1999 SR5 good buy?

[RiverRat37]

Hey guys this is my first post on the forum... Just want to say thanks for all the helpful info look forward to hanging around here for a while. I'm a previous 4runner owner, had a 1986 4runner that was almost unstoppable but due to economy I had to sell it.... Now I'm back in the market looking for a 3rd gen runner. I found this one locally and can get it but I've been out of the game for so long I don't know what is a good deal and what isn't... It's a 1999 SR5 with 103k miles... Fully loaded with sunroof, etc. I have driven it and drives very well and 4x4 shifts as it should. Transfer case is standard with no rear locker. I can get it for $8600. Good deal? Here are some pics of it. Thanks for taking time to read this and any feedback is very much appreciated.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Looks clean but can't really say if it's a good deal or not. How's the maintenance history? Has it ever been hit? How are the tires? etc...

 

[RiverRat37]

Small used car lot so no real record of maintenance history. Carfax shows light damage to rear end back in 2000 or 2001. I checked under rear and everything is fine. They just replaced the rear bumper. To me carfax is kinda useless but it did show to be clean other than the light rear damage. Tires are half tread. Thanks

 

[Opi]

its just me personally but i will never buy another vehicle thats been in an accident of any kind. too many out there to settle for something thats been hit. i would keep seaching thats not really a great deal anyway.

 

[ogden8]

Take a look at the underside of the hood to see if a sticker indicates the timing belt has been done. If not, you check the service book that came in the vehicle binder, and if that indicates nothing, look at all the bolts in the front of the engine and radiator, if the bolts have been removed, then it's a good chance it's been done.

I would fight the hell out of the 8,600 though. Use the accident and the timing belt as ammo against the price. Tell the salesman it costs 1200 dollars to do the timing belt. If he calls the dealership they will quote him close to that.

 

[8sm]

IMO the price seemed alittle high until reading its on a dealership lot which explains the price. The low miles is a plus yet you must consider all of the above mention conditions. As we all have witnessed a working car salesman will tell you what you want to here. Their motivation is a getting it sold. I agree with the above accessment, there are to many fish in the sea to consider a 4R with known damage. Now a trained eye can evaulate the vehicles condition much better. If it's the best you can find and you're in hurry, then I still wouldn't buy it. Jusy say'in.........good luck

Regards, 8sm

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I wouldn't pay that either given the previous hit and unknow history. I also wouldn't be too afraid of miles on these things either. Sometimes a little higher miles means it's had the 2nd round of big ticket items replaced. (Timing belt, water pump, ball joints, etc.)

 

[Opi]

where are you located? i wanna check out what i can find for you in your area

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Have a private trusted mechanic give it the onceover and look for rust issues underneath.
With regards to it being "hit" maybe have that area inspected well and see if there was real damage and not just a small dink on the rear;I backed my 4Runner into the garage and pushed the bumper in about an inch and have since fixed it but there's nothing that has been compromised or would affect value. If it all checks out and you feel good about it then see if you can talk them down a bit and see if you can get it under $8000 and you should have a good deal on your hands. The reality is that 3rd gens as of late are holding their value especially with low miles (100k is low for a '99) and alot of owners are hanging onto the real nice ones.
Don't let a good truck go even if it costs a bit more since really nice 3rd gens are getting a bit rarer on the used market.

I have 168k on my '99 and I know I could get over $7000 for mine (being a Sport model and in Colorado) in it's current condition (which is very good) most in part is I have a record of everything that been done to it and while it's seen it's share of off-roading it has been very well cared for and if I was the buyer it would make me more comfortable about buying any used car.

 

[RiverRat37]

A mechanic friend of mine went with me to check it out and drive it. He said that everything looked and sounded as it should. I'm not sure about the timing belt or water pump. Engine sounds good and tight is all I can say as of now. As for the light damage from the carfax report, you can plainly tell that only the rear bumper was replaced. All brackets and reinforcements appear to be original. No rust and undercarriage appears clean, pretty dingy but clean with NO leaks. Also in my area its hard to find a decent 4R with low miles and at the price range I'm on. I'm on a kinda tight budget. I've found a lot of 4R's within a 100 mile radius but they are either way more than I want to pay or have more miles than I'd like to have. This is also going to be an every day driver for me. Thanks for your replies... You guys are opening my eyes up to some things. Thanks again.....

 

[Seafury]

As a reference I paid $3950 out the door from used lot 112miles miles west in the country for a 98 SR5 4x4 with 200k and spotless interior, rust free I am 3rd owner.
Needs timing belt, has been wrecked in the front, was rebuilt but needs new straight core support to be perfectly right.

I am in northern Va, this is a good deal here as you can't even find 3rd gens for sale unless there a train wreck. Took me 2 months to find this one. Dealerships that have these charge around 10-14k for 99-02 models here with various mileage. 99 limiteds go for around 8-10k private sale.

Hope this helps.

 

[RiverRat37]

Thanks for your replies... I've been looking for a long time also. There are lots of 3rd gen 4R's around here but most have what I consider really high miles for what I'm going to use as a daily driver. There are several around here with around 160-230k miles for around $5-7000. I'm just not sure what to do. I am in a situation where I have to buy something fairly quickly and I want a 3rd gen 4Runner. My piece of sh** Dodge truck just crapped out on me so I have to get something quickly. Thanks again guys!!

 

[quicksilvr]

That's a good looking truck. Around here, I'd pay $7500 for it, mostly because it's low miles, and really clean. Depends on how good you feel about it, and what your other options are.