First Post - Need timely buying help

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4runnerbeginner

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I have been lurking here awhile and I became quite impressed with the overal positive experience people seem to have with the 4runner. A good friend of mine used to have a '94 or '95 with the 3.0 liter and it was a great dependable truck. Engine was a bit weak in the high end, but reliable and capable.

I test drove the '04 and was amazed by the quality of ride and the available power of the V6. It did not leave me wanting the V8 at all. So tonight I came within a hair of pulling the trigger on a used '04 and I would appreciate the forum member's opinion.

It is an '04 with 11,400 miles. SR5 4X4 V6 with roof rack, and running boards, tinted windows, but that is about it. First titled in Jan, 22nd, so will have 3 years less seven months of warranty left. Price I finally negotiated down to was $25k even (which is $26,750 out the door with Taxes and Tags in Texas). I thought that was a great deal, then I asked for Carfax which revealed that the car had been a rental. Salesman didn't know that before (or so he said). The car was titled originally in Florida and the dealership bought it at auction. I ended up walking because I wanted to think about it. What opinions to the forum members have? I am thinking I should call back tomorrow and take the deal.

Thanks,
Rick
 
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TranceKrayz said:
why not buy brand new for a few grand more? that's just my logic though.....
Click to expand...

Mostly because this is a vanity purchase. I don't have great reasons to own the vehicle. A)I am in Dallas, want to find fake boobs? Easy. A good trail? Very hard. B)Our other car is a minivan. Say what you will but it can carry an amazing amount of stuff. Therefore the capacity of an SUV isn't needed. C) My current car is an '03 Acura that works perfectly well. D) Gas prices. The prices go up and I want to buy a vehicle with thirsty tendancies. My wife is giving me a strange look.

Ultimately my reason to get one is... I want to. So if I am to get one, I figure I should at least cut a good deal financially.

Rick
 
TranceKrayz said:
why not buy brand new for a few grand more? that's just my logic though.....
Click to expand...
I agree with this logic. When I decided to buy 4Runner I started looking for a used one. However difference in price was only about 2000 $ and then I decided that if I want to spend 26000 on a used car than I can find 2000 more for a brand new one. I never before in my life had a new car. I ended up with a Sport Ed for 29000. Now I can tell you it was worth it. I have a brand new car that I could take care of right from the beginning and nobody put his ass on this seat before me. I don't know how about you but this makes me feel very good about my car..:D
Whatever you do You can't go wrong with a 4Runner..
Good luck
 
I personally wouldn't buy that particular 4runner. If you're set on buying used to save a few k, then I would look around a bit more. Being a rental I'm sure it was abused....imagine the truck being redlined whenever possible. I say keep looking around! If you're not paying cash, then I would factor in the financing incentives and consider new.
 
Rick,

Listen to us:awais: don't buy a former rental, especially for that kind of money, talking from experience(ex Budget employee) they are trashed worse than most people think. For a few thousand more you can have the peace of mind. I know the 05's already came out so I'm sure the rebates for the 04's aren't far behind.
 
Well, the response has been pretty unanimous. I do share the concerns that everyone has brought up. So I will definitely hold off on a decision on this one.

But if you could be patient with me for a sec, let me devil's advocate. With only 11K miles, how bad can it be? It drove very well. Handling, power, no vibrations, steering, braking, everything was as you would expect. It also has most of it's factory warranty left.

But don't worry, the point has been made. I will wait on it.

Rick
 
A late 2 cents

I learned all my stunt driving moves on rental vehicles.

Rental agent: "Would a Ford Focus be okay with you?"
Me: "Does it have a handbrake?"

Another thing to consider - nobody in their right mind puts premium gas in a rental and that's what the V6 calls for.
 
The fact that the truck only has 11k miles and runs perfectly doesn't mean much for the long term. I would argue that those first 11k miles are a lot more important way down the line. When it is brand new it needs to be driven carefully. I highly doubt a rental was driven carefully. Anyway, good choice to hold off on this vehicle.
 
I definitely wouldn't buy an ex-rental. People don't care what they do to it. Another thing to worry is what kind of gas was this thing getting all along. Also, I am sure this car was banged around a bit. People have the attitude it's a rental, who gives a crap what happens? From a personnel experience, I see what people do to the Toyota and BMW loaners when my trucks and my parents trucks are in for service. I once had a brand new Camry with 4,000 miles and there was garbage all over the floor and the whole car was scratched and scuffed. The 2003 4.4i X5 loaner also has seen a beating. That engine sounded like it was on its last day. For a few grand more, go for a brand new one. ;):
 
I heard a joke once, (this should be in the joke thread). :awais:


Don't marry a Hooker and don't buy a rental car. Do you really want something that has been with bunch of other people that use it real hard.

OK, end of joke.:p
 
Don't buy a rental. A friend bought a rental Accord. Usually a very reliable car. Their Accord showed the effects of being a former rental quickly. Lots of problems & $$.


A warranty won't cover problems caused by abuse.

Spend the extra 2k and get new one, or find a different used one.

For me, saving $2000 is not worth the potentail problems buying used.
 
It is an '04 with 11,400 miles. SR5 4X4 V6 with roof rack, and running boards, tinted windows, but that is about it. First titled in Jan, 22nd, so will have 3 years less seven months of warranty left. Price I finally negotiated down to was $25k even
Click to expand...
A 2005 SR5 4X4 V6 with roofrack shows an MSRP of $30,530.
A 2005 SR5 4X2 V6 with roofrack shows an MSRP of $28,255.

With the 2005s now available, if you are willing to go with 2-wheel drive, you should be able to get a _new_ 2004 for about 25K.

In California there is also $1,000 cash back or 1% APR.
 
Wow you have got 13 replys all negative, including my joke.:eek: The thing that gets me is the salesman was selling you a rental car without telling you. That to me should tell you something. I mean do you really think that was fair to you? I know you have the new car fever after seeing that 4Runner and you were smart enough to check on it. Now you have to decide if that is right for you. For me, when in doubt I always walk away, there will be another time to buy.

(I guess you can count this as the 14th negative response.):arrow:
 
In Canada, there is a line in the sales agreement that basically says the car being purchased was not a rental, police car or taxi. Disclosure of this kind of history is required by law. It's required all the way through the chain - auction house, wholesaler, etc. My guess is this guy was getting fed a line.
 
So here is something interesting. Being scared off of this car by the advice of people here, I signed up for carfax and started checking '04 4Runners within 300 miles of me. Almost zero personal sellers, all dealers. Of the ten cars that I pulled records for, 7 were rental cars originally from Florida, 2 were rental cars originally from Texas, and 1 looked like a personal trade in (w/ 18K miles in 6 months!). A number of the previous rentals were being sold as Toyota Certified Pre-owned with the extended warranty. These were found in at least 8 DIFFERENT dealerships. It was amazing. What the hell is going on in Florida?

Chances are this isn't just true in Texas, I would imagine that many dealers are getting their cars from the same source.

Rick
 
I wanted to be the first one to fart in my seats. Buy new...you won't regret it (especially this time of year). I heard from family and friends over and over again "Don't drive it off the lot...it depreciates as soon as you do." "Buy a used one with low miles and don't take that hit of buying new." I just don't buy this logic. Of course you will save a couple of grand if you buy used. But its used. This is true with anything you buy. I could probably head down to my local resale shop and buy a pair of levi's that have only been worn a couple of times for $15, but I still shell out 30 bucks at my local department store for a brand new pair.
 
The bottom line also is that if you are financing you just wont get the same deal on a used car compared to a new one - you might find that with the current offers on 2004's the savings on interest negate a lot of the purchase price difference between new and old.
 
New vs. Used. Age old debate.

I bought my first new car in 1984. Then I bought nothing but used until my current 4Runner. That's about 15-20 vehicles. I've had good luck with used. That is, until my previous car, a 1999 Audi A6 Avant. I had nothing but problems with that car. It was 1.5 years of misery. Something constantly breaking.

The lesson I learned is that modern cars are too damn complicated. Too many computers, too many systems, too many options. When one of these things breaks, you pay through your nose. So the days of buying used cars and fixing everything myself are over for the most part. I even bought the extended warranty with my 4Runner - something I have never done even for a toaster.

Of course, if some little old lady offers me her creampuff BMW M3, I might change my mind.

Henry
 
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