Thanks to all of you for the ideas that I got from this forum prior to buying my 4Runner.
Through the years I've owned several Jeeps, more 4X4 trucks than I can count, an H3, and several off road race cars (SCORE). Every couple years I get the sports car bug and buy something totally impractical, Viper, Shelby Cobra, and most recently I traded in a Jeep JK for a Mercedes SL63. That was by far the best built vehicle I've ever owned and amazing to drive...but totally impractical. So, I decided to buy something practical, a Tacoma. I always like the looks and the aftermarket stuff is great. When I started shopping around, my eyes wandered towards the 4Runners. I loved them right off the bat. Body on frame, simple drivetrain, great looks, well known reliability...perfect.
So, I called my credit union and asked them about their car buying service. They connected me with the buy and I liked his pitch. Basically, the credit union uses a private contractor but they act as my personal buyer. I told him what I wanted including make, model, color, options, the whole thing and then told him what I had to trade. The concerning part of this deal was that my trade, used, was worth about twice what the new 4Runner would cost. Anyway, he called me the next day and told me that he found one at a nearby dealer and would bring it to me that day. He brought it to my house, looked over the Merc, and told me to test drove the 4 runner for a couple days. I drove it that day and loved it. Told him to make the deal happen.
Bottom line on the deal, 2014 SR5 Premium and the only option I got was floor mats for $37,975 sticker. My price was $33,675 and it didn't matter if I traded in the Mercedes or not. He called a couple buyers to bid on the Mercedes and the last one gave me just a little bit more than I expected so the deal was done...ALL OVER THE PHONE. He came out to my house the next day, I signed a couple papers, he handed me a check for the Mercedes and he took it away. I did have to go to their office the next day because the didn't have the owner's manual in the car. What a smooth deal.
The next day, off to the local off-road shop for a quick cheater lift (spacers). I'm going to change to coil-overs in a while. After that it was off to the tire shop for a set of 285 Duratracs and some Level 8 wheels. Came out nice and the lift, tires, and wheels set me back about $2500. Now I'm contemplating a roof rack and some Rigids.
Anyway, I'll try to post some pictures, but so far all I've got in this one that I snapped with my cell phone in the garage after I got done tinting the windows.
Through the years I've owned several Jeeps, more 4X4 trucks than I can count, an H3, and several off road race cars (SCORE). Every couple years I get the sports car bug and buy something totally impractical, Viper, Shelby Cobra, and most recently I traded in a Jeep JK for a Mercedes SL63. That was by far the best built vehicle I've ever owned and amazing to drive...but totally impractical. So, I decided to buy something practical, a Tacoma. I always like the looks and the aftermarket stuff is great. When I started shopping around, my eyes wandered towards the 4Runners. I loved them right off the bat. Body on frame, simple drivetrain, great looks, well known reliability...perfect.
So, I called my credit union and asked them about their car buying service. They connected me with the buy and I liked his pitch. Basically, the credit union uses a private contractor but they act as my personal buyer. I told him what I wanted including make, model, color, options, the whole thing and then told him what I had to trade. The concerning part of this deal was that my trade, used, was worth about twice what the new 4Runner would cost. Anyway, he called me the next day and told me that he found one at a nearby dealer and would bring it to me that day. He brought it to my house, looked over the Merc, and told me to test drove the 4 runner for a couple days. I drove it that day and loved it. Told him to make the deal happen.
Bottom line on the deal, 2014 SR5 Premium and the only option I got was floor mats for $37,975 sticker. My price was $33,675 and it didn't matter if I traded in the Mercedes or not. He called a couple buyers to bid on the Mercedes and the last one gave me just a little bit more than I expected so the deal was done...ALL OVER THE PHONE. He came out to my house the next day, I signed a couple papers, he handed me a check for the Mercedes and he took it away. I did have to go to their office the next day because the didn't have the owner's manual in the car. What a smooth deal.
The next day, off to the local off-road shop for a quick cheater lift (spacers). I'm going to change to coil-overs in a while. After that it was off to the tire shop for a set of 285 Duratracs and some Level 8 wheels. Came out nice and the lift, tires, and wheels set me back about $2500. Now I'm contemplating a roof rack and some Rigids.
Anyway, I'll try to post some pictures, but so far all I've got in this one that I snapped with my cell phone in the garage after I got done tinting the windows.
