04-18-2016, 02:35 PM
Lauren and I went and test drove one yesterday. We intended to check out a 2002 3rd Gen Limited but it was sold by the time we got there. It was probably sold when I called and asked about it too, but whatever.
We took a 2008 SR5 with ~80k and not much in the way of options around the block a few times and both liked the way it drove. You really don't feel the weight and size of the thing in the steering which is nice, but you are definitely reminded of it when you step on the brake, at least when you've been used to driving a GTI and E36. They also had an 05 V8 Limited with ~85k sitting in the service shop that wasn't ready to be test driven, but he let us poke around in it. The interior is definitely a HUGE improvement between trim levels, the SR5 feels tinny and has hard plastic everywhere, the Limited is much more solid and insulated feeling. After entertaining our request for a non-committal test drive he dragged us into the showroom to make offer us an OTD price of $18,500 on the 11 year old V8 coupled with a slightly offensively low trade offer on the Kia. :lol: We politely thanked him for his time and GTFO'd.
After that experience I'm thinking we'll either go for the cream-of-the-crop 3rd Gen Limited with low mileage (100-150k) for $8-9500 OR we'll try to find a hell of a deal on a Limited 4th Gen (with either the V6 or V8). I've been able to kick up a couple in the 9-11k range that don't have a completely insane amount of mileage on them, roughly 160-170k which is apparently just past break-in on Toyotas, I'm not used to this reliability thing...
So anyway, sorry to thread jack. If anyone can find 3rd Gen 'runner for Lauren and I to test drive let me know, its been surprisingly hard to find one of the little bastards at a dealership that doesn't get sold before I can schedule a test drive, and I'm hesitant to waste the time of some poor dude on CL trying to sell one privately if I don't have cash-in-hand. Once we find one we'll make our final decision and list the Kia for sale. :thumbup:
We took a 2008 SR5 with ~80k and not much in the way of options around the block a few times and both liked the way it drove. You really don't feel the weight and size of the thing in the steering which is nice, but you are definitely reminded of it when you step on the brake, at least when you've been used to driving a GTI and E36. They also had an 05 V8 Limited with ~85k sitting in the service shop that wasn't ready to be test driven, but he let us poke around in it. The interior is definitely a HUGE improvement between trim levels, the SR5 feels tinny and has hard plastic everywhere, the Limited is much more solid and insulated feeling. After entertaining our request for a non-committal test drive he dragged us into the showroom to make offer us an OTD price of $18,500 on the 11 year old V8 coupled with a slightly offensively low trade offer on the Kia. :lol: We politely thanked him for his time and GTFO'd.
After that experience I'm thinking we'll either go for the cream-of-the-crop 3rd Gen Limited with low mileage (100-150k) for $8-9500 OR we'll try to find a hell of a deal on a Limited 4th Gen (with either the V6 or V8). I've been able to kick up a couple in the 9-11k range that don't have a completely insane amount of mileage on them, roughly 160-170k which is apparently just past break-in on Toyotas, I'm not used to this reliability thing...
So anyway, sorry to thread jack. If anyone can find 3rd Gen 'runner for Lauren and I to test drive let me know, its been surprisingly hard to find one of the little bastards at a dealership that doesn't get sold before I can schedule a test drive, and I'm hesitant to waste the time of some poor dude on CL trying to sell one privately if I don't have cash-in-hand. Once we find one we'll make our final decision and list the Kia for sale. :thumbup:
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S