Looking to Buy - Questions as I search

Mytoy4

Mytoy4

New member
In preparation to buy... I have a lot of questions coming up as I view some of these 4runners for sale. I think it's best if I start this thread and work off of it as I go along.
Thanks again to Casper421 for the information about 2006+. This will be a huge help in my search.

I guess I'll put it out there what I'm searching for as I've found that some options aren't even available (charcoal carpet on gen4).
I'd like to find a 2006-2009 Black Sport 4WD V6. Less than 100K miles and sunroof is a must. Leather is optional, V8 is optional. I'd also be interested in Shadow Mica.
I'd prefer it to have the sport wheels from the upper gen4, even though I'll be getting new wheels soon after purchase.

So here's my first question to start this thread.
I've noticed that when I do my search and include the sunroof I get some that will clearly be Sports (obvious to the hood scoop) but they are listed as SR5's.
Are there dealerships (more so non-Toyota) that don't price or list according to the body style. To the buyers advantage?
I've also seen this with some Limited models, where they are listed as an SR5.
 
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Yup, the first 4th gen I bought was from a Honda dealer. They had it listed as an SR5 and it looked priced as an SR5 so yea, I got a good deal on it. My recommendation to you is go to Autotrader and setup a couple different automatic searches. When something new pops up it e-mails you with the result.

When I was looking I had a local search that had a seach radius of 200 miles. And then I had a regional that was 500 miles and a nationwide that was any distance from my zip code. The local and regional searches were set with pretty relaxed requirements so I basically saw any 4WD 4th gen 4Runner that came on the market. The national search was set with a lot more details - only less than 60k miles, grey, charcoal or black, etc. I ended up finding mine with the national search. Flew to Kansas City and drove it back.

The only downside to doing this is that you're going to look through a LOT of vehicles and pictures. In the end, though, this is a vehicle I plan on keeping for a long time so it was worth the effort for me.
 
Also, sometimes the auto trader pictures are a little behind the dealer website pictures. So if a new one pops up and doesn't have any pictures just google the dealer and find it on their website to see if it's got pictures there. The easiest way to ID a Sport is the scoop as you said. Maybe the wheels too if someone hasn't swapped them.
 
Thanks! That's some great advice. I'll have to set the search up on autotrader. I have been using that as my main source.
I should have said that I'm looking for something less than $18. My plan is to do a fairly even swap with what I get for my white SR5.
There are a couple that you listed that I'll have to check into further.

Another concern of mine is the snow states. We use a pretty harsh salt and I know what this can do to a cars underside.
I have been told that KS doesn't use salt and that's a pretty quick skip for me. Even the ones you listed in IL, I wonder how good the dealer would be to provide me photos of the underside. Sight unseen can be challenging.
 
You know the more I think about this...why don't you just trade me... you have most of what I'm looking for.... that sunroof is a must though :)
 
Mytoy4 said:
You know the more I think about this...why don't you just trade me... you have most of what I'm looking for.... that sunroof is a must though :)
Click to expand...

Well I do have a sunroof. But I looked hard for this 4Runner and I'm not giving it up :)

FWIW the one I bought wasn't the first one I looked at remotely. I looked at one in Baltimore, Boston and a couple other places. I had a checklist of things I wanted confirmation about. And if there was no picture of it I would ask the sales person to take a picture and send it to me.

I was upfront with them and told them I was very serious about buying but I needed additional pictures to feel comfortable enough to get on a plane and commit to buying. Some sales people said they didn't have access to a camera or were really slow to respond. Some sales people were very nice and gave me the information I was looking for even though they knew it would lead to me not being interested in the car anymore. So when I found my car I was pretty well informed before I bought my plane ticket.

There were two things I wasn't aware of when I get there, though. First was that it needed an alignment. I drove it on the highway but not through any long straight stretches so I didn't realize it until I was driving it through Oklahoma (which is nothing but long, flat highway). I e-mailed the sales person when I got home and he said just to take it to a local Toyota place, have them align it and then send him a copy of the bill. I got a check in the mail to cover it in less than a week. The second problem was pitting in the windshield. There were no cracks or anything, it was just pitted everywhere. It was definitely driveable I thought I could live with it when I bought it. But after driving it for a few weeks but I had to have it replaced. I just couldn't stand it. My wife thought I was crazy but oh well.
 
Mytoy4 said:
Not sure I'll get on a plane to go get one. I'd have to travel alone and that I'm not comfortable with. So I think I'd have to really be sure if I'm going to buy something outside of my drive time.

Looking a bit more and found this one. Not sure I'm keen on the V8 since it's all time 4WD. Right?
2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport Merriam, Kansas | Oakes Auto, Inc
Click to expand...

Just a heads up on that one:
You mentioned earlier that you were worried about the salt states and after looking at the Auto Check on that one it has always been registered in NY. That doesn't mean that it is rusted out but you would want to take a look underneath it.


01/03/2006
NY
Independent Source
VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED TO DEALER

02/06/2006
BUFFALO, NY
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

03/08/2006
BUFFALO, NY
9
Motor Vehicle Dept.
TITLE

12/16/2007
BUFFALO, NY
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

01/16/2010
BUFFALO, NY
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

12/10/2011
BUFFALO, NY
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

02/13/2012
NY
80,506
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION

02/13/2012
NY
80,506
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE

04/11/2012
SHAWNEE, KS
80,508
Motor Vehicle Dept.
TITLE (Title #:X1640251)
 
jimithing said:
Yup, the first 4th gen I bought was from a Honda dealer. They had it listed as an SR5 and it looked priced as an SR5 so yea, I got a good deal on it. My recommendation to you is go to Autotrader and setup a couple different automatic searches. When something new pops up it e-mails you with the result.

When I was looking I had a local search that had a seach radius of 200 miles. And then I had a regional that was 500 miles and a nationwide that was any distance from my zip code. The local and regional searches were set with pretty relaxed requirements so I basically saw any 4WD 4th gen 4Runner that came on the market. The national search was set with a lot more details - only less than 60k miles, grey, charcoal or black, etc. I ended up finding mine with the national search. Flew to Kansas City and drove it back.

The only downside to doing this is that you're going to look through a LOT of vehicles and pictures. In the end, though, this is a vehicle I plan on keeping for a long time so it was worth the effort for me.
Click to expand...


Excellent advice and exactly what I did to find mine.
 
Mytoy4 said:
Not sure I'll get on a plane to go get one. I'd have to travel alone and that I'm not comfortable with. So I think I'd have to really be sure if I'm going to buy something outside of my drive time.

Looking a bit more and found this one. Not sure I'm keen on the V8 since it's all time 4WD. Right?
2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport Merriam, Kansas | Oakes Auto, Inc
Click to expand...

Most any dealer will come and get you at the airport as long as it is not too far away. Its really easy and nothing to worry about. It will also allow you to be pretty picky to get exactly what you want.

The V8 is full time 4WD. . . and I love it. Never had a FT4WD before, but I really like it and the V8. . . . . would not trade it for anything. It is so smooth and I had several mechanics tell me to get it also because it is nearly bullet proof.
 
Hm.. for sure something to think about. I'm not going to be driving it as I have in the past. No more long distance travel every weekend so the gas mileage is not a concern.
 
This is pretty much what I'm looking for....
I need to do a bit more looking around on the color. I really like the Shadow Mica, second to the black. Not 100% set on the GG.

Thanks for the help guys! Much appreciated!

jimithing said:
BTW OP, I saw this earlier. It's in a rust state and it's a bit of a drive for you but looks like a good deal. Since he's a member here I bet he'd give you whatever pics you want.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-...n-4x4-v6-89k-certified-michigan-17-900-a.html
Click to expand...
 
I know, I'm being very picky in my search. I did it once and bought what I could afford and what options were available locally, even though I liked the white. Now I want to get exactly what I'm looking for and not settle.
 
Mytoy4 said:
I know, I'm being very picky in my search. I did it once and bought what I could afford and what options were available locally, even though I liked the white. Now I want to get exactly what I'm looking for and not settle.
Click to expand...

Yup, I'm all about not settling. Get what you want. But that's going to mean either searching nationally or be willing to wait for who knows how many months to find it locally. Could be 1 week, could be 6 months.
 
I'm okay with that, sort of :) I haven't even officially listed my 4runner yet. I will be detailing it this weekend and then it's on the market.
I have another vehicle to drive in the mean time so it should be okay. I'm not the most patient person though... so there may be times where I'm challenged by the wait :)
 
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