Thanks. Little stressed but not worried. something will work out. always does
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Sporin
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After shopping CRV, RAV4, and Forester, we liked the CRV best but the price was outrageous IMO for the little 'ute.
I'd been watching online used inventories for a good 4runner and on my way back from the NEA meeting today I took a litle sidetrip to check this one out in person. A 2006 SR5 V8, 45k miles.
Did some research ahead of time and knew what to look for (prop shaft clunk, seat rattle) and this truck had neither. I was leery of headroom but, while it's no where near as huge as the Accord it's adequate. Plenty of hip, shoulder and elbow room for my big body, tons of legroom for the boy behind me.
I really hadn't planned to buy anything today, but the drive sealed it, shopping at the end of the month didn't hurt the deal either I suspect. The 4.7 V8 is silky smooth and powerful. The 5-spd auto shifts smoothly. The whole truck was tight and rattle free. Interior and exterior look near-new. Near new set of tires (Cooper Discoverer ATR) and brake pads.
I couldn't pass it up. Got a solid deal, decent trade in on my Accord, and added a 3/36 b2b ($50 deductible) for piece of mind and brought it home.
Son was ecstatic. Wife seemed happy that the costs were reasonable.
It's so much more vehicle then the Accord for a very minor monthly cost uptick.
Biggest change will be the gas mileage... the computer says I averaged 19.7 on the way home and I'm hopeful I can keep my average in that area. The V8 turns about 1200 rpm in around town driving.
That's not too far off the 24-26 average my friends get in their CRV. I average 27-29 in the Accord.
Sorry for the low-light iPhone photos:
From the dealer's site:
Some nice features, good stereo with Aux plug & steering wheel controls, moonroof, the slide-down rear window which I LOVE for the dogs (both my 85 4Runners had this as well).
Readout for Average speed, MPG, and miles to fill up. Outside temp gauge. Auto climate control.
Full time 4WD, with low range and center diff lock as well has hill decent control. Full tow package.
Good sales experience at Toyota of Keene. The only upsell offered was the warranty and it was something I was interested in anyway. The V8 truck was priced below the V6's by thousands... maybe a harder sell? Who knows... win-win for me. The MPG difference is minor.
So now we are a 2 Toyota Truck family. The Land Cruiser will take offroad duty, the 4Runner will do everything else.
I'd been watching online used inventories for a good 4runner and on my way back from the NEA meeting today I took a litle sidetrip to check this one out in person. A 2006 SR5 V8, 45k miles.
Did some research ahead of time and knew what to look for (prop shaft clunk, seat rattle) and this truck had neither. I was leery of headroom but, while it's no where near as huge as the Accord it's adequate. Plenty of hip, shoulder and elbow room for my big body, tons of legroom for the boy behind me.
I really hadn't planned to buy anything today, but the drive sealed it, shopping at the end of the month didn't hurt the deal either I suspect. The 4.7 V8 is silky smooth and powerful. The 5-spd auto shifts smoothly. The whole truck was tight and rattle free. Interior and exterior look near-new. Near new set of tires (Cooper Discoverer ATR) and brake pads.
I couldn't pass it up. Got a solid deal, decent trade in on my Accord, and added a 3/36 b2b ($50 deductible) for piece of mind and brought it home.
Son was ecstatic. Wife seemed happy that the costs were reasonable.
It's so much more vehicle then the Accord for a very minor monthly cost uptick.Biggest change will be the gas mileage... the computer says I averaged 19.7 on the way home and I'm hopeful I can keep my average in that area. The V8 turns about 1200 rpm in around town driving.
That's not too far off the 24-26 average my friends get in their CRV. I average 27-29 in the Accord.Sorry for the low-light iPhone photos:
From the dealer's site:
Some nice features, good stereo with Aux plug & steering wheel controls, moonroof, the slide-down rear window which I LOVE for the dogs (both my 85 4Runners had this as well).
Readout for Average speed, MPG, and miles to fill up. Outside temp gauge. Auto climate control.
Full time 4WD, with low range and center diff lock as well has hill decent control. Full tow package.
Good sales experience at Toyota of Keene. The only upsell offered was the warranty and it was something I was interested in anyway. The V8 truck was priced below the V6's by thousands... maybe a harder sell? Who knows... win-win for me. The MPG difference is minor.
So now we are a 2 Toyota Truck family. The Land Cruiser will take offroad duty, the 4Runner will do everything else.
Congrats Dave...nice rig!!
Good looking rig Dave. It will have plenty of power to tow a pop up or whatever you want. I think you make a great choice.
My .002
From talking to the body guy that screwed me over on the FJ25 resto. (prior to the screwage), there is NO money in restoration unless you charge by the hour and get paid weekly for that work. You can't estimate it. Its a time and materials job only. He did 40 hours of work, then wanted a check to do another 40 hours. So on and so on.
Side note on how he screwed me since everyone will ask.
I paid him every time he asked. Then once it came down to getting it ready for prep and paint, the truck sat for almost a year even with me kicking and screaming every week. His excuse, he got sidetracked with collision work. The truck was SO close to being done. Then my customer threatened me with a lawsuit so I picked up the FJ25 from the body shop and dropped everything off at the owners shop for him to finish. The owner was happy to have the truck back and 80% complete, the body shop got paid for their work, and I was left screwed. I wont do resto work again.
Business note: Dont make promises that you can't deliver.
Stick to the collision work. Its guaranteed money from the insurance companies. I doubt there will be much down time. If there is, then have them work on vehicles that YOU own and want to restore to flip.
How close is this shop to North Kingstown again?
From talking to the body guy that screwed me over on the FJ25 resto. (prior to the screwage), there is NO money in restoration unless you charge by the hour and get paid weekly for that work. You can't estimate it. Its a time and materials job only. He did 40 hours of work, then wanted a check to do another 40 hours. So on and so on.
Side note on how he screwed me since everyone will ask.
I paid him every time he asked. Then once it came down to getting it ready for prep and paint, the truck sat for almost a year even with me kicking and screaming every week. His excuse, he got sidetracked with collision work. The truck was SO close to being done. Then my customer threatened me with a lawsuit so I picked up the FJ25 from the body shop and dropped everything off at the owners shop for him to finish. The owner was happy to have the truck back and 80% complete, the body shop got paid for their work, and I was left screwed. I wont do resto work again.
Business note: Dont make promises that you can't deliver.
Stick to the collision work. Its guaranteed money from the insurance companies. I doubt there will be much down time. If there is, then have them work on vehicles that YOU own and want to restore to flip.
How close is this shop to North Kingstown again?
Hello from a stranger ...have been away for awhile and am trying to get back into what i like to do ....4wheeling .
MAACO is definitely not a resto shop. I wouldn't want that anyway. Insurance will be the bread and butter and cosmetic restos as the 5% fun/ gravy. For cruisers, I'd be doing repaints, touch ups at the end of the season, quarter panel work etc. No frame offs or elborate stuff. Agree on a budget, run the credit card, then get a timeline to get it out. Having cars sitting in a bodyshop long term would be lethal. Would likely have 2 maximum projects at one given time.
I figure that cruiser owners would trust their trucks to a fellow cruiser person and that I could get business from good distances, throughout New England. If there were a MAACO in VT that specialized in cruisers, I;d take it there long before I took it down the street. I'm sure this will translate to Jeep and Rover owners as well. An economical place for 4x4 owners to get their trucks fixed with zero financing should do well.
Believe me, my flipping alarm is through the roof but more with muscle cars selling rolling shells. The Aussie thing will still work a little too.
Working things out with my biz partner and lining up financing. Looks good but who knows, could fall apart at any time.
I figure that cruiser owners would trust their trucks to a fellow cruiser person and that I could get business from good distances, throughout New England. If there were a MAACO in VT that specialized in cruisers, I;d take it there long before I took it down the street. I'm sure this will translate to Jeep and Rover owners as well. An economical place for 4x4 owners to get their trucks fixed with zero financing should do well.
Believe me, my flipping alarm is through the roof but more with muscle cars selling rolling shells. The Aussie thing will still work a little too.
Working things out with my biz partner and lining up financing. Looks good but who knows, could fall apart at any time.
Sporin
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Sara drove the 4Runner for the first time today. I think this is the first time since we've been married (14 years last week) that I've bought a daily driver without her in the process.
She liked it. She needs to adjust her right foot to the instant torque of the V8 but was quite happy with it.
She misses the manual transmission but she'll adjust.
Gave it a good handwash last night, a few scratches and rubs here and there but the silver paint hides them well. I need to get a good wax on it before salt hits the road.
Discovered 1 lug nut incredibly loose and a few others not tightened to spec and took care of that.
should have thought to do that check at the dealership. It has wheel locks so I'll need to see if that key is in the bag with the tools. I'll plan to replace those with regular studs, it's not necessary up here.
Pulled in to drop of some mail yesterday and realized how huge the sideview mirrors are. Need to remember to be careful with those.
Overall, VERY pleased with the purchase. It feels like a new car, very well put together.
She liked it. She needs to adjust her right foot to the instant torque of the V8 but was quite happy with it.
She misses the manual transmission but she'll adjust.Gave it a good handwash last night, a few scratches and rubs here and there but the silver paint hides them well. I need to get a good wax on it before salt hits the road.
Discovered 1 lug nut incredibly loose and a few others not tightened to spec and took care of that.
Pulled in to drop of some mail yesterday and realized how huge the sideview mirrors are. Need to remember to be careful with those.
Overall, VERY pleased with the purchase. It feels like a new car, very well put together.
Sara drove the 4Runner for the first time today. I think this is the first time since we've been married (14 years last week) that I've bought a daily driver without her in the process.
She liked it. She needs to adjust her right foot to the instant torque of the V8 but was quite happy with it.
Gave it a good handwash last night, a few scratches and rubs here and there but the silver paint hides them well. I need to get a good wax on it before salt hits the road.
Discovered 1 lug nut incredibly loose and a few others not tightened to spec and took care of that.should have thought to do that check at the dealership. It has wheel locks so I'll need to see if that key is in the bag with the tools. I'll plan to replace those with regular studs, it's not necessary up here.
Pulled in to drop of some mail yesterday and realized how huge the sideview mirrors are. Need to remember to be careful with those.
Overall, VERY pleased with the purchase. It feels like a new car, very well put together.
Always good to hear when something works out!
So how would you compare it to your other toy?
Sporin
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I'm not sure it's fair to "compare" the 2, they both feel really solid.
The 4runner is stock, near new, and unmodified, it handles extremely well, not tippy at all. It's really fast.
The Cruiser is a whole 'nother beast due to lift and tires and all that effects.
I like them both a lot, but for different reasons.
The 4runner is stock, near new, and unmodified, it handles extremely well, not tippy at all. It's really fast.
The Cruiser is a whole 'nother beast due to lift and tires and all that effects.
I like them both a lot, but for different reasons.
my wife has an 03 4Runner limited with the v8. Toyota did a great job at interlacing all the mundane ho hum characteristics of a Camry into this truck. It's not bad at all but not skirt lifting one bit.
Take it to MAACO to fix those scratches! : )
Sporin
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Very apt description actually, it certainly doesn't exude "badass truck" like the Land Cruiser does. It doesn't have the same feel, or put the same grin on my face as the Cruiser either. It's practically invisible whereas the Cruiser gets obvious stairs and elicits a lot of conversation in parking lots and such.
But it's smooth as silk, quiet, capable, comfortable... a great people and cargo hauler, that rides like a good, big, car.
It's exactly what I wanted.
Very good descriptions.
OK, so are you going to 'try' any light wheeling at all...just to see? Nothing insane, just enough to see if she has any extra to give.
You think if you modified it up to be more "apples to apples" with the 80, you'd have a different opinion?
I know my neighbor removed the last two mufflers on his new 4runner, or muffler and resonator, and installed one with a little more balls to it...at least now you hear the V8...and to tell the truth, it sounds pretty good!
OK, so are you going to 'try' any light wheeling at all...just to see? Nothing insane, just enough to see if she has any extra to give.
You think if you modified it up to be more "apples to apples" with the 80, you'd have a different opinion?
I know my neighbor removed the last two mufflers on his new 4runner, or muffler and resonator, and installed one with a little more balls to it...at least now you hear the V8...and to tell the truth, it sounds pretty good!
Ken Pittman ::: New Bedford ::: Rep. Mike Rodrigues (D) Westport caught loading NH booze into his vehicle
As a lover of absurd things, I think this is great. As a wine importer and retail store owner on the MA-NH border, I want to beat the living s*** out of this guy's face. This MA rep voted for the sales tax on booze in MA which is already taxed through importers (me) so double taxation.
This is the same guy who inked a bill in MA to allow trained pigeons to unionize for movie appearances and studios and trainers would have to register each bird.
As a lover of absurd things, I think this is great. As a wine importer and retail store owner on the MA-NH border, I want to beat the living s*** out of this guy's face. This MA rep voted for the sales tax on booze in MA which is already taxed through importers (me) so double taxation.
This is the same guy who inked a bill in MA to allow trained pigeons to unionize for movie appearances and studios and trainers would have to register each bird.
Looks like the MAACO thing has to wait a year. We have consultants for the wine company on retainer through next May so being bought out now will be significantly less $$$ than a year from now. Not thrilled with the situation but getting out now would be dumb. Not going to be a fun year of work.