98 LTD opinions before I jump

[TrexRunnerGirl]

So today I go looking for a van for my mom and I spy this not even listed yet.
98 4R Ltd, black with 244K. 1 owner, local trade to Toyota dealer.
No fading, scratches or dings. All door edges good too.no rust.
The radio was replaced which is ok and that auto antenna works great.
The seats all need new leather as does the steering wheel. Sun roof works etc.
So I crawl around under it and was shocked at the glamorous black frame with very slight rust.
Coils, shocks etc look brand new and every bolt looks turnable. Even the rear diff.
Engine was also pristine with Toyota OEM stickers. I started it up and purred like a kitten.
I tried not to get too excited and just buy it. I got pics too I was so internally jumping around.

So the Question is... asking $3800 would $3200 be a good offer with the mileage?
Plus I will check the car fax.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Looks to have been garaged.

Try $3k if you really like it and go from there. Hopefully they will want to move it before the end of the year.

 

[dogtail]

It has a fair amount of undercarriage rust, seeing in the upside down pic with spare. Id do a lot of probing the frame. I don't see any pics of the rear lower control arm bracket (the hot spot). Need to check out the inner side of frame at the muffler also. Need to climb under and inspect the frame from the inner sides, not just the superficial areas. Be careful, check it thoroughly, especially in your salty region. Doesn't look like the owner did any rustproofing

 

[BrianK14]

For Chicago, that looks like minimal frame rust to me. Agreed that is important to have a close look at those particular areas, however.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yeah for the Great Lakes, that's a pretty good frame. Is it 2WD or 4WD? If it's 2WD, that may not be a good price. If 4WD, that's pretty good minus the leather damage.

I put a leather wheel skin on my old 98 steering wheel that also tore and it looks OEM, the leather colors match almost perfectly. Bought it here: Leather Steering Wheel Covers Manufacturer and Distributor

 

[TrexRunnerGirl]

Update: My friend went to really look it over, his wife has an 06 T4R v8, and he noted a few things but said there was very minimal surface rust. It was well maintained throughout except for the seats from a dog.

There was an oil leak on underside of engine so that could be from a seal maybe? Is there some place special I should look at for this leak? I'd think it is seals but...

Sway bushings need changed and had brackets on the front so may have been towed behind a motorhome or such.
Had couple of new sensors. Possible power steering leak or just low fluid. Has the rear E Locker and that rear diff probably needed serviced.
He drove it and said it drove nice, not jerking or engine noise, no warning lights, no clunking downshifts or whining up speeds, no temp fluctuations.

Sun roof and rear window work fine. Paint and all around body look very good, no chipping, rust. A little bubble spot by right rear wheel by the door.
I noticed it doesn't have the original rims right? those are 6 spoke and my 99 are 5.

I think I'll go back to IN to see if this week and if it drives like I stole it, then just buy it. If nothing else, would be a good truck to have at my mom's there. And I can always use my 99 for parts for it if needed or sell it.

 

[brillo_76]

Update: My friend went to really look it over, his wife has an 06 T4R v8, and he noted a few things but said there was very minimal surface rust. It was well maintained throughout except for the seats from a dog.



There was an oil leak on underside of engine so that could be from a seal maybe? Is there some place special I should look at for this leak? I'd think it is seals but...



Sway bushings need changed and had brackets on the front so may have been towed behind a motorhome or such.

Had couple of new sensors. Possible power steering leak or just low fluid. Has the rear E Locker and that rear diff probably needed serviced.

He drove it and said it drove nice, not jerking or engine noise, no warning lights, no clunking downshifts or whining up speeds, no temp fluctuations.



Sun roof and rear window work fine. Paint and all around body look very good, no chipping, rust. A little bubble spot by right rear wheel by the door.

I noticed it doesn't have the original rims right? those are 6 spoke and my 99 are 5.



I think I'll go back to IN to see if this week and if it drives like I stole it, then just buy it. If nothing else, would be a good truck to have at my mom's there. And I can always use my 99 for parts for it if needed or sell it.

Oil leaks are common in all 3rd gens. Probably the valve pan gaskets. As long as the frame is solid and you have maintenance records it shows the vehicle was maintained.

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[APhelps]

The 96-98 are the "3" / 6 spoke rims and are the correct rims for that year. In 99 they went to the 5 spoke wheels.

 

[Kanoe]

Those look like aftermarket quickstruts on the front. They are typically a short lived stop gap. See what brand they are, you may have to do them sooner than expected especially if they are Monroe.

 

[snydmax]

If it was a tow-behind, your true driving mileage may not be too high.

While some vehicles can be put in neutral (transfer case) and not log miles while in-tow, I don’t know about the 3rd gen t4r


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[snydmax]

I put a leather wheel skin on my old 98 steering wheel that also tore and it looks OEM, the leather colors match almost perfectly. Bought it here: Leather Steering Wheel Covers Manufacturer and Distributor

[MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION] got any pics of the steering wheel cover?




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[gamefreakgc]

[MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION] got any pics of the steering wheel cover?




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Bad photo on my old camera, but here it is. I don't know why it looks so yellow, the tan really is a very good match. Can also get pure black but I liked the two-tone.

 

[chattyT4R]

Not sure what transfer case that model has, but if it has the electric multimode one, those like to start causing problems with high mileage. Otherwise it looks to be pretty clean, and that's a nice price from what I can tell, but I do live in CO where they get marked up a bit.

 

[TheSaturnV]

You can replace the entire leather on the front seats for about $800 if you really want to do it up. I got mine on ebay and they are a perfect match in cut and color for the OEM. That price included two replacement seat foam bottoms, which is the part that really gets beat down with age.

For another $75 you can add heated seats.

 

[pluton]

If that's the frame behind the tire in the photo, it looks repainted.

 

[Greaser]

That same truck goes for $4-5k around Denver. I'd imagine it'll need a thing or two but a good find IMO.