Moving to a '09 Tacoma from '02 4Runner

[cros]

Ok, so this is the deal. Toyota is interested in buying back my 2002 4Runner that I got back in July. Their willing to give me a good APR % as well as paying off what I owe, selling the Tacoma at a discounted price, plus putting money towards a down payment on whatever I want, as long as its new. So, naturally, this peaked my interested and Iv been looking at maybe switching over to a DoubleCab, 4x4, 4.0L, 6spd, TRD OffRoad pkg Tacoma. I would just like some thoughts about this potential purchase/switch. pros/cons type of thing. Id be interested in hearing what you guys have to say. TIA! :drink:

[Seanz0rz]

haggle, big time. this is your game. get exactly what you want, for the price you want, etc.

read everything they give you, dont miss any fine print.

are you sure you can afford the new vehicle? do you have a stable job that is likely to be around in 2-3 years (dont count on the economy recovering anytime soon, we can all hope, but prepare for the worst)

[Good Times]

I have to ask why Toyota is interested in your 2002 4runner? Is it a lemon or is it one of those solicitation junk mail you got from one of your local dealership? If it's one of those solicitations then I'd say screw em.

Now on the flipside, if you can get a good deal and can afford it I don't see why not. But if you're barely surviving and don't want any payments and you already have your current 4runner paid off, then I'd say keep whatcha got :)

It really boils down to your financial situation.

[CJM]

Im with Good Times here..

Honestly new is stupid unless its insanely cheap compared to a used model.

[DHC6twinotter]

Would their "good deal" be cheaper than you selling your 4runner and buying a slightly used Tacoma? Like an '05? As nice as it is to be able to pick out your options, color, etc, it may not be the most cost effective. If you sold your 4Runner for 8,000 and picked up a used Tacoma Double Cab for 20,000, would the 12,000 you spend be cheaper that the deal that Toyota will give you? Toyota is quoting an MSRP of 30,150.00 for a Tacoma at your specs for sale in my area. This does not include tax, dealer fees, interest, etc. You may be spending upwards of 12,000 more for a "good deal".

The average car depreciates in value by 70% over a 4 year period. I dont't think Toyotas are that bad, but there is still depreciation. It's allways better to buy used, IMHO.

If you're willing to wait, place the monthly amount of money you would spend on the increased or longer payments aside, and put the money towards a newer vehicle in the future. Let it build up over several years. Paying cash for a vehicle gets you a better deal, no interest, and you don't have to put up with having a car payment. :D

Just my $.02. :hillbill:

[2ndGen]

at a local dealer here in Indy, i saw a 2006 V8 4WD Limited 4Runner(43k miles) asking $24000. that's about $20000 less than brand new ones. with the economy like this, unless you really NEED TO, avoid spending that big chunk of money or picking up extra debt.

i have to agree, put the car payment money into a saving account. if there's a time to be safe than sorry, now is the time.

[cros]

At first i thought it was junk mail as well, but the same day I got the letter, i got a phone call for my dealer asking about the same thing. So I went to the dealer asking about it and sure enough, my dealership is having a HUGE buy back program going on until the end of the month. I guess it probably has something to do with my Runner having pretty low miles and still having 3 years left on its Toyota Certified Warranty.

I asked about the price of a new Tacoma compared to what they have on the lot (they didnt have exactly what I was looking for and the had huge sales going on for all Tacomas, 4Runners, and Tundras....anywhere between $5,000-$7,000 off) They said that they would match these sales prices on whatever model I was looking for.

Im still on 100% sure its something I want to do. Im going to go back over the weekend and try to get more details and probably let them appraise my truck to get an idea on how much I could get for it. I'm in no need to trade my vehicle in...its just something that I thought was a little intriguing. We'll see what happens.

[CJM]

The buyback thing is a scam FWIW, they are interested in trading in your truck for a new(er) one in hopes you will spend more money.

They did it to me and my truck is over 10 years old, did it to my boss and his work van has 300k on it??

Whatever they offer it is nowhere near the amount selling it privately could fetch. IE: They offer 5k but in reality privately sold you could get 8k or better.

Its all a bunch of bs, just like the idiots who called me telling me my warranty was up and I should extend it. "Oh really you say, I have a warranty huh?? Would you will be happy to know that 86 4Runner was a private sale and is now in 100+ pcs??? Are you telling me you will cover the costs to fix it??' Silence... Meanwhile I had sold the truck for parts to a guy 6 months earlier..

[paddlenbike]

I keep getting those scam warranty calls too. Next time you get that call, ask them what kind of car you drive. Exactly, they have no idea.

I feel bad for older people that are misled into thinking these people are affiliated with someone whom they are already doing business, such as the warranty calls, calls to reduce your mortgage, calls telling you "there is nothing wrong with your account, but you need to contact us, blah blah blah." Sometimes it's difficult to tell reality from a scam, even for those of us privy to this kind of stuff. This buyback you speak of is not a scam per se, but guaranteed that they are not interested in giving you a good deal or interested in your low mileage 4Runner, they simply want you to show up at the dealership and ponder something new. No doubt, this marketing campaign will work, but no one is going to get any better deal than if they did a trade-in with a new vehicle purchase.

[CJM]

I like the people who call asking for people:
Hi, can I speak to x
Well not really, there not here right now and if they were they wouldnt want to speak to you
Really, i just spoke to x last week
You dont say, you know x has been dead for 15 years now jerk!!! Dont call again or I will hunt you down!

[Robinhood4x4]

"Buy back" is just another way of saying trading in. And that's all you're doing, trading it in. It's a common tactic for dealers.