Getting cold feet on a 4Runner deal

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rstl99

rstl99

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Threads
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406
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Canada
Gen 5 4Runner SR5 with upgraded package (leather seats, power moonroof etc.)
3 row seating though I'll never use the 2 back seats under the floor
V6 seems a tad underpowered to me but probably reasonable and better MPG than V8 (V8 not available in Gen 5 anyway)
Drives well, good overall shape, no mechanical issues, 2 good sets of tires (summer, winter), new brakes, about 90,000 miles.

I could very well live with the V6, but test drove a GX470 2 weeks ago and the V8 made a very noticeable difference. I prefer the straightforward rear suspension on the 4R to the air suspension on the GX though.

BUT: the 4R was rear-ended a year and a half ago ($6500 damage, they replaced the hatch, bumper, rear cross member etc., I have the detailed worksheet). Good body job at dealer bodyshop, though I can see a slight color difference between the hatch and the side panel.

How much of a detractor to a future buyer would be the accident history if I were to resell the truck in a couple of years?
 
Probably as much of a detractor as it is to you right now. You'll certainly limit the field of prospects with a history like that. I'd pass on it.
 
Thanks, that's what I thought. The accident and repair cost show right on the vehicle history report so it will follow the vehicle forever, and who knows, the repair may lead to issues with the vehicle in the future. That's one of the unfortunate consequences of being hit by another vehicle - you pay a price in resale value even though it was no fault of your own. Then again, who said life is fair...
There's another aspect of the deal that's been worrying me, so indeed best to pass on it. There will be others.
 
rstl99 said:
Thanks, that's what I thought. The accident and repair cost show right on the vehicle history report so it will follow the vehicle forever, and who knows, the repair may lead to issues with the vehicle in the future. That's one of the unfortunate consequences of being hit by another vehicle - you pay a price in resale value even though it was no fault of your own. Then again, who said life is fair...
There's another aspect of the deal that's been worrying me, so indeed best to pass on it. There will be others.
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Maybe it's a sign telling you to go get a GX...... :)
 
Don't worry about replacing the air suspension on a GX. It is well documented on MUD and cost $250 for the kit tops, and whatever springs you want.
 
And the v6 maybe gets 1-2 mpg better than the v8. The v8s have proven themselves to be a great motor and very reliable, IMO hands down better than the v6.
 
This 4R is a nicely appointed truck, in good condition, but when I realized the extent of the rear-end damage I figured it would be unwise to pay close to retail value for it. And test driving it on the highway made me yearn for a little more oomph, which the GX I drove had plenty of with the V8. The 4R is 5 years newer and has lower miles than the 06 GX I drove, which makes it a tough call.
 
I'd still go with a GX. The GX will have nicer appointments and amenities even being older. And like others said, its super simple to swap out the rear air suspension.
 
The other factor is I'm up in the rust belt (NE) and 5 more years of unprotected winter-salt driving can really do damage on a GX/4R chassis. Newer is better (more salvageable) in that regards. Here's the 2 I'm looking at:

2011 4R 90k miles about $17K very good tires new brakes leather 2 local owners dealer history $6K rear accident (hatch, bumper etc.)
2006 GX 105k miles about $12.2k uncertain condition (not in yet), possibly several owners, carfax shows "left rear impact" in 09
 
The Great Him said:
I'd still go with a GX. The GX will have nicer appointments and amenities even being older. And like others said, its super simple to swap out the rear air suspension.
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I am in the pass club as well on this one. There are plenty of clean, well maintaned accident free, 4Runners and GX's still out here. To avoid rust you might want to look out west.

As far as the GX / 4Runner differences you may want to consider that the 4.7 V8 in the GX is the same as in the big Land Cruiser and GX is considerably lighter and more nimble than the 100 series LC. The Toyota/Lexus 4.7 is considered VERY reliable and long lasting. Where the newer Toyota V6 has similar power numbers it seems to build it's power higher @ RPMs and doesn't feel as powerful and no where as smooth to me. So where as the GX is not a "fast" SUV the low end torque it delivers off idle is much more pleasant to drive than the Toyota V6. Secondly, the GX is a taller vehicle and I beleive you sit differently so you may want to drive both and see which you like better. Also, the interior of the GX is of much higher quality look and feel than the 4Runner IMO. For these reasons I went with the GX over the LX or the newer 4Runner.

If Toyota offered a V8 in the newer 4runners I may have looked more closely at them. A 4Runner or a new GX with a 5.7 would be a hoot to drive! Toyota are you listening?
 
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Thanks for your thoughts.
Indeed, I need to exercise some patience and wait for the "right one" to come along.

I actually got to test drive a GX and 4R from the same used car dealer a couple of weeks ago. GX was an 06 with more miles than the 07 4R, which had a V6 so it's not an accurate comparison. I drove the GX first, and then the 4R to compare. I quickly realized that (1) the GX is much nicer to sit in and (2) the V8 is more inspiring to drive, and quieter in the GX than the V6 in the 4R. The GX's ride felt a little "wallowing", riding on the air bags, the 4R felt more like a SUV/truck. The GX was maybe $1K more than the 4R. GX had less rust on the chassis than the 4R. THe 4R is still on the lot, and the GX sold. I was a bit hung up on the mileage on the GX (about 135k miles) and it was still snowing so I wasn't fully engaged in car buying mode. Hopefully the similar-year GX coming in this week will be as nice or nicer (has less miles about 110K).
Regards.
 
From Nebraska, you don't have to go that far south to find vehicles where you don't have to worry about rust. Oklahoma and Texas are less than a day away. Worth the extra time if you plan to hang on to the vehicle for a while. Rust sucks.
 
135k is just barely broken in on that motor....
 
I think you have decided on this one. I would look around and where the right one comes along, you'll know it.
 
rstl99 said:
Thanks for your thoughts.
Indeed, I need to exercise some patience and wait for the "right one" to come along.

I actually got to test drive a GX and 4R from the same used car dealer a couple of weeks ago. GX was an 06 with more miles than the 07 4R, which had a V6 so it's not an accurate comparison. I drove the GX first, and then the 4R to compare. I quickly realized that (1) the GX is much nicer to sit in and (2) the V8 is more inspiring to drive, and quieter in the GX than the V6 in the 4R. The GX's ride felt a little "wallowing", riding on the air bags, the 4R felt more like a SUV/truck. The GX was maybe $1K more than the 4R. GX had less rust on the chassis than the 4R. THe 4R is still on the lot, and the GX sold. I was a bit hung up on the mileage on the GX (about 135k miles) and it was still snowing so I wasn't fully engaged in car buying mode. Hopefully the similar-year GX coming in this week will be as nice or nicer (has less miles about 110K).
Regards.
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When driving the GX did you change the suspension settings? The "Comfort" mode was quite squishy to me but absorbs pot holes etc. well. "Sport setting" tightens up the "wallowing" a bit.

What I want to point out is that putting on new shocks and springs take the away "wallowy" Lexus handling. Many of the Mudders here have changed their GX suspension. I put on a set of Rancho adjustable 9000 leveling struts up front and 9000's in the rear. The struts bring up the front 2" hence the "leveling" and eliminated most of the nose dive under braking that bugged me with the OEM. I chose the Rancho 9000s so I could dial in the ride and change it if it were too mushy or too firm. I have crawled under a couple times and have it where it suits me. FYI set at 1/2 way through the 9 settings on the Ranchos the suspension was significantly more taunt than at the OEM "sport" mode. Rancho 9000s can be set teeth rattling firm or as soft as comfort mode.

Anyway, if you can, take your time and find the lowest mileage, best maintained, rust free rig you can find. 4Runner, GX or LC/LX, you can go wrong for durability and capability.
 
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Sleepy said:
From Nebraska, you don't have to go that far south to find vehicles where you don't have to worry about rust. Oklahoma and Texas are less than a day away. Worth the extra time if you plan to hang on to the vehicle for a while. Rust sucks.
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You already know how each one drives...figure out which one you want and troll the interwebz..... I've been looking for a GX for my wife going on 3-4 months now. I'm flying to Mississippi from Cincinnati on Sunday to check one out that may, or may not be the one. The value of having a rust free vehicle is well worth the added expense of a few hundred dollar plane ticket and a road trip. I've also found that the price of these varies greatly from one region to the next also. Why buy a used 06' for 12,5 that's rusted up when you can find an 04-06 with no rust and possibly a few thousand cheaper....IMO, pass on the 4runner all together.
 
Sleepy said:
From Nebraska, you don't have to go that far south to find vehicles where you don't have to worry about rust. Oklahoma and Texas are less than a day away. Worth the extra time if you plan to hang on to the vehicle for a while. Rust sucks.
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Just be really careful with Texas, there will be a lot of flood cars coming out of there in the next coupe of months. Those should be totaled cars, but con men can get around that stuff
 
right now with all of the flooding in the Houston area and about a month ago, all the flood is south east Texas.
I would think there are a lot of GX in the Houston area. They had places getting 4" of rain per hour.
Even if the water doesn't get to the computer, it can still cause problems with electrical connections.
 
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