SOLVED! Post 2853 Leaking Injectors, Dealer Techs Rock! Extended Cranking after Engine Swap 3.4L 5vz

Okay. I give up in the words of @bry838 .

I guarantee that Jen will get high book value for a 4Runner in trade .

Honestly, my dog in the fight has nothing to do with my experience with my Ford dealer. It has to do with every other dealer. Every dealer counts on a customer walking in with the KBB value for a truck. That means any sane person, with exceptions of course, the dealer is expecting should offer KBB value for their truck. So the dealer should acquire used inventory for less than KBB value. This has been my experience with every dealer except the ones I have personal relationships with. This is why the majority of any GOOD dealer inventory comes from whole sale. That's how they make more money to pay people better and attract the best sales staff which just happens to make them even more money. Instead of having puppet hand guy, and no offense to that Seasame Street reject, you can have the local Derek Jeter of car sales if you pay for the Derek Jeter of car sales. If a dealer is going to give Jen KBB value on trade without a solid connection to that dealer, quite honestly, she should walk away because that dealer is playing her for a gain somewhere else.

To be absolutely honest, with my last trade at Ford, they gave me 15K CAD in trade in on a 2012 Hyundai Sonata GL with 110K. Figure that out and tell me if they ripped me off. They didn't.

Hey, if Jen can find a dumb kid down the road who will pay $800,000 for that 4Runner that's great. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but I don't think Jen is going to buy a "miracle find" 4Runner that happens to be in the "mint" condition category from KBB and walk into any dealer and get "mint" price for it. Again, just my experience . Hell maybe you are all right. Maybe Jen will find wonder Dariwn kid locally that the sellers haven't found and turn the 4Runner around for profit. The logical side of me says that, without knowing more, this will not be the case because that 4Runner is probably closer to "good" trade in value then "mint".

Anyways, I commend Jen for not sticking 10K into this uncertain risk that basically relies on dupping someone to get a better trade in value! If anything, if you guys are truly making thousands of dollars on these used 10 year old Toyota trades, you should start selling on those cheap Japanese informercials at night. I'm not even saying that insultingly. If you've found the best way to make 3K from Kijiji then go out and sell it. "Check KBB, if Toyota worth more buy it and trade it at dealer, make the big moneys :insertjapanesefacememe:"

BTW I really don't mean that offensively. That's just how I feel about it. Maybe my years as a guy who makes 110K a year, owning several professional designations, and who runs operations for his company are all coming up completely ass backwards wrong. If I am, I should know about it, because then I should totally enter the Kijiji trade up on old 4runners game.

 

Those people are flat out the reason why the USA is becoming a failed state. Sorry for saying that so bluntly.

 

BTW I just want to emphasize that I am not saying any of this to offend someone. I'd, quite honestly, love to take this group of people who has helped Jen to a bar and engage in some lively conversation. Heck, I think I'd pay for every single beverage or food item consumed. I just think what is being said is the most terrible investment advice. "HEY JEN, BUY A 4RUNNER. THAT 4RUNNER APPEARS, FROM MY VIEW SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AWAY, TO BE WORTH AT LEAST 3K MORE THAN THEY ARE ASKING. CAN ANYONE SAY WINNING?"

Vehicles, quite bluntly, are 99.9% of the time terrible investments. Going from that, I could never recommend someone to go buy one as an investment. No matter how good the deal may seem. Buying it as a personal investment for transportation is sound. I just can't, with the knowledge and experience I have which may be different from some get rich quick on 4Runners sellers advice on here, recommend buying a 4Runner as a positive portfolio investment.

 

***Don't know why my post go lumped into the quote there....meant to get your second sentence in there too, don't know what happened..

 

I agree its truly those idiots that create stupid demand and sky rocketing prices. Makes no cense to me either stewdog. Then its exactly those type of peeps to that create bigger deeper issues within the country/government...

 

You know there are different Kbb values right?

dealers give trade in Kbb value on trade and sell for retail Kbb value.
It's more. They make money. The earth continues to orbit the sun.

 

Hence why I mentioned the different KBB values. However, you cannot expect to buy a vehicle prices way under (3K) KBB value and then go get KBB trade in value for it for a mint KBB trade. It doesn't make sense.

Just a heads up, while we are "educating" you do realise there isn't just one KBB value for a vehicle. Their are different values based on condition. Most, if not all at least those that have the internet, people try to sell for retail KBB mint. Most dealers try to take KBB trade in on a "fair" level of condition. Big difference there.

Okay, screw it, going to bed now. I'm totally wrong. Jen, start lurking Kijiji. I'm sure there are more of these thousand K plus deals going on that you can screw the dealers with and make more than your salary income off of!

 

Wait I'm lost here....what are u saying? Just that its stupid to expect to make an investment on a vehicle or what its true value on trade in is??

 

I'm saying that it's not sound, IMHO, to expect or recommend to turn a 4Runner for 3k in profit based off of kbb numbers and a third party inspection.

 

Right...I wouldn't be thinking along those lines much either. Im with jen in the thought if you're gunna buy it, buy it to keep it and not worry about flipping it.

I will say however there could easly be money made with an instant flip on the rig though, without even touching it. It wouldn't suprise me a bit. She's kinda getting the good ole boy pricing(could pry talk the fella into a bit better price to with a lil shmoozin on Jens part) on that runner too so...idk...I personally wouldn't go into the purchase thinking of it as an investment or anything like that but with the prices of tacos and runners of that era in our low corrosiveness environment plus under 150k miles they just flat out sell quick and high.

 

Wow!

I think we strayed again. The point I want to make is it is very hard to turn a profit on a used vehicle. It was stated, I forget who, that this 4Runner needs to be considered a luxury item. This is correct.

It was also stated that she wants to drive it, nothing was mentioned about flipping the thing.

Even making a 3k+ profit is a waste of time after considering the money and time acquiring the SUV. Selling a used vehicle with a note on it is even a bigger pain. The bank has to be involved to make sure they get the remaining money on the note.

Taxes and insurance will eat into that 3k profit.

I have been keeping a running list in the back of my mind. Jen and Erik live pretty frugally. they gave up cable, that alone will pay for a good portion of an $8500 note. Looks like they use that misting thing for cooling, so the electric bill should be decent. It just comes down to what you want to spend your excess money on. Hopefully a retirement account is already properly funded. If this is not taking place. The deal is dead in my opinion.

 

Agreed!!

Don't know if your comments were directed towards my last post specifically or if it was more directed towards keakars views of it being a money maker "if need be"

As I stated above I wouldn't flip it or consider that train of thought at all(things in life do come up though). But (talkin what ifs here)with the market we have here and especially up in her neck of the woods whether $300 or $3000, if a guy wanted to drive down that road, that super clean highly desirable runner would bring more than what she would pay for it from the current owner.

 

exactly, she would be buying it much lower then the lowest "poor condition" book value.

sterdog is talking in generalities about doing this as a way of making money and not seeing the big picture in that if she buys it, it is priced $3k less then the lowest book value and so she cannot possibly lose money or even break even on a deal like that unless she sells it far "below" the lowest listed book value. while we are talking about this one particular instance and situation, he is talking about buying vehicles for a profit in general.

 

The Civic is being towed away today. This morning actually. Before I was partly joking about getting emotional over losing the Civ, but now that I know she's actually leaving for good today, I'm pretty sure I'm be full on bawling when the tow guy pulls up. Had to dig out the title to have ready for the tow guy - just pulling that out felt sad!!

More than once since scheduling it's final tow, I've thought of canceling it. I know, I know, it's hard for you all to believe.

But it's gotta happen - deep down at least I know that much for sure!! He's supposed to be here between 8am & 12pm.

Also, I think we've finally decided about the car thing. You guys will not like the decision. But you won't want to murder us (ie, it's not going to be a Prius).

And this choice is what is making the Civ loss extra painful. We are now 99% sure we are going to do the practical, affordable, boring route. The route we initially started with weeks (or even months?) ago. Another Civ. Or pancake, as it will be nicknamed. Eric suggested putting some giant fake butter on the roof, or a giant bottle of syrup.

But honestly, I like the way my old one looks better than any Civ made in the last 5 years!! So it's gonna be extra tough to watch it get hauled off, then go sign loan papers on a pancake, with 10x more sensors and electronic crap that can break. I really wish I liked the look of these cars. I suppose it will grow on me. It doesn't matter though, because deep down we both know this is exactly what we SHOULD do right now.

For us, if you have one that basically maintains itself and is super affordable in terms of both fuel and payments, and reliable and long lasting, then it frees up time & money to "play" with the other one - the fun one, the problem child that we love above all others. But we are not self disciplined enough ready to have two of those!!

But we are worn down and ready to do what's practical, so we will replace ol' reliable with a toddler aged ol' reliable. Unless the Civ we have our eye on is gone by the time we get there. Then it will be a Corolla, and we have a bunch of those picked out.

Sorry guys who voted 4R. We just can't justify it right now, for lots of reasons. Honestly, it's primary purpose for me would be a back up to the Taco. Well, in a perfect world, we'd buy that thing with cash, stuff it in a garage, and know that we are covered when the time comes. But we don't have $9K cash to spend on something that's not a necessity, and backing up the Taco to soothe my fears just isn't a necessity. Something Eric can drive to work and barely spend anything on fuel, and rarely have to worry about repairs, and will last a long, long time is really what we need.

But the bright side is, as long as we choose wisely on the Civ or Corolla right now, we shouldn't have to deal with commuter car stuff for a long, long time. Which means once we get this bitch paid off, we can go back to focusing on our favorite vehicle - TACOMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

very smart and practical decision, the prius was NEVER a good idea IMHO, think I mighta mentioned that before lol.

hope you get the civic and if it is still there after this 3 month decision making process you can offer even less money for it because it isn't selling. if a car has been on the lot for more then 3 weeks its seen as a waste of space so they will often sell it at the cost of what they paid on the trade in just to get it off of the lot. you are in a strong bargaining position to get a very low price so be firm and low ball the shit out of em, fold your arms and say no, its got all these things wrong with it, its even the wrong color and your not paying any more then that low ball offer. often if you just sit there, arms folded, they will figure out just how much they spent to get the car and give you the rock bottom get it out of here price.

one note on the old civ, not sure the laws in your state but its best to remove the license plates and registration to be turned in to state dept of motor vehicle, if we don't do that here there is hell to pay and they keep coming back at you about not having insurance on it since the plates were not turned in.

 

Thanks Keakar. Good advice buddy!

I decided I wanted the Honda emblem off the front (the little "H") so I asked Eric to pry it off just now. He barely touched it and it fell right off, and left an "H" imprint made of dirt behind. The car is ready to be put down.

Actually, Eric thinks someone will put a new tranny in it and mod the hell out of it - we see a fair amount of those in the NW, do you guys see those a lot in your areas too? I would not be surprised if he's right about her new life - would be so bizarre to see her out and about like that someday, all souped up with a super loud exhaust!! Now all I'm gonna see every time I go anywhere is 2 door red Civics. Going to take some pics this morning, so you guys can finally see the little red beast.

 

So after page after page of indecision, is the hunt finally over?
I think you need to change the thread title now like you did when the Tacoma was finally cured!

 

He's here

 

She's gone.

That car moved my ass to Oregon way back when. She was packed like a sardine!! Myself and my dalmatian Patty were crammed in there, along with whatever else I could fit, which was an amazing amount of stuff for the size of that little thing. I was very happy to arrive, that was a hell of a long journey in a car that size!!

Civ pics coming. I promise, I'll stop being morbid about it soon, but it's tough to watch a car that was so good to me for 15 years get towed away. She did her job very well for a very long time.

A toast to the Civ!!