I might soon have 2 black cars and I don't even really like black cars

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/26/2014 at 18:45 • Filed to: None

After the folks at Smart Toyota did such a good job handling !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I decided to check out their inventory for anything else that might work for a winter vehicle for me. I found something that is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but still might work.

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They've got an '07 4Runner Sport V6 with 123k miles on it. It's not super loaded up, but all 4th gen 4Runners have a nice Torsen center differential for full-time 4wd. This one has cloth non-heated seats, power driver's seat, aux jack, sunroof, and nice new looking Cooper Discoverer A/T3 all-terrain tires.

Mmm...sweet, sweet traction.

I tried to do some math and figure out what my total cost to own would be.

The dealer will sell it to me $13,400. If I pay the taxes, tags, etc and take out a loan for that $13,400 at 3% for 60 months (I can get a loan like that from my credit union), the payment is $240.78 for a total spend over the course of the loan of $14,446.80.

I also tried to project out retained value with resale prices on Edmunds. Guessing very pessimistically it'd be about $7000 in depreciation, so a retained value of $6400 in the 4Runner in about 5 years from now. So my net spend if I got rid of it in 5 years would be $8046.80. That's being overly pessimistic because I'd probably be able to do better than $6400, but hey, better to be pessimistic when budgeting things.

All in all, this is shaping up to be a pretty viable option.

(Oh, and this is my other black car.)

DISCUSSION (18)

jkm7680 > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 18:52

Pretty cool looking! It would probably be a massive pain in the ass to keep two black cars clean though.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 18:54

Kinja'd!!!

Needs OME lift

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 18:54

Kinja'd!!!

Lovely looking brakes.

Textured Soy Protein > jkm7680
11/26/2014 at 18:59

That's why I don't really like black cars. They look good but they're always dirty. I got my 135is because it was sitting on the dealer's lot, it had the options I wanted and they gave me a good deal. Which will likely end up also being the case with this 4Runner.

I've got a healthy supply of Meguiar's Quik Detailer and terry cloth towels (a.k.a. old washcloths my gf doesn't want to use as washcloths anymore).

Tohru > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:00

What's wrong with your Jeep?

Also, I may say that's too much if all you're doing is driving around Madison.

If I can get around Madison just fine with this:

Kinja'd!!!

... then a big 4x4 SUV might be overkill.

Spaceball-Two > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:01

I had a 2008 black like that with tan interior and sport trim. 100% bullet proof. Decent mpg and it was unstoppable in snow and mud. The only draw back was keeping it clean.

Textured Soy Protein > Tohru
11/26/2014 at 19:01

The Jeep needs a new oil pan, front differential pinion seal, serpentine belt, front driveshaft, idle air control valve, and door frame weather stripping.

There's getting around, and then there's getting around . I've gotten used to having a big 4x4 SUV with good tires on it for driving around in whatever winter conditions with no worries.

It's a luxury, but hell, being able to get where I want when I want and not having to worry about anything other than spending some time brushing the snow off the thing, well, it's damn nice.

mazda616 > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:02

I love those 4Runners. Especially with those wheels. My favorite!

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:08

Black, as you know from experience - hard to keep clean. I had one dark blue - almost as bad. I've thought most cars looked best in white, but the right pastel color might persuade me. And orange.

jkm7680 > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:11

I always keep quick detailer with me, White cars and black cars seem to get dirtier or show dirt more than other colored cars it seems.

Tohru > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:24

Okay, the Jeep's old and busted. At least, if you don't have your own lift and tools.

It just seems like you could do better... Hm, maybe on the private market.

Craigslist time, Craigslist time, time to search Craigslist...

Ah, here we are. Two different Jeeps.

Kinja'd!!!

Heavily modified 1999 Jeep Cherokee - Lake Geneva - $7000

143k miles, 4.0L I-6, automatic.

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/4778682133…

Kinja'd!!!

Pristine 2001 Jeep Cherokee - Fitchburg - $4850

102k miles, 4.0L I-6, automatic, towing package.

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/4778672725…

I know, I know, you have the bigger Jeep. That's okay, I've got that covered too.

(image is being kinja'd)

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited - Madison East - $4900 obo (I bet you could knock $500-1000 off of this

195k miles, 6cyl, automatic

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/4777326979…

Textured Soy Protein > Tohru
11/26/2014 at 19:29

The thing is, I really don't want to go to the trouble of selling my Jeep myself. They gave me a good deal on my trade at Smart Toyota so if they get something in that works for me, I'm willing to give them a shot.

I did however find an '02 Grand Cherokee Overland with 112k miles on it at Lexus of Madison. They just got it as a trade-in. The Overland is nice because it has the "high output" version of the 4.7 V8 for 265 hp instead of 235 hp. Also comes standard with Quadra-Drive which is the same transfer case as my '99 Limited with Quadra-Trac II (the only drive modes are full-time 4wd hi with unlocked center diff, or 4lo with locked center diff) but the Quadra-Drive adds front and rear automatic locking differentials.

I dunno what kinda tires are on the thing but hey they're only asking $6k which conceivably leaves room for me to buy better tires.

Tohru > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:32

I can respect that. That black Cherokee is a screamin' deal though.

NeilR > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 19:41

Looks like a nice 4Runner, though I prefer the 96-02 3rd gens.

I have those tires on my 4Runner, can confirm they are awesome.

Textured Soy Protein > NeilR
11/26/2014 at 19:49

Turns out it's a moot point . It doesn't engage low range.

I also kinda prefer the 3rd gen. Which is why I had originally bought a '99 Limited with rear locker and Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S tires which are similarly good.

But, well, we know how that turned out .

NeilR > Textured Soy Protein
11/26/2014 at 20:58

Yeah, saw that post. Seems like it might have "strawberry milkshaked," which is to say the trans cooler in the radiator ruptured allowing coolant into the transmission. Slightly more common on 3rd gens than some other vehicles.

Kinda sad though, that looked like an awesome 3rd gen. It checked all the boxes. :-/

Textured Soy Protein > NeilR
11/26/2014 at 21:47

Strawberry milkshake was a definite possibility. Either that or someone drove it through deep enough water for it to get up in through the transmission breather.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Textured Soy Protein
11/27/2014 at 05:55

I did that with red cars. I don't really like them, they're too flashy. I now own two red cars, a wine red metallic Jag XJ40 and a bright red Citroen BX. Annoyingly, they both look rather good (although the Citreon would look better in gunmetal grey).