Hi folks,

I've never owned a Toyota but like everything about them. In Canada here so the 4runners are rare and expensive.

I'm looking at a regularly maintained 2003 SR5 with 105k miles for $13k.

I can get a much lower mileage Envoy or Trailblazer for the same price. Even a lower mileage Highlander.

Is this truck worth it? Would you still buy one with such high mileage or does it start to get expensive real quick?

Owner has maintenance records from day 1.

Lower mileage 4runners hit $20k in no time. Can't afford that.

Thoughts?

lol your asking people on a 4runner site which they would rather have...... kinda biase here if you ask me. well pending condition id take the 4runner but im biased to toyota of course. but you need to ask yourself what your expecting out f it? to be honest these are in different catagories if you ask me even though auto manfactures will have you think otherwise. a 4runner is essentially a truck without bed being a body on frame design much better towing heavy usage rugged. these others you listed are unibody from what i remember better for road going soccer mom stuff. the 4runner will definatly fill these roals fine but if thats all your doing save the money get like a highlander you cant go wrong with toyota vehicle lifespans. i just traded my 90 4unner with 211000 on it for another toyota and believe me it was put through hell and back. i love my T4R. what are you looking to get out of your next vehicle?

z

is the runner a V-6 or a V-8? as long as the regular maintenance has been kept up with I wouldn't be afraid. Highlander is the same story. The two gm's there are a different story. If they had a V-8 I'd say get those as the newer Vortec V-8s are very good. the I 6 is a strong engine. but these cars were not made to off road as much as a 4runner. I'm also sure the 4runner can tow more as well. however it depends what are you gonna do with it? but if it were up to me I'd get the 4runner.

I was a GM man for a long time until I inherited a '94 Camry with high mileage. It drove better than my new Lumina and after 2 more years of driving it with no problems I sold it for more than my newer GM was worth (to buy a new Toyota of course). I am converted and would have a hard time buying a new or used domestic again. I could buy GMs cheaper and maintenance is cheap, but more frequent, but I was mostly tired of my car being worth less than I owed after 3 years. My '04 Limited is still all original apart from brakes and I could sell it easily (in Canada too) for over $17k. Find me any domestic over 6 years that is still worth as much and hasn't had half its parts replaced.
Plus 105k on a toyota is just "broken in"

Get the 4runner. As long as the history etc etc looks good you wotn be disappointed! I was the same and now i love the 4r. I would even buy another one when my wifes SUV gives up...good luck.

Thanks...I wasn't sure if 105k miles on the 4runner meant some major repair bills or not. The GM's are also body on frame BTW. I've never purchased a used vehicle with that many miles but it does have the regular maintenance records.

We need it to haul a family of 4 plus mountain bikes, canoe, etc., on old logging roads with the odd washout, etc. It won't be a commuter vehicle (wife will drive it).

She thinks I'm crazy to consider a vehicle with that many miles on it, but sounds like nobody here would be too concerned about that. I'll take it for an extended test drive and mech check and go from there.

100k is nothing for a Toyota. I learned the hard way. I had a 90 4runner, never had any issues. Got tired of it, so then I got a 90 GMC Sierra. Had tons of trouble with it, so I sold it and got a 97 4runner. Never had any issues with it, but it wasn't exactly what I wanted, then I had a chance to trade for a 96 Ford Mustang Cobra. Absolutely loved the Cobra, just wasn't reliable. I'm now back in a Toyota, a 03 4runner. I had each vehicle over a year, and mileage was the same (approx 100k, +- 10k) except the 90 4runner which had 225k miles. My current 4runner is at 130k and going strong. Whether we're talking Ford, Chevy, Toyota, whatever, I'd pay more for a vehicle with higher mileage if the owner can provide detailed service records. Some newer vehicles with lower miles haven't been well maintained and they'd be more costly than the higher mileage one. One more thing to think about: the 4runners (v8s) need the timing belt done at ~90k miles. This one should have just had it done, so it's a fresh start. If you bought one with 80k miles, you'd have that to look forward to. It's not major, but it is a fairly expensive maintenance item.

Thanks, great posts. This one has the V6 -- not sure if it has the same maintenance issues as the V8?

It has a timing chain and not a belt like the V-8 however it has 30,000 mile plugs while the V-8 has iridium plugs. I think both are very reliable.

I had a 2008 GMC Yukon with 8,000 miles on it. I traded it in for a 2006 4Runner SE V8 with 34,000 miles. Why? The GMC transmission needed a complete transmission reseal, the rear main engine seal started leaking, three window switches stopped working, and the autostart stopped working. I bought the GM new. Ask me if I EVER will own a GM again.

As far as towing, the Yukon really struggled with my 21 ft wakeboard boat, the 4Runner does not break a sweat. AND, the Yukon got 12 MPG when towing, the 4Runner manages 15.5.

I hate GM vehicles, sorry to offend some but this was the third strike for them.

On the other side of my garage I have a 1990 Toyota Landcrusier FJ62, it's mint, with 217,000 miles on it and I expect it to make it to 400,000 without issue.

Oh in the middle is a Lexus. Haha, all Toyota. Nice to not have to worry about my cars starting and giving me no headaches...just that pesky acceleration LOL!!

Being from Canada I know I've never seen a 4th gen at that price, regardless of km's. If the truck seems to be in good shape (from what I heard it is) I'd say that's a fantastic deal.

And with some of the roads/gear you mentioned you'd be hauling around I'd say it's an easy choice over any of the GM's you're thinking about.

I've owned 3 4Runners, 2 Camry's and a Celica (totaling over 1,000,000 miles so far and my current 4Runner only has 20,000 miles and my son's Camry is still going strong at 177,000 miles) in addition to about 4 or 5 (or more) domesric vehicles. I can honestly say that my Toyotas not only held up 1.5 to 2 times as long as the domestics, but the maintenance outlay for non-preventive work was 1/2 what it was for the domestics.

Providing the used T4R you're looking at was maintained reasonably well, I'd definately go for the 4Runner. IMO, it should easily last another 100,000 miles before it begins nickle and diming you like the domestic will in short time.