Used tundra prices

after a few weeks of initial shopping used tundra prices seem to be quite a bit higher than KBB.

KBB says an 08 SR5 DC with 4x4 and around 150k miles is around 11k yet I haven’t found one without severe rust for less than 14k....ish.

Thoughts??

 

I looked for three months for a used one with a radius of 300 miles on several used car platforms and all were over blue book. Tundras flat out hold their value. I finally just bought new. My search criteria was very broad as well due to the family vehicle being a Sequoia. Good luck!

 

^ exactly why I decided to buy new. The only vehicle that I have EVER purchased brand new

 

Tundras
Tacoma’s
Four Runners

I scoured the internet looking for a used Tundra for about a year. From what I saw, I was better off buying new than buying a used tundra with anything less that 65,000 miles on it.

However, once you concede to the fact that you have to pay more versus used Ford or Chevy trucks, you really understand that these trucks are in fact better and that market valuation actually proves it. Not just Tundra forum fan boys saying so.

Buy once cry once. If you can’t afford new, do not be scared to buy a tundra with 100k on it. That’s like 25k on a F150.

 

I could afford to buy new...but I enjoy older vehicles. Trying to find a rust-free 08-09 DC 4x4 for under 13k.

 

Location, location, location. Southwest, cheap, west, midwest and east coast = Expensive. Enjoy the hunt. : ^ )

 

You might try looking at dealerships websites. It’s random so you may be searching a while but I have ran across a few good deals that they didn’t list on car gurus or autotrader. I also seem to get better deals buying a model at the competitions dealerships. Got my Tundra at a Ford place and got a great deal.

 

2008, 160k miles 5.7/DC 4x4...rust free-12,500?

thoughts?

OR 2014, 90k miles, 5.7/DC 4x4 for 22k

 

Depends on who you are, what you like, and your priorities.
I bought an 08 Crewmax for $12,000 last year. We had baby on the way, and a big house reno so i didnt want to add debt. I couldnt afford to pay fully in cash for something newer and also did not like the interest rates for financing a 3-5 year old vehicle. For example - with good credit a 27,000 truck with interest rates cruising around 4-7 % on used vehicles here. I was quoted for 4.8%(ish), 6 year term i would have paid just about 40,000. So i had to go cheaper.

 

A good Tundra is worth the drive from another state.

 

I fully intended to buy used - was looking for a 3rd gen, under 50k miles and under $30k. They just weren’t available. I tried to negotiate a CPO that was priced about $31.5k and they wouldn’t budge. Started to price new Tundras and I got my 2019 SR DC for about that same price as used!

High resale value FTW!

 

Search nation wide. I wanted a Black 2005-2006 Corolla XRS. I found a 2006 exactly the way I wanted it for a very good price in Fla. So good it paid to have it shipped to NY. Some girl texting totaled it. I found another black Corolla XRS in Topeka Kansas. His price was on the high side, but he shipped it to NY as part of the price.

You may be concerned about buying a truck like this. But here is how I covered myself and so far, I have been lucky. Lets use the XRS I have now. I looked up Toyota dealers near Topeka Kansas. Sure enough there was one. I called the dealer and said..."I am going to send you a car. I want it thoroughly checked out. Bill credit card # XXXXXX. The seller drives the car there and you get a full report. They even give you the millimeters on the brake pads.

I then call the dealer and discuss with them....ask questions...Dents? Big scratches? Service needs? You get a darn good idea of the shape of the truck. Plus if you buy it from a car dealer and it does have needs, they can address what the Toyota dealer found.

Sometimes, like the Honda dealer in Fla, I don't think he knew what a Corolla XRS was and sold it below market value. The second one I got from the Subaru Dealer in Kansas. Sometimes they want the Toyota off their lot to sell there brand of car. Good luck.

 

Search nationwide! Search for the hidden deals and gems. Living in Ohio I found my very first truck in northern Vermont at a local "mom and pop" corner car dealer. A 2004 Toyota Tacoma with 32k original miles. After a trip to the bank and the airport with a hefty check and a one way ticket in my pocket, I made it home with my new (new to me) truck home 14 hours later. Long story short, I bought the truck for $16k and two years later after an accident and it was totaled, the adjuster loved it so much he cut a check for $23k for a 14 year old truck because it really was in great shape. That allowed me to take the money a run for a bigger truck haha.

The moral story being search far and near to you and when you find the right one, you'll know.

 

That’s a good story and you made money in the end! I’ve never had luck with finding used cars sight unseen. I bought a used car on EBay, drove 12 hrs to pick it up to realize it had issues not disclosed - canceled the sale, turned around and went home empty handed. Other times I’ve found cars a long way away they always had something wrong not disclosed. Granted I didn’t do my due diligence over the phone to find that out.

So the advice is if you find a vehicle that is far away, do everything to find out all you can about the vehicle FIRST before driving/flying to pick it up. Inquire about any cosmetic issues, smells, leaks, etc. that otherwise might not be identified. CarFax reports don’t reveal the details about the cars actual condition.

 

I like the fact that thexman1 went to see the car. However, you have to add the cost of the flight and the gas and tolls to get it home. That IS the better way to do it. It puts you at a slight tactical disadvantage when negotiating. When I call and say "I am on Long Island and want to buy your car" they don't take you as seriously when I am over 1,000 miles away. Plus when you drive there, they know you are serious and the likelihood of them dropping the price is nil. So due your due diligence before you make the trip out and get a price in writing your happy with. The internet has shrunk the world and made more options available to you.

 

Good points - one thing that has saved me many times is always be willing to walk away from a deal no matter what. I drove 24 hrs there and back and was out a few hundred bucks in rental and gas, but I walked away - better that then getting into a bad deal.

 

Absolutely. You both hit the nail on the head. I was eager and did as much research as I could remotely. But you do have to be willing to walk away. The cost of a hotel room and plane ticket home would have been WAY cheaper than a car loan. We negotiated before I even hit the bank but I knew it wasn't going to be on that lot very long. So I moved fast. However - the other reassurance was the customer service. Being a mom and pop shop - the owner's kids "face timed" me several times and did an entire tour of the truck and the owner picked me up from the airport himself. Personally, I felt much happier giving him my money than some of these large "chain" dealers. I'd have no problem flying back up there for the right truck