Hello all- I am new here but wanted to post about my Tundra buying experience and get a general consensus on whether or not I got a solid buy. Sorry this is long…
I am coming from a 2015 4Runner Limited I had bought used with about 100k miles. Threw about 50k more on the car over the last 3 1/2 years, but have just been eyeing Tundras ever since I got the 4Runner. The market is just bananas, especially with all the 3rd gen issues. Anything that I found within my price range ($30k ish) either went way too fast, or was grossly over priced.
I stumbled upon a 2021 Tundra Limited Nightshade the day it was posted at a Toyota Dealer (about 4 hours from home). Asking price was originally $36k (crazy), they had it marked down already to $32k (also crazy). Truck had 150k miles. KBB fair market value was $29-30k. Gave the dealer a ring to ask for more pictures. He called back later to let me know they were going to send the car to auction, “needs too much work.” I asked what it needed and he sent me the estimate sheet from the Toyota service department. It needed about $4500 worth of work, major items being tires, rear wheel bearings, rear shocks, and the rear transfer case shaft seal was leaking. Everything else was minor, some bulbs, alignment, balance, filters, etc. I did see some dings and dents on the car as the previous owner used it as a family/ work truck. My immediate thought though was I can do most of that work for significantly cheaper at my local shop, with the minor work being done by myself.
I asked the salesman for more pictures, videos, etc. and to also ask his manager if he would sell as is. He came back and said they would sell as is for $27.5. I came back at $24k and we settled at $26,200 out the door before tax, however I needed to put a deposit down that day to hold it.
Keep in mind, alarm bells were going off in my head thinking this is a classic dealer tactic to get you into a car. Being so far away and out of town for work, I couldn’t see the truck at all. I took the bait and put $1k down to hold it until I could come the following week. I sold my 4Runner the next day (even crazier of a risk).
I ended up at the dealer the following Wednesday (everything above happened on a Friday). Checked out the truck, and the body was pretty scratched up, corner panels with dings, etc. I can see why they would send to auction as most people would likely not be ok with the cosmetic issues, especially being sold at a Toyota dealership for a premium price. However, most of the standout issues were just cosmetic, most of which a clay bar would likely fix. The rest of the dings I will have to live with. But being a black truck, most of the dings are hidden.
The undercarriage was impeccable for being a northern car. Oil changes every 5k miles on the car fax, no accidents. Guy traded it in for a grand highlander. Truck drove nicely even with the bald tires and bearing noise.
I bought the truck, roughly $28.4k out the door after all taxes and fees.
I brought the truck back home and dropped it off at my local mechanic the next day. He said everything looked great mechanically and he agreed with what Toyota had written up. He did…
-new rear wheel bearings
-new rear transfer case shaft seal
-2 new rear shocks
-4 new tires (Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent, spent some extra money on this)
-wheel alignment
-tires balance
All the above equaling roughly $3,200.
I still need to buy some new filters, a couple bulbs, wax, and some minor other components. I expect to spend about another $100-200.
All in I will be close to the $32k mark, including all taxes, fees, parts, maintenance, etc. for a truck that now drives like a dream. I also have the peace of mind knowing I did the work with someone I trust. I have put over 1,000 miles on the truck in the last week (road trip) and no issues. I find similar trucks in the 2020/2021 models years (push start/ car play), well into the high 30s, even low 40s with similar mileage.
Was this a good buy? I plan to drive this to 300k plus miles.
Also, looking at adding the Dasaita G13 head unit to the truck. Any thoughts/ experience? Previous owner has a cheap unit in it. Works fine, just want better. Even considering putting a stock unit back in.