Help Me Buy My First Tundra - 2019 Limited or 2021 SR5

I can't say it's my favorite Toyota color, but I would totally drive the bronze mica with pride. However, I do agree with you on the saddle brown interior. It's awful.

Here's my last one for today. MGM not too far north for the OP.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...00&modelCode=TUNDRA&searchRadius=200&state=UT

 

I've skimmed just the two listings in the first post. I have a few things I look at when considering a new to me vehicle. I kept to these rules with my current two Tundras.

-Key features such as 4wd (required near the Canuck border), basic electronics like power mirrors/windows, backup camera, cruise control, etc., 6-seater (picky, I know), tow package, model years.
-However, I also want to exclude certain features that I know can be problematic or just not worth the extra cost such as a sunroof.

The key features start my search, but to narrow it down among the many available I rely on the following:

-Maintenance history availability and intervals. I would reject trucks that did not receive an oil and filter change every 5k miles.
-Mileage. While not all important with a Tundra, I would need the supporting maintenance to show a higher level of care than most owners give. My wife's Tundra we bought at 29k miles and the previous owner already had 15 services of routine maintenance performed to include the diffs and t-case. (A man after my own heart).
-"Upgrades" or lack thereof. I try to buy bone stock vehicles as much as possible. My first Tundra had some lighting and sound "upgrades" that taught me that lesson. I am not completely against certain mods, but anything touching electrical is likely a no go unless they had something reputable like the FRAC harness put in. I would avoid anything lifted beyond the factory Toyota kits.
-General history and location the vehicle was owned and operated in. I exclusively buy west coast vehicles in areas known to not have much snow. Rust is the bane of all Tundras so I avoid any East coast or Midwest models. Additionally, the less owners I see in the history the better. Any accidents (even "mild" fender-benders) are typically a no go.

I use craigslist and autotrader to shop around. Here is a general search I'd use in autotrader:

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...&vehicleHistoryType=NO_FRAME_DAMAGE&zip=99037

Plenty of Tundras in the price range you've been looking in across the country.

 

Reject trucks without 5k oil changes, now a older trunda search will be like finding a Unicorn...

 

I do all my own at 5k. I do report them on the Toyota app. They show up with the dealerships notes. I also got pics, receipts and paper documentation.

 

Limited!!gives you leather and cooler off road options.

 

You are not wrong. It took me a while to find not just one, but two Tundras like that. The key was looking at low mileage vehicles. I would also accept a written log if someone did their own. (That's what I do for mine).

I do my own too and keep a written log with mileage, dates and services rendered. I didn't know you could log them with the app like that and it actually show in the dealer notes. I may have to look into doing that.

 

Well if you want to catch up the Toyota app vehicle history you can go back and add them. It would help on resale i think. I even logged my brake job, battery replacement, axle services, transmission drain and fills ect ect. Its under services, then set up an apt, then click on sevice history, then Add a record. I have 34 records of maintenance/service on my 21 with 85k miles.

 

That is very useful information. I have a lifetime drivetrain warranty through the dealership I purchased it from as long as I maintain the service history (and actually do the service) and that would make any future contention a lot easier.

 

I haven't tried carfax, but 4runners forum members say when you enter a record it does show up on carfax just doesn't say "Official" but it shows up.

 

I enter them on carfax as a DIY. Create an account, enter vehicle info/VIN, works well and it reports if someone or you run a report. I do that for both of our vehicles. I also have a backup log on the Amsoil garage site. Takes a couple of minutes after any maintenance is done. Just how I keep track and have it reportable. I'm not familiar with the toyota app maintenance log.

 

You can add the tranny cooler. I did one one mine.

 

It is crazy. The 5th gen 4Runner prices are rising as well. Back in October we bought our son a 2016 SR5 for $29K . Garage kept, 1 owner, 72K miles. It even has Android Auto (I swapped the radio out with one from a 2023).

 

Good deal?

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/10146138

 

I would actually say yes. Definitely worth a look. They have already done a transmission drain, which is a good sign to me. As it's a 2019 you would likely need to add a transmission oil cooler, but something to check on inspection if they've already done that.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier, I always take vehicles to a local mechanic that offers prepurchase inspections. While I do my own visual, I believe in a second set (of a higher caliber) eyes on the truck prior to purchase. Cheap insurance in case there is a difficult to see issue underneath. Did this even when I bought one with mileage in the teens.

*can't tell if the 2019 has a sunroof or not. I am personally against sunroofs, but to each their own.