'm a total newby myself, so I'm just doing a lot of reading.

But about a month ago I bought an '01 SR5, 4WD, just as loaded as your friends, with 71k miles on it for $9K. $18K sounds quite high to me. Granted, I have some peeling paint on a side door (which most likely was repainted), which reflects the low price I got it for. Nonetheless, $18K???

The gear shifter moving is normal, my '90 4Runner and '97 Tacoma both did it quite a bit. The smarter guys could probably give a reason.

 

[p nut]

$18K!!!!!!????? And that's before taxes?? That means he's up to $20k with all of the fees. :awais:

He could've done much better, sorry to say. Tell him to return that ASAP.

 

[Imola.ZHP]

The Toyota dealer checked her over and found nothing wrong with the truck...

I'm not sure what he'll do, 18k is high, but sometimes you have to pay a little more to get a nice 1-owner (just found this out) truck with absolutly no damage and nothing needs fixed, replaced, or reconditioned. The truck looks like new inside, out and upside down. Truck came from Texas so no need to worry about the northern stuff...

Not quite 20k with taxes, mid 19k...

Thanks for the comments though, I'll be sure they are passed along so he can make his decision. It would have to be returned by Friday...

Oh, and I still need some kind of proof about the rear cover. The Toyota dealrship said they would try to find something, but didnt sound very convincing...

Keep the comments coming!

 

[Imola.ZHP]

CarMax supposidly doesnt haggle over price, but it is definatly high...

I think he's going to return in in an effort to get it for less. If he cant, then he'll just let them have it back...

Nadaguides.com says retail should be about $15,925. CarMax had it marked at $18,147. Thats including that $149 or whatever it is they add to every car, so basially they are 2g's too high on the price, plus he's out $9X.XX to get the Toyota dealer to go over the truck and make sure the things he had concerns about where normal. Sure, CarMax would have looked at it for free, but he wanted a 3rd party, non-biased opinion. Oh, and he'd be out that $300.00 cover. I'm thinking he needs to shoot for $15,500...

Keep the comments coming yall, thanks for the help so far!

 

[Cubfan]

Yeah, I think it's closer to $15k as well. That's what mine bluebooked at, had it not been for the peeling paint.

To explain myself, I'd rather pay $9k for a little peeling paint than $15k for perfection, but I'm a bargain hunter and it keeps me out of loan territory!

It's a personal call on your buddies part. If he's comfortable with paying that much for it, and he's happy with the purchase, all the power to him. But I'm sure a lot of people on this forum know approx what these suckers should cost and I think most of them will tell you $18k for an '01 is a lot money.

 

[peter78]

Originally posted by Imola.ZHP [/i]
Roommate purchased an `01 Limited 2wd from CarMax and is having some buyers remorse, here are some questions/concerns...

Is it normal for the gear shift lever to move around while driving down the road? It doesnt pop out of gear or anything, but it definatly moves some...

That is one of the first things I noticed when I bought it, it is normal. I don't even noticed it anymore.

Originally posted by Imola.ZHP [/i]
The rear suspension seems a little rough. Is that just because we are both use to cars and this is definatly a truck? No trailer hitch on this 49,000 mile `01, so I dont think its been pulling heavy loads and wearing out the rear suspension, any ideas?

One thing about the 4Runner, at least the 3rd generation is that it is a bit rough. Riding in the back is worse, it was probably that way when it was new.

The HVAC fan makes a slight noise at lower fan speeds. I know this is picky, but his `98 ES 300 with over 180,000miles didnt make any noises at all...

My fan does not make a noise a low speeds, at least not worse than normal cars. Of course I don't have a ES 300. Top speed is really loud.

Did the rear cargo cover some standard on all 4Runners? What about being standard on the "Limited" models? CarMax said they would buy it if it was suppose to be there, but then they said it wasnt suppose to be there. If someone can point me to some proof, it would be helpful...

My 2001 SR5 has one, you got ripped off. My best guess is that the original owner lost it, as it comes off.

Is it normal for the engine pullys and belts to be a little loud? The engine was obviously cleaned, and it could just be some cleaner/degreaser/whatever they use to "shine up" the engine bay on the belts, but he's curious about that as well...

It should not make a loud nosie, but it will when you start it up the fan makes a loud noise, then the fan clutch warms up and the fan does not spin as fast and the noise goes away. If it is loud after you run it for awhile you have a problem.

One thing to remember is that it is a truck, I feel the truck is in pretty good shape.

 

[Imola.ZHP]

^ thanks for the help, that to everyone else as well...

I think he's just going to keep it, but definatly fight them on the rear cover...

On Edmunds.com it lists "tonneau cover" as a standard item on the 4Runner, CarMax's website lists it as a "typical standard" feature as well. He's going to print both of those websites out, take it to them and they'll either order it, or he'll return the truck. Its a feature he wants/needs and though it might seem minor, he's the type of guy that would return the truck for them not doing what they said they would (buy it if it was a standard option)...

I finally got to drive it more than a block last night. Its really nice, though feels really slow. Then again, I'm use to a lighter 235hp 6-speed 330i. For what he does and for his driving style its a perfect fit...

EDIT: One more question though, I kept trying to turn the traction control off. I know I have yet to read the owners manual, but maybe yall can answer really easy. I'd turn it off, it would pop up on the dash "TCS OFF" or something like that, then 2-5 seconds later the light will go off, which I would think indicates that TCS is back on. Whats up with that? Does the ETC PWR button effect this at all? THANKS!

 

[p nut]

RE: the traction control, I heard that after you reach 20mph, the traction control automatically turns back on.

 

[peter78]

RE: the traction control, I heard that after you reach 20mph, the traction control automatically turns back on.

That is correct. Kind of makes the button useless, but it is good for when you are stuck in snow or mud, you hit the button and you can spin the tires. I got out of a snow bank with my two wheel drive and the traction control off.

The ECT button should not affect the traction control. When I was spinning the tires, it was always in first gear. The ECT button makes the transmission hold each gear a little longer. Once the ECT button can be useful your traction control is most likely already turn off.

 

[Imola.ZHP]

Thanks!

That sucks, but at least I know its not broken...