Love it or list it

Hi. I'm new. I've a 2018 4runner I'm trying to decide keep, still, trade in..

144k miles I need tires and before I replace those I looked around to see choices. Cash offers from the online dealers suck (14k-15k), the interest rates even with excellent credit are like 5.25, and I'm just undecided. I've just made my last payment (at 2.75%) recently and the only things I really wish it had that it doesn't is a power lift gate and heated steering wheel...bc I HATE THE COLD.

This is my daily driver and having had my heart broken time and time again with Ford, except for my hotrod, I just CAN'T get another Explorer or Bronco, ever.

Nothing out there is catching my eye and I don't need a new car etc., but I thought while it still had some value I'd see what was up. Mostly I drive my cars until there is no life left in them, this being my 1st toyo, it's got lots of life left.

I'm considering a newer year with lesser miles in the same or better trim level. I still like to have the 3rd row for family in town etc.

In told my guy i was just gonna buy tires and keep on keeping on but he is worried time will go by and I'll be unhappy when things start to fail. He's got a 16 taco so there's that but he drives near zero working from home. I drive near constantly...

And I'm not a fan of the red color..i was gonna get a wrap but the fender bender screwed that up

Pics of the damage to the car the rest is normal..

So, patch her up and drive her or use the value while I have it?

 

Imo keep it.

get a replacwment bumper cover and stick with the wrap plan

 

Mod the heck out of it! You got the perfect excuse now to get a nice bumper - and bigger tires and a regear job. You just about about to break her in well.

 

Cheapest car is what you got. You could try finding a heated wheel to swap in but otherwise no 4Runner short of buying new, upper trim will have a powered hatch.

Do maintenance if you haven’t done more than oil changes, enjoy having no car payment.

Edit: and by new I mean, practically hasn't even hit the dealer lot yet

 

yes!! Full steel bumper for added protection.

 

144K miles? Drive it another 100K before you make any decisions and THEN get back to us.

 

Anything you damage can be upgraded

There are power tailgate kits on KTJO4X4 and heated steering wheel kits on CarTrimHome

 

agreed! My 2011 has 170k on it and I never stop loving it.

 

it's up to you to decide, I kept my 2010 SR5 for 11 years and probably would be still driving it now but I was t-boned at an intersection and my truck was totaled as a result. Bu the way insurance paid me about half of it's original cost. I don't like power liftgate though and used to drive in gloves in winter, but heated steering wheel is really nice, that the only useful upgrade for 2023 comparing to 2010 in my opinion : )

 

Just need tires? You just paid it off… take the money you were paying as a payment and fix the bumper, maybe get a heated steering wheel if you can.

seriously it beats the hell out of a payment. You don’t want that. It’ll be the same truck. With 144k you still got 2/3 at least of life out of that truck… keep it until it’s done.

when repairs are made and it’s to your liking, take those payments you had, make a separate account, and there is your money for future 4Runner, a 24, because you know people will be trading them in. You got a few years and you’ll be in prime shape.
But it’s your money, your call

 

What I would do...

Now that you have paid it off you owe it to yourself to reap the benefits of the investment you made in a piece of hardware with longevity.

Freshen up the dings. You will feel better about it again. Slap some new shoes on that thing and enjoy not having a car payment for a while. You are just starting to have its value working for you.

 

Thank you all so much for the refreshing opinions. I'm SO GONNA UPGRADE THE BUMPER, HIT GO ON MY TIRE ORDER AND ORDER THE WRAP! I'LL POST UPDATE. THANK YOU ALL!

AND WITH THAT... I'm debt free!! Yay

 

Power liftgate is a fools paradise. Wife has one on her 2018 Highlander…noisy, slow AF. Downright annoying. So pleased my 5th gen doesn’t have one. Huge positive. Bro in law’s new LC250 has the same shitty sounding powered lift gate…not saying it will break, just slow and annoyingly loud…IMO. What you have (don’t have) is best.

 

Pay yourself first, max out your 401k, then buy a Roth and fix that 4R up and save for retirement. Put a few bucks aside each month segregated that is to be used when you NEED another new ride.

Besides in opinion you have the best money can buy now.

Save now you’ll thank yourself later

 

It's better to own and fix.

 

I wouldn't upgrade to get the heated steering wheel. It only heats the sides. Annoys the crap out of me every time I turn or move my hands. Guess Toyota couldn't afford the extra pocket change to run the heating element the rest of the way around the wheel.

 

You've chosen wisely. Post pictures when the bumper and wrap update is complete.

 

Keep making those payments to some sort of account you earn interest on, that’s your mod money and repair when needed. And when the time comes, you’ll have a chunk of change to go towards a new ride. You said you drive a lot, well put the miles on your paid off ride.

 

This is the color I originally wanted and somehow ended up with a white one, which I absolutely love!

 

welcome. I love my BRed. I also toyed around with getting a solar octane. but trading the same truck for a different color, i'll just dip it or wrap it for less money. interested also to see what you end up doing after the new color and tires.

 

Keep it, fix it, drive it.

 

Thanks! I have head, back and shoulder issues so I would love a push button... but yes, I'm sticking with what I have... it's my 1st personal DD TOYO after years of Ford bells and whistles but less on the longevity side of things.

I was gonna pull cash out but it makes more than the 5.25 so you're right and I'll just do that!!

 

OK, does anyone feel like weighing in on the wrap colors I like? Unfortunately w the red underneath, the edges will show at edges the guy said. I was getting ready to have it done until the fender bender put crinkles in those spots...

Tbh I love REALLY LOUD GARISH COLORS in cars. I like the crazy flip flop colors and anything ocean colored OR 3 tone urban camo w matte black as part of the combo. 3m is what they use.

Anyone have theirs wrapped?

Last question... haha. When I look at mods many say doesn't fit limited. I've an sr5 w leather heated and power front row seats and a third row. So I'm assuming just SR5 premium but I'm now wondering.

Thanks all..

..

 

I have almost always paid a car payment, rather its on an actual loan, or to a savings account.

 

Looking at the damage photos, that is not the front of a Limited.

There's no such model as an SR5 limited.

 

if the wrap shows the edges and doesn't wrap around the panel, that's not a well done wrap job. Seeing the door jam color , etc is normal.
since i'm basically color blind, i love loud distinct colors also. That why I go for Solar Octane, Lime Rush, Voodoo Blue, etc. you might like a desert tan camo or something like that from your comment.

 

I have a mustang Convertible w legend line metallic and I LOVE THE NEWER GREEN IN THE 4R. I'm thinking no on the desert tan to me it's just not striking enough. I'm off to look for the solar one you mentioned... thanks for the input and the reply.

 

This is what the sales guy mentioned about the coverage...

 

Correct. It must be an SR5 Premium, which had heated seats.

 

The cash offers seem kind of low. Were the offers made with the damage to the front end?

In any case, it’s worth repairing and keeping. That 4runner is in the prime of it’s life. You drive a lot, so why complicate your life with a different car that will be less reliable. As long as you’ve kept up on maintanance, your 4runner is the best bet.

I’d go with insurance to fix it with OE parts, because it looks like the headlight and the top part of the grill structure might need repair. That will be expensive.

An aftermarket steel bumper would be cool, but that won’t fix the headlight and upper grill area. And a steel bumper will sag the front end down. So you’d have to change your suspension.