I've been talking about getting rid of the GTI for a long time now, basically since I moved to Colorado. I love my GTI but even with a hitch mounted bike rack, snow tires, and space bubble on the roof racks for carrying ski gear and stuff it just wasn't practical for my lifestyle since moving to the mountains.
When I was working at VW I always kept on eye on traded in trucks and SUVs that would fit my needs but they were always high milage, beat up, or overpriced (even at employee pricing, there was a reason they literally couldn't sell cars). When I switched and moved to Audi the cars people trade in are a night and day difference from what Volkswagen would get. I've found 4-5 vehicles I was interested in within my first couple weeks there. after driving a few vehicles and taking a couple home overnight a couple times I finally pulled the trigger on something new (to me).
We have a policy that used cars will not be in our inventory for over 60 days. It starts counting down from the day its listed for sale, on day 61 it gets sent to auction. I got lucky and finally got around to talking management about a 4Runner on day 58. Because it was so close to getting sent to auction it was priced literally $500 below the cost of what they had into it (trade in + inspection/maintenance + detail costs). I don't know if they realize it but the computer system at work for some reason has given me access to the cost into every used car. My wife and I drove it and a 2014 GMC Terrain Denali V6 AWD loaded with under 4K miles on it. I always wanted a Terrain, I love how they look.... but then I drove one. The next day I took the Toyota home overnight. I got to a chance to drive it up a mountain road, in the dark, in the rain and verified that it will infact fit in my garage and I can open the doors. The next day was day 60 of being in inventory. It was now or never for them, make a deal or auction it and sell it real cheap. I told them my wife has a hard time paying that much money for a vehicle with a cracked mirror housing and some minor bumper damage so the they brought the price down another $1000 as they aren't aloud to keep it as dealer owned vehicle long enough for it to go to the body shop to get fixed.
So....
2011 Toyota 4Runner Limited V6 4WD Automatic, Silver exterior, black interior, smart key (Kessey - leave the key in your pocket, doors unlock when you touch the handle and it's push button start, door lock when you touch the outside of the handle before walking away), heated full power leather seats, navigation, voice recognition, bluetooth phone, bluetooth streaming audio, one touch up and down windows, dual zone climate control, 2" hitch, 5,000 lb tow rating, 4 and 7 pin trailer wiring, trailer brake, steering wheel controls, sunroof, homelink garage door buttons, 20" alloy wheels, 15 speaker JBL system, running boards, heated mirrors, roof rack cross bars, auto dimming rear view mirror, 6 disc changer, Aux jack, USB jack, Ipod jack, backup camera, 4 wheel disc, front and rear 12v and 120v power outlets, X-reas sport suspension, side curtain airbags, knee airbags, front airbags, side airbags, 29,000 miles. They even have the original window sticker (for over $43,000).
I bought it and traded in the GTI yesterday. I got to take both home last night so I could take the bike rack, space bubble, and roof racks off as well as clean out the car, delete all my info out of the GPS ect. I'm going to come in on Saturday and put it back to mostly stock (I'm going to leave the intercooler, tow hitch, wheels/tires, and interior LEDs. I'm going to take off the Unitronic downpipe, jetted J 02 spacer, intake, throttle body pipe, turbo outlet pipe, R8 coils, I already too off the coilovers).
Test drive home overnight
New vs same age but new to me
There are 3 things I will miss... the power to weight ratio, the by xenon HID's with AFS, and oddly enough the 3 blinks from the turn signals when partially depressing the lever.
I'm pretty excited, time to look for a 4 bike hitch mount, Weathertech floor mats, and mud flaps.
When I was working at VW I always kept on eye on traded in trucks and SUVs that would fit my needs but they were always high milage, beat up, or overpriced (even at employee pricing, there was a reason they literally couldn't sell cars). When I switched and moved to Audi the cars people trade in are a night and day difference from what Volkswagen would get. I've found 4-5 vehicles I was interested in within my first couple weeks there. after driving a few vehicles and taking a couple home overnight a couple times I finally pulled the trigger on something new (to me).
We have a policy that used cars will not be in our inventory for over 60 days. It starts counting down from the day its listed for sale, on day 61 it gets sent to auction. I got lucky and finally got around to talking management about a 4Runner on day 58. Because it was so close to getting sent to auction it was priced literally $500 below the cost of what they had into it (trade in + inspection/maintenance + detail costs). I don't know if they realize it but the computer system at work for some reason has given me access to the cost into every used car. My wife and I drove it and a 2014 GMC Terrain Denali V6 AWD loaded with under 4K miles on it. I always wanted a Terrain, I love how they look.... but then I drove one. The next day I took the Toyota home overnight. I got to a chance to drive it up a mountain road, in the dark, in the rain and verified that it will infact fit in my garage and I can open the doors. The next day was day 60 of being in inventory. It was now or never for them, make a deal or auction it and sell it real cheap. I told them my wife has a hard time paying that much money for a vehicle with a cracked mirror housing and some minor bumper damage so the they brought the price down another $1000 as they aren't aloud to keep it as dealer owned vehicle long enough for it to go to the body shop to get fixed.
So....
2011 Toyota 4Runner Limited V6 4WD Automatic, Silver exterior, black interior, smart key (Kessey - leave the key in your pocket, doors unlock when you touch the handle and it's push button start, door lock when you touch the outside of the handle before walking away), heated full power leather seats, navigation, voice recognition, bluetooth phone, bluetooth streaming audio, one touch up and down windows, dual zone climate control, 2" hitch, 5,000 lb tow rating, 4 and 7 pin trailer wiring, trailer brake, steering wheel controls, sunroof, homelink garage door buttons, 20" alloy wheels, 15 speaker JBL system, running boards, heated mirrors, roof rack cross bars, auto dimming rear view mirror, 6 disc changer, Aux jack, USB jack, Ipod jack, backup camera, 4 wheel disc, front and rear 12v and 120v power outlets, X-reas sport suspension, side curtain airbags, knee airbags, front airbags, side airbags, 29,000 miles. They even have the original window sticker (for over $43,000).
I bought it and traded in the GTI yesterday. I got to take both home last night so I could take the bike rack, space bubble, and roof racks off as well as clean out the car, delete all my info out of the GPS ect. I'm going to come in on Saturday and put it back to mostly stock (I'm going to leave the intercooler, tow hitch, wheels/tires, and interior LEDs. I'm going to take off the Unitronic downpipe, jetted J 02 spacer, intake, throttle body pipe, turbo outlet pipe, R8 coils, I already too off the coilovers).
Test drive home overnight
New vs same age but new to me
There are 3 things I will miss... the power to weight ratio, the by xenon HID's with AFS, and oddly enough the 3 blinks from the turn signals when partially depressing the lever.
I'm pretty excited, time to look for a 4 bike hitch mount, Weathertech floor mats, and mud flaps.
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