My budget is around 12k max but honestly the market feels so inflated right now that even beaters are going for way too much. I just want something that isnt going to leave me stranded on the highway. Are there actually any decent sites left where people arent just trying to scam you or flip literal junk heaps? Should I just stick to the bigger dealer sites like Carvana or are those just as bad with hidden fees? I just want to find a solid car without losing my mind...

I have been doing a ton of research lately and it is just confusing. I read a bunch of articles saying that used car prices are finally cooling off and inventory is way better than it was a year ago, but then I check local listings and the prices for Toyotas with over 100k miles are still honestly insane? Like, my logic was that with interest rates being where they are, maybe fewer people are buying, but it feels like the seller market is still super stubborn. Plus I saw some forum posts suggesting that Toyota prices specifically might not drop as much as other brands because people hold onto them forever. Does anyone actually think the market is gonna shift in the next few weeks or am I just setting myself up for disappointment by waiting?

So I was looking at Autotrader, but then I checked out Facebook Marketplace because people kept telling me the prices were better there. My logic was that a private seller might have better service records than some shady dealer lot, but now Im just overwhelmed. Should I stick to the big sites like Carvana or Cars.com for some peace of mind or is the extra money they charge just a total rip-off? Im torn between just biting the bullet on a dealer markup or risking it with a random person on Marketplace who might be hiding a blown head gasket. Does anyone actually have a go-to place that isnt full of bots or overpriced junk...

I'm specifically looking for something solid for my weekend trips out to the trails near Bend. My current sedan just isnt cutting it for the forest service roads anymore and I need the clearance. I was looking at the 4th gens because I heard the 2.5L 2AR-FE engine is basically immortal but then I started seeing stuff about the torque converter shudder on the 2013-2015 models and now I'm second guessing everything. I even looked at a 2016 last weekend but the guy didn't even know when the diff fluid was last changed and it had this weird musty smell in the headliner like he tried to cover up a leak.

Here's what I'm hunting for if anyone is looking to part with theirs:

• Budget is firm at $21,000 cash in hand


• Needs to be AWD (obviously, for the snow and mud)


• Preferably under 120k miles but I can go higher if the service records are legit


• No salvage titles or major accidents please


• Ideally the XLE trim because I really want the sunroof and the better seats for my back

I've been scouring Craigslist and Marketplace for weeks but it feels like everything is either a scam or sold within five minutes of being posted. I'm really trying to avoid the dealerships and their crazy doc fees if I can help it. Does anyone here have a lead on a well-maintained one or maybe you're thinking of upgrading to the Prime and want to sell your old one? I'm ready to pull the trigger pretty much immediately if the car is right. Just really curious if anyone knows of a specific year I should actually be targeting instead because some people say stay away from the 2019s due to the first-year-redesign gremlins and I really dont want to deal with transmission hunting issues while I'm trying to get to a trailhead...

I spent all last night on FB Marketplace and Craigslist and I found a couple that looked okay but then I started reading about these battery drain issues on the 2019-2021 models and then some other site said to avoid the 2013-2015 ones because of transmission shudder. Now Im just sitting here staring at my screen completely paralyzed because I dont know which years are actually safe and every local dealer I call says they dont have anything on the lot under $30k which is insane for a used car.

If anyone knows someone selling one privately around Pflugerville or Round Rock please let me know. I really need to get this sorted by Monday so I dont have to keep asking my sister for rides. Does anyone have leads on listings that arent just those contact for price bait and switch ads? I just want a reliable car for work...

My budget is $20,000 tops since I am a student here in Colorado. I saw some online for that price but they have like 180k miles which sounds like a lot to me? Sorry if this is a silly question but is that too many miles for a Toyota? I really dont want to get stuck in the mountains with a broken engine... help?

I'm getting really hyped about getting back on the trails this summer and I have a trip planned for July to the Cascades so the clock is ticking a bit and I really want to have the rig built out by then. I found this one listing for a 2012 Trail Edition about three hours away and it looks super clean in the photos and the price is right at $18,500 which is perfect for my budget. The guy says the frame is solid and it has the KDSS system which I know can be a pain if it leaks but he says it's dry.

The weird thing is he mentioned the 4WD actuator is stuck and only works if you tap it with a hammer while someone else shifts it inside? Ive dealt with the older manual transfer cases but I haven't messed with the electronic ones much on the early 5th gens. Is this actually just a simple solenoid issue or am I looking at pulling the whole transfer case apart just to get it into 4Lo? Also does anyone know if $20k is even realistic for a reliable 5th gen anymore or should I just suck it up and look for a super clean V8 4th gen instead even with the gas prices being what they are...