Possibly selling my 4Runner. How much is fair to ask?

[cbielat]

I'm tossing the idea around of selling my 4Runner. I'm in sales and I travel a lot as my territory is New England. I have just over 41k miles on my truck. I bought it new in December 2011. I'd like to sell it while the miles are still relatively low. My signature shows what I have added on the truck, although I'll probably keep my wheels. I have all of my stock parts which I may put back on depending on what I can get for it. I know that just because aftermarket items were added, it doesn't increase the value. Do you think placing back on the stock parts would be wise? I will be buying a new 4Runner again and doing the same things to the new one. Might try some new companies the second time around but I've had nothing but good luck with what I'm currently running. Just would like to hear input from the Pros!

 

[TheOnlyQP]

If you are just going to buy another 4Runner why are you selling the one you have? Doesn't seem like you'll accomplish much besides losing some dough.

Parting out the aftermarket stuff will definitely get you more cash unless you find a buyer who REALLY wants all the stuff you have on there.

 

[phillyd2]

First stop would be the dealer to see what they would offer. When I sold my 4th Gen to buy the 5th. they gave me a great deal. Of course I may have sold it for a few bucks more but not having to worry about it was well worth it to me.

You could also put it on CL, Ebay, etc. as is just to see if sells as is. Otherwise I would return to stock and sell the parts, if you will not be reusing them.

 

[Yogi56]

I'm tossing the idea around of selling my 4Runner.

Have it detailed and return it to stock. Then go to as many Toyota dealers as reasonable and see what they'll write a check for. If you have title you can get a check that day or the next. KBB.com will give you a general idea of worth but be realistic on the condition levels for a closer number. Dealers get a weekly book out now based on national auctions but you should be within a thousand or so minus any reconditioning a dealer has to do. A reputable dealer will put new tires on unless yours are almost new and remove dings, touch up scratches etc.

The closer you get to 50,000 miles the less desirable for a Toyota dealer or Carmax, who will usually be lower than the dealer. After that it's selling it yourself and dealing with all of the J/offs that don't show, want to trade for something, etc.

Happy Selling

 

[DannyLlama]

I will be buying a new 4Runner again and doing the same things to the new one.

Why sell your 4R if you are going to buy another? Just to have a newer car?

 

[Jesse1983]

always return to stock before selling. you won't get an extra dime for aftermarket parts. on here, I'm sure you can get more than a dime for a few things. good luck.

 

[Okki]

always return to stock before selling. you won't get an extra dime for aftermarket parts. on here, I'm sure you can get more than a dime for a few things. good luck.

^^^ this ^^^^
Places like CarMax will generally refuse a vehicle that is not stock. Either that or they will heavily discount the offer "in order to bring it back to stock".

If you are not returning it to stock, expect to take a hit on trade in, or sell it privately to someone not wanting to spend the time making the mods themselves. But this will likely be a slower process unless you get lucky.

I would also list it on TacomaWorld and FJCruisers just so that you might get lucky with an enthusiast who is looking to get into an SUV or bigger vehicle.

Okki

 

[Greg_Canada]

I wish i had money burning a hole in my pocket... You do know these things typically last 2-300,000 miles, right? You're not even close...

 

[veloindy]

Dibs on the OW's!

 

[marlin driver]

I will throw out 2 things to think about:

1. Do the math on selling, buying another, and selling that one down the road. I guarantee your cheapest way to own a 4runner is to drive it until the wheels fall off, rather than take repeated hits by buying and selling. If you pay sales tax where you are, that is a big hit, plus the other costs and fees or buying and selling. Also, your depreciation cost is greatest starting at mile #1, and declines with each additional mile.

2. If you do sell, I'm going against the crowd here and saying leave it as it is. By the time you spend the hours to take off the aftermarket parts, restore to stock, pay to re-align, etc, then sell the parts at 50% discount to new (close to the realistic value), you will have earned about $1/hour for your time and your knuckles will be bleeding. If you sell private party, you will have a nice looking truck that will get top dollar and not blend into the crowd.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

JD

 

[cbielat]

I sold my last vehicle privately and that turned out well. I would lean towards doing that again after seeing what dealers would offer. I bought my truck from one of my cousin's dealerships. I think I would start there. The reason for possibly selling it soon is the mileage. I know they can potentially last a good 200k miles but I wouldn't get much for it by then. Also considering upgrading to the Trail.

 

[FlyNavy]

Also considering upgrading to the Trail.

There it is! It's ok, everyone comes out of the closet, eventually.

Several folks on here have done it and it seems they are all happy with their decision. I too would agree that you will get more for it stock. I went through that with my old Frontier and ended up selling privately to someone who appreciated and wanted the mods.

 

[WillK]

If you're selling (and not trading in) your 4Runner, use black book online tools to get an idea of wholesale price then go from there. Of course dealerships are going to really lowball you.

I agree with others though, you stand to take a beating by trading in your 2011 to get a new one. But it's your money...

If you are selling private party, then leave your aftermarket parts and you can always negotiate those in a private sale.

if you're selling to a dealership, or trading in, take off the aftermarket parts because they won't give you crap for them.

 

[KCcarguy]

There it is! It's ok, everyone comes out of the closet, eventually.

Several folks on here have done it and it seems they are all happy with their decision. I too would agree that you will get more for it stock. I went through that with my old Frontier and ended up selling privately to someone who appreciated and wanted the mods.

I went through the same thing. Like a lot of guys I wished I bought a TE. I had big-time remorse but I'm not willing to take that kind of a hit. Between the money I'd lose on the trade, the tax I'd pay on the new truck, the extra $$ to add heated leather to the TE, and the time/ money to return the SR5 to stock it made more sense to me to just keep the truck and slowly build it into what I wanted. You're looking at roughly $2,500 without labor to do the TE exterior conversion. I'm guessing you'd lose more than that on taxes, and trade-in. Now, I know that the TE has a few features the SR5 doesn't, but ask yourself if all the gizmos are worth it. Especially if your happy with the way your OW suspension handles.

Just my $0.02. If you really want it, go for it. But be sure to return to stock. Do you have some tires you can run on stock suspension?

 

[cbielat]

Thanks guys. All of you make valid points. I do have every stock component that was replaced by aftermarket including tires. It's the features I like on the TE that would persuade me towards it, not the exterior. I'll be weighing my options.

 

[mokang]

Surprised everyone thinks you're going to take a loss. I know of several friends who have traded their 2010 and 2011 runners in for new models and got private party as trade in at the dealer. No I also know what you're thinking is this your paid for it on the price but they also got below invoice on the sale.

You already know what you're likely to get private party with using the KBB in other web sites. I would go to a large Toyota dealer and look for trade in values. My local dealer has 6 new runners and 8 used runners to give you some perspective. Clearly they love taking in 2010 and 2011 to make money

 

[Jhalko]

When I bought my truck I had looked at a couple used 4runners, I was appalled at the asking prices relative to new, so it might not be as bad as some think. That is the beauty of toyotas I have learned, they make great cars that a lot of people want!

 

[look171]

Trade it or sell it and take a little hit, but you will gain it back on write-offs on the new truck. You are in sales right? Pay the whole thing and write it all off in the first year. That's 40K off your income tax. Or lease it and write off all the payments then hopefully you will like it enough to buy it from them at the end. I say keep selling them every 2-3 years, and get the write offs. Do the math and see if it benefits you.

 

[KCcarguy]

Trade it or sell it and take a little hit, but you will gain it back on write-offs on the new truck. You are in sales right? Pay the whole thing and write it all off in the first year. That's 40K off your income tax. Or lease it and write off all the payments then hopefully you will like it enough to buy it from them at the end. I say keep selling them every 2-3 years, and get the write offs. Do the math and see if it benefits you.

I'm no accountant, but I am self-employed and I'm not sure it works that way. It's a write-off, not a credit. You're not paying $40k less in taxes.

 

[marlin driver]

Trade it or sell it and take a little hit, but you will gain it back on write-offs on the new truck. You are in sales right? Pay the whole thing and write it all off in the first year. That's 40K off your income tax. Or lease it and write off all the payments then hopefully you will like it enough to buy it from them at the end. I say keep selling them every 2-3 years, and get the write offs. Do the math and see if it benefits you.

I hate to let reality get it the way of a good plan, and am all for a free write-off. Unfortunately, tax law says if you depreciate an asset (the $40k), then sell it, you have to recapture the $30k or whatever that you sold it for. That means that you owe tax on that amount, in the year that you sell the car.

Not that everyone follows the rules, but I'm just throwing it out in case anyone cares.