Single mom trying to pull trigger on 1st 4runner
- Thread starter someday139
- Start date
aha2988
New member
from my dealership experience a dealer wont keep a vehicle longer than 30 days on the lot they'll send it to auction. this can be good or bad for you good because they really want to get rid of the truck and make the sale, bad because they know even if they dont sale it the trucks about to be off the lot in about 4 days lol. it depends on the the sales manangement per dealership but that trucks been on the lot of almost a month now A.) its got problems no one wants it B.) no-one has been interested in a 2wd model C.) its overpriced and the dealer wont budge for anything.
someday139
New member
I see your point in neg. in person. I just wanted to see if they would even play ball at all since they are 100 miles away and I would have to have my sister drive me there seeing how I turned in the rental today. 340.00 for one week was ENOUGH!!! lol.
But I do like this one for the color and the fact that it was maintained regularly here at the same dealership I would use to maintain it. I guess even if they didn't move on price it still isn't bad, but as a single mom I wanna squeeze EVERY penny out of them I can. Esp. seeing how as a younger inexperience person years ago the dealers robbed me blind!!! My turn to come out top!!!!! lol But ultimatley everyone should be happy.. That is my opinion!! Wish all the dealers felt that way!!
Thanks for your help!!
someday139
New member
BTW, believe it or not I have actually been to Oak Ridge TN once. lol
someday139
New member
Ya know, I never have heard back from the dealer that called me today about the one they got in on trade Saturday night with only 47,000 miles for an 05. Hummm.
aha2988
New member
if that white one is the one you want id jump on it 4runners dont hang out on dealer lots very long there a popular ride. its already under your budget, but i def. feel you on squeezing penys. what i do when i go to the dealership to buy a car is I'll take a book with me any novel size book will do (i dont read much or like to anyways) when you sit down with the sales guy let him go through his thing oh will do this this and this and OTD will be blah blah blah. then make your offer. heres where the book comes in handy. as soon as he steps away from the office or desk to run your offer by managment open the book as if you've got nowhere else to be and all the time in the world and show no interest in the truck your about to buy like jumping up to look at it one more time or peaking out the window at it not interest what so ever. when the dealer comes back in with the counter offer be sure to pause before looking away from your book and responding as if your more interested in the book than the car. you guys can hate on my book tactic but its saved me a couple grand over the years lol
RickC
New member
Cool, I have been to Charleston several times. My mother in law grew up there. I tried to book vacation this year at folly beach, but waited to late to get a good deal, so going to Hilton Head instead.
Good luck with the deal. They will come down if they know you are serious. Just tell them you have X amount you are willing to spend and if they will take it, then you will make the drive to look at it, and if it's as nice as they say, then you will drive off with it. They will move on that price. 30 days on the lot is time to move it.
Good luck with the deal. They will come down if they know you are serious. Just tell them you have X amount you are willing to spend and if they will take it, then you will make the drive to look at it, and if it's as nice as they say, then you will drive off with it. They will move on that price. 30 days on the lot is time to move it.
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A compression test is probably the most common way to check for a HG leak. You can also have them check for hyrdocarbons in the coolant but I'd rather see the numbers from the compression test. It should generate values for each of the 6 cylinders.
Compression test is NOT the best test for a head-gasket. The hydrocarbons in the radiator fluid is the best test.
Compression test is good and I recommend it for any buying a new vehicle. But if the numbers aren't good that doesn't mean it's a head gasket. There are other things that can cause low compression numbers....like worn rings, or stuck valve.
Compression test is good and I recommend it for any buying a new vehicle. But if the numbers aren't good that doesn't mean it's a head gasket. There are other things that can cause low compression numbers....like worn rings, or stuck valve.
someday139
New member
How would I go about having that checked before I buy it? The vehicle is not close by so would I ask them to let me take it somewhere to have that checked and what type of place would I take it to?? What do I tell them exactly if I did take it somewhere??
I didn't say it was the best, I said it was the most common. And I still would rather have a compression test when buying a used car because as you said there are lots of things that can cause low compression numbers and I'd like to know about them before buying a car.
aha2988
New member
the dealership should have a shop there ask them to run a compression test if your interested and have them send you the reading numbers you can post them up here and we can tell you if there good readings or not. They shouldnt mind doing it to make the sale. they may try to talk you out of it though. not to hide anything wrong with the car but to save time and labor on there end. it is more of a favor than a service if you haven't purchased the car yet or pay for the shop labor lol. Typically toyota has to follow strick protocals on selling used vehicles they have to put them through a good inspection before they can resell them (wether or not they actually do differs per dealership) but you typically have a 30 day manufactures warranty mininum so if you do become unfortunate and your prize truck you purchase turns into a lemon (unlikly) you shouldnt have a problem getting the problems worked out or just returning the vehicle and continuing the search.
Both the compression and hydrocarbon test are pretty common tests. Just tell the shop you'd like a compression test and a test for hydrocarbons in the coolant. The problem with having them do it is they're trying to sell you the car. Depending on how far away you are you could see if there's an independent shop that would be willing to do it for you and you just pay them via credit card over the phone.
someday139
New member
Ok! I will check into it. One more thing, I read another thread where someone had issues with the head gasket. It seemed that he and others who where commenting on the thread with the same problem were the guys who take these things off road a lot (by what they were saying).. Would yall in your opinion say the ones that do have head gasket issues are not typically4Runners that have been used as just daily drivers but more the ones that "play" in them?? Just curious..
aha2988
New member
i cant speak from experience or research but my opinion of all the HG issues is caused from lack of proper maintenence. The issues that are putting the trucks out of commission though with the HG relation the engine has severly overheated and warped the head so its not really the Head gasket leaking its the head not sealing the gasket between the head and the block i think in a few cases the engine block warped and theres no fixing that its new engine or new truck. and yes alot of these cases were related to off-roading and or extreme enviroment conditions. I wouldnt worry to much about it if the trucks your looking at have good car fax, few owners, and proper maintenence schedule, you'll find few issues with the truck as long as you keep up the good ownership. (side note: the only issue i could find with my truck when i bought it that i missed at the dealership was believe it or not a bullet hole in the driver side rear passenger door "casing" for lack of a better word. the door didnt have a hole just the metal just above the door latch on the main body of the truck) i never opened the driver side rear passenger door i looked at the rear interior through the passenger side and cargo area.) where the bullet hole came from or how it got there i have no idea. mine had two owners prior to me both under lease which was comforting cause in a lease your kinda forced to take it to the dealership to keep it in good shape. I've always wondered if my truck could talk what stories it would have haha. "this one night we barely got away from a drive by" or something haha.
someday139
New member
That is crazy!!! lol This one has a very regular maintance showing on the Carfax at the Toyota Dealership! One Owner!!!! So I felt good about that even though I wanted something with less mileage!!
I called a Firestone on the same road as the dealership and they can do either a block test to check for the leak or they can pull solution from the coolant an put something in it and if it changes a color then there is a leak. I guess maybe that is the hydrocarbon test????????? Not sure but they did say they can check for it for 24.99! The dealer said no problem.. We will see!
I called a Firestone on the same road as the dealership and they can do either a block test to check for the leak or they can pull solution from the coolant an put something in it and if it changes a color then there is a leak. I guess maybe that is the hydrocarbon test????????? Not sure but they did say they can check for it for 24.99! The dealer said no problem.. We will see!
The fact that it's dealer maintained is a good sign for you. Firestone is talking about Block-Check
Block Tester Combustion Leak Test for Blown Head Gasket by Test Tools inc.
And yeah, that's the hydrocarbon test.
If you haven't done it already go take the VIN and register it at the Toyota Owners website and you'll be able to see the details of the services done at the Toyota dealer.
The dye test will only work IF the head gasket is leaking to the outside of the block. If it's internal..then the fluid will probably end up in the oil. But a small leak may not be detected. That's why the hydrocarbon test is pretty good. The presence of hydrocarbons in the radiator fluid is pretty conclusive.
Every used vehicle I've bought I did a compression test on. My current 4runner was only 1 year old when I bought it and had less then 12k miles. But I still did a compression test. If compression was low on any of the cylinders then I never would have bought it. They all were in the middle of spec and all within 1lb of each other.
I just like the hydrocarbon test for head gaskets. It's the most accurate. Compression tests tell you other things about condition of the engine. And sometime a compression test can't detect a head gasket leak.
Doesn't matter if the vehicle has all the maintenance records...it still should be inspected..and still should have a compression test AND hydrocarbon test.
Every used vehicle I've bought I did a compression test on. My current 4runner was only 1 year old when I bought it and had less then 12k miles. But I still did a compression test. If compression was low on any of the cylinders then I never would have bought it. They all were in the middle of spec and all within 1lb of each other.
I just like the hydrocarbon test for head gaskets. It's the most accurate. Compression tests tell you other things about condition of the engine. And sometime a compression test can't detect a head gasket leak.
Doesn't matter if the vehicle has all the maintenance records...it still should be inspected..and still should have a compression test AND hydrocarbon test.
someday139
New member
Looks to be in great shape!! Having it checked out now. Will post pics later if I buy it!!! Thanks for all yall's help!!!!
