How long was the search for your 4runner?

[Merle]

Short answer: Between 1.0 and 1.5 years looking for my 4runner.

First was the research. What's consider the "best" SUV for: (high way mileage + snow + hauling + offroading + longevity + resale + looks + passenger comfort) / investment cost. There are other factors in that list but that's the general idea for getting a decent ROI.

Second, you start looking at the incidentals: color, 4wd, heated seats, 3rd row, towing capacity, engine size, leather, GPS. I went w/ X-REAS and rear air suspension too.

Third, start looking. I'm in CA and wasn't in a rush. It also matters when you start looking, such as in the winter - if you want a 4WD, you're stuck with current inventory and that drops! Well, after driving rental vehicles (the 4Runner felt the best) you have to bite the bullet.

Fourth, find the car. I eventually wound up doing a nationwide search as the one I wanted a) wouldn't be shipped for several months b) was available in other states. There were only a few (single digits) of what I wanted at a reasonable price (yeah, you can pay thousands extra, but why?)

So, KY -> CA shipped for $400. Eventually registered it in NV (2008 4WD Ltd for $548) and paid the sales tax (7.25% for NV versus 8.75% in CA).

 

[Sporin]

My search wasn't long, in fact, I was looking for a CRV or similar to make room for a big dog crate in teh back to accomodate our new puppy. Our Accord wasn't cutting it.

I kept tumbling on slightly used 4Runners for good prices and decided to take a look. Found this V8 one at a dealer not to far away and stoed in to take a look. Drove it home 3 hours later. :

I've had 2 different 85 4R's I currently own and 'wheel a built up 93 Land Cruiser, and I'm the president of New England's biggest Toyota 4x4 club.... it was as natural fit for a daily driver.

:vader:

 

[jtr]

bumpity bump!

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I'm still on my long an arduous search. Stumbled upon this listing and its not far from me.

Cars for Sale: 2004 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 in Midwest City, OK 73110: Sport Utility Details - 273014727 - AutoTrader.com

The price seems WAY WAY WAY out of line but aside from that what do ya'll think?

 

[Timberline]

we're still looking....

• started researching 4Rs about a year ago
• decided 4R would be our next vehicle this past fall
• started casually looking about mid-November
• sold the Grand Cherokee mid-December
• the search continues....

we're being pretty picky but have the time to be so I'm trying to be (uncharacteristically) patient

 

[Timberline]

cars.com, carsoup.com, autotrader and craigslist are your friends. :biggrin2:

I'd add this one too - carsdirect.com - just found it yesterday and like it a lot, especially the filtering.

 

[DesmoST4]

jtr,

I just finished my search this past week. Been looking for about two months. I am somewhat picky as well. My requirements were $17K or less, clean (8 or better on the 10 scale) with lower miles. (70K or less) I was looking in the 2003-2006 model range due to pricing restraints. I wanted 4x4 but a 2WD was not going to be a deal breaker for the right price and I would have taken either a V6 or V8. Sometimes when looking for a used vehicle I have found that putting too many constraints on specific details can make the search longer. Such as your wanting a V8 4x4 sport edition. Not saying you shouldn't get what you want but just plan on taking your time to find it. My example would be this. What if you found a V8 SR5 4x4 with 43000 miles and super clean but not a sport edition. Would that be a deal breaker?

Anyway I looked at several in person and too many to count on car sites, ebay and craigslist. I was patient and I think it paid off. I ended up finding a very clean SR5 V6 4x4 with 56K miles for $16,000. My advice be patient and you will find what you want. Good condition 4x4 4Runners are not easy to find because we rarely sell them until they are used up.....:

and remember to consider the price of a timing belt at 90000 miles if you go with the V8. My cousin has a V8 and loves it btw. So far the V6 I got is sweet IMHO and should do everything I need.

 

[2003Can4runner]

7 years! I was 17 when the 4th gen. was released. My dad bought a 2003 Limited and I was hooked. I couldn't afford a 4th so I bought a 3rd gen. Limited w/rear locker at 20, drove that a couple years and got a new 5.7L Tundra SR5 because the 4runners are so expensive up here. I loved the truck but fuel was outrageous so I thought I'd try a car (MazdaSpeed3) HUGE mistake. I lusted over the 4runner for too long and finally found myself a 2005 Sport V8. I love it.

 

[THEROK]

I found mine on this very forum in the FS section. I wasn't even really seriously looking at 4Runners until I realized just how "cheap" they were. This was around when a barrel of oil was trading at $140 IIRC.

I'm in Seattle and the one-owner 2003 V8 Limited 4x4 was located in Newport Beach. I decided to make a vacation out of it. Booked a flight to John Wayne airport in the OC. Stayed with some friends in Laguna. Booked a hotel room for a couple of nights at the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Blvd. Partied like a rock star and drove it to the PNW.

I did the research and there was no question I wanted the tried and true legendary V8 that's been tested in the line-up. I wouldn't have gotten the 4Runner if I had to get the V6. Timing belt is a mere $1000 expense and for it you get better sound, much smoother driving, and torque.

I like the fact that very few mid-sized SUVs come with a V8 and not just any ordinary V8.

I'll prob end up selling it in a year or so to get a new Range Rover, but in some areas it would be a downgrade. I absolutely love the made in Japan 4Runner that I got. Super smooth. Trustworthy ride.

 

[hawks02]

A month and a half of hard searching.

We just got our 2008 Urban Runner about 5 days ago and it took about a month and a half of hard searching. I wanted the sport body style and the wife wanted the pearl white color. We found the Urban Runner but sure enough there weren't any for sale near us. After deals that fell through in Florida and New Mexico, we finally found one in Michigan. We had to ship it to Washington State so that added almost another $1000, but it was all worth it. We got it for 25k and it had 23,000 miles. It is flawless and happened to be the best deal we found. If you have some time, make sure you get what you want. They are out there if you can be patient.

 

[Timberline]

Nice looking truck, very similar to what we're looking for albeit in an earlier model year.

 

[SoonerBluff]

Just bought one in OK

JTR,

I bought my 4Runner in December. I spent about 3 weeks searching for exactly what I wanted. I had called about 30 dealerships nationwide and was willing to fly out or have one shipped. I got lucky and happened to stumble upon a fantastic one at a chevy dealership in Norman, OK. 07' 4x4 V6 36k miles. Shadow mica color. Got them to throw in a new Pioneer dvd/gps unit with backup camera and black leather with heated seats. paid 24k. My advice is to make sure you check more than just Toyota dealerships during your search.

 

[Maz]

i dont know if it changed between years, but my family's 06 Sport Edtion has a Telescoping wheel and steering wheel controls.

My 2009 has them too. On the window sticker the dealer carefully peeled off and left in the glove box, in the Confrort and Convenience section it shows the telescoping wheel and steering wheel controls as standard equipment.

I took well, way too long to find our Runner....about a year. Of course that's because I went back and forth between a Tacoma and the 4Runner. Originally I was all 4Runner because I really prefer everything inside, and much prefer SUV's over pickups. However really wanting the most ground clearance I could get, I test drove a Tacoma Sport and was very impressed with the handling. Came very close to pulling the trigger a couple of time, but just had this uncomfortable feeling something wasn't right. Turns out it wasn't right because in the end I just don't like pickups that much.

Then I came close to pulling the trigger on a SR5 because I didn't want leather this time, but still something just didn't feel right. About this time I was getting very discouraged, but started to see pictures on this forum of Sport models and talk about X-REAS. Fascinated, I started seaching for more information and the classic / proverbial light bulb went on. It sounds silly, but it really was like the shining light through the church window thing where John Belushi discovers he's on a mission from God in The Blues Brothers. What I really wanted was a serious offroad capability SUV, but with a very sporty drive feeling and look.

Then and it dawned on me, one of the things I really liked about the Tacoma Sport was the hood scoop. Started checking out the Sport model more and found I also really liked the look of the tube type roof rack, and especially the two tone silver / black interior. After a year of wandering in cyber space trying to figure it out, it took all of one day to found a new silver Sport model that happened to have a blue tooth unit installed, including a very cool lighted on / off button where the 115V control is normally installed. Turns out it was made very late in 8/09 to make up for the delay of the 10 model I suppose. Hate the silly double deck thing, but otherwise love the impressive handling and drivability so far. We'll just have to figure out a way to increase the bottom clearance at some in the future.

 

[4kids]

Searched Craigslist daily for about 2 months before I was able to find an 2006 4Runner from an individual. I refused to buy from a stealership so it took me a little more time to find a late model vehicle from an individual. Seems like most people trade in their late model vehicles instead of trying to sell them outright.

I ended up with a 2006 SR5 2wd V6 with leather interior. It had a few more miles (72,000) than I wanted but the price was at least fair in comparison to what the dealers wanted for similiar vehicles.

 

[TThomas]

I went to the dealer actually looking at getting a 4x4 FJ... To purchase Certified used was the goal...

I needed something that was off-road capable and could also fit 3 adults comfortably and all our gear for long trips... The FJ was cool but IMO the inside reminded me of a fisher price toy (the way the dash was designed)...

So I took the FJ for a test drive, it drove nice... also the back of the FJ was to small for my needs... I was about to leave the dealer disappointed as I was pretty sure the FJ was going to end my new truck search...

The salesman then said he had one 4x4 4runner used certified so I figured i'll check it out.. The inside was much nicer than the FJ and the back had plenty of room... I test drove the 4R and wow what a difference in quietness, smooth ride and handling.. I was sold right away...

I havent had it for very long but I can tell im bonding with my 4R and the more features I find on my new car the more I like it... I just took it out last night for a little wheeling and this thing is a great car....

 

[Uneek]

The telescopic steering wheel was on early SR5s, I think it was deleted from the SR5 in 2004. Sport Edition and Limited always had the telescoping feature.

 

[Donlefarq]

I searched for 6 weeks and test drove about 10 before I found the T4R I wanted. I drove 1400 miles to NC to pick it up. Hard to find the exact specs. at the price I wanted.