Hi All,
I'm strongly considering paying what I think to be a steep price on a 1999 Limited.

Car in question:
1999 4R Limited automatic, dark green with tan leather, 180k miles

Exterior: genuine 8.5/10, with a small clearcoat patch 2", and superficial scratches, but recently detailed and waxed, just looks great for a 20 year car.

Interior: I've never seen one with a pristine drivers seat but it is. I don't think it's a re-upholster, but if it is, it's top notch.

Underbody: Near flawless, looks like a new mexico car.

Under hood: super clean

Mechanical: flawless, with a bunch of maintenance (eg timing belts, new exhaust) all done within 10k

State: Virginia

Price: $9k

Am I out of my gourd for considering driving 6 hours to go get this car? It's completely stock and appears to have never left tarmac. It would be the base for a family overlanding vehicle.

Thanks!

I think by the sound of it, I would jump to look and test drive. If it really is in great shape/feel, I'd offer 8k, if it's less than expectations, 7k... If it's like all others, offer fair market value.

I'd rather spend extra in getting it, than maintaining it to bring it up to standards... It's easier labor wise.

4WD? Does it have an E-locker? (most Limiteds I've noticed come e-locked).

This isn't DavisAutoSports out of Virginia that is selling this, is it? Careful with those guys. They spray paint over rust. I've seen it on more than one of their trucks they sell.

Yep it's the Limited bone stock w/ E-Locker. And yep it's Davis. The underbody looked so much like a desert car (superficial surface rust here and there, but perfect chassis) that I was hoping against hope that what I saw was what the actual rust levels are:

1999 Toyota 4Runner | Davis Autosports

At least this helps me rule it out. I'm beginning to suspect I'll be stuck driving my Forester forever ha ha.

I'm going to get flak for saying what I said as there are guys on here that think they sell clean trucks, but I personally don't buy into what they do.

My problem with these guys is they recondition so much of the truck that you have no idea on how to gauge what the truck's history was. That and they grossly overprice their inventory.

That being said, the frame on this truck is solid, though. I can see high and low spots where they have spray canned parts of the frame, probably to just cover the surface rust (god forbid it has surface rust), but it looks good otherwise.
Front bumper has been resprayed and they painted over the grill which should be black. Not a deal breaker, but you can tell that they rushed things. Also for $9K, I want rear headrests.

My opinion aside, this truck may still be a worthy contender for you.

It looks really nice to me, and is probably worth 8k if everything they are saying is true, but having been in the car business I’m always very suspicious of anything a dealer says. I’ve seen some very shady stuff from dealers (bondo over frame rust, poorly done “maintenance” etc)

Not saying these guys are doing anything like that, just warning you to be cautious before spending that kind of money

Thanks ToyotaBrah,
Living in the rust belt with a vehicle that LOVES to rust (Subarus start to rust in the first week they come off the line, I swear), I think I'm probably going to look for a final-year 4th gen from the southwest, then NHOil the heck out of it religiously.

It means putting my dream off at least another year, but it's probably worth it after all the rust horrors I've been through with my Forester.

Thanks!

This vehicle has had 9 owners and accident reported according to Carfax.

Other than the above what other concerns do you have? If you want to continue can you have them do a walk around with you while on Facetime?

Cant comment on these guys though they do churn a lot of 3rd gen runners through there. I am in VA but not local otherwise I'd do a driveby for you.

Thanks for pointing out the history of this one - it sure has been passed around. Good call!

Here is one very close to me. I am NOT recommending it just offering as an option since havent seen it, think price a bit high and has 2 owners and damage reported but no accidents and similar mileage to Davis one.

1999 Toyota 4Runner - JNM Auto Sales Leesburg, VA 20175

If you google 1999 4runner in va, it appears this truck was at Pearson Toyota in Newport news, Va with 178k a while ago.

It’s a known fact that these 4runner are very damn reliable. With that said, the condition will dictates the price. Make sure you do your homework, check everything about the vehicle. $9k is a large sum of money, but how many vehicles out there that will probably still on the road 20 years from now and probably appreciate in price.

Yeah, it definitely looks like they've done some rush rust cover up. and that spare is a little too rusty to believe that the rest of the frame looks that "good." Overall with its history I think your decision to pass and find a true western rig is the right one. It will for sure pay off in the end. If this one was closer I'd definitely say take a look, but not for a 6 hour drive.

Just bought mine in nor-cal for 7200 like 6months ago, sounds like almost the exact same truck aside from the accident..

just wait. get one from a seller you can trust, with a frame and engine you can have faith in. there's plenty of them out there for <$9k. all the work they did to make that thing extra pretty you can do yourself.