Hello, new to the community. Introduction and couple Q's.

Hey everyone, new to the forum! Last year I had an 06 V8-4x4 given to me by my dying mother. The memories were just too much, so I sold it pretty much a month later. Driving the car that I basically grew up riding in since my teenage years just really got to me. I regretted it from the second I did it basically. It was paid off and only had 120k miles or so, a real gem. Meticulously cared for. I clearly made a boneheaded decision.

Fast forward to October 1st 2020... and the other day a customer was looking to buy a new Subaru Outback Onyx XT (I work at Subaru). I begged the salesman to please close the deal on this trade in because I knew I had to buy it. I had to make up for my decision to sell the one last year. As cheesy as it sounds it feels like it was meant to be. Lucky for me they did indeed trade it in! Same color Galactic Gray, also a V8 4x4! Only this time 2 years older, little higher mileage (145k) but also a limited trim (much more loaded than 06 SR5).

I immediately went to my bosses and begged them to sell to me, before the deal was even done lol (never count your chickens in the sales business, but I was too excited). Of course they responded with "Let's just wait and see if this deal goes through". I bugged them for 2-3 days until they agreed to sell to me. They could have auctioned it for 7k, but knew how much it meant to me (love my bosses), so they worked a lower price for me.

We took it in for 4k and after shop fees+DMV+tax I ended up out the door around $5500. No repairs needed outside of a $300 front axle job (leaking passenger front axle, torn CV boot) I had taken care of. Timing belt, water pump done 10k miles ago. This was owned by a couple in their 60's, garage kept with a 4 page long Carfax in records. Tomorrow she is going in for 2.5 inch front-1.75 inch lift rear Bilstein 5100 shocks+springs. Also getting some Falken Wildpeak AT3W 265/70/17's and Pro Comp wheels in tomorrow afternoon. I'm stoked! Going to restore headlights myself, upgrade bulbs and do few other small mods tomorrow on top of that. Will have before and after pics!

You guys think I paid a good price considering it's mechanically fantastic with no real body damage? Anyway I'm glad to be here, and as a regular forum user (sports, cars) I'll be here a lot I suspect as I learn about the truck world. My daily is a modified 2019 Kia Stinger GT, so I hope you guys can teach me a lot about the truck/SUV side of the vehicle world.

 

Wow $5500 for that is an absolute STEAL, especially for the west coast. You’ll easily get another 100k trouble free miles, thing looks mint. Congrats!

 

Thanks! I forgot to mention... when car was on lift I went underneath. ZERO rust anywhere. That's the one good thing about a California car I guess? Apparently these 4th gens often have a ton of rust?

 

welcome, very nice

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Nice pick on the vehicle.

 

Welcome from Canada, great price, and it looks good. Nice inside deal!

 

Welcome.

 

Welcome.

 

Nice man... Sorry to hear about your mum, but remember the good times! Good luck with the new to you runner. I personally and honestly miss the V8 in these vehicles.

Cheers,

Sean

 

As the Boston song goes, Smokin'.... good deal.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

It was a great deal, even though it cost you $5500 to "upgrade" from a paid off SR5 to a Limited, with more miles on it. Like you said, live and learn.

 

Right??? This is the crappy part. One thing I forgot to mention was the rear of 06 had a clunk when braking or accelerating from a stop. Forums claimed it was just needing to lube zerks+slipjoint etc and it never fixed it. Unless mechanic did it wrong. This one doesn't have that rear end clunk.

Update: Getting makeover as we speak. Wheels+tires being mounted and balanced, shocks+springs being installed. Tomorrow morning wheels go on+alignment. Thursday gonna knock out couple dents, do headlight bulbs (low and high) and restore headlight lens.

 

Did wheels, tires, shocks+springs all the way around (2.5 inch lift front, 1.75 rear not including .5 from tires). Also did LED interior lights upgrades for front, 2nd row and trunk. Trying to figure out how to do the door ones without burning my fingers lol. Also got Kenwood head unit+aftermarket alarm+ HD backup cam installer. This week doing front brakes (10% left), OEM headlight replacements (the ones on it are original and yellow). Couldn't buff current ones due to scratching/oxidation on INSIDE of light. From car parts.com I got both brand new for $105. Tires rubbing a little on front fender liner, so gotta move that forward a bit or trim. I'm excited with how it's coming along.

So far I've spent about $2800 in upgrades. So now I'm in it around 8k. Still a good investment IMO. Especially since I want to keep it 5+ years.