Newbie...looking to buy my first 4Runner

[cosmo777]

Hey folks,
I'm in the pursuit of an '07 Limited and been researching all I can here on the forum. Lots of good stuff here and looking forward to contributing in the future.

I have found one of interest at a Toyota dealership and plan to look at it this weekend, but in my ongoing research, I've found a few oddities. Hopefully, you guys can chime in and give your thoughts..

'07 Limited
~32,000 miles
$33,900 (seems way high!)
no navi, but bluetooth and all other options

So here's my questions:

/1/ the listing on the dealers website says its Toyota Certified, which implies the 3mo/30,000 warranty and 7yr/100k limited warranty is applicable, but their listing also says As-Is, extended warranty avail. I'm thinking this means they won't offer any kind of dealership warranty, are willing to sell me an extended warranty, but the manufacturer warranty is still valid to 7/100?

/2/ while the listing says its Toyota Certified, when I go to ToyotaCertified.com and search for that vehicle, its not there. Is this an indication of anything? Might it actually not be certified by Toyota? Or is toyotacertified.com just behind the ball on updating their website?

/3/ found this vehicle listed at various other auto sales websites (autotrader, craigslist, etc). None of them state that its Toyota Certified. Huh, an oversight, or is there more to this?

/4/ while this dealer listing is active/current on all the above mentioned websites, I pulled the CARFAX and the dealership got this vehicle mid-November, and the last entry says VEHICLE SOLD just four days later. What is up with that? Makes me wonder - was it sold and returned? Is it just an error in CARFAX? Or is it a sneaky way to pull people onto the lot?

/5/ so if I were to buy a Toyota Certified vehicle, at the time of purchase/signing, is there something the dealer gives you or a form that is filled out that states its certified and that states it has the remaining manufacturer warranty? I'm a "trust but verify" kinda person, so for me its "put it in writing or it doesn't exist"


Oh....and I might as well ask...

/6/ what would you offer on this vehicle? Research across the country shows '07 Limited are listing (on average) for $28K and have an average of 32,000 miles.


Thanks for any thoughts/comments you can provide,
Pat

 

[Lowpro]

Welcome Pat :hello:

So here's my questions:

/1/ the listing on the dealers website says its Toyota Certified, which implies the 3mo/30,000 warranty and 7yr/100k limited warranty is applicable, but their listing also says As-Is, extended warranty avail. I'm thinking this means they won't offer any kind of dealership warranty, are willing to sell me an extended warranty, but the manufacturer warranty is still valid to 7/100?

Do you have a link to the listing? It seems that sometimes dealerships just use templates for car listings. A lot of the times it will just say "As-Is" just to cover their butts. Same with the ext. warranty. They'll always want to sell you a warranty, so might be just included in their listing template.

BTW, CPO warranty is 3 months or 3,000 miles, not 30,000 miles. 7yr/100k miles for powertrain.

You say that it's an '07. What date does Carfax have as the first date that the car went into service? That means the day that the car was first sold to the very first owner. That will tell you if the car is still under mfg warranty of 36k miles or 3 years. You might still have another 4k miles of warranty if the car went into service in the later part of 2007.

Regardless if you are out of the mfg or not. The Certified 3 month / 3,000 miles warranty will cover you for a lot of stuff.

Check this thread for info on the extended warranties

/2/ while the listing says its Toyota Certified, when I go to ToyotaCertified.com and search for that vehicle, its not there. Is this an indication of anything? Might it actually not be certified by Toyota? Or is toyotacertified.com just behind the ball on updating their website?

Sometimes they are up there and sometimes they aren't. dunno.

/3/ found this vehicle listed at various other auto sales websites (autotrader, craigslist, etc). None of them state that its Toyota Certified. Huh, an oversight, or is there more to this?

Probably nothing. When it comes down to it you'll have to find out from the dealership on whether or not it's a CPO vehicle. Make sure you ask.

/4/ while this dealer listing is active/current on all the above mentioned websites, I pulled the CARFAX and the dealership got this vehicle mid-November, and the last entry says VEHICLE SOLD just four days later. What is up with that? Makes me wonder - was it sold and returned? Is it just an error in CARFAX? Or is it a sneaky way to pull people onto the lot?

Could be all of the above. You never know. Is the car listed on the dealers website? Often times they are slow to remove listings from Autotrader/CL/Cars.com because it often gets them more calls from interested buyers looking a car. "Sorry, that one is gone but I have this other one which might interest you...."

/5/ so if I were to buy a Toyota Certified vehicle, at the time of purchase/signing, is there something the dealer gives you or a form that is filled out that states its certified and that states it has the remaining manufacturer warranty? I'm a "trust but verify" kinda person, so for me its "put it in writing or it doesn't exist"

They give you a booklet that talks about the CPO program. They'll fill out some info on it and give it to you. Possibly some paperwork too. In a few days (if you purchase) you'll get some more paperwork about the CPO warranty and 2 small wallet cards.

Oh....and I might as well ask...

/6/ what would you offer on this vehicle? Research across the country shows '07 Limited are listing (on average) for $28K and have an average of 32,000 miles.


Thanks for any thoughts/comments you can provide,
Pat

4x4? V6? V8? Where are you located?


Good luck!

 

[Timberline]

/6/ what would you offer on this vehicle? Research across the country shows '07 Limited are listing (on average) for $28K and have an average of 32,000 miles.

Pat,

IMO the Edmunds TMV appraiser is the most accurate price metric. KBB seems to be way high, and NADA too low. It will vary with the part of country you're in, which engine, 2WD or 4WD, etc... run it through the link for TMV to see.

Good luck.

 

[cosmo777]

Gents,
Thanks for the input....

BTW, CPO warranty is 3 months or 3,000 miles, not 30,000 miles. 7yr/100k miles for powertrain.

Good Catch...thanks.

What date does Carfax have as the first date that the car went into service? That means the day that the car was first sold to the very first owner. That will tell you if the car is still under mfg warranty of 36k miles or 3 years. You might still have another 4k miles of warranty if the car went into service in the later part of 2007.

CARFAX says it was registered in the beginning of Feb 07, so it looks like there's not much time left before mfg warranty expires. Like a couple of weeks....

4x4? V6? V8? Where are you located?

Vehicle is on the west coast. Its a 4x4 w/V6

IMO the Edmunds TMV appraiser is the most accurate price metric. KBB seems to be way high, and NADA too low.

Thanks, I've been looking at all three of them and trying to decifer which is more accurate.

 

[Lowpro]

Vehicle is on the west coast. Its a 4x4 w/V6


Thanks, I've been looking at all three of them and trying to decifer which is more accurate.

Where is the link to the listing? We bought my wife's 2008 Limited 4x4 V6 w/ 13k miles on Dec 1st.

It was kind of hard to come by a limited 4x4 v6, almost rare.. I'm in LA.

 

[MikesToy]

Welcome aboard! Good luck!

 

[cosmo777]

I hear ya about finding a 4x4 Limited V6. I've been looking for a while. They're out there, but mostly on the east coast. I may end up having to fly out east and driving one back.