New 100 Purchase, What do you guys think?

[KY Tundra]

I have been lurking and reading all of the posts over the past several weeks. I currently own a 2012 Tundra and my wife drives a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. I love my truck and hate her Hyundai. I'd like to sell her Hyundai before it loses all of its value. I can sell it for about $14-$15K. I'd like to find a 100 for about the same money. Can I get something good for this price or should I try to round up a few more bucks. And the more specific question, what is your opinion on this one?
http://www.tafelmotors.com/usedvehi...5&make[]=Toyota&page=1&show_all_filters=false
I know the folks at this lot and have driven the vehicle. Seems nice, does have rust on the bottom edge of the lift gate. Shows some maintenance records including a timing chain at 90,000 miles. Its an 04 with 166,000 miles. And it came from Illinois. After reading everything on here, my gut tells me to hold off for something with better maintenance records and no evidence of rust. What do you think? Anyone know of anything for sale?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Dog]

I think the price is too high. That seems like a $10-11k vehicle, maybe 12k considering it's an '04. The rust and lack of full maintenance records bring down the price IMO. I'm no expert, let's see some more opinions.

Here is a quick link just for comparison. Earlier model, but way lower miles and probably little if an rust (no affiliation, just a quick CL search).

http://westslope.craigslist.org/ctd/4880695373.html

For the price of a plane ticket and a PPI, you can really cast a much wider net. You could also ask for a "Mudfax" from a local mudder as well, depending on location.

And I think your budget of $14-15k would find you some very good 100s. Just have to be patient and flexible in your search.

 

[ylexot]

$15k is decent budget for 100s. What do you mean by something decent? If you're looking for newish like 07 and low miles, you will need to add a bit more to the budget, maybe even 10k more. If you're ok with earlier models, 15k can get you a pretty nice specimen. There are a few low miles garage queens out there, but patience is usually required unless you're lucky. Private sales are your better bet for getting maintenance records. As earlier stated, searching a wider area will help. The LX470 is also an option: aka 100 series Lexus. Use searches with and without spaces for both LC and LX. Good luck.

 

[KY Tundra]

Thanks for the input. Not scared of a few years or miles, as long as I'm not getting killed with small repairs every few months.

And what do you mean by "mudfax"?

I'll definitely keep looking, including the LX. It was a GX470 that actually got me headed this direction. I had a line on a great deal through a family member, but it fell through. I loved the ride and the build quality in the GX, but would like something a little bigger.

And back to the original question, if it turns out they don't sell this vehicle and are close to wholesaling it, and I could get it for closer to $11-12, is it a good deal or do you think the rust and maintenance are too much of a deterrent?

Thanks again and I'll keep checking in.

 

[Dog]

And what do you mean by "mudfax"?.

It's just a play on "Carfax." It means asking a member on this site, who is local to the vehicle you are considering, to do an in-person inspection. I am impressed at the helpfulness of folks on this site. A mudder gave me good input on a vehicle that I was looking at from afar - he had seen it in person.

 

[LEX]

The rust by itself would be a deal breaker for me. Makes me wonder where else rust is lurking. Take your time and expand your search a few hundred miles from your location.

 

[TXLX100]

I think you can get a well maintained, rust free 100 for $12k, with less than 150k miles. It likely won't be a 2003+ at those prices though. The 100s aren't inexpensive to repair, maintain, or operate (gas), especially if you don't do your own work. When I was looking recently, I kept running into the issue of maintenance not being done and walking around and looking under the car and automatically knowing it needed $3-5k in work to make the vehicle right. But finally found one that had all the big stuff done and had it not been for a botched windshield job, only had to put in $500 for cosmetic stuff.

 

[ylexot]

Ditto, rust is a no go for me. But then, I've been spoiled by living in areas where salt is not sprinkled on the road 3 months per year. depending on your geographical limitations, a little rust may be hard to avoid.

 

[kelly saad]

NO NO NO rust. Red flag. I travel to buy a good car with no rust if I have to. 1 weekend travel seems worth a $15k investment to find a dry vehicle. Rust sucks. We were all just talking about rust yesterday on a different thread. Most likely if you see rust somewhere and you know its from a road salt area then you are screwed.

 

[KY Tundra]

Yes, we have salt all winter and I've been through my fair share of rusted vehicles. Good advice. And thanks for the heads up on the "mud fax". that would be great. I'll keep looking.
I know this has been discussed in other threads too, but do you guys have an opinion on the later model Sequoias? I have the 5.7 in my Tundra and love the engine. I can get into a 2008+ 100K mile Sequoia for under $20K.
This will be my wife's DD, but we will use it for summer road trips, trips to the lake, and hopefully some light four wheeling. I'm very seriously considering selling my old Wrangler and building the wife's truck instead. Its hard to envision taking her and our daughter into the backcountry in the old Jeep with no AC, barely any heat, not to mention no room.
By the way, never posted on a forum and had this kind of response in one day. Seems like you guys are pretty active.

 

[jemsec]

If you buy rust today you will have more rust tomorrow.

 

[Dog]

By the way, never posted on a forum and had this kind of response in one day. Seems like you guys are pretty active.

^^Why yes...yes we are.

The Sequoia is a solid vehicle for your wife as a DD. Good for road trips, some occasionally mild offroading, trips to the lake, etc.

If you want to build something for more serious offroading, stick with the LC or LX. Or a Jeep.

 

[KY Tundra]

After all that, the wife informs me last night that the Sequoia is too big. I guess we may have to go drive one. And keep up the search for the LC. Also found a nice, higher mileage 4Runner with the 4.7 in town. Smaller for the wife. May switch over to the other forum and ask their opinion. Anyone have a strong opinion on the 4runner? Its a 2007 Limited with 107K miles and a pretty thorough maintenance record including timing belt and water pump. Asking $15,995.

 

[krice118]

I picked up a 98 a year ago that had 69,000 for 13,900

 

[LEX]

All I know about the 4runner is that the v8 picked up an extra 20-30 ponies on 2005+ v8 models and they're not as cool as the 100 series..

 

[KY Tundra]

they just dropped the 2004 LC another $2000.

 

[Junglejack]

Pretty darn good price. Good sign that it is being sold at a MB dealer. That said, truck spent almost the entirety in Illinois so rust concerns are well founded. In addition, it was involved in an accident involving it being rear ended.
Have you asked them to take pictures of the frame rails, et al?

 

[KY Tundra]

The dealership is 5 minutes from my house, so I have seen the truck. Crawled around some under it, but was scared of the price. Seems more appealing now. I also know a couple of guys at the dealership and could probably get the previous owners info pretty easily. I think they traded the LC and something else in on a new MB. But, like everyone said, the rust isn't going to get any better. Just not sure how eager they are to give this thing away.

 

[toyotalexus420]

After all that, the wife informs me last night that the Sequoia is too big. I guess we may have to go drive one. And keep up the search for the LC. Also found a nice, higher mileage 4Runner with the 4.7 in town. Smaller for the wife. May switch over to the other forum and ask their opinion. Anyone have a strong opinion on the 4runner? Its a 2007 Limited with 107K miles and a pretty thorough maintenance record including timing belt and water pump. Asking $15,995.

sequoia is a tundra hatchback and 4runner is a teenage LC. Unless you yourself or someone around you knows how to deal with the rust. I personally would wait. these are tanks, but even a rusty tank has an expiration date rolling way faster than one that isnt.
if your wife likes driving your truck shell be happy with the sequoia. if you want smaller go with the 4Runner. But for me there is nothing that is assuring like an LC. Maybe a hummer or of course the LX!