Robb the Automobile Man (@robbthecarguy) has highlighted yet one more instance as to why Toyotas aren’t the primary alternative for used automotive sellers. Whereas acknowledging their wonderful construct high quality, he says that costs for used autos make profiting off of them a troublesome prospect.
Beforehand, he’s acknowledged that customers on the lookout for Toyotas aggressively low-ball as they try and safe one at low costs. This time, he set his sights on a 2017 Toyota Sequoia. Regardless of his adoration for the truck, he was shocked by the public sale worth for the trip.
Robb delineates his astonishment on the automotive’s pricing in a viral TikTok, and different customers on the app shared his shock.
“Toyota Sequoias are unaffordable. I’m standing subsequent to a 2017 right here at a dealer-only public sale. Solely a seller can purchase this. It is a repossession. I’m gonna present you the way a lot it prices. You’re not going to imagine it,” he begins.
Following this, he begins to provide a tour of the automobile, panning round its exterior. “So it’s a 2017 with 70,000 miles. Stunning. Mint.” Then, he focuses on the automotive’s wheels earlier than assessing the remainder of its aesthetics. “Tires lower than 100 miles. Let’s check out the physique. It’s the Platinum version, and if you recognize, you recognize. It’s completely beautiful,” he says as he approaches the automobile’s rear.
“It’s received the very best motor on the earth. That is by far the very best motor ever made.” Robb factors out the iForce 5.7-liter V8 badging on the Sequoia’s hatch, located proper above its exhaust. “Toyota’s 5.7 is the very best gasoline motor on the earth. There’s not one other motor that comes shut, proper?”
Upon extolling the excellence of the automobile, he then praises its versatility. “All proper, right here it goes. This may tow your boat. This may do something you want it to do. Haul your loved ones, take you on lengthy journeys. That is by far the right automobile, the right automobile.”
Afterward, his video transitions to an accounting of its inside luxuries. His clip reveals off the 2017 Sequoia’s plush cabin, which sports activities brown leather-based seats. “Orange, I wanna say orange however the brown insides … however you get the gist. It’s received the third row. It’s completely beautiful.”
At this level within the clip, Robb then particulars its eye-watering worth on the public sale. “This automobile at a dealer-only public sale is gonna promote for $40,000.” As he reveals this info verbally, an accompanying screenshot of the dealership worth is displayed within the video.
The worth of the automotive, together with different knowledge factors, is featured on this screengrab. Its adjusted MMR (Manheim Market Report) sits at $39,900. This determine is a software that initiatives what a automotive will promote for primarily based on present shopping for traits of specific makes and fashions.
In the identical picture, the analytics reveal that the automotive has accrued 70,170 miles on it. This places the Sequoia properly beneath comparable fashions available on the market. In keeping with the MMR, different 2017 choices could have about 123,130 miles of pavement on their drivetrains.
Robb says that the value of the automobile doesn’t essentially give it a excessive potential for profitability. “Plus charges, they’re in it for $42,000, proper? Meaning they gotta retail this on their lot for $48,000. Plus taxes, tag, license, you’re all in for $50,000.”
When contemplating automobile mannequin years debut months earlier than calendar years, Robb’s level turns into extra outstanding. If a seller have been to buy this Sequoia, they’d be asking customers to shell out $50,000 for an nearly 9-year-old automobile with 70,000 miles.
“Do you suppose that is price $50,000?” he questions.
One can be arduous pressed to argue buying a 2017 mannequin for that quantity. A 2025 Toyota Sequioa carries an MSRP of $64,120 for the bottom mannequin. And since automotive costs are falling after earlier years’ chip scarcity points, patrons might have some wiggle room in the case of bargaining. After all, that is all contingent upon a automobile’s recognition in particular areas.
It’s price mentioning, nonetheless, that the mannequin Robb confirmed off in his video is certainly the highest trim Sequoia. Moreover, the iForce V8 5.7-liter within the 2017 mannequin is of course aspirated, in contrast to the newer iForce V6 3.4 variant, which is filled with twin turbos. Nonetheless, the latter mannequin is a hybrid, which ought to web drivers higher mpg figures.
Nonetheless, it seems that Robb’s gripes with the Sequoia are primarily rooted within the lack of dealership-only public sale worth. That’s as a result of Edmunds options quite a few Platinum four-wheel drive fashions from the identical 12 months at way more digestible worth factors. However they do include extra mileage on the odometer.
This Ohio seller is promoting a 94K-mile, no-accident white variant for $34,995. For those who’re prepared to purchase a highway warrior, there’s one nearing the 200K for $19,700. This specific mannequin has by no means been in a collision and seems in nice aesthetic form. Furthermore, it’s solely ever had one proprietor.
On-line purchasing outcomes for the used one-SUV-to-rule-them-all make one thing readily obvious: Sequoias are troublesome to return by. There are of us on-line who’ve opined about being placed on wait lists to buy the automobile. Once more, that is usually contingent on the desirability of the automobile in a particular space. Getting a maintain of 1, like many sought-after vehicles, was ostensibly palpable on the top of provide chain woes.
Robb’s sticker shock additionally speaks to a extra predictable quandary used automotive sellers face, and it is Toyota’s worth retention. The Japanese automaker often packs probably the most resale bang-for-your-buck throughout its lineup. That is very true in the case of the 20 Automobiles With The Greatest Resale Values.
That’s due to the inherent pricing construction of bigger autos: larger rigs with larger engines often price extra. With larger worth tags, customers particularly need a automobile that will probably be dependable and long-lasting. And in the case of long-term reliability, Toyota is taken into account by many to be the gold normal on this regard, which can make searching for a used one a troublesome prospect for anybody on the lookout for a deal, particularly in the event that they’re making an attempt to flip one for revenue.
Robb’s video prompted a sequence of replies from TikTokers. Many weren’t impressed with the MMR figures for the automobile. “Not price that a lot, perhaps 20k,” one penned.
One other echoed the aforementioned sentiment, highlighting that a lot newer fashions don’t run for that rather more. “Hell nah, $24k at greatest, you will get a 2021 for $53k.” It’s arduous to argue with their logic, both. It must be talked about that newer Toyota Sequoias additionally pack essential infotainment upgrades, reminiscent of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Another person known as into query Toyota’s construct high quality observe report. “Nonetheless leaks, suspension points. Rusted body. Transmission points. Differential points. See them on a regular basis and folks nonetheless fall for the Toyota rip-off.”
One particular person highlighted one other side of the automobile that might damage highway warriors’ wallets—mpg rely. “Good automotive, however too costly and a critical gasoline guzzler.”
However there have been Toyota devotees who chimed in as properly. Like this one 2005 Sequoia proprietor who hit properly over 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 miles of their whip. “I received a 2005 sequoia that’s nonetheless going robust 300k plus miles.”
Motor1 has reached out to Toyota and Robb by way of e mail for additional remark.
