4th gen holding its value compared to 3rd gen?

[twa318]

Just an anecdotal observation of mine, it seems that the 4th generation 4Runner is holding its value better compared to the 3rd generation. Take for example back in 2010, after looking for a few months I picked up a 1999 SR5 2wd in good condition with 140k miles for $6000, which I felt was a fair deal for a 11 year old vehicle.

Fast forward to 2016 where I'm looking for 4th gens and every 2004+ truck in good condition with 150k miles seems to be priced at $7,000 or higher for a SR5. I know both generations are reliable but I'm surprised at just how much higher prices seem to be for the 4th generation.

I'm guessing this is because there were a whole lot more 3rd gens produced compared to the 4th gens?

 

[kcdehart]

I picked up an '04 SE V6 for $10k on Saturday with 159k miles. And it was right at KBB value (when buying from a dealer) for the condition it was in. Spotless underbody, nearly pristine exterior, XREAS was recently replaced, you get the picture.

I was having a lot of trouble finding even an SR5 with <160k miles for $10k or less at any dealer with 200 miles of me, so got lucky that I found this one. I'm fairly new to the 4 Runner game so am not familiar with how the 3rd gens held value, but the 4th gens seem to be holding their value VERY well.

 

[monkeyking75]

In the same boat here. Everything is at least 10 grand with well over 100 thousand miles.

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[PWD4R]

I disagree in terms of percentages. In 2010 you got that for $6k but it'd still be $5k for the same thing or more depending on where you live. Where I am a 2003-2004 is only about a grand difference in price to a 1999-2002


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[kcdehart]

I think a large part of this is that people hold on to their 4 Runners. The 4th gens are by no means rare (I saw 8 or 9 on my 10 mile rural Virginia commute to work this morning), but they're hard to find for sale while having a high demand at the same time. This drives up prices.

 

[nevada]

I think a large part of this is that people hold on to their 4 Runners. The 4th gens are by no means rare (I saw 8 or 9 on my 10 mile rural Virginia commute to work this morning), but they're hard to find for sale while having a high demand at the same time. This drives up prices.

not just 4runners, but Toyotas in general.
at least, that is what the dealership told me, when I got my 06 a few years ago.
i get a "your vehicle is in demand" letter every now and then.

 

[kcdehart]

Yeah. It sucks buying into an in-demand platform...but it's nice to know the value won't really go anywhere

 

[PWD4R]

not just 4runners, but Toyotas in general.
at least, that is what the dealership told me, when I got my 06 a few years ago.
i get a "your vehicle is in demand" letter every now and then.

The dealers always say that though. Trust me. They want you to trade it for another one so they make money on you again


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[jbtvt]

I sold my V8 03 for less than some of the later 3rd Gens were going for after it sat for months with almost no bites. Lost money on it at $3k. Northeast so significant chassis rust but no rot. $10k for a V6 04?! I hope it came with vaseline!

Correction: I think mine was an 03 not 04. 05 brought vvti and 30 more horses, interior and electronics upgrades in 06 and 07... If I were going to shell out $10k+ for a 4Runner it would need to be at least 06 and low mileage. If the market is that crazy in your area wait for it to go down, it will. If not, buy a GX.

 

[kcdehart]

I sold my V8 03 for less than some of the later 3rd Gens were going for after it sat for months with almost no bites. Lost money on it at $3k. Northeast so significant chassis rust but no rot. $10k for a V6 04?! I hope it came with vaseline!

Correction: I think mine was an 03 not 04. 05 brought vvti and 30 more horses, interior and electronics upgrades in 06 and 07... If I were going to shell out $10k+ for a 4Runner it would need to be at least 06 and low mileage. If the market is that crazy in your area wait for it to go down, it will. If not, buy a GX.

The market in my area is insane for these. As I said, $10k is right at KBB value for the condition it was in. There were a couple cheaper ones available at the dealer, but they had TONS of rust underneath. I didn't wanna touch that.

The underbody on mine is literally shiny. The only rust is the usual exhaust surface rust that's pretty much unavoidable. The XREAS shocks have been replaced very recently (I'm not sure when, but it rides like new, so probably in the last 10k miles or so), it has a sunroof and whatnot, 4WD works perfectly. The engine cover says it has VVTI, for what that's worth. I remember seeing there were different versions in different model years though.

I was looking for something to be a reliable daily that'd last me a LONG time, so things such as rust were a biggie for me. The price wasn't as much of a factor. And condition took precedence over mileage.

The pictures don't do the underbody justice, but they give an idea.

So yeah, that's what 10k will get you for a 4 Runner at a dealer in my area. There are dealers a bit south of me trying to sell '04s-'05s with 200k miles for $9k. It's pretty ridiculous.

My requirements were that it had to be 4WD, low rust, V6 (I wanted a timing chain after dealing with my 3000GT, which you can barely see in the 2nd picture) for <$10k. And I was having a really hard time finding good ones with <170k miles. Sport Edition was a plus because of the larger brakes, XREAS and other options. 2WDs go all day for $6-7k around here because nobody wants them. The V6s seem to sell for higher prices than the V8s for some reason. It's pretty much impossible to find a limited of any year for <$10k no matter the mileage.

Autotrader link for my area: http://goo.gl/NeC4oZ

The tan '04 with 129k just showed up today. But is an SR5 and has some decent body damage on the hatch. Can't speak for the underbody. I had a friend test-drive the one at Impex auto in NC and he said it was pretty crappy.

/threadjack

 

[nevada]

The dealers always say that though. Trust me. They want you to trade it for another one so they make money on you again


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yes, I understand that. but there is some truth to it. we hold onto our vehicles longer, because they keep working longer. less people are trading in against new cars.

 

[PWD4R]

yes, I understand that. but there is some truth to it. we hold onto our vehicles longer, because they keep working longer. less people are trading in against new cars.

Not really any truth to that. I bet they get no calls asking for used 4runners


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[kcdehart]

Not really any truth to that. I bet they get no calls asking for used 4runners


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I called my Toyota dealer asking if they had a used one. Whether or not they actually try to get them is a different story. They said that as soon as they get 4th gens (for trade-ins or whatnot) they sell, though.

The used car dealer I bought mine from said similar things

 

[nevada]

Not really any truth to that. I bet they get no calls asking for used 4runners


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I know that when i was shopping for mine, there were very few out there.
when i finally found one, i asked them, how often they get them, and when the was the last time they had one.

he said we don't get them very often, people just aren't trading them in against new cars. they are keeping them instead. and that when they do get them, they sell very quickly. based on my search prior, i believe him. there just aren't that many out there.

 

[PWD4R]

I know that when i was shopping for mine, there were very few out there.
when i finally found one, i asked them, how often they get them, and when the was the last time they had one.

he said we don't get them very often, people just aren't trading them in against new cars. they are keeping them instead. and that when they do get them, they sell very quickly. based on my search prior, i believe him. there just aren't that many out there.

But that isn't why the dealers are calling saying your car is in demand. They call everyone and say that.


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[kcdehart]

Yeah. I see tons on the road, but none at dealers. People are holding onto them and running them till they die. And they just aren't dying

 

[jbtvt]

The engine cover says it has VVTI, for what that's worth. I remember seeing there were different versions in different model years though.

I was looking for something to be a reliable daily that'd last me a LONG time, so things such as rust were a biggie for me. The price wasn't as much of a factor. And condition took precedence over mileage.
/threadjack

It is worth a premium to get a rust free vehicle. If you're happy with it, good enough. I see that the V6 had VVTi earlier than the V8, which was 05. Is it just the pic or is there a rust hole in your shock housing in that last pic?

Appreciate the price naming nonetheless, people can be so cagey about that. Probably cause people like me give them shit for it For the record I paid $18k for my 07 GX, rust free TX truck, 100k miles, fully loaded, dealer maintained. Couple grand below KBB but a slight premium over other national options, and nearly 2000 miles to drive it home. Some people can't believe I did that but it was also worth it to me.

 

[kcdehart]

It is worth a premium to get a rust free vehicle. If you're happy with it, good enough. I see that the V6 had VVTi earlier than the V8, which was 05. Is it just the pic or is there a rust hole in your shock housing in that last pic?

Yeah, IIRC the V6 actually lost power with some emissions crap in the '06+.

And I'll go check the shock housing after lunch. Thanks for pointing that out. I wouldn't think it's a hole, but I would like to know.

 

[jbtvt]

Yeah, IIRC the V6 actually lost power with some emissions crap in the '06+.

And I'll go check the shock housing after lunch. Thanks for pointing that out. I wouldn't think it's a hole, but I would like to know.

The HP drops in '06, at least as they related to the 4Runner's twin GX470, were strictly calculations on paper, the engine output was unchanged. See - 2006 Lexus GX 470 Review - NewCarTestDrive

Power ratings are down slightly for '06, to 263 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque, but that's only because the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has instituted new test procedures that tend to deliver more conservative numbers. The engine itself, and its performance, have not changed. The 2006 GX 470 is every bit as powerful as the 2005 model.

Here's a good breakdown of model year improvements for anyone considering buying a 4th gen 4Runner

I was thinking of the GX electronic upgrades in 07 in my earlier reply, particularly the nav system(big one). 2005 was the 4Runner nav upgrade (different than GX) and VVTi for the V8, 06 brought some styling changes.

 

[kcdehart]

The HP drops in '06, at least as they related to the 4Runner's twin GX470, were strictly calculations on paper, the engine output was unchanged. See - 2006 Lexus GX 470 Review - NewCarTestDrive



Here's a good breakdown of model year improvements for anyone considering buying a 4th gen 4Runner

I was thinking of the GX electronic upgrades in 07 in my earlier reply, particularly the nav system(big one). 2005 was the 4Runner nav upgrade (different than GX) and VVTi for the V8, 06 brought some styling changes.

Yeah, I didn't pay much attention to V8 specs while searching because I was focused on getting a V6. I do plan to do '06+ front/rear lighting retrofits when I have some extra cash.

It'd be nice to have the NAV, but I'll live without it. It was pretty significant in '06-'07, though, as smartphones weren't around yet.