Is this a good deal? Ok deal? Or bad deal?

[mitre]

Hi everyone,

I've been looking to buy an SUV for a while and I've decided that I want to get a 4runner. Other SUVs I looked at were the Escape, FJ Cruiser and Xterra.

I found a 2006 4runner SR5 4.0L V6 with 80500 miles on it. It has a guard grill, moon roof, guard rail, 3rd row seating and mp3, phone thing (not much into high tech), 17 inch alloy rims with new Michelin tires. I checked out the car with a mechanic friend and also took it to a local mechanic shop to get a second opinion. Nothing was found. The car was with one owner and has all the service records (all work done at a Toyota dealership). The back bumper was replaced with an original after the SUV was backed into a pole. Other than that, the car looks perfect. The price $17950.

KBB estimate is about $19500 and Edmunds is about $16500. I heard KBB's estimates are often high and Edmunds is usually more accurate. The thing is, I can't seem to find someone who is willing to sell at "Edmund" prices and the 4runners from dealers are priced slightly higher and to tell you the truth, I have a feeling this individual never took this SUV offroad and I think it was cared for very well. Anyway, I kind of want to buy the vehicle but just wondering if I'm wearing rose covered glasses :frog:. I think its a fair deal. What do you all think. Thanks.

 

[8086bruce]

4WD or 2WD???

 

[T4RPILOT]

Just for your info I recently purchased a 2006 in great shape... SR5 4.7L V8 4X2 3rd row MP3, leveling kit, Nitto terra grapplers 265/70/R17, 65k miles for $16,750 in TX. Ive bought and sold many vehicles and it seems like the value of the cars is not the kbb, edmunds, or NADA, but what they are actually selling for.... Retail and auction. Hope it helps.

 

[mitre]

It's 4WD. Pennsylvania

 

[mitre]

Just for your info I recently purchased a 2006 in great shape... SR5 4.7L V8 4X2 3rd row MP3, leveling kit, Nitto terra grapplers 265/70/R17, 65k miles for $16,750 in TX. Ive bought and sold many vehicles and it seems like the value of the cars is not the kbb, edmunds, or NADA, but what they are actually selling for.... Retail and auction. Hope it helps.

Wow, 16750 looks like a good deal.
He initially want $19000 and I was only able to drop it 1k. He has another offer at $17700 already which was making me think that it was too bad of a deal. Maybe I'll pass on this car and wait a little.

 

[DC runner]

Just a note. In terms of market cost. A 4wd vehicle gains value in the north, in the winter. It is the exact opposite curve of a motorcycle (which I also ride). Motorcycles are on sale in the winter.

So. TX never gets snow and almost never gets cold. Less demand for a 4wd. All this is to say, expect to pay more for one up north.

 

[MikeInNH]

What the dealer is asking for and what you actually pay can be thousands of dollars apart. I bought my 05 4runner back in 06 from a local dealer. It had 11k miles on it. The dealer was asking $23,500...I paid $19k. January and February are excellent times to buy. These are 2 of the slowest months for car dealers. They should be willing to deal.

 

[ClockWork]

Get a V8.

 

[mitre]

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll offer $17000 since he may be full of it saying that he had an offer for $17700. If he says no, I'll just wait since I'm actually not worried about snow but more interested in the off road activities in the summer. I did feel the price was high for a vehicle with so many miles but I tried to convince myself that the maintenance and the fact that it's a 4runner will still give me another 70 to 80k of trouble free riding.

 

[JohnnyT]

Get a V8.

Hey Clockwork,

Whats the most compelling reason to have a V8 over a V6??

I ask because I am going to see one tonight that is the same exact truck as my 2008 V6 - same color, same year, same mileage, same options - but I want to drive the V8. If I like it, I might trade mine and get that one. Only difference is the interior color in that mine is a gray SR5 where this one is a black interior Sport. It also has that thing hanging off the top of the rear hatch and a tube bar rather than side rails.

 

[ClockWork]

Hey Clockwork,

Whats the most compelling reason to have a V8 over a V6??

I ask because I am going to see one tonight that is the same exact truck as my 2008 V6 - same color, same year, same mileage, same options - but I want to drive the V8. If I like it, I might trade mine and get that one. Only difference is the interior color in that mine is a gray SR5 where this one is a black interior Sport. It also has that thing hanging off the top of the rear hatch and a tube bar rather than side rails.

Just search for posts by me.

 

[Runner27]

I'm also from Pa and got my 4Runner last summer (June 2011). It's a 2006 SR5 4WD 4.0L V6 with 43k miles on it. It does not have moon roof or 3rd row seat. I got it for $18,000. I think it was a good deal. Probably because I bought my 4Runner from a Ford dealership .

 

[mitre]

I'm also from Pa and got my 4Runner last summer (June 2011). It's a 2006 SR5 4WD 4.0L V6 with 43k miles on it. It does not have moon roof or 3rd row seat. I got it for $18,000. I think it was a good deal. Probably because I bought my 4Runner from a Ford dealership .

Thanks for the input. Basically you got an 06 4runner a year earlier with 37k less miles. It doesn't have a moon roof or third row seating (I could care less since I don't have a family) for $18000 from a DEALER:wow2:. Basically confirms what I thought. 37k more mile, yes it has a moon roof, guard rail shrug:, I plan to go off roading but really don't care if I get a few scratches and a third row seat really doesn't compensate for the same price you paid a dealer almost a year ago. I will say if he accepts my offer of $17k, (if there is nothing found in the inspection, I will buy the vehicle for a "premium" since I do believe he "babied" his vehicle. I sent him an email and hope he accepts.

 

[Runner27]

Thanks for the input. Basically you got an 06 4runner a year earlier with 37k less miles. It doesn't have a moon roof or third row seating (I could care less since I don't have a family) for $18000 from a DEALER:wow2:. Basically confirms what I thought. 37k more mile, yes it has a moon roof, guard rail shrug:, I plan to go off roading but really don't care if I get a few scratches and a third row seat really doesn't compensate for the same price you paid a dealer almost a year ago. I will say if he accepts my offer of $17k, (if there is nothing found in the inspection, I will buy the vehicle for a "premium" since I do believe he "babied" his vehicle. I sent him an email and hope he accepts.

may I ask what part of Pa are you from? and good luck with the deal.

 

[mitre]

I'm also from Pa and got my 4Runner last summer (June 2011). It's a 2006 SR5 4WD 4.0L V6 with 43k miles on it. It does not have moon roof or 3rd row seat. I got it for $18,000. I think it was a good deal. Probably because I bought my 4Runner from a Ford dealership .

Runner27, what are you studying. I decided to go back to Penn State to get another degree and am studying accounting (job market not good) and I am going to take my CPA soon. Good thing unemployment lasted so long. No sly remarks please. I have an undergraduate degree in engineering and did well. I also did time in the navy and really, my friends who went into the civilian sector right after college are doing better than me. I have no regrets for serving in the navy since I still have a GI bill that's paying for my degree, however, I probably would be doing better myself if I didn't serve. Oh well, it was definitely an experience I will never forget.

 

[Runner27]

Runner27, what are you studying. I decided to go back to Penn State to get another degree and am studying accounting (job market not good) and I am going to take my CPA soon. Good thing unemployment lasted so long. No sly remarks please. I have an undergraduate degree in engineering and did well. I also did time in the navy and really, my friends who went into the civilian sector right after college are doing better than me. I have no regrets for serving in the navy since I still have a GI bill that's paying for my degree, however, I probably would be doing better myself if I didn't serve. Oh well, it was definitely an experience I will never forget.

haha, >80% of people who live in state college have some association with Penn State. Glad to know that you are working towards your accounting degree here and good luck with the upcoming CPA. I am doing graduate work in chemical engineering and not going to graduate for another 4-5 years. Perhaps once you got your 4Runner, we could go off road sometimes...

 

[mitre]

haha, >80% of people who live in state college have some association with Penn State. Glad to know that you are working towards your accounting degree here and good luck with the upcoming CPA. I am doing graduate work in chemical engineering and not going to graduate for another 4-5 years. Perhaps once you got your 4Runner, we could go off road sometimes...

Sounds like a plan. I'm finishing up my lower lever accounting credits at the Abington campus and will be coming up to the main campus soon. It's only going to take me 2 1/2 years to get the accounting degree since I don't have to take the humanity classes again. Is it still a party town? I'm in my 30's so I probably have to hit on the professors or insecure girls. :lol: Older you get, wider selection of females :reddance: I'll even go for a 50 year old now:frisky:

 

[TSO]

I may know someone that might be selling their '03 Limited v8 4x4 89,5xx miles heated leather JBL soon... I think he's gonna be asking right around $13,500/obo - and it will have brand new steering & front-axle components.

just sayin' :guitar2:

not to thread jack or anything :biggrin2:

 

[MikeInNH]

I am doing graduate work in chemical engineering and not going to graduate for another 4-5 years.

My daughter is at Harvard working on her PHD in Chemical Engineering. She graduated from MIT a couple years ago.

 

[Runner27]

@mitre: yea it's still a party town but I just don't have enough time for all that with my course work + lab work.

@MikeInNH: with a solid undergrad work at MIT, she can go anywhere. One of my professor here is also a Havard graduate.