Back to drawing board...gonna send him nice email tomorrow and say with the interior condition and paint ruined, it could cost a few grand to recarpet and fix paint, which I dont have...will keep seearching....maybe I need to do a more expensive lower mileage one...
Good call on letting that one go..., I had waited for quite a while before I purchased my T4R in June 2010. My sister got a Salsa Red '05 SR5 and it wasn't until I sold my Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that I got to drive hers...After a weekend of test-driving her car I was set on getting a T4R!
I always thought purchasing from a dealer was a rip-off but Toyota dealerships seem to be pretty fair, esp. with current market conditions...Anyway, I basically went by the lot, met with a sales rep, told him what I was looking for, condition, mileage, model year, Sport Edition 4x4, and gave him a price range...It pretty much took all of the negotiating out of the equation and he'd call from time to time when he saw or heard of one that may come in on trade.
They ended up having a 2005 Sport Edition come in on trade from an older lady who is an attorney in town...(can we say always dealer serviced??)Anyway, they were looking to get $23,500 for it with 65k miles and I told them that I had found a white one in St. Louis for $18,100 with 10k less miles...turns out it was an SR5 that was mistakenly listed as a Sport...Regardless, the sales rep called back and said he'd sell it to me for exactly what they had in it which was $19,500. The great part for me is that this was my first Toyota experience and honestly, I would pay a little more to purchase from a Toyota dealership again in the future. It's also nice because the rep does all of the searching and has access to what may be on other Toyota lots etc. instead of having to meander around craigslist for hours every night and on the weekends! (that was me...) This may not apply to everyone, but I wanted to share this positive experience with everybody and hey..it could be another option to finding the T4R the Big Man may have waiting for you!
PS- I recently moved to Huntington Beach and drove my 4Runner all the way from Mid-Missouri to So. Cal. in late February of this year...took it through all kinds of weather...definitely looking forward to taking it to the mountains this winter! Good luck!!
Best Regards,
Clifton
Clifton, thanks for that. I do believe the Big Man for real will work out what is meant to be. Im on the east coast visiting my parents for weekend, and still looking at Craigslist and Autotrader, Im finding some NICE 04-05 Limited and Sports with V8 and 4x4 for anywhere in the $16,500-$20k range private party with 60-70k miles. There are plenty more at much higher prices. I did see one 06 from a dealer, sport model I think, 4x4 but only the V6 that Id dont really want...and before I found the details on it I called and despite being late a guy answered...and Ive emailed him a few times today...told him hey I want the V8, and you guys are so far above private party sales its not funny...if you want to make a deal get me in the private party range and Ill work with you...so its an 06 V6 4x4 model with 65k miles, listed at like $22k...told him that was a joke....he said if I can prove similar models are cheaper in area he will go to sales manager and work it for me...well I sent him some links of the cheaper ones that look like bigger engine and more options...said he will work out numbers for me tomorrow.....Im possibly tempted if he gets close for a few reasons, financing it through dealer is faster than me using Bank of America private party loans. As well right now if its Toyota certified its only 2.9% APR, nice! And since its certified engine and tranny are covered until 150k miles! So, im hoping that ones calls as an option and Ill gladly buy from dealer!
That sounds pretty positive...It's good to not rule out any options! Honestly, unless you REALLY are pulling/towing quite a bit you may not need the V8. The 4Runners have the same frame/engine and towing/hauling capacities as the Tacomas. I've pulled a 16' aluminum bass boat out to the river before and barely knew it was back there. The V6 impressed me that's for sure. Plus the added benefits of better fuel economy etc.
As far as the ride for to the moutains, just let me know!