Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Also, I'm so glad to hear that you like the gold color. My truck is white, and I didn't much consider this color until I saw my truck in the dealer's showroom, and found it to be stunningly sharp. I get a lot of complements and head-turning with my truck, and I'm quite happy with how she looks.
Congratulations on your new 4Runner Limited! Enjoy! And now, get thee some Zaino, fast, and detail that baby!
Regarding VSA's (extended warranties), with what plans have others opted? Prices paid?
Also, is pulleydog correct in that you can purchase Toyota's VSA (at the same price) up to 36 months after purchase of the vehicle?
On another note, did anyone opt to get an upgraded alarm? I did. I paid $399!! I think I got ripped. I have not had it installed yet and am considering trying to get my $ back. Any suggestions? I bought an 04 Sport. Thanks!
Doesn't sound like "invoice +300" to me. Sounds like you're paying closer to retail for the truck.
That's almost $2,000 over not including tax+lic
Go by Edumunds TMV to get the real price
Anyone know the real invoice of the Toyoguard or the meaning of either of the $575 fees in my above msg? The dealer had some story about how they don't buy from Toyota directly here in the SE - they buy from Jim Moran and all of these are legitimate fees. Maybe now I know how it's so easy for internet salespeople at the dealers to offer these trucks at "invoice", cause their invoice is already making them money.
Thing is, the way I want the truck configured, it's either this truck, or waiting again and/or maybe trying another dealer. Not like I can go down the street and get a similar truck. Since this dealer brought this truck in from another dealer, can I theoretically go to yet another dealer and see if they, too, would transfer the truck at a lower price?
Thanks, Aaron
And in light of the above, I do think Toyota is making a killing by selling "intrusion alarms" for what, 400 bucks US?
If I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying the dealer invoice is $34,883
+300
+481
+575
+575
So the total price is $36,814.
Edmunds TMV is $35,100 for your area
That means you are paying about $1700 over TMV.
Your dealer's "invoice" means nothing if they are tacking on all these "required" fees.
So it sounds like instead of saying "we will sell you the truck for $36,8" they are saying "we will sell it for $34 + "some fees".
It sounds like the usual shell game.
Toyoguard is a dealer item, not something that is "port installed". I'm not sure how you port install a wax job.
Sorry, poor communication on my part. The $34,883 dealer invoice is all inclusive of the $481 Toyoguard, $575 SE Toyota Admin Fee and $575 Delivery, Processing and Handling Fee. So...my total purchase price would be the $34,883 plus the $300 dealer fee, which, now that I add this up, this almost matches the Edmunds TMV price to the penny. So its $35,100 plus TTL. Still, one could argue that I'm getting TMV and should be happy, but it's still significantly higher than the "invoice plus $300" fee that I was initially thinking.
Aaron
Larry
Actually I visit family in TN twice a year or so and I'm always surprised by the cost of living down there now; housing costs are ok, but other stuff will kill you. Maybe try Idaho, where it's all still cheap, lol.
Bcmalibu99ls, there's always towing on a flatbed truck. Since no one pays attention to car alarms anyway, I doubt that the intrusion alarm will do a lot of good.
Steve, Host
Aaron
Hopefully a salesperson can refresh my memory. But if SET is charging the dealer a fee, the dealer will want to pass that along.
The SET distributor treats their employees pretty well it sounds like, with pension plans and bonus cruises. Buyers pay for that, naturally.
TMV is what people are typically paying for a car in your region. You can beat it, but if you don't pay more than TMV you at least know that you aren't paying any more than most people. To get a great price, you really need to get two or three dealers bidding for your business.
If you said what city you live in, I've forgotten already, but since the Smokies are within a days drive of half the US population, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a good price on a rig and enjoy a road trip or get it shipped to you.
Focus on the big picture. Figure out what a good price to pay and shoot for that, and don't worry too much about the line items. Better to spend your efforts negotiating the out the door cost. Finally, here's a link (under Car Salespeople) about added fees.
I guess my opinion is keep looking. It's just a car, and a dozen more just like it will be arriving next week.
Steve, Host
Aaron
I wouldn't worry about it although 215 miles seems like alot for a brand new car. I think I had 20 miles on mine when I got it
The official manual says to vary your speed, don't slam on the brakes (first 200 miles) and to not tow anything for the first 1,000 miles. No speed limitation was listed.
I wouldn't worry too much about the 200+ miles. It is a blip when compared to the 100,000's of miles the Toyota will provide you with. Besides, you don't know who/how the person was driving who loaded the rig into the ocean traversing container ship, or drove it on the transfer truck or drove it down to the local gas station to fillup before handing you the keys. Heck, on Porsches, a mechanic runs the NEWLY built vehicle around the test lap at high speed before it is released to the public.
Larry
The only fees that Toyota adds is the TDA fee. The holdback is in there too, but the invoice you get from Edmunds already includes this. TDA varies by region and we are NOT reimbursed this money.
But noticed the sulphur smell each time I step on the gas /rpm's above 2500/ below that range there is no smell. I live in Cheyenne WY. Do you guys notice it also? Is there anything that could be done?
What are the critics choice when it comes
to snow chains?
Haven't had to buy a set of chains in 10 years.
Thought I'd start here and get some insight.
Is there a brand that reigns above the rest?
Have they made any improvements in the
tie down of the excess chain?
Plastic vs Steel? Storage?
Thanks
Lexol is another popular leather product; often more easily found in tack shops than parts stores.
Steve, Host
I have a question. My 4Runner has an annoying long beeping noise when it is sliding on slippery surfaces. I noticed this when driving on a muddy road (no other route available.) Whenever the vehicle engaged the VSC it made this noise until it was back on course. Anyone know anything about this "feature?"
Also, just checking....does the DAC make a gosh-awlful almost grinding noise when engaged?
The truck works great on variable surfaces...just makes a lot of strange noises!
Thanks.
dklanecky "Nissan Murano Owners: Problems and Fixes" Nov 3, 2003 12:43pm
Steve, Host
I have the same as you as a 03 model delivered in Calgary and it came with the Dunlop Grand Trek. This is and upgraded tire from the original Grand Trek that Toyota offered in 01 and is some what better. However we have a lot of snow now as our winter has started early and I'm finding the cornering and braking abilities of these ties to be mediocre. I'm now looking for a set of true winter tires and can' find any available in the 265/65 x17 so am going to get a set of 16 inch rims and get 265/70 x16. Probably the Michelin 4 x 4 alpins as I've had such success with my Artic Alpins on my VW golf.
We dont get deep snow but lots of ice and packed snow. Any suggestions based on experience would be appreciated.(I've considered the x terrains but need a true ice tire )
Cheers Steve
Stephen, my truck also has the Dunlop GrandTrek AT 20 tires. I give them good marks for the snow/ice we were in last weekend. Of course I didn't compare them to other tires on the same truck, but I thought they did well. I guess without a head to head comparo, in identical conditions, tire preferences are pretty subjective. The tire whine often heard from more agressive tires drives me crazy; these Dunlops are very quiet, so I'm overall very happy with them. Let us know what you end up with for your icy roads.
Larry
DAC is only for off-road, lo gear type driving. I've been on trails so steep my passenger thought she would fall out the front windshield and I didn't need DAC. The times I did need it, I think her heart stopped because she didn't breath until after we leveled out again.
I've not had on road conditions to activate VSC but my guess is that, for example, your wheels start to slip on the freeway and you don't realize it yet (the beginnings of hydroplaning maybe) the VSC alarm tells you something is amiss and the truck is adjusting.
I think the combination of VSC and the alarm that would automatically make most people slow down- would prevent a loss of control.
VSC is a ON-road feature. You can disable it off road by locking the differential for really rugged terrain.
I did not change the Dunlops for the 03 for Runner at delivery time because I convinced my self that they were a better model of tire. At least that's what Dunlop will tell you. Also the 265/65 x 17 have only one alternative available in my neck of the woods and thats the Michelin x terrain which are only marginally better on ice.
Last winter when the tires were new I fiddled with pressures and found at 31 lbs( the dealer will have you run 35 lbs to prolong tire wear) they were OK. I now find that at 18,000 miles the cornering and breaking on ice is not OK and today I ordered the micheline 4 x 4 alpin 265 70 x 16. I will mount them on steel rims for winter use and use the stock mags and tires for summer. This will be a compromise on looks for sure but we do a lot of out of town driving and will have snow on the ground from now till April so I really have no choice. My children ride in this car. I think we have fallen in to the "all season tire myth" over the years and there really is no substitute for a good ice or snow tire. Will post hopefully a shorter comment in a week or 2 after putting some mileson the new set up. We will be in the rocky mountain passes (we live in Calgary) this weekend so the try out will be a good one.
.........Also we too did not have the driverside grab handle. There are no air bags there so it seems the Toyota production line can't make up its mind.
Cheers Steve
Sulphur smell.. hmm, you touched a long discussed topic, I would recommend you search this formum for sulphur (also sulfer, b/c some people couldn't spell) you will get many, many search results. All-in-all I think it was deemed that you just try different types of gas. States other than California have high sulphur contents and b/c the 4runner is a ULEV it gets effected much greater.
hotrod051:
it's correct, I don't have it either. I do however have the driverside handle that is more near the front windshield though, and I have heavily used that offroad going up a steep hill that was tilted to the right heavily (it kept me on my side of the cabin)
azrunner:
as terafirma replied, the DAC will make a ton of noise and that's normal, my blazer's anti-lock brakes make the same horrible noise, and yes, I have had the VSC go off on me when I was offroading through some sand and it gave off an awefull alarm. Again, normal. I locked the center-diff and it was smooth sailing after that.
Cheers
It is Sulfur in the United States, Sulphur in the U.K.
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/sulfur/
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/s.html
U.K. site: "The spelling of sulphur is "sulfur" in the USA ........."
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/S/key.html
What's the difference, spelling does not matter on forums, just get it close. Any of the 3 spellings of sulfur are o.k.
HELP!!!!!!!!
What exactly is a "formum?" :-)
tidester, host
I don't know how CR magically got reliability scores from all-new 4Runners that were introduced at the same time as the CR report.
The best they can say is "based on the reliability of the V8 in the Tundra and Sequoia, we can extrapolate the V8 4 Runner will be reliable" but that is not said. The V6 is an all-new, VVTi, alloy engine. There is no reliability data on it. It is misrepresentation to say otherwise.
Besides the engines and trannys (all new on the V8, proven reliable on the V6) both 4 Runners are identical. For CR to say one is "the most reliable" and one is "least reliable" is either a misprint or just plain stupid.
I guess I could grab the driver's grab handle and say something like, "This is going to be really bad." as a joke, and see what my passengers did.
Since there are no 17" rims available that I can find as of yet, and there are only two choices for tires I am going the 16" route. The diamter of the two tires is so close the speedometer will not be affected.......well to a .1% error factor.
The vehicle is a piece of crap. Toyota will not stand behind the sulfur problem. All they will do is blame the type and grade of gasoline. Anyone who purchases one of these vehicles deserves what they get.
The only way to correct the sulfur problem is to get rid of it to some poor unsuspecting person, or a dealer. Either way you will take a big loss.
I know there is a board specifically for this topic. I will post there as well.
Good luck
Peace
Oooooh, somebody's Cheerios got soggy this morning!!! Well, to make you feel even better, Martin, I'm happy to report my V8 4Runner has absolutely no odor problem at all. Let me guess..with your endearing attitude you weren't able to find a factory rep to go to bat for you?
<<...Either way you will take a big loss..>> Sorry for your loss.
Larry