I started a search for a 17-19 200 series a couple of months ago. I'd been driving an F-250, which was great when loaded up and heading to the mountains in the summer, but frankly kind of sucked everywhere else (parking in Denver, capable off road but wildly uncomfortable, atrocious trying to get up 70 in a snowstorm). I've owned a number of Toyota trucks over the years (Tundra, 4Runner), but never a cruiser. My gearhead neighbor bought an 80k mile '07 LX 470 a few years back, after driving a 60 series for years, so I had some second hand input/experience.
I got excited early on in the search as there appeared to be some decent local options, but that ended up just being the honeymoon phase. Lots of mediocre dealers are bringing in the latest 200 body style to Denver from the rust belt, you get it. Then I drove up to Fort Collins to try to grab a good looking option ('18, one local owner, 79km, Grey/Terra), only to find they had sold it right before I got there. After that, I had trouble finding anything worth looking at. Expanded the search (maybe I'll get a 100?), then just put it on autopilot.
This past Wednesday, my wife calls (God bless her), and says she's already called on a new option that came up the same day in Glenwood. 2008, Grey/Grey, clean carfax, and .... 54k miles?!? I drove up first thing Thursday morning and brought her home that afternoon. The truck is unbelievably clean cosmetically. Interior feels like a new car. Some normal (very minor) wear and tear here and there. I'm not a gearhead, but I did at least make sure all the 4x4/diff components engaged easily.
What I pieced together from the dealer that took it in as a trade in (and who also did all the maintenance), is that despite three owners on the carfax, it was really a single owner in Aspen that re-titled a couple of times. The folks at the dealership knew the previous owners and told me they would drive the truck to the grocery store once a week, and occasionally to their storage unit, but that's it.
Needless to say, I'm pretty pumped. And also a total rookie. No pride here.
For reference, my use of the truck will be a pretty classic Denver stereotype:
- to and from work and a thousand kids sporting events
- up and down 70/285 in every conceivable condition loaded up with family + gear
- Pulling raft + trailer up and down the same
- Forrest Service roads of every type with the same
- The occasional more technical FS rd with some larger cobbles and bigger ruts to get to a couple of our fav. camping spots.
- For my ego, how rare of a find? I think I know the answer, but it would make me smile to hear you say it. I'm not fragile, so bring the counter-points if that's your thing.
- I did buy it without the third row seats and I need them. If you are in CO and have some you don't want, let me know!
- Mechanic recs in Denver? Would love to have someone reputable on the south-central side of town.
- Only current plan is a mechanical review when I find the answer to #3 and then treating the underside for rust protection. Would love to hear some recs here if folks have them.
- General plan is to keep very close to stock, attempt to keep clean, but also use the truck as it was intended. If you have a similar long term use case and have any recs on things you've done that have been helpful, I'm all ears.
