To Buy or Not to Buy: '06 4Runner Limited 4WD

[ted4r]

Hi Folks,

I have been looking for an '05-'09 4Runner for a while now and found a nice '06 at the local Toyota/Kia dealer (here is the ad). The up side, it is the 4WD Limited with heated seats, NAV, soonroof, V6, new tires, and great looking Black paint and stone leather interior. The downside, it has 103,000 miles and spotty verifiable maintenance history (just oil changes, no majors.)

Price is $17,000, or $17,400 with the complete 90k service.

What do you guys think? While I think the NAV and heated seats are nice, I am more interested in a great car at a great price.

Thanks!

 

[ted4r]

I should add, everything works though it is a bit jerky going through the gears in 4WD LO.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

V6 limiteds are extremely hard to find, believe me I've looked for years. 100K on our motor is nothing. I would definitely change all fluids, and replace the battery and spark plugs. But if the car drives well and starts, you should be ok. Any chance you can get them to add in a warranty?

 

[ted4r]

No warranty I am afraid, not even a 50/50 for 30-days or 1,000 miles. I asked, they said no way with over 100k miles.

The surge/jerk as it went through the gears in 4WD LO had me worried a bit, I didn't remember the other one I looked at doing that. Don't think I got over 10mph and it had already gone through all 5 gears I think. I asked them to have the Toyota Tech look at it (this is actually being sold at the Kia part of the dealership and I just found out the 90k would be done by the Kia mechanics - yikes!) and they said it checked out but won't put anything in writing.

 

[Hi-Fi Guy]

For comparison,

I just bought a 2004 Limited V6, Sonora Gold Pearl (not my first choice of color), sand leather interior, 91,000 miles. No Nav, but the wife loves heated seats in the winter. Car Fax showed maintenance history up to 72,000 miles. Interior is immaculate, exterior not perfect, some nicks in the paint...7/10 maybe. Wheels have been painted silver, I assume to cover pitting & clear coat peeling. From 20ft or at 10mph the truck looks great.
Got the seller (small used car lot) down to $13,000. Felt it was a good deal.

Good luck ted4r.

 

[Glock_19]

If you're really concerned about the reliability ask if you can have an independent shop take a look at it. If they refuse I would look elsewhere.

 

[ted4r]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I was thrown a bit because I expected it to drive smoothly through the gears like it does in 4WD HI. They did say they had the Toyota tech check it and it checked out fine.

I guess it sounds like the price is OK but not great.

 

[Fozzy]

I just paid 17200 for an 05 sport edition with 56k on it. There are very few 4runners to be found but the v6's are hardest to find.

Sounds good to me

 

[flnycus]

They said they had a toyota tech look at it... i doubt it, they probably just made that bit up. Do they have any paperwork to show a yota tech looked at it? I would get a mechanic to check it out and if they refused i wouldn't touch it.

 

[Denton]

You'l love the truck, you won't look back. 20 MPG mixed driving on regular fuel, plenty of power (and my other car is a 255 hp 2700-lb BMW).

You better buy that thing ASAP, it won't last long in the DC metro. Had to go to PA to buy mine. NAV is really rare, and those are the best colors for the T4R.

 

[boondoggle]

Looks like a nice truck. I just checked out the ad and clicked on that little Ourisman Advantage button that claims a $1500 value - lifetime power train warranty on used vehicles (plus free car washes with service blah blah blah) what's up with that? Print it out, take it in, the ask them about warranty. If they deny it, ask for the $1500 value to be applied to the price. Or at least use it in negotiations.

Hey, it's their ad....

 

[boondoggle]

This: Get $1500 in Unexpected Extras from Ourisman Chantilly Toyota!

 

[ted4r]

Well someone bought it this morning, and it wasn't me. I did like the car, a lot. But after test driving another in 4WD LO, one which was smooth and not jerky through the gears, and seeing that one of the few dealer visits was to examine a problematic transmission early on, I decided to pass. The search goes on

 

[flnycus]

Probably all for the best, it took a long time to find my 06 v8 sport. Keep looking the right one will come along!