NEW MEMBER in need of buying advise (time sensitive)

[clawfilm]

SCAN TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW MY DILEMA.

With plans to move out to Colorado this year, I'm excited to announce that I'm officially apart of the 4Runner community. With that being said I DESPERATELY need some advice. Quick rundown of my situation:

Today I bought a clean CPO'd 2007 Black V6 4x4 Limited 4Runner with 74,000 miles for $21,500. This is the first Toyota I've owned and drove about 4 4runners before signing my papers. I was really setting my heart on a v8 due to our move to Colorado this year. I didn't want the elevation to affect my power with a v6. I decided on the v6 because I was pretty surprised how quick and powerful it felt for being a v6. I'm coming from an Audi S4 wagon v8 (which I still have and will never give up!) On my way back from putting my downpayment on my v6, I passed a Cadillac Dealer with a 2004 V8 Sport Edition 4x4 (all the time) with 30k miles for $18,000.

After pleading with toyota dealership to reverse the deal 15 minutes after my ownership, they said no (expected). I talked to the Cadi dealer and they are willing to trade evenly for my Limited. Meaning my payments will be virtually unchanged, if not better. My question is;

What seems like a better truck?

2007 CPO Black v6 Limited w/ 74,000 miles 4wd or 2wd: $21k
2004 (NO Warranty) Blue v8 Sport w/ 30,000 miles 4wd only: $21k

I live in Chicago now but plan to use this car for long road and mountain trips when moving to Colorado. Options are virtually the same aside from leather and power seats etc.. Something I can definitely live without.

Thank you for those who read all the way through. I need to make my decision before Monday as I'm leaving for a 2 month long job.

 

[Ironback]

Just call your bank and cancel the check. Then go back to the 1st dealer and hand one of the sales persons the keys, turn and walk out.

But having a warranty is an option you may not wish to overlook.

v/r
Ironback

 

[NJshadow93]

My opinion, get the lower miles truck, especially with the V8. If you don't you'll regret it. Unless you can honestly say you can keep your '07 V6 and never look back, go with the '04 V8. Good luck, it's a big decision.

 

[cabowally]

Man, that's tough.

I'm a V8 fan.

The 2007 has a good amount of miles on it.

I can personally say that power seats in a 4Runner are worthless and do nothing other than cut headroom.

30,000 miles on a 2004 is super odd.

If the 2004 is truly a legit car (clean clean clean) I'd lean to it.

Good luck




.

 

[rebelbowtie]

inspect the v8 and if its in good working condition (since mileage has actually very little to do with how well a vehicle is maintained) then def trade. more power and less miles, its almost a no brainer.

 

[cabowally]

Just call your bank and cancel the check. Then go back to the 1st dealer and hand one of the sales persons the keys, turn and walk out.

But having a warranty is an option you may not wish to overlook.

v/r
Ironback

You can't do that in Colorado. You sign, you own it. Screw around like that and it's check fraud.






.

 

[calikev]

I would ask the original dealer to call his Cadillac dealer buddy down the road and buy the V8 from him, then switch the vehicles for you. These guys know each other really well and likely deal all the time. Offer the original dealer $19000 for the V8---he will likely get it for $16000-$16500 max from the Cadi guy. EVERYONE wins this way. Cadi dealer moves a vehicle for a lil' profit, your original dealer holds a sale, makes money and makes a customer happy. You get the V8 for closer to what you should... $19000 not $21000.

A used car mgr's job is about $$$...PERIOD! He gives a damn about cusomer satisfaction surveys. There are no surveys for his side of the business like the new car surveys that Toyota sends. Don't bother with him first. Go to the General Mgr. Offer the solution above and see what he says. The used car mgr will do what the GM tells him to do.

You have to do this immediately. Once the vehicle has been registered, taxes paid, license fees, etc...it becomes a real nightmare to change vehicles and they won't consider it then.

Side note: Both vehicles seem high in price to me

 

[Ironback]

You can't do that in Colorado. You sign, you own it. Screw around like that and it's check fraud..

With that in mind, I respectfully recant my last post. Wouln't want to be breaking any laws.

v/r
Ironback

 

[NJshadow93]

I would ask the original dealer to call his Cadillac dealer buddy down the road and buy the V8 from him, then switch the vehicles for you. These guys know each other really well and likely deal all the time. Offer the original dealer $19000 for the V8---he will likely get it for $16000-$16500 max from the Cadi guy. EVERYONE wins this way. Cadi dealer moves a vehicle for a lil' profit, your original dealer holds a sale, makes money and makes a customer happy. You get the V8 for closer to what you should... $19000 not $21000.

A used car mgr's job is about $$$...PERIOD! He gives a damn about cusomer satisfaction surveys. There are no surveys for his side of the business like the new car surveys that Toyota sends. Don't bother with him first. Go to the General Mgr. Offer the solution above and see what he says. The used car mgr will do what the GM tells him to do.

You have to do this immediately. Once the vehicle has been registered, taxes paid, license fees, etc...it becomes a real nightmare to change vehicles and they won't consider it then.

Side note: Both vehicles seem high in price to me

Good point on that side not, especially the '04, low mileage or not, seems way too high.

 

[clawfilm]

Wow, I'm looking forward to becoming apart of this forum. Thanks for all the responses.

As I assumed the favor is within the v8. I agree with you as the price might be a little high. I actually paid 24,000 on paper but made a little over 3,000 more on my trade in then I expected. Hence me saying I payed 21,000 for the truck. They inflated my trade in to keep the 4runner closer to what they were asking. Kbb and Edmonds seem to say both trucks are valued between $19/25k
That, and all the other dealers around my area seem to be priced similarly. Again I'm new to the Toyota world.

The history of the 2004 30K car looks to be like a city grocery getter. I know this can be harder on a car than i higher milaged highway car. No accidents or signs of a body shop, really looks clean. The car fax is super clean with regular service at chicagos Toyota. The 2007 74k car has clean car fax too. Both cars drive fantastic and feel solid.

I was in a unique situation about having to get rid of the car I traded in. I felt pretty good about the deal I made given my cars condition and what my payments are. I guess my biggest questions are;

-Will I be extremely foolish to buy a 2004 30k sport for the same money as a cpo 2007 70k limited?

-Will I regret having another v8 (s4 wagon), especially with frequent road trips across America? Will the v6 have any major issues at high elevations?

-Will the sport's 4awd need more maintenance than the optional 4wd / 2wd of the limited?

-The reason for getting a 4runner is so I can have very low maintenance cost. Everyone I've talked to that owns these seem to drive them into the ground with extremely impressive miles. I want a truck that I can respectfully trek through mountains and not worry about babying it. Are the v8's harder workhorses than the v6's, mechanically speaking?

I'm leaning towards trading my 1 day old car in, unless someone calls me an idiot.

Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[boondoggle]

Sometimes it's best to just live with the decisions you've already made. I don't think I'd pay 21k for a 2004 V8 SE even w/30k.

I just picked up my 2004 V8 SE 1 owner w/100k miles for $14,500 from a private party. It's a creampuff - picked it up from a 73year old retired Air Force Msgt. I don't know if 70k less miles would have given it $6,500 more value though.


If that 2004 hasnt had a timing belt swap yet, figure on getting that done based on age alone.

Your 2007 sounds like a nice ride. I'd enjoy it and stop car shopping. It never pays to keep lookin.

Besides, it's a 4Runner 70k miles is nothing. It's a spring chicken

You'll love CO BTW. Check out Avalon Motorsports when you get here. Brian the owner and his team are German car experts. They'll take awesome care of that S4 (sweet ride, jealous) if you ever need any work done.

 

[rebelbowtie]

The 4Runner has Torsen AWD the very same one that's branded "Quattro" by Audi in your S4.

Btw super jelly of the Avant, I wish I had one instead of a sedan. Then again I probably wouldn't have purchased a 4Runner. Are you on Audizine? I go by rebelbowtie over there as well

 

[NorthGa4R]

Limited.

The 4wd needs more maint. at the major services. The resale value will be higher on the limited because (no pun intended) are well... Limited.

There was also small design changes on any 2006 and up models. (fender flares are different, grill, and tail lights).

 

[rebelbowtie]

Limited.

The 4wd needs more maint. at the major services. The resale value will be higher on the limited because (no pun intended) are well... Limited.

There was also small design changes on any 2006 and up models. (fender flares are different, grill, and tail lights).

They're both 4x4 with the same Torsen T3 diff, only difference is the v6 has a part time transfer case whereas the v8 is full time.

 

[NorthGa4R]

I'm a little to lazy on Sunday to read the whole post. But even then the part time is going to be less maintenance than the full time 4wd. I have a 06 limited V6 4x4 and love it. I don't tow any trailers and the 4.0 does great for daily driving.

There's not like a big grippy set of tires on such a refined suv.

 

[jimithing]

Put my in the 2007 V6 group. I just wouldn't pay that much money for the 2004. It's too much even with only 30k.

 

[clawfilm]

Boondoggie: Spring Chicken made me laugh. That's the reason I'm adding a Toyota because of the long milaged reputation. Given that I had another car to turn in at the time of sale, I didn't have the luxury of time to sell my car and then find an amazing deal privately. I'd only be paying 21k for the SE because I already bought the limited and it would be an even trade. Thanks for the heads up about the Avalong Motorsports, I'm thinking I'll need to due something to compensate for the elevation. Thanks for the Avant love.

rebelbowtie: Thanks for the explanation of the Torsen's AWD. I didn't know that and feel better about my decision to get a 4runner. I've actively been an audizine member for a little of a year now. I was on it daily before buying the s4. It took me a good year to find a 2007 6mt w/ 10,600 miles. No typo.

jimithing: Thanks for the input. I know if I were to have bought the Sport first with trading in my car, there would be no way to pay 21k. I would essentially be driving a sport with less miles and a v8 but PAYING for the limited I just bought (at a fair price given my situation).

At this point I understand I lost or will loose a little money in trading trucks. I just want to know your opinion on which truck is better to start out on. Older truck with fewer miles and v8 or newer truck with higher miles v6.

Another note; this won't be my daily driver. Just winter and road trips throughout the west.

Thanks!

and for those of you who made comments: wheels and exhaust to come later this year.

 

[stanleybb50]

I love my v8, but I say to keep the '07 v6 you got. Average miles really, updated styling (slightly), and 3 years newer. Also, no stress of going through all the hassle.

Honestly, the v6 is great too, as you know and mentioned. Unless you will tow a lot, or want an aftermarket exhaust with beefy sound, that v6 will make you more than happy. I say to just enjoy what you got!

 

[earthrealm]

i will stick with the v6 2007.i feel the 04 v8 is too expensive, the 30k miles not withstanding.......saw a v8 04 limited with 100k miles at $11500 , though it was snapped up b4 i could blink an eyelid!, so am still searching.............am not sure the 60k mileage diff is worth the $10k price difference

 

[mrrab]

I'd figure out how to get that V8. Once in CO, you'll have buyers remorse for not having a V8.

Link the Blue V8. Nice truck!

2004 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V8 Chicago, Naperville, Schaumburg Illinois | Heritage Cadillac