The Sequoia is a big vehicle. More room inside that a Land Cruiser. It's a real value, used, but it's nowhere near the same in terms of materials or build quality. Sequoia was designed to be built in the USA, and to compete with the big GMC SUV's, the Ford Expedition, etc. It was not designed to retail at $70K plus, 10 years ago. And it was not built in Toyota’s best factory in Japan. The LC was. Easy to assume the Tundra, and Sequoia are close to the same as the LC. Not really.
They depreciate more because for some reason they have also escaped the others in this kind of strong used niche market. The others hopd up well in price. Also, the guys who I know who work on them, and some who "flip" them all say that they are a great, great value.....but in the same sentence "not a LC." Of course, the LC takes a huge hit in the first few years. They it starts to slow down. And they begin to hold value.....
We all know that a generation one V6 Tacoma, seemingly in silver, is one of the most popular vehicles in mountain towns. For good reason. They have almost a cult like following. They last, they run well, etc. Same thing with the first three generations of a 4Runner. Today, the price of a new Tacoma is very steep, and a new 4Runner seems to be a very poor value, as a new vehicle. Then again I saw a $68K Explorer the other day! I'm not convinced that the new ones will retain value anywhere near the older ones. 5-10 years ago a mint used Tacoma or 4 Runner was a very smart investment. We drove a Tacoma from 50K miles to 225K, and sold it for $3500 more than we paid for it. I’m in this market, strictly to buy used. If I were buying new or leasing, I would cast a bigger net. Maybe a domestic truck.
I don't think Landcruisers are overpriced on the used market....if you know how to buy, and buy wisely. Our last three came from Phoenix, Denver, and Texas. I drove each home to Boston. You can buy a very, very nice 1998-2007 LC for less than you might pay for a 4Runner, and for maybe $5K more than a similar aged Tacoma.
I think that one of our recent ones, which we have owned for over 5 years, and put 50K on, could be sold for more that we paid for it. Or close.
The Tacoma and 4 Runners are very expensive, IMO. Check out what Generation One trucks, with automatic transmissions {not my preference} have brought on Bring a Trailer lately. Wow. We have one in the family, with a lot of miles on it. Were it a 125K truck, I think it would be sold to take advantage of the market....and replaced with one that has more miles on it.
High mileage is not an issue on many of these, if they have been taken care of. Or, if you can determine exactly what they need....and negotiate. We had dinner with a friend who just traded in a 3 series BMW, with 58K “because I like to trade ‘em in around 60K. My dad always did that.” His dad would be 100 if alive. I want to buy that guy’s LC!
While we are on this Toyota conversation, one of the most durable "cars" out there were the first and second generation Highlanders. Nothing too exciting about them. Nice V6 as an option, and the "limited" trim {leather, etc.} was nice. I know more than a few that are looking and running almost like new at about 300K miles.
Generally speaking, if you buy one on of these you keep it. Like people once did with say the 2000-2004 Outbacks. I still think those were absolute appliances, but really good ones. Note the case as much with the next generation, in our family.
We have one that may be sold soon, as it is mint, a desired set of options {XT, with the turbo}, low miles and perfect service records. Down to using Motul fluids since new. My daughter likes it, and it’s been great. But she has been asked to sell, in a high end ski town, and the price is frankly TOO HIGH.
So, I think she’ll sell. The car is not that durable, pretty needy, and a few expensive things may pop up. She does not want one, but she should buy 2.5 Sequoias for what she’ll net. We’ll see. She’s good with cars.
She may buy a LC. Loves ours, when home. And had driven cross country at least three times in one. Great on the highway.
Enough........HaHa