Worth trading in my 2004?

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WiscoProud

WiscoProud

10 Year
Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Threads
42
Messages
269
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Website
wiscoproud.kinja.com
When I initially bought my Cruiser in Sept my hope was to find a 2005+ to get the stronger engine and just be newer. Unfortunately at that time I was not able to find one. Out of boredom today I searched Autotrader for Land Cruisers near me and found a 2006 with 35k miles. Apparently its not yet ready for sale and no price has been announced. My question is whether or not it would be worth it to trade or sell my 2004 for this one.

My 2004 is gray with gray interior, has 122k miles, and shows the normal wear. While I have plans to modify it, I have only been able to put tires on so far (new baby, bought a house, etc.) I do need to do some work, as at least one speaker is blown and the front skid has a Midwestern level of rust on it, but the vehicle is in very good shape overall.

The 2006 is immaculate. Black with gray interior. It has AHC, but with that low of miles I'm not too worried about it. It also has the DVD player. While I don't care about that now, I do have a 6 month old and foresee that being a bonus in the future.

All of this in contingent on price though. KBB said the vehicle in very good condition would be $38k, which isn't realistic considering I can buy an early 200 series for that price.

What say you guys? Is it worth it to upgrade, or should I just pour the extra money into my current vehicle?
 
People are asking HUGE money for low mile 06-07s, so personally I doubt they're going to list it for less than ~$35k. You're definitely not going to be gaining a ton (some power, maybe a tiny bit of mpg, updated head/tail lights) other than getting one earlier in the life cycle considering how much $$$ you'll have to put into the deal to trade up. My opinion = it will not be worth it for the money.
 
I personally don't think the VVTI is that big of a step up. If you can swing it and want to get rid of the rust, go for it.

Dvd wouldn't factor for me. I added a headrest mount for an iPad for my 3 year old and she barfed from motion sickness in about 10 minutes.
 
$35,000? Nope, not worth swapping. But, it won't be $35,000. My guess is they'll be asking $29,999 and take anything over $27,000. Again, just a guess.

Have you tried buying it before it is actually for sale? That's how I got my '06. I bought it the day after a guy traded it in to a large Toyota dealer. It had yet to be cleaned up, de-stickered... I bought it for $32,500. That was in 2010, it had 39,000 miles on it. The next closest deal I saw was a 2006 with 55,000 miles for $39,000. Sometimes, the dealers will jump on a chance to unload a car quickly. They also know that - while we may love these -they tend to sit around the lots for a looooong time.
 
Manhattan said:
$35,000? Nope, not worth swapping. But, it won't be $35,000. My guess is they'll be asking $29,999 and take anything over $27,000. Again, just a guess.
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There's nothing listed in the country right now with less than 55k miles on it, but here is an 07 LX with 65k for $41k and an 06 with 55k for $35.5k. I'm not saying what it will sell for, but I doubt any dealer will list it for less than ~$35k if it's a clean 06 with only 35k miles. I could be wrong - it's happened twice before.
 
Manhattan said:
$35,000? Nope, not worth swapping. But, it won't be $35,000. My guess is they'll be asking $29,999 and take anything over $27,000. Again, just a guess.

Have you tried buying it before it is actually for sale? That's how I got my '06. I bought it the day after a guy traded it in to a large Toyota dealer. It had yet to be cleaned up, de-stickered... I bought it for $32,500. That was in 2010, it had 39,000 miles on it. The next closest deal I saw was a 2006 with 55,000 miles for $39,000. Sometimes, the dealers will jump on a chance to unload a car quickly. They also know that - while we may love these -they tend to sit around the lots for a looooong time.
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I bought my last 4 cars that way, before the dealer adds a $500 detail to it. Sometimes you can catch them before it's priced at market, and dealers usually won't turn down $1500 over trade esp on a car they will have to wholesale or auction.
 
I contacted the dealership asking what they wanted for it, but they said they hadn't determined that yet. If the price is over 30k I won't do it. Anything below 30k might be fair game though. I have a case of the limp seat belts and its frankly driving me crazy.
 
If the AHC sensors are anything like the ones on the GX's, WI winters aren't too friendly with them. Keep the 2004 and get you some new seatbelts for a lot less $$$. Just curious, how much do you expect to get for your 2004?
 
I have no idea. I would hope to get $19 out of it, but that might be high for the mileage. I've already started looking at seat belt solutions. I guess Unless the price is amazing, I will work with what I have.

Not to mention my wife would probably kill me for even asking.
 
Do it. Really though depends on your financial situation. Having a young child maybe not the best idea to increase debt by $20k or whatever the case may be. You already have a reliable vehicle. But I can understand the thought process, that's a brand new one with those low miles and you never see them. Personally I'd do it ONLY IF it was within budget. Sounds like common sense but it's easy to over extend ourselves, done it too many times myself.
 
Keep in mind dealers are like infants - that which is not in front of them does not exist. Talking to them on the phone, emailing... you really don't exist. But if you're there - standing in the office, asking what they'd take for the car that's there - on the lot... well, now they smile and like you're jiggling your keys. If the dealer's not too far away, I'd head over.
 
The '06 sounds really nice. I'd at least go see it in person if you haven't already. If you fall it love with it, do it. Sounds like you really want to. If I could swing it, I'd love to get into a cruiser with 87k less miles.
 
Manhattan said:
Keep in mind dealers are like infants - that which is not in front of them does not exist. Talking to them on the phone, emailing... you really don't exist. But if you're there - standing in the office, asking what they'd take for the car that's there - on the lot... well, now they smile and like you're jiggling your keys. If the dealer's not too far away, I'd head over.
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Typically I would agree with you, but I had a bad experience last weekend doing that. I had email a dealer in Oklahoma City all week last week on a vehicle on their lot, and they said they would work a deal if I came in person to negotiate. So I flew from Denver to OKC on Saturday, rented a car, showed up, and they said "sorry the girl you were working with is new, and we're can't negotiate a penny off the internet price". I'm sure they expected me to stay and do the deal, but I turned around, walked out and flew home 2 hours later. I think it mostly depends on how high they perceive the demand being for a particular car, and right now I honestly don't know what dealers think of the 100. Some think it's gold and loves to sell them, and some (who probably know little about them) don't think they're any different than a Corolla.
 
When I bought my 2004 the finance manager was confused on why I would even want it. Granted I was trading in a 2010 Xterra Off-Road, and he couldn't fathom why I would trade it for an older vehicle with higher miles. I didn't bother trying to explain it to him. The Land Cruiser, even with the higher miles, was nicer in pretty much every regard. My wife thinks its the best vehicle I've ever bought, which is saying something.
 
Has your wife ever told you "Happiness is wanting what you have"? My wife has, but I'll tell you it doesn't apply to LC's and old German Sports cars. Thinking of upgrading makes perfect sense. For a little more dough, you can have essentially a new LC. Don't bother asking your wife unless she's a "car girl", she'll never get it. Since you already have a new baby and a new house, the answer will be a resounding "NO!". Trust me, we've all been there, done that. So, the real question is how long do you want to be in the dog house to be truly happy?

Get the '06 LC, life's too short. You're wife can't stay mad at you forever right?
 
They just posted the price....$40k. Yeah, as much as I would like it, I can make the 2004 my ideal vehicle for that kind of money. If anyone is interested, its at Heiser Toyota in Milwaukee, WI. Take a look, it really is a beautiful truck.
 
I don't get it. I love my 04. AHC seems to get ripped out sooner or later by mudders. DVD players have been obsolete for a while. I would much rather NOT have my DVD player. Just doesn't seem like enough of an upgrade to be worth it to me. You will also have a hard time using a brand newish land cruiser off-road. You'll cry the first scratch ya get. And let me tell YOU. Scratches show up on black paint. You have a land cruiser. You even have the rare grey on grey colors. Fix your seatbelts. Love the crap out of it. Be happy. IMO.

But if you have $$$ burning a hole in your pocket, there are worse ways to spend it.





...via IH8MUD app
 
WiscoProud said:
They just posted the price....$40k.
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Wow. I stand (okay sit - 'cause that knocked me on my ass) corrected. $40k. Damn.
Based on that...

FOR SALE: 2006 Land Cruiser, 91,000 miles, 90k service performed by ACC this morning (really), asking $5,000 more than I paid for it 4 years and 50,000 miles ago. ;)
 
I want some of what they are smoking when they are pricing cars.

The seat belts in your rig, a lot of the time they seem to work better when they are clean. Try it on one and see if it helps (even if it doesn't look dirty). And clean the shoulder loop it hangs on well.
 
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