Used 4runner purchase

In the market for a 2020 4runner. Does this 4runner spark any red flags? I’ve been keeping my eye on it for awhile and it’s been sitting on the lot since the beginning of November? It looks like it’s been well maintained, but it’d be an out of town purchase. Is a PPI recommended?

https://www.toyotaofrichardson.com/...-4Runner-9ccb70bd0a0d04fe5a28e8fffc22eeec.htm

 

Looks straight forward, I’d ask about it being certified. If it is, it seems like a decent deal.

 

That is a lot of miles for a one year old vehicle. I would be looking to get the price down some.

 

High Mileage...I would ask for service records. it still has it warranties so that is good.

 

It looks like it’s been serviced at that same dealership every 5k miles

 

the salesman said they could certify it for an extra charge?

 

I’d tell them to certify it at no extra charge, personally. Most of the time dealers will certify a vehicle that’s not older than 6 years/100k miles at no charge. It doesn’t cost them a dime to ceritfy it.
If you didn’t know what it is, it’s just an extended warranty basically. It’s a 6 year/100k warranty so it would be good until 2026 or 100k miles.

 

24k is high mileage?

 

Some people seem to like to buy a new car and keep it in their garage..while I’m over here driving about 25k-30k miles a year

 

I would be cautious unless they can explain why it was trade-in so soon. I say that as I trade-in a 2019 Tacoma with 28,000 miles on it in Nov. 20 as it was on it's second radiator, still had a anti-freeze smell (couldn't find leak), and a howl coming from rear-end. I decided to get rid it, it's someone else's problem now.

 

could be any number of reasons, why it was 'traded' in so soon...most common reason. the owner wasn't happy with the performance, or ride..or gas mileage...or it was a lemon...

 

Or a rental vehicle.

 

It doesn’t look like it was a rental, because it’s listed as a private owner on the car fax with 5k mile service intervals. I’m just curious on whether I should get a PPI or not, considering it’s been maintained well on paper. 24k is quite a bit of miles for a year.. but then I’ve seen so many people that drive these much more.

 

A dealer near me is asking 40K for new 2021 SR5 Premium. 5K is 5K, but personally I'd try to scrape up the difference to get a brand new one instead of one that raises questions and already has that much use on it. The 2021 has the added advantage of LED headlights, which fixes a signif weak spot on prior model years.

Dunno if you're financing or paying cash, but if financing the effective price difference would be even less since the interest rate on a used car is typically higher.

PS the ad for that 2020 says it comes with leather. It does not. Unless it was added by the dealer or prior owner. No Runner model comes with leather except for the Limited.

 

Out of curiosity, where did you hear that? My experience is all Audi and VW, not Toyota, but with those brands that is 100% false. The manufacturer charges the dealership to certify the cars. They wouldn’ t just give away free extended warranties. There was a standard X vehicle costs Y to certify, on top of reconditioning it to meet the criteria required. VW was relatively cheap, $1500ish and the vehicle had to be up to date on maintenance and mechanically sound. Some of the high end expensive Audi were $8,500 dealership cost to certify, and the vehicle couldn’t even have curb rash on a wheel or a door ding. The customer paid cost + mark up.

I’d be very surprised if Toyota offered zero cost to certify.

 

Heard it from a Toyota sales rep, but we all know how trustworthy they can be. My thought is, they already inspect a vehicle before they take it in, and most used Toyota vehicles on Toyota dealer lots that are under 6 years/100k miles, end up with being certified. What I meant is, it doesn’t cost them more money in a physical inspection/evaluation sense. Maybe on the books it does, but my thought is they don’t “over inspect” a vehicle they’re going to certify. They inspect everything they buy to make sure it’s working. I could be wrong, but i can’t see them doing it another way.

 

My understanding circa 2015, when I bought a CPO 4R, was that there is a $500 certification fee charged to the dealer by Toyota. That came from the sales guy though so the truth may vary!

 

I think a problem with a new used 4R would be highly unlikely. People are a lot more fickle with cars now than they've ever been, and money is a "virtual" concept to many of them. Buy a car, don't handle like you thought it would, don't get good gas mileage, shitty radio, you had a third kid and it don't fit anymore.... trade it in! It's only a signature and the same $400 a month.

I've been guilty of this. Several times. I had one truck for 3 months. My wallet regrets it. But every car I traded in was fucking cherry and would have made the next guy super happy.

 

i say wait and save another $5K, and buy a new one. It will have >50 miles, LED headlights, and the new car smell

 

I may look into that option. I just have a badly rusting 5th gen at the moment that needs gone, which carvana would be taking off my hands. I was approved for 2.84% used, and 2.74% 72 months; and lower 2’s for 60 . Are there many dealerships offering lower than those rates at the moment that you’ve heard of?

 

Those seem like decent rates to me. I got low 2 new @ 72 months back in June (bless their hearts, they would have been very happy to loan me money at over 5% and pocket the difference). I'm sure there are promo deals out there for 0% and 0.9% and the like, but prob not on the 4Runner.