Just took a trip to the Hudson Valley area of NY in search of my very first 4runner. How far did I drive do you ask, 350 miles, ouch! What a piece of crap she was. Did the pics on CL deceive me, hell yeah they did. Ragged out interior those werent included in the pics. I'll choke that up to my stupidity even though I asked him for them and didnt get. Too excited that I thought I was getting a super nice exterior 97 so didnt care too much about the interior. Shit plastidip job on the bumpers, running boards and anything black. Krylon spray painted chips out of the paint. Door jambs spray painted with the same crap. I think his 8 yo brother bondo'd the rockers. For 150k mile truck yikes, $4500 thought I was in heaven, but what I found was a $2000 hell bound truck at best. The search continues, maybe? What are your stories?

Bought mine on E-Bay. Flew from GR MI to Vegas, drove it back. Bout 4000 miles total.
That was on 06' still have it and it's still rust free. No winters for this one.
A 2000' white 5sp w/65000 mi., factory 3rd row rear seat, sport hood and Ltd flairs.

I also bought my 2012 TE on Ebay and flew to Vegas from San Antonio. And on the way home I stopped off at Thrill on the Hill in Cloudcroft, NM and wheeled it during the event.

I live in the San Francisco area, bought mine in Anchorage, Alaska. It's about a 3300 mile drive

250 miles= Charleston, Sc to Hickory, Nc

Got any advice for someone thinking of doing that, mainly in dealing with getting the car inspected and negotiating with the stealership?

1. Buy a truck within the factory warranty period. And get that looks unmolested and pristine.
2. Use a bank to handle financing. BofA did mine. They paid the seller's finance company directly. This way I knew the previous loan was paid off and the title was checked.
3. Use Ebay and follow all the steps to insure you get buyer protection. Ebay can guarantee the purchase is legit with a money back guarantee. Don't deviate from their guideline or you void their protection policy.

Thanks. With my budget I'm not going to find anything within factory warranty but I'll definitely have to check Ebay out.

You have to do your homework and know your budget. My budget was the reason I was on Ebay. I was able to buy mine at a wholesale price. I was very fortunate.

I was in Anchorage for Christmas so I was able to go to the dealership to see the car and negotiate in person.

I told the dealer what I wanted, what I would pay and let them find it. Hendrick Toyota of Wilmington, NC

Was a pretty decent sales experience.

Nashville to Atlanta


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St Paul, Minneapolis to Detroit, Michigan

Bay area to SoCal

Craigslist, Flew to San Diego, had cashiers checks ready, and drove home to Tucson

Now that I think of it, never test drove any gen of 4runner, before I sat in mine