Robb the Car Guy (@robbthecarguy) has highlighted yet another example as to why Toyotas aren’t the first choice for used car dealers. While acknowledging their excellent build quality, he says that prices for used vehicles make profiting off of them a difficult prospect.
Previously, he’s stated that consumers looking for Toyotas aggressively low-ball as they attempt to secure one at low prices. This time, he set his sights on a 2017 Toyota Sequoia. Despite his adoration for the truck, he was shocked by the auction price for the ride.
Robb delineates his astonishment at the car’s pricing in a viral TikTok, and other users on the app shared his surprise.
“Toyota Sequoias are unaffordable. I’m standing next to a 2017 here at a dealer-only auction. Only a dealer can buy this. This is a repossession. I’m gonna show you how much it costs. You’re not going to believe it,” he begins.
Following this, he begins to give a tour of the vehicle, panning around its exterior. “So it’s a 2017 with 70,000 miles. Beautiful. Mint.” Then, he focuses on the car’s wheels before assessing the rest of its aesthetics. “Tires less than a hundred miles. Let’s take a look at the body. It is the Platinum edition, and if you know, you know. It is absolutely gorgeous,” he says as he approaches the vehicle’s rear.
“It’s got the best motor in the world. This is by far the best motor ever made.” Robb points out the iForce 5.7-liter V8 badging on the Sequoia’s hatch, situated right above its exhaust. “Toyota’s 5.7 is the best gas motor in the world. There is not another motor that comes close, right?”
Upon extolling the excellence of the vehicle, he then praises its versatility. “All right, here it goes. This can tow your boat. This can do anything you need it to do. Haul your family, take you on long trips. This is by far the perfect vehicle, the perfect vehicle.”
Afterward, his video transitions to an accounting of its interior luxuries. His clip shows off the 2017 Sequoia’s plush cabin, which sports brown leather seats. “Orange, I wanna say orange but the brown insides … but you get the gist. It’s got the third row. It is absolutely gorgeous.”
At this point in the clip, Robb then details its eye-watering price at the auction. “This vehicle at a dealer-only auction is gonna sell for $40,000.” As he reveals this information verbally, an accompanying screenshot of the dealership price is displayed in the video.
The price of the car, along with other data points, is featured in this screengrab. Its adjusted MMR (Manheim Market Report) sits at $39,900. This figure is a tool that projects what a car will sell for based on current buying trends of particular makes and models.
In the same image, the analytics reveal that the car has accrued 70,170 miles on it. This puts the Sequoia well below similar models on the market. According to the MMR, other 2017 offerings will have about 123,130 miles of pavement on their drivetrains.
Robb says that the price of the vehicle doesn’t necessarily give it a high potential for profitability. “Plus fees, they’re in it for $42,000, right? That means they gotta retail this on their lot for $48,000. Plus taxes, tag, license, you’re all in for $50,000.”
When considering vehicle model years debut months before calendar years, Robb’s point becomes more prominent. If a dealer were to purchase this Sequoia, they’d be asking consumers to shell out $50,000 for an almost 9-year-old vehicle with 70,000 miles.
“Do you think this is worth $50,000?” he questions.
One would be hard pressed to argue purchasing a 2017 model for that amount. A 2025 Toyota Sequioa carries an MSRP of $64,120 for the base model. And since car prices are falling after previous years’ chip shortage issues, buyers could have some wiggle room when it comes to bargaining. Of course, this is all contingent upon a vehicle’s popularity in specific regions.
It’s worth mentioning, however, that the model Robb showed off in his video is indeed the top trim Sequoia. Furthermore, the iForce V8 5.7-liter in the 2017 model is naturally aspirated, unlike the newer iForce V6 3.4 variant, which is packed with twin turbos. However, the latter model is a hybrid, which should net drivers better mpg figures.
However, it appears that Robb’s gripes with the Sequoia are primarily rooted in the lack of dealership-only auction value. That’s because Edmunds features numerous Platinum four-wheel drive models from the same year at much more digestible price points. But they do come with more mileage on the odometer.
This Ohio dealer is selling a 94K-mile, no-accident white variant for $34,995. If you’re willing to buy a road warrior, there’s one nearing the 200K for $19,700. This particular model has never been in a collision and appears in great aesthetic shape. Moreover, it’s only ever had one owner.
Online shopping results for the used one-SUV-to-rule-them-all make something readily apparent: Sequoias are difficult to come by. There are folks online who’ve opined about being put on wait lists to purchase the vehicle. Again, this is often contingent on the desirability of the vehicle in a specific area. Getting a hold of one, like many sought-after cars, was ostensibly palpable at the height of supply chain woes.
Robb’s sticker shock also speaks to a more predictable quandary used car sellers face, and it’s Toyota’s value retention. The Japanese automaker usually packs the most resale bang-for-your-buck across its lineup. This is especially true when it comes to the 20 Cars With The Best Resale Values.
That’s because of the inherent pricing structure of larger vehicles: bigger rigs with bigger engines usually cost more. With higher price tags, consumers especially want a vehicle that will be reliable and long-lasting. And when it comes to long-term reliability, Toyota is considered by many to be the gold standard in this regard, which may make shopping for a used one a difficult prospect for anyone looking for a deal, especially if they’re attempting to flip one for profit.
Robb’s video prompted a series of replies from TikTokers. Many weren’t impressed with the MMR figures for the vehicle. “Not worth that much, maybe 20k,” one penned.
Another echoed the aforementioned sentiment, highlighting that much newer models don’t run for that much more. “Hell nah, $24k at best, you can get a 2021 for $53k.” It’s hard to argue with their logic, either. It should be mentioned that newer Toyota Sequoias also pack crucial infotainment upgrades, such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Someone else called into question Toyota’s build quality track record. “Still leaks, suspension issues. Rusted frame. Transmission issues. Differential issues. See them all the time and people still fall for the Toyota scam.”
One person highlighted another aspect of the vehicle that could hurt road warriors’ wallets—mpg count. “Nice car, but too expensive and a serious gas guzzler.”
But there were Toyota devotees who chimed in as well. Like this one 2005 Sequoia owner who hit well over a quarter of a million miles in their whip. “I got a 2005 sequoia that is still going strong 300k plus miles.”
Motor1 has reached out to Toyota and Robb via email for further comment.
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