I dont remember the person who posted the link to the toyota website and suggested that folks go their with the VIN number of their prospective cruiser and pull the service records, but you saved me at least $2000 on a car last night.
I was down to 2 cars. both 2004, one with 112,000 miles the other with 127,000 miles. Both are from used car dealers. The 112k told me the car had not had timing chain done. He also told me the rear entertainment didnt work but otherwise the car was fine. Good tires new brakes. This car is at a upscale used car dealer, 300 miles away.
The 127k car...the guy didnt know anything about the car. And he sounded like a used car salesman. He was like " we get the cars in from dealers, if they dont sell in a week, we take them to the auction" He said the car had been online for a week. Well that smelled like a lie cause I have the auto trader app and it is set to alert me whenever a new cruiser is added and I called as soon as I saw it and he claimed it was going to auction the next day. It did go to auction , it didnt sell. My mechanic is catching the train to it nab it tuesday.
But here is the thing. I set up my account on Toyota.com inputed both VIN numbers and boy did that tell the story. The 127k had been serviced every 5000 miles like clock work. 36 service records. The 112k car had about 7 service records. Had not had it's chained replaced. About 5 of the records stated electrical problems.
That toyota.com service record look up is a savior.
I was down to 2 cars. both 2004, one with 112,000 miles the other with 127,000 miles. Both are from used car dealers. The 112k told me the car had not had timing chain done. He also told me the rear entertainment didnt work but otherwise the car was fine. Good tires new brakes. This car is at a upscale used car dealer, 300 miles away.
The 127k car...the guy didnt know anything about the car. And he sounded like a used car salesman. He was like " we get the cars in from dealers, if they dont sell in a week, we take them to the auction" He said the car had been online for a week. Well that smelled like a lie cause I have the auto trader app and it is set to alert me whenever a new cruiser is added and I called as soon as I saw it and he claimed it was going to auction the next day. It did go to auction , it didnt sell. My mechanic is catching the train to it nab it tuesday.
But here is the thing. I set up my account on Toyota.com inputed both VIN numbers and boy did that tell the story. The 127k had been serviced every 5000 miles like clock work. 36 service records. The 112k car had about 7 service records. Had not had it's chained replaced. About 5 of the records stated electrical problems.
That toyota.com service record look up is a savior.
