Shipping a car?
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Jagerzel
New member
Road Trip! Or have them take it to a Toyota dealer and get a mechanical / function check if you need that false sense of security. I bought a 3rd gen from its original owner which tore his heart to have to sell it. Extremely well maintained and loved, the tranny died a month later. Who's fault was it - no ones. You can't predict malfunctions, only try to prevent them. The only way I'd buy a car is to personally see it and smell it lol, but that's just me. Google how to look for flood damage, ect. Good Luck, I just purchased a 4th Gen myself after having to sell my 3rd Gen due to military move.
Carfax is your friend. I wouldn't consider having it looked at by a professional as looking for a 'false sense of security.' Doing all possible due diligence is just wise.
I flew about 600 miles to get mine and I was perfectly willing to turn around and fly home if it didn't work out. The carfax was perfect with maintenance records all the way back to 2004. I was actually excited to find a handful of small problems because I was able to negotiate the price way down and then fix them myself when I got home.
Try to get one from a place where it seldomly snows or they just don't use salt.
I flew about 600 miles to get mine and I was perfectly willing to turn around and fly home if it didn't work out. The carfax was perfect with maintenance records all the way back to 2004. I was actually excited to find a handful of small problems because I was able to negotiate the price way down and then fix them myself when I got home.
Try to get one from a place where it seldomly snows or they just don't use salt.
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Nervo19
Member
DO NOT purchase a car you have not personally seen or driven. I looked at four 4th gens before I purchased one. I believed the first three were perfect for me before I saw and drove them. I've just experienced buying a Tacoma with my son. A couple "no rust" trucks we went to look at had rusted frames. Sellers lie or don't trouble themselves to look underneath. I would not travel. Just make the rounds with Cars.com, autotrader, Carlotz, CL etc. every Monday morning. Some of the used sites will let you set up an alert. That's how I found a one owner three weeks ago. Still getting "alerts" though.
If you decide to ship your vehicle I have used Horseless Carrige to move cars & motorcycles. They are one of the most reputable shippers nowadays. Enclosed Auto Transport, Enclosed Auto Shipping, Classic Car Storage - Horseless Carriage Carriers
I couldn't agree more!! I had the same type of experience when looking for my Gen 4 Runner.
I bought a BMW out of Tampa last year, over 750 miles from me. I had a buddy down there to test drive it and check it out before I bought it though. It cost me $475 to ship it in an enclosed trailer. That was pretty cheap though. I would expect closer to $800 for a thousand mile trip. The only reason mine was that cheap is because the trucker was coming up close to me for a NASCAR race anyway. I used uship.com
If you buy a car sight unseen and it turns out to be a lemon or not quite what you expected, shame on you. It's one thing to get burned on $500 dollar purchase, but not a $$ tens of thousands of dollar purchase.
10 years ago, I shipped a Honda Accord from CA to FL and it was about $800 through a major auto shipper. Didn't have any issues.
If a 4WD model, make sure it switches into 2HI to 4HI, 4HI to 4LO, and center differential lock all engage properly.
10 years ago, I shipped a Honda Accord from CA to FL and it was about $800 through a major auto shipper. Didn't have any issues.
If a 4WD model, make sure it switches into 2HI to 4HI, 4HI to 4LO, and center differential lock all engage properly.
AZ07Runner
Member
I learned my lesson to NOT purchase a vehicle sight unseen. I bought a 69 Chevelle in '05 sight unseen and when the seller said "Not that I know of." to pertinent questions, it meant "I don't want to answer that.", but hind sight is 20/20. Screwed my plans for it due to the repairs it needed that he was "unaware of".:redbrick: I had to sell it last year after putting $$$ into it and getting just a little over what I paid for it.
I flew to Las Vegas to check out my 4R and had every intention of flying back if I found the dealer lied to me. But I drove it home. I still found a few things they didn't tell me, but it was a certified vehicle still under warranty and had most of that covered.
I flew to Las Vegas to check out my 4R and had every intention of flying back if I found the dealer lied to me. But I drove it home. I still found a few things they didn't tell me, but it was a certified vehicle still under warranty and had most of that covered.
Martinjmpr
New member
You live in Colorado and you can't find a 4th gen to buy? 
Yes, I know 4th gens tend to be a bit overpriced this time of year (because there's snow on the ground and gas is cheap) but any money you save buying from far away is likely to be eaten up by transportation costs.
If you lived in Florida where 4x4's are rare, or if you lived in NY or MA where older vehicles get eaten alive by rust I could understand shopping for something that far away but if you can't find a decent 4th gen in Colorado, you're not looking hard enough.
EDITED TO ADD: Didn't mean to sound harsh with that last sentence, just that there are plenty of 4th gens out here, but as I said above, this may be the worst time of the year to shop for a 4x4. If you can wait until both the temperatures and gas prices go up, you'll find it easier to get a better deal.
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Yes, I know 4th gens tend to be a bit overpriced this time of year (because there's snow on the ground and gas is cheap) but any money you save buying from far away is likely to be eaten up by transportation costs.
If you lived in Florida where 4x4's are rare, or if you lived in NY or MA where older vehicles get eaten alive by rust I could understand shopping for something that far away but if you can't find a decent 4th gen in Colorado, you're not looking hard enough.
EDITED TO ADD: Didn't mean to sound harsh with that last sentence, just that there are plenty of 4th gens out here, but as I said above, this may be the worst time of the year to shop for a 4x4. If you can wait until both the temperatures and gas prices go up, you'll find it easier to get a better deal.
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tH1e swiN1e
New member
Ive bought more than 1 vehicle sight unseen. Just lots of phone call, pictures, and definitely a professional inspection. Depending on where you are located shipping that distance could be between $400-1k.
I always enjoy making it a mini vacation, fly out and drive back to get in some quality bonding time with the new wheels.
:car:
I always enjoy making it a mini vacation, fly out and drive back to get in some quality bonding time with the new wheels.
:car:
