Anyone in the Bay Area willing to check out a runner for me?

[MyHigh]

Wow!!

Just read those reviews about fast Eddie, I hope for your sake everything is as it should be when you head up to check it out. I know how hard it is to find "the right one". I was lucky and practically stumbled across mine and the dealer was non the wiser about it being a highlander. All he new was that I was the first to come along that actually wanted a five speed and so he sold it to me. I won't try and give you any unwanted advise on dealing with used car salesmen except to walk if it don't feel right!

Good luck, and hopefully we will be seeing some pictures here soon!

 

[GrampsT4R]

Gramps, I highly advise you to make an apointment with Toyota of Walnut Creek and get them to do an inspection from bumper to bumper if you could look while the tech is there that would be great just tell them that this is a pre purchase inspection.Have Toyota do a VIN check to see the history of the vehicle if it was service at any dealer and find out where it came from as well.


If there is a VIN or plate # you could run for the smog check history that would be even better,here is the sight.Vehicle Test History

Good advice. I plan to make an appointment with a Toyota Dealer to do a PPI the morning I get there. I ran the carfax on my own and its a 3 owner all CA car which is a plus but doesn't get me all the way there. When its at the dealer I will have them run the VIN to check for service records.

Just ran it through the link you pasted and there are 8 records of it passing smog all in CA since 2000. Also took a screenshot of it just in case.

You guys have no idea how much I appreciate all your input. I come from the subaru community which is pretty tight and I'm glad to see that the runner community is tight too.

Hopefully we have a winner here.

 

[GrampsT4R]

I called toyota of walnut creek and they told me they don't do prepurchase inspections of any kind.

Can anyone recommend a place to get it inspected near pleasant hill on Saturday morning?

 

[slomatt]

You could check with Toyota of Concord, or else Toyota of Antioch (I had my pre-purchase inspection there).

- Matt

 

[SFAngus]

Did you find a place?

I've never been here, but they get great reviews on Yelp, and it looks like they do pre-purchase inspections.

Frank and Paul's Auto Repair - Walnut Creek, CA

 

[JohnsD90]

I wouldn't even bother with a used car lot, most of their inventory is from auctions. Their main goal is profit, so remember you will never get a "deal" from there.

 

[SFAngus]

Here's another Bay Area 4runner for you:

2002 Toyota 4Runner Limited 88k Org Mi 1-Owner Fully Loaded Won't Last

It's also at a used car place, although they get good reviews on yelp:

Rolling Motors - San Bruno, CA

I've never been there, so I can't vouch for them personally.

 

[GrampsT4R]

Update: so I bought it. Needs a couple things- brakes, shocks and tires. I don't really mind because I'd rather be able to choose my own than take whatever junk they threw on there just to make the sale.

They knocked $300 off the price so I paid $8195. Not the best deal in the world but not awful. They used their dealer discount for pads and rotors which I picked up then I drove it home.

On the trip I got:
21.9 mpg at 70 mph
19.2 mpg at 75 mph (this includes going over the grapevine though)

Overall, I'm pretty pleased. Watch out for a new thread on the car.

 

[vipergrhd]

Inspected

Update: so I bought it. Needs a couple things- brakes, shocks and tires. I don't really mind because I'd rather be able to choose my own than take whatever junk they threw on there just to make the sale.

They knocked $300 off the price so I paid $8195. Not the best deal in the world but not awful. They used their dealer discount for pads and rotors which I picked up then I drove it home.

On the trip I got:
21.9 mpg at 70 mph
19.2 mpg at 75 mph (this includes going over the grapevine though)

Overall, I'm pretty pleased. Watch out for a new thread on the car.

Did you get it inspected before you paid? It seems you had a nice drive home keep us posted on anything you find or start another thread for the new ride.