...Howdy!...:cowboy:
...For those of you with memory like mine...
...this is an update to page 2398, post 35960...
....the sad story of Banzai-Bambi--the Kamikaze-Deer...
...the mule-deer that Killed my 2018 4Runner dead!...:hurt:
...I originally bought my 4Runner from a Toyota dealership in Corvallis, OR, cos they were thousands of bucks cheaper than any other place...and special ordered my truck so it would have the rear sliding cargo-deck, which I needed for the locking storage box to hold all my camera-gear....
...They were Terrific!...if All dealers were like this...buying a vehicle would be an enjoyable experience....( Well, ok...except for the payments part?! )...
...So, when this truck got totaled by the deer...I went to the local dealer here in Bozeman to get a quote on an identical one so I could let the insurance folks know what it would cost me to replace it....( minus the sliding deck )...
...Their 'Best' price gave me serious sticker shock!...:wow2:
...I then phoned the dealer in Corvallis, OR and spoke with the sales manager, Scott Goff...who over the last few years had become quite a pal while we got my 2018....told him the sad story...and within the same day found me an exact duplicate, but a 2019...as no more 2018's.....
...I ordered it on the spot!...His price was $4,000.00 LESS!!!...:first:
...I find it hard to believe the local dealer here can claim to have the best price...but if they can get it...more power to 'em...but they sure as Hell aint gettin it from ME!....
...Anyway...flew out to Corvallis on Thursday...and they sent a car to pick me up from the airport...( 95 Miles! )...with a lovely, intelligent young lady salesperson at the wheel....so the drive to the dealer was enjoyable with good conversation!...
...We got all the paperwork done....and I drove to Spokane for the night...and then on Friday drove back home to the Bozeman area....
...Considering what happened to the 1st 4Runner...they even phoned me to make sure the truck and I got back home safely this time!...NOW that's what I call Incredible customer-service!...:bravo:
...In the almost full month since the crash...I had forgotten just how much I Love driving this truck! the 4Runner feels solid on the road...and gives me confidence that it will do whatever I ask of it...I feel Safe in it...especially after how well it protected me in the wreck....
..I got an email from the senior claims adjuster for the AAA....telling me that in all of her career, she had Never seen as much damage from a deer strike before....so maybe I should get an award?!...
...Anyway....now comes the long road of re-doing ALL the interior and exterior mods I spent the last 8 months doing to the last one..Sigh!...
...( first thing is chance it from the soccer-mom SUV look to a serious 4x4 offroad truck again!...( HATE that plastic chrome bling!..Yuck! )....:barf:
...But...gotta say...there was a fair share of apprehension driving on the way back in the dark hours..knowing Banzai-Bambi's brother is out there waitin?...:shrug::wow:
...Here's a few pics from the trip home....
...p.s.:...The good folks at the Corvallis dealership told me they will make any other folks a really good deal as well...so if ya want names, numbers, etc....shoot me a PM....