Urban Runner Advice

[Double Deuce]

Hey guys I posted this over on the new member page but it doesn't seem to get much traffic. So I am looking to buy a 4th gen converting over from a Tundra, I have narrowed my search down to 2006-2008 and prefer the look of the black sport editions.....

However I came across a 2008 black Urban Runner yesterday with 73k miles on it and the dealership wants $19,500 and it has a clean one owner Carfax. I'm not real thrilled with the seats or the head unit, but everything I have seen that is way under what most are being sold for so I guess I am looking for a little guidance if I should pull the trigger on it or not?

Pros for me on the Urban Runner are; color keyed(hate chrome), v6(better mpg than my Tundra), and 4x4.

Cons for me are; not pumped about what looks like suede seats, black wood grain?, and heard the head unit is garbage(easy fix)


Thanks and here are some pics of said Urban Runner

 

[ASUMTNEER]

The price doesn't seem too bad, expecially for a dealership. I would still try to negotiate of course, but I got mine off a private seller for $18500 and thought it was a pretty good deal (08 shadow mica 4x4 v8 sport with 82k). If you prefer the charcoal cloth interior you could probably find someone with a sport to trade you, I know I would. Nice truck though. I agree that the Tom-Tom head units are less than desirable.

 

[superman3043]

It's funny how the main selling features of the Urban Runner (Tom Tom HU @ Alcantara seats) over the Sport Edition are the ones people hate the most about them... Hahahaha.

It's a nice truck though. I'd buy one if you could get UR's with a V8. Not willing to pay extra for the bells and whistles though.

 

[Double Deuce]

It's funny how the main selling features of the Urban Runner (Tom Tom HU @ Alcantara seats) over the Sport Edition are the ones people hate the most about them... Hahahaha.

It's a nice truck though. I'd buy one if you could get UR's with a V8. Not willing to pay extra for the bells and whistles though.

Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.

 

[superman3043]

Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.

Yep, that's right. When you're searching for such a specific used vehicle, you're really at the mercy of what becomes available.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one if you bought it, but you always have the option of holding out until that "perfect" one shows up (if it ever does). Like you said, your gripes are rather minor and easily rectified. You can see my build thread for some options with the seats (seat covers) or you can try to trade like somebody already mentioned. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to find somebody willing to trade.

Also consider expanding your search beyond DFW, if you really want to find your vehicle. I've seen folks on here look for several months and travel half way across the country to get "the one". Some aren't willing to settle. Some can compromise. Either way, you're gonna love the 4Runner. Coming from a Tundra, I'm sure we don't have to tell you how great of a vehicle these things are.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[jimithing]

Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.

Yup, if you have exact features you want it'll take longer to find that perfect car. I'm with you - the seats in the Urban Runner are what killed it for me. I ended up expanding my search radius and found my 4Runner in Kansas City. I flew up there and drove it home. It's your call but if you plan on keeping it for a long time make sure you get what you want.

 

[YotaDriver]

Pros for me on the Urban Runner are; color keyed(hate chrome), v6(better mpg than my Tundra), and 4x4.

Cons for me are; not pumped about what looks like suede seats, black wood grain?, and heard the head unit is garbage(easy fix)

Thanks and here are some pics of said Urban Runner

I think the Urban Runner is the best looking trim package available, but I agree that the seats are a little weak. I have a Limited and I swapped my running boards out for some Sport-style tube steps. I didn't bother with the roof rack, but with that being said I like the tube rack better, too.

As far as the seats and head unit go, I don't think either of those would be a deal breaker for me. One of the first things I did when I got my Runner was to remove the factory head unit and install the single DIN Sony I had in my previous 4Runner. It's not the greatest unit, but it provides me with Sirius, Bluetooth, Aux-In (never use since I have Bluetooth), and a remote. I decided against purchasing the unit to connect the steering wheel controls because I've always got the credit card-sized remote in my hand, anyway.

As far as price goes, I got mine for $19,000 in June 2011 with 72,000 miles on it. It had originally been listed for $20,000 but an accident came up in the CarFax history so they knocked some off. I'm sure lots of people here will say they wouldn't have bought it or I should have gotten way more money knocked off the price, but after putting almost 30,000 miles on this thing over the past 18 months I can say that it's a perfect truck. Everything on it works perfectly, it tracks perfectly straight on the highway, has no wiggle at all in the steering wheel, and purrs like a kitten (granted, a kitten with a noticeable ticking noise from the injectors ).

Anyway, I think you're basically getting a slightly better looking rig than I got for almost exactly the same price, with no accident history, that is two years newer. If you've got the resources, I say go for it.

 

[08T4R]

The head unit isn't that bad. Not as good as aftermarket, but when is a factory ever that good? I still don't understand why people knock the seats? That was one of the pluses for me. Didn't want cloth or leather really, so it met right in the middle. I also wanted the color keyed handles and grille, the hood scoop and the better looking 18" wheels. For me it was the perfect mix of a sport and limited for the price of a sport. I payed 26,7 for mine in Feb 2010 with 25k on it cpo. Haven't looked back since. If the HU is your biggest gripe I'd say go for it considering the price is good for your area and swap the unit down the road..

 

[Double Deuce]

The head unit isn't that bad. Not as good as aftermarket, but when is a factory ever that good? I still don't understand why people knock the seats? That was one of the pluses for me. Didn't want cloth or leather really, so it met right in the middle. I also wanted the color keyed handles and grille, the hood scoop and the better looking 18" wheels. For me it was the perfect mix of a sport and limited for the price of a sport. I payed 26,7 for mine in Feb 2010 with 25k on it cpo. Haven't looked back since. If the HU is your biggest gripe I'd say go for it considering the price is good for your area and swap the unit down the road..

Was able to go check out a white one during lunch today and yeah having personally sat in the seats I actually like them so I guess I am sold on the Urban Runner and now that I have seen the white in person I am conflicted on black or white......Decisions decisions

 

[08T4R]

The black looks damn good if I must say so myself. I would hate to keep it clean though. I've always liked the black with the darker wheels. I had a white truck, then dark blue car, and said I'd never own a dark car again. So white was the easy decision for me. Which is the better deal would be my question?

 

[ryanbt]

I have the black and it looks awesome when it's clean, but it sure is hard to keep clean. My neighbor has a Blizzard Pearl white Limited and I think it looks mighty fine.

Double Deuce, I see you are in DFW as well. According to toyotacertified.com this is the only certified used Urban Runner in the metroplex: Used 2008 Toyota 4Runner For Sale | Dallas TX

 

[superman3043]

+1 on white cars being awesome. My last 2 were white and it's easily my favorite color. I think black is the sexiest color... when clean. It's also the nastiest when dirty. White always looks good.

 

[Double Deuce]

I have the black and it looks awesome when it's clean, but it sure is hard to keep clean. My neighbor has a Blizzard Pearl white Limited and I think it looks mighty fine.

Double Deuce, I see you are in DFW as well. According to toyotacertified.com this is the only certified used Urban Runner in the metroplex: Used 2008 Toyota 4Runner For Sale | Dallas TX

Yeah that's the one I went and checked out yesterday, the black one I am looking at is in Lawton, Ok so I haven't actually been able to see it in person yet since it's about a 2 hour drive from the DFW area. I actually just went to check out the white one to see how I would like the interior and ended up liking the blizzard pearl paint job.

My Tundra is black and I love it when it's clean, but yeah keeping it clean is almost a full time job.

The differences between the two are:

Blizzard Pearl: 60k miles, CPO, two owner, and asking price is $23,900, only had vehicle for a month or so... Also 5 minutes from my work and can get new car finance rates through Toyota since it's a CPO

Black: 73k miles, not certified, one owner, and asking price is 19,450, 150 miles away and wouldn't get as good a rate on financing, been sitting on the vehicle since July

 

[ryanbt]

I'd go with the White CPO. It will come with a better warranty and has less mileage. That's just my two cents.
Also, for what it's worth you can find a Sport that's CPO and slap a color matching grill on it from toyotapartsales.com for $150.

 

[08T4R]

If they'd come off the price of the cpo I'd grab it. Check carfax and Toyota owners site for maintenance. I bet the cpo has an awesome record on Toyota owners. The pearl really shines in direct sunlight..

 

[scionicboom]

I just bought the same exact vehicle with 72K miles also just 3 weeks ago from a dealership. I paid 19,500 (located in GA). I didn't like the seats at all when I bought it and I was planning on buying Clazzio seats covers to fix that. But after a few days they grew on me and I actually like them now. The head unit is definitely weak and there are no updated maps for it...so it is getting replaced very shortly. All in all I am very happy with the purchase and everybody likes the look of the Urban Runner that sees it.

 

[08T4R]

Cpo adds a little to the price. I paid 26 for mine two years ago with 25k on it in macon. The maps are upgradeable via tom tom home. Just put the sd card in your computer or connect the tom tom.

 

[scionicboom]

Cpo adds a little to the price. I paid 26 for mine two years ago with 25k on it in macon. The maps are upgradeable via tom tom home. Just put the sd card in your computer or connect the tom tom.

Have you upgraded it via tom tom home recently. I read that people were getting the head unit corrupted trying to do it that way. Can you possibly provide a detailed approach to updating the SD? Even though I am changing out the head unit I would like to get it updated as I want to sell it afterwards.

P.S. sorry to threadjack you a bit. I was in the same boat with buying a 4runner as you. I was specific in the year range, price range, color and features. The Urban Runner was a trim I was unfamiliar with. I liked the exterior a lot right away. The interior took me a couple days to warm up to it.

 

[08T4R]

Haven't done it in a while since I don't drive it often. It only has 39k on it now from driving to family in macon and going to Fla a few times. But the trick is backing up what you have before messing with it. Also see what size the card is. I think it came with a 1 gig or something and I swapped mine for a 2gb. It's pretty customizable on there. You can download different voices and vehicles, etc etc. Mines a British lady at the moment lol. It's pretty straight forward on how to do it though. Just go on there and make an acct and play around to get familiar with it. I would have to do the same since its been so long. If I'm lost its usually easier to use my phone and google maps to find what I need.

 

[scionicboom]

Haven't done it in a while since I don't drive it often. It only has 39k on it now from driving to family in macon and going to Fla a few times. But the trick is backing up what you have before messing with it. Also see what size the card is. I think it came with a 1 gig or something and I swapped mine for a 2gb. It's pretty customizable on there. You can download different voices and vehicles, etc etc. Mines a British lady at the moment lol. It's pretty straight forward on how to do it though. Just go on there and make an acct and play around to get familiar with it. I would have to do the same since its been so long. If I'm lost its usually easier to use my phone and google maps to find what I need.

Thanks, I have tons of extra cards lying around so I will back it up and mess around a bit this week.