Car buying: New vs. pre-owned

Nalt

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2020
6,626
18,109
Certainly it couldn’t be THAT bad, Nalt. We’ll keep the light on for you, though.
Oh, it was a GREAT place for a long, long time. Up until the last few months before "the exodus" that is. And for leaving the lights on? Paleese! I've tried logging in several times but apparently I've been purged from the membership.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
Oh, it was a GREAT place for a long, long time. Up until the last few months before "the exodus" that is. And for leaving the lights on? Paleese! I've tried logging in several times but apparently I've been purged from the membership.

Hold your motor. You weren’t purged. You have to go to the bottom right of the login page and select the COD theme. Without that, no one can log in.

Apologies to everyone else here for going off subject.
 

Egor's Assistant

SAVE CHATTER Lower Expectations.
Lifetime Member
Nov 3, 2017
9,915
33,199
Funny story.
We were looking for a Toyota Tundra 4 door 4x4 to pull our camper. I mentioned it on another previously great message board and someone had one sitting in their driveway that was just shipped over from Hawaii the week before. It was 10 years old and had under 45,000 miles. It was very well taken care off and a perfect find. Bizarre and serendipitous series of events happened and they had to sell it. Long story short, I flew with the kids down to Ft Lauderdale to have lunch with @Blonde Gator and drive this cream puff back home.

We’ve driven it across the eastern US on many adventures over the past few years.
Cool story. That's exactly the Truck I'm currently looking to purchase. I can only hope we get as lucky.
 

Swamp Donkey

Founding Member
7-14 vs P5 Fire Stricklin First
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
78,161
109,974
Founding Member
Seedy found the tiny hole in the line and plugged it with gorilla glue. It’s worked fine ever since. .
A lot of check engine lights don't matter. That probably does. I hope it was a vent line and not a fuel line.
 

Swamp Donkey

Founding Member
7-14 vs P5 Fire Stricklin First
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
78,161
109,974
Founding Member
Yes, it WAS a great board for a long time. To bad it changed into what it became...
Why do you guys act like you can't say the name? Ox DGAF. This isn't swamp ass.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
Why do you guys act like you can't say the name? Ox DGAF. This isn't swamp ass.

It’s not appropriate IMO for open discussion. I’m putting the kibosh on any further commentary from my end.
 

jeeping8r

Your car may go fast, Mine will go anywhere
Lifetime Member
Dec 18, 2015
903
1,305
We’ve only had one issue with the truck and it was weird. Something to do with a small hole in the gas line causing the check engine light to come on last year. Seedy researched it and the answer was to replace the line. A local shop quoted $1,000. Seedy found the tiny hole in the line and plugged it with gorilla glue. It’s worked fine ever since. :lol:

We sold the camper this summer while the market was hot! After 5 years of use we only lost a few thousand on it and made tons of great memories. On to the next adventure.

Hole in gas line huh?, Was it plastic with little rodent teeth marks in it? Fairly common, see it all the time.
 

CDGator

Not Seedy
Lifetime Member
Jul 24, 2020
15,801
43,742
Hole in gas line huh?, Was it plastic with little rodent teeth marks in it? Fairly common, see it all the time.

Could have been something like that. The "fix" has worked for over a year now.
 

Gatorbreath

Founding Member
The original "Breath" of the GCMB.
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
1,475
1,318
Founding Member
I baby my vehicles. I garage them and do all the scheduled, preventative maintenance. And I try to keep them until the wheels fall off. I had a 2002 Dodge Durango that had 219K miles on it and looked like it came off the showroom floor when I rear-ended another driver at low speed on Dale Mabry while texting in December, 2015. Yup. Lesson learned. Even though the damage was pretty minor, Geico totaled her.

I look for preowned SUVs, 3 years old with 30K or so miles, clean CarFax that passes the inspection of my local mechanic. In addition to never having been hit, I'd prefer it not come from the north to avoid corrosive road salts and chemicals.

After I totaled the Durango, I bought a 2012 Grand Cherokee with the Hemi (man, does the mileage suck), the top tier, automatically adjustable, air 4WD suspension, neat leather with heated and cooled seats - all the goodies. It had 33K miles on it and was clean as a whistle. I paid $26K OTD for it. I think MSRP for it new was mid-$50s, if memory serves. I still have her and she has a little over 85K miles on her now. Terrible gas mileage aside, I've enjoyed her. She meets my needs, and those of my dog.

It's odd, as both vehicles are Chrysler products. Incredibly, especially given the pretty horrible reputation of Dodge, that Durango was bulletproof. The only major repair I had, and it was done around 190K miles, was an AC flap actuator, which required the mechanic to remove the dash to repair. And even that wasn't as expensive as I'd feared - like $750. Otherwise, not a thing wrong.

The Jeep, however, has been a mess. I've lost count of the recall repairs. Has to be half a dozen, including one literally today for a fuel pump relay. And recently I noticed a tiny oil leak. I took her to the mechanic two weeks ago and his best guess is it needs a new rear main seal. That's a huge job - likely around 18-19 hours and $2K. He said he'd recommend I take it to the dealer for that. The leak is so small, it didn't even need oil when he looked at it. I've poured in some Blue Devil Rear Main Sealer and that seems to have stopped it. And 2012 means my Jeep was redesigned during Chrysler's Daimler era. I guess in the end, between the two Chrysler products, things have sort of evened out.

I've begun nosing around for replacement for the Jeep. Based on everything, including a really spendy main seal repair at 85K miles, I don't get the sense she's going to last too much longer. I am planning on moving to Japanese quality and am looking at, in no particular order, (all per the criteria above) Lexus GX460, Lexus RX350, Acura RDX and Toyota 4Runner. Man, if the 4Runner had a more modern transmission and better mileage, that might be the one.
 

CDGator

Not Seedy
Lifetime Member
Jul 24, 2020
15,801
43,742
I've begun nosing around for replacement for the Jeep. Based on everything, including a really spendy main seal repair at 85K miles, I don't get the sense she's going to last too much longer. I am planning on moving to Japanese quality and am looking at, in no particular order, (all per the criteria above) Lexus GX460, Lexus RX350, Acura RDX and Toyota 4Runner. Man, if the 4Runner had a more modern transmission and better mileage, that might be the one.

Years ago I wanted a 4Runner but just couldn't pull the trigger on it based on price so we ended up with an Explorer. Worst decision ever and it got a new transmission right after the warranty expired. So happy to be rid of it and ended up with a new 4Runner Limited. Over a 100,000 miles later and I wouldn't trade it for anything except a Land Cruiser. Couldn't be more pleased and they retain their values. However the body style hasn't changed in many years and it only gets about 15-17mpg.
 

Gatorbreath

Founding Member
The original "Breath" of the GCMB.
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
1,475
1,318
Founding Member
Years ago I wanted a 4Runner but just couldn't pull the trigger on it based on price so we ended up with an Explorer. Worst decision ever and it got a new transmission right after the warranty expired. So happy to be rid of it and ended up with a new 4Runner Limited. Over a 100,000 miles later and I wouldn't trade it for anything except a Land Cruiser. Couldn't be more pleased and they retain their values. However the body style hasn't changed in many years and it only gets about 15-17mpg.

Amazingly, your 4Runner gets better mileage than my Jeep. I get maybe 11-13 MPG around town, and maybe 17-18 on the highway. And it I put 93 octane in it. It does have cylinder deactivation when the engine is not under stress, so the highway mileage is a lot better.

It is crazy how Land Cruisers hold their value. You just can't kill them, though their mileage might be worse than your 4Runner. And 2021 is going to be the last year for them, so you'd better move quickly if you want one.
 

CDGator

Not Seedy
Lifetime Member
Jul 24, 2020
15,801
43,742
Amazingly, your 4Runner gets better mileage than my Jeep. I get maybe 11-13 MPG around town, and maybe 17-18 on the highway. And it I put 93 octane in it. It does have cylinder deactivation when the engine is not under stress, so the highway mileage is a lot better.

It is crazy how Land Cruisers hold their value. You just can't kill them, though their mileage might be worse than your 4Runner. And 2021 is going to be the last year for them, so you'd better move quickly if you want one.

The only way I’d end up with a land cruiser is used anyway. After having a Tundra and 4Runner I’m a slave to Japan now. Dammit.
 

bradgator2

Founding Member
Rioting
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
9,505
24,928
Founding Member
Wife got a new 4runner a few months ago. Our first one. That’s a damn fine vehicle.
 

Detroitgator

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jul 15, 2014
28,228
46,733
This whole topic is stupid... here's what is coming! ;)

State determine you only need 76 octane sedan. State also acknowledge that 76 octane sedan require frequent repair. So, State give you roadside repair ramp approximately every 100 kilometer. As can see, State provided repair ramp is more than adequate for this purpose... State say, "you welcome."
ramp.jpg
 

NVGator

Founding Member
Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
14,903
20,210
Founding Member
@Gatorbreath Get the 4-Runner. I’ve had one last nearly 20 years. My wife had a RX350. Loved it but just too fancy for us.
 

Gatorbreath

Founding Member
The original "Breath" of the GCMB.
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
1,475
1,318
Founding Member
@Gatorbreath Get the 4-Runner. I’ve had one last nearly 20 years. My wife had a RX350. Loved it but just too fancy for us.

"Too fancy"? Didn't you just buy a big, huge "fancy" SUV? Maybe I eat my candy bars with a fork and knife and like "fancy" SUVs. Ever think of that?? :lol:

Jokes aside, I like how the 4Runner looks and love its toughness and reliability. I'm a bit concerned about its "truckiness" compared to my very smooth Jeep, and its poor gas mileage. I test drove them when I bought the Jeep - but that was a pretty long time ago.

I do plan to test drive one when this search ramps up.
 

NVGator

Founding Member
Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
14,903
20,210
Founding Member
"Too fancy"? Didn't you just buy a big, huge "fancy" SUV? Maybe I eat my candy bars with a fork and knife and like "fancy" SUVs. Ever think of that?? :lol:

Jokes aside, I like how the 4Runner looks and love its toughness and reliability. I'm a bit concerned about its "truckiness" compared to my very smooth Jeep, and its poor gas mileage. I test drove them when I bought the Jeep - but that was a pretty long time ago.

I do plan to test drive one when this search ramps up.
LOL. No, I bought a Jeep Wrangler. And yes, the gas mileage sucks. I get maybe 15 mpg compared to my 4-Runner I got about 21 mpg. I like the stiffness in my vehicle. I don’t like the feeling of a boat on the road.
 

jeeping8r

Your car may go fast, Mine will go anywhere
Lifetime Member
Dec 18, 2015
903
1,305
The turbo 4 cylinder Wranglers are pulling about 25mpg un modified, Of course a 3" lift and 35s will eat into that. Little factoid I picked up is when the turbo 4 came out they were out running some of the v8 conversion wranglers, both LS and Hemi conversions.
If I were to buy a new one think I'd opt for the turbo 4, Not sold on the 3.6 V6, My 3.8 has less power and less gears in the trans but almost 135K with 0 issues.
Friend of mine just bought a diesel Gladiator Rubicon, Need to get with him and see how he likes it so far.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.