Hey guys,

Seeing as my F150 is 2wd, and is getting up there for a Ford (150k miles) I've been looking into 4Runners. Needless to say, these things DO NOT depreciate much! I'm considering a 2010 to ease the burden of having a car payment again (F150 is paid off, car payment won't kill me though). My only issue is it has 100k miles. The price is right, and according to carfax is just recently had a full service inspection done where they completed "recommended maintenance", checked driveshaft/fluids/power steering, etc. They also serviced the brakes and changed front wheel bearing/hub. Is there anything else I should be looking for and/or ask them about? Just don't want to get a new car only to throw more money at it, my dad and brother both have older 4runner/Tacoma and I know those things seem to run forever on minimal maintenance. Thanks in advance!

Matt

Even though the 5th gens have not had the chance to prove their reliability (just too new), I bought a 3rd gen with 117k on it and kept it for 7 years while putting an additional 100k on it. Sold it with zero issues, only thing I did to it was the timing belt.

I think it all depends on how many miles you plan to put on it a year. If between 10k-15k, it should last you a long time.

Edited to add: My dad's '98 F150 went 330k miles with minimal issues...thing was a beast FWIW.

if it has been maintained, i wouldn't even blink an eye at purchasing if the price was right. To verify whether it was maintained get a prebuy inspection by a reputable mechanic of your choosing. ODO fraud is out there and if this thing has had significantly more than 100k on it you will probably want to know that.

if it wasn't maintained, well i would pass on it. there are a ton of 4runners out there, you just need to find one that was well maintained...

Ask the owner how he used the car, if its a private party sale. Look under the car for signs of heavy off-road use. Look at the interior for obvious wear from driving it for 100k. If those are highway miles than it's worth looking at it closer. If those 100k miles were off-road in part then chances are it's been hammered pretty hard.
That's a lot of miles for a 5 year old car. That's around 20k miles per year. That may be almost half of the useful life of the engine, diff' and trans, if you consider at 200k any of the major components may need replacement. And at 200k the car will be worth a lot less. Check Kelly Blue Book for the value of this car and for a 10 to 15 year old car with 200k, which is what it will be after you've owned it for a while.
Toyota 4Runners hold their value very well. At 5 years old it should be worth about 65% of original purchase price with normal miles, say 60k miles. That's according to lists, reviews and articles of resale values for various SUVs, cars and trucks I've read. This makes buying a new car worthwhile. It will hold it's value for 5 years, at which time you can resell it for 65% of what you paid. Or keep it and drive it another 5 years.

Mine has been great to me, don't get me wrong. It's just I've moved to TX, am now into rock climbing/mtn biking/etc. and would like to have 4wd for peace of mind. Almost getting stuck in mildly wet topsoil is embarrassing in a truck Plus, the cam phasers are starting to make noise

Don't get ME wrong, i highly recommend 4Runners over F150's...just trying to keep it objective

100K for a 4 runner is just broken in. I would recommend having a Toyota dealership print up vehicle maintenance history as well. This lists all maintenance performed by any dealership. You can view and look for any out of the ordinary repairs-accident-damage etc.

I bought a 4thGen at 87K, having two prior owners from same dealership. All maintenance records checked out. It was a great ride trouble free for the 30K I drove it. Liked it so much, have a 14TEP and sold to my nephew. He uses it for work/play and it has somewhere around 200K running like a champ.

mc813, are you stealing my thunder...? jk


December of last yr, my f150 with 130K was aging, yet running great, just had a tune up, full service everywhere, just needed a 4WD.

i was at first looking at a very used GX460, 90k or up...but got nervous about the air suspension stories....backed up to a 4th gen T4R...but wait, they dont pay me in cheese, why not go for a used 5th gen. that was the plan...and then, poof, there it was, a very lightly used, left over formal rental 2014 5th gen, fully serviced by the dealer with 20K on the clocks, and full factory warrenty. yes, i spent more than the 20K i was thinking of, but with the new-newer Runners costing upwards of 35K and more, to find this SR5 at only 28.5 was a steal. And knowing that it was almost brand new really makes me smile whenever i walk up to it

yes, Runners are legendary, and should give you 200K and more...but...keep your eyes open, you can probably find something that still fits your wallet, with less miles, and will be exactly what you want.

Look closely, if thats the one you want, then you'll be happy with it, but after a yr of looking, a gem was dropped into my lap, and i am very thankful for it.

Yeah, the killer is the one in question has ALL the options I'd want if I had the $ to order new and pick and choose. Still waiting to hear back from the dealer...

Put in the VIN at the toyota owners website, lots of service history records available. The previous owner even bought small things such as bulbs from the toyota dealer, had tires rotated every other oil change, etc...

This weekend I was shooting one of the events that had a few photographers hired.
One of them was driving a lifted '12 4Runner, and we ended up chatting since him and I were - as one of the event goers classified us - twinsies.
He had 210k miles on his truck, and the only thing he had to replace was stuff that was of the aftermarket nature (he did mention that all the maintenance was done on schedule).

About to hit 100K and no issues as I have kept regular maintenance, etc...

Only things I have repaired are aftermarket items...suspension.

My old GX had over 100K and the dealer bought it from us for himself personally...said it is just breaking in...lol.

Good to know hoping to hear back soon so I can finalize and pick it up this weekend

I have 105k on my 2010' and other than a fuel sending unit. Have had no issues. But I do keep up with all maintenance and fluids...

Just shy of 95k.