Is this a fair price for a 2004?

[CJSheridan]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for a 4runner and my local dealership has a 2004 sport with a little over 78,000 miles on it. They are asking $15,956 (+ $500 if I want to have it "certified.") It is in great condition with a clean carfax report and dealer service records. I'm very interested, but I am curious if this is good deal. I have worked with this salesman before and he seems pretty fair and reasonable.

Should I go for it? Does anyone have any recommendations about negotiating?

Thanks!
Jim

 

[Nuke]

Have you run it thru Edmunds and KBB? It sounds very high to me (I haven't checked the listings) for an '04 and you haven't listed what it has.

Regardless of what KBB says it's worth, SUV's still aren't moving all that well and I'd definitely throw an offer about $1k-2k or more below retail; probably even go towards the private party selling price (assuming the car checks out). And to seal the deal, the dealerships have always performed fresh fluid changes (oil, antifreeze, differentials) plus fresh wiper blades and brake pads on for me on the used cars I've bought from them.

To hopefully put things in perspective, it was this time last year I bought my '08 Sport. It stickered at a little over $36,000. I paid $28,000 out the door.

 

[CJSheridan]

Thanks very much for the response.
It is the 4x4 sport model with a power moonroof, alloys, hood scoop spoiler, sport suspension, roof rack, running boards, tow pkg, and locking differential. They changed all of the fluids, put on four new tires, and put on new rear brakes.

I checked KBB, Edmunds, and NADA.

KBB: Retail=$18,315, Private Party=$15,765
Edmunds: Retail=$16,020, Private Party=$14,647
NADA: Clean retail=$18,420, Clean trade in=$14,925

I live on Long Island an everything is always a bit more expensive here. What would you say is a fair offer, 15,000? 14,500?. I have checked some local listings and the price seems to be okay, but of course, the cheaper I can get it the better. I really like the truck, but I don't want to pay more than I should.

Thanks again for the help,
Jim

 

[CJSheridan]

Also, a completely stupid question.... Do I have to pay tax on a used car just like I would on a new car? Sorry, I'm not an experienced car buyer.

 

[chayos00]

Thanks very much for the response.
It is the 4x4 sport model with a power moonroof, alloys, hood scoop spoiler, sport suspension, roof rack, running boards, tow pkg, and locking differential. They changed all of the fluids, put on four new tires, and put on new rear brakes.

I checked KBB, Edmunds, and NADA.

KBB: Retail=$18,315, Private Party=$15,765
Edmunds: Retail=$16,020, Private Party=$14,647
NADA: Clean retail=$18,420, Clean trade in=$14,925

I live on Long Island an everything is always a bit more expensive here. What would you say is a fair offer, 15,000? 14,500?. I have checked some local listings and the price seems to be okay, but of course, the cheaper I can get it the better. I really like the truck, but I don't want to pay more than I should.

Thanks again for the help,
Jim

I'd offer $13.5K, first. Then when they say no try $14K, then $14.5K and so on. Remember the worst they can say is no. If they say no on the $14K or 14.5K try walking out and see if that will get them to deal. Remember the buyer who walks away usually doesn't come back. Get them to :bowdown: to you! Plus bring in the data from those sites.

 

[dreadog]

Look on nada for the TRADE IN value, offer them 1000-1500 over that! You'll get the rock bottom price with little to no haggling from the salesman! The is no dealership on the planet that will give anyone more than trade in value for their vehicle! 99% use nada to check values! Dealers ships them hold 1000-1500 for tires, brakes or whatever they have to replace after they take it in! Talk to your bank and know what you can get for an interest rate if your financing, they will try and raise the rate a percent or two and put the money back in the dealerships pocket!

 

[CJSheridan]

Thanks for the help. It looks like I'll start by offing them 14,000 and see where is goes from there. The most I'm willing to pay is 15,000 I have no problem walking out, which might convince them to make the deal.

Also, I know its a Toyota, but is it stupid to take out a 5/6 year loan on a car with 78,000 miles? I know it will not die on me before 150,000 and I plan on driving it until the wheels fall off, but I would welcome any opinions.

Also, the tax thing, do i need to add another 1,000 to 1,400 to the price for tax? I'm trying to figure out the bottom line.

Thanks again!

 

[dreadog]

Yes, you need to add whatever the tax percent is in your area! Also title and licensing fees which you can find on the DMV website for your state. In wisconsin whenever you have a lein aganst a vehicle you have to show proof of full coverage insurance before they will let you take the vehicle, so you might want to check into that!

 

[CJSheridan]

Thanks again for all of the responses. I'm going to check it out again today and hopefully I will be driving it home.

As far as matinence goes, I know there is a significant service that I need to have done around 90,000, but what should I expect after that? It has brand new tires and new rear brakes. is there anything else that I should plan for that will need to be done in the near future?

Thanks again for all of the help!

 

[edgilmer]

Decent deal

Not too bad of a deal, I would look for one closer to $12-13,000.

 

[CJSheridan]

OK, took it for a test drive yesterday. It drove really well, shifted smoothly, handled like a 4runner should etc... The tires are brand new and the ride was nice and smooth. The exterior is pretty much immaculate, except for one small mark that the will fix. The interior was not quite as nice as the exterior. The carpeting was a little discolored in a couple of spots, and I think the previous owner was a smoker. The salesman said that they will treat it with an ozone machine and it will smell like new (?). Overall, it seemed like a pretty well taken care of car, it is just used and it has 78,000 miles on it. They are holding it for me until the ozone treatment is done. Then I'll go back and make my final decision...
Should I go for it??????

Thanks for the advice!

 

[mahabali]

Sounds like a decent price to me... I am in the Denver area and they are hard to find here too and ALWAYS overpriced. I Paid 19k for my 04 Sport.. That was a year ago and it only has 50k and V8... But that was the cheapest one I could find and I looked for MONTHS! It was still a little more than I wanted to pay though.