I was browsing a thread in a 4Runner group, and the thread was about a "grandma" who just purchased a '25 4Runner TRD Pro. The running joke was that someone would be able to pick it up down the road with very little miles, and not pay the $70kish price tag these things are going for now a days. I just bought a '25 4Runner Trailhunter myself, and I was kinda astounded how the price tag for a top trim 4Runner was on par with a well equipped LC250. I was deciding between the 2, but the Trailhunter fell in my lap, so I went for it. Anyway, the thread got me to thinking about Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser values over time, especially with the last gen 4Runner TRD Pro still commanding pretty damn good money in the preowned market. The thread also reminded me that I have a "grandma" car story of my own...
In 2021, I acquired a USDM '97 poverty pack from a Toyota dealership in Utah. When I first came across it, I was just looking to replace an 80 with cloth seats that I regretted selling. But when I started looking at it, I'm like, this thing has cloth seats, it's missing a sunroof, has clear glass all around with no sliders in the rear, and no third row! Totally base spec, which was pretty rare for the US. The better part was that it was in excellent condition for a rig with 178k miles. So here is the "grandma" part of this story. I was doing the due diligence on the 80, even cold contacted a fellow Mudder to check this thing out, but also noticed in one of the photos that it had a whole slew of maintenance records with it. The story is that this older woman had ordered (with zero options except the alloy wheels, premium stereo, and alarm system, she had running boards installed later) and purchased the 80 brand new in Northern CA, and eventually moved out to UT. She ended up trading it in on another Toyota vehicle after 24 years of ownership. For me, having all the maintenance records was a condition of the sale. When the 80 was delivered, I was impressed with the 80's condition, and also that the records not only reflected all the maintenance (98% done at Toyota service centers), but every aspect of her ownership of the 80. I'm talking order sheet, window sticker, brochures, parts orders, all services, smog checks, registration cards, etc. She was meticulous.
For the most part, I've been driving the 80 occasionally, but over the past two months, decided to bring her down to complete base spec. I pulled the running boards, installed OEM mudflaps, am working on getting an OEM hitch receiver, and just waiting on the OEM 80 series steelies to arrive before I put a new set of Michelin's on. She'll be as base spec as I can get her except for the alarm system and premium stereo. I just reached over 180k miles on it during my ownership, it's time for service, and have decided to continue "grandma's" tradition of having it serviced at a Toyota dealership. Yeah, I know, it's going to cost me, but I geek out on stuff like this.
Here is some neat data. Back in 1997, grandma paid $42,661 OTD including tax, title, and license. MSRP was $43862. Her cost of ownership excluding fuel (unadjusted) over 24 years and 178k miles based on tallying every receipt she kept? $30,066.54
In 2021, I acquired a USDM '97 poverty pack from a Toyota dealership in Utah. When I first came across it, I was just looking to replace an 80 with cloth seats that I regretted selling. But when I started looking at it, I'm like, this thing has cloth seats, it's missing a sunroof, has clear glass all around with no sliders in the rear, and no third row! Totally base spec, which was pretty rare for the US. The better part was that it was in excellent condition for a rig with 178k miles. So here is the "grandma" part of this story. I was doing the due diligence on the 80, even cold contacted a fellow Mudder to check this thing out, but also noticed in one of the photos that it had a whole slew of maintenance records with it. The story is that this older woman had ordered (with zero options except the alloy wheels, premium stereo, and alarm system, she had running boards installed later) and purchased the 80 brand new in Northern CA, and eventually moved out to UT. She ended up trading it in on another Toyota vehicle after 24 years of ownership. For me, having all the maintenance records was a condition of the sale. When the 80 was delivered, I was impressed with the 80's condition, and also that the records not only reflected all the maintenance (98% done at Toyota service centers), but every aspect of her ownership of the 80. I'm talking order sheet, window sticker, brochures, parts orders, all services, smog checks, registration cards, etc. She was meticulous.
For the most part, I've been driving the 80 occasionally, but over the past two months, decided to bring her down to complete base spec. I pulled the running boards, installed OEM mudflaps, am working on getting an OEM hitch receiver, and just waiting on the OEM 80 series steelies to arrive before I put a new set of Michelin's on. She'll be as base spec as I can get her except for the alarm system and premium stereo. I just reached over 180k miles on it during my ownership, it's time for service, and have decided to continue "grandma's" tradition of having it serviced at a Toyota dealership. Yeah, I know, it's going to cost me, but I geek out on stuff like this.
Here is some neat data. Back in 1997, grandma paid $42,661 OTD including tax, title, and license. MSRP was $43862. Her cost of ownership excluding fuel (unadjusted) over 24 years and 178k miles based on tallying every receipt she kept? $30,066.54
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