Florida Man Wants To Buy A Toyota 4Runner. Then He Learns He Can Only Afford The Base Model—So He Goes Bold

"This thing feels like a Tonka Truck."

Man wants to buy a Toyota 4Runner

Photo by: Neerob Raihan/Unsplash

Mustafa Gatollari

By: Mustafa Gatollari

Oct 27, at 4:00am ET

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A Florida car buyer wanted a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. But it turned out he could only afford the base model. So he scrapped his plans and got the previous generation model instead.

In a video about his decision, Luke Hillman (@lukehillman86) says that by going with the earlier model, he was able to enjoy a bump in the trim level. But there may be other benefits to going with an older 4Runner that extend beyond leather seats and a sunroof.

“So I was gonna buy a 2025 4Runner," Hillman says. "But the only one that I could afford was like the base model. So instead I got a previous generation with a sunroof and leather interior. And I’m so happy I made this purchase. This, dude, this car is absolutely unbelievable."

“It feels like I’m riding a cloud,” he adds. “For context, I was previously driving a 1998 4Runner, and it was great for what it was. But, oh my God, it was … it’s like driving a ‘90s truck. It was horrible to drive. This thing feels like a Tonka Truck out of a movie. I feel like I’m in a ‘80s movie. Cruising down, like, look at this. Bro. You know what I’m saying? Like, ridiculous."

Hillman may have gotten a more desirable vehicle by getting a last-gen 4Runner. These are the last naturally aspirated fifth-generation 6-cylinder 4Runners on the market. Sixth generation 4Runners sport twin-turbo 4-cylinder engines. While Toyotas turbos are often considered more mechanically reliable than industry peers, temperature control issues worry some drivers.

New Versus Used Cars

In 2018, self-made millionaire David Bauch told CNBC that the “single worst financial decision” a person can make is purchasing a brand new car. This is largely due to the fact that the sharpest period of depreciation on a vehicle’s value occurs within its first five years of production. During that time, vehicles can lose as much as 60% of their value. In fact, new vehicles can lose 20% to 30% of their total value in the first year alone.

This is why Bauch and others have argued against buying brand new vehicles. Financial advisers recommending buying vehicles that are a few years old instead. Finding one fresh off a three-year lease, for instance, can be a great buy.

Many dealerships offer free maintenance packages on these vehicles and lessees are incentivized to keep them in tip-top shape to avoid incurring fees upon return. Depending on the make of the car, a portion of the manufacturer’s warranty could still be left on it.

Gallery: 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Review

2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Exterior Front View

Do Toyota 4Runners Hold Their Value?

That being said, getting a deal on a well-maintained used Toyota may be difficult. That’s largely because the Japanese automaker holds legendary status for dependability. A 2024 J.D. Power study named Toyota and Lexus the most reliable vehicles on the road. The 4Runner was singled out for being the most persistently dependable midsize SUV in its segment.

Further, Consumer Reports ranks Toyota and Lexus as the most worry-free vehicles in the five-10-year-old range.

But these distinctions come with a price, especially with used 4Runners. Kelley Blue Book says it “has long been a resale value all-star,” which it believes will continue. It reports that a brand-new 4Runner purchased for $50,000 will, on average, sell for $7,500 more than similar cars from other manufacturers after five years.

Finance Buzz reports that the 4Runner only depreciates by 30% in five years, which makes it the top-rated midsize vehicle when it comes to resale.

Even with relatively low depreciation, buyers can get a lot more bang for their buck if they opt for a used 4Runner. Per CarGurus, new 2026 4Runners retail anywhere from $42,270 to $58,900.

What do you think?

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Going back a year won’t save that much money. CarGurus says that 2025 models are going for $48,516 on average. 4Runners from 2024 cost $47,053 on average. The price of 2023 models dips more significantly to $43,196, while the average costs of a 2022 is $38,951.

Motor1 has reached out to Hillman via email for further comment. We'll update this if he responds.

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