Looking for opinions

[dgsmith15]

Here's the situation:

I own (read: am financing) a 2009 Sports Edition RWD and have just recently completed a move from Mississippi to New Hampshire. Seeing as how Mississippi has never, and will never, see the types of winters that New England experiences, I decided to look into trading my 4Runner for a similar model with 4WD capabilities.

So over the past week I looked online at various listings for 4WD 4Runners in the area and found quite a few. This past Sa****ay I took a little trip down to a local dealership to take a look at an 07 Sports Edition 4WD and to get an idea of what kind of money the dealership would offer me for my vehicle.

Given that my 4Runner has less than 16,000 miles and has a KBB value of just under $30,000, I was SHOCKED when the dealership offered me a measly $17,500 and told me I would need to bring in a large "wad of cash" to pay off the remainder of the loan. Obviously this wasn't something I would ever consider and I decided to leave the dealership in pursuit of other options.

So I've decided that if I really want to get rid of this vehicle than I really only have one (realistic) option and that would be to sell it to someone in a part of the country where a RWD 4Runner would fetch far more than $17,500.

However, if I decided to keep the vehicle and endure the looong New England winter with a RWD vehicle, I realize that I would most definitely have to invest in a very good set of snow/winter tires as well as drive around with ~200 lbs. of extra weight over the real wheels.

Honestly, I'm very hesitant of both scenarios and would very much prefer to just trade it in on a 4WD 4Runner. But per the sales man I spoke to on Sa****ay, a RWD 4Runner is completely "unsaleable" and I'm out of luck.

So, given this scenario, what might YOU do or what suggestions might you have for me?

 

[Flyer]

This sounds like a stressful situation. I'd try to sell it around where you bought it if possible. Is that possible? I think you will lose some money on it either way but much less if you sell it where 4x4s are not required or popular.

If that is not a feasible option, stick some Blizzak or similar winter tires on it in the winter. Good snow tires make a pretty significant difference.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

I'd take a good look at some snow tires. It was near impossible here in Vegas for me to find a 4th gen SE V8 4X4 as there are MANY 2WDs. (i wanted the 4x4 for weekend play) The price point on the 2WD here in Vegas is about $22-25K. On a trade I'm guessing $17 or so is about it. Go private party but it's a cool market right now.

 

[dgsmith15]

I spent some time last night reading over eBay Motors' information on selling a vehicle and I might just give it a try. Has anyone ever sold a vehicle on eBay?

 

[audiqtr]

I spent some time last night reading over eBay Motors' information on selling a vehicle and I might just give it a try. Has anyone ever sold a vehicle on eBay?

The fees kill it on ebay. (I worked at ebay). Sell it on craigslist. Be patient, someone will bite. You still have at least 3 months to figure it out. Also, there are plenty of people driving RWD or FWD in NE, plenty of them no snow tires. My wife's from there. Not a single one of them owns snow tires...lol

On the other hand, I also see nothing wrong with getting a set of Snow tires for your car. Car's new and low miles.

 

[aaronfro17]

audiqtr nailed it. Sell it on craigslist. I listed my old Mustang on eBay and got no serious offers...then I listed it on craigslist and it was sold within a week! Good luck!

 

[dgsmith15]

audiqtr nailed it. Sell it on craigslist. I listed my old Mustang on eBay and got no serious offers...then I listed it on craigslist and it was sold within a week! Good luck!

Thanks for the advice (you too audi). If I decide to sell it to a private party then I will definitely list it on Craigs.

I talked to another dealership this morning that's in the area and they told me that the company that owns this particular dealership also owns several in the south and they could very well take my vehicle and ship it down there to one of those dealers. So I'm going in on sat. morning to hear what they have to say. Wish me luck!

 

[Maz]

I sold two vehicles on Autotrader this year, and also have had great success with them in the past. Particularly on pristine vehicles assuming your T4R is more or less in like new condiditon. People use it from far and wide to get a really nice vehicle. My 4X4 Tundra was picked up by a fellow from Canada.

Autotrader has a deal for around $75. to $80. where it runs until it sells with 27 pictures. It's very possible someone looking for that exact color and model might come from another state, especially since your in the rust belt, and your rig is presumably rust free.

 

[HOJeepster]

My opinion. Don't understand why people would by a 2wd sport utility to begin with...but that's neither here nor there.

Sell it on Craigslist and be patient. You'll get a lot more money doing a private sale then going to a stealship.

Good luck!

 

[dgsmith15]

I sold two vehicles on Autotrader this year, and also have had great success with them in the past. Particularly on pristine vehicles assuming your T4R is more or less in like new condiditon. People use it from far and wide to get a really nice vehicle. My 4X4 Tundra was picked up by a fellow from Canada.

Autotrader has a deal for around $75. to $80. where it runs until it sells with 27 pictures. It's very possible someone looking for that exact color and model might come from another state, especially since your in the rust belt, and your rig is presumably rust free.

Thanks for the info! I don't know why it never dawned on me to use AutoTrader.