hi im new to the forum and need some input on a third gen 4runner. to start off i have a 93 yukon 2 door that is functional and working but not really a daily type rig (read as entire yukon sprayed in bedliner lifted 35s 10k lbs winch etc etc ) and have sold my 05 f150 because i just didnt particularly want the payment anymore. anyway was looking at getting a third gen 4runner as a DD/commuter and have found quite a few on CL but with fairly high miles. from what i understand the 3.4s will go forever so im not as concerned but wanted some opinions. now before i start too far i have read the entire buyer guide sticky. i have found a 1997 metallic kind of brown / gray color which i love and v6 4x4 moonroof all the options . not sure if its a limited or sr5 yet but it has 220k miles. the guy is only asking 3550 from the pics looks to be in really good condition , no dents, shiny paint etc. now im not opposed to putting money in it ( god knows i have on my yukon somewhere in the neighborhood of 5k later....) but im wondering if i should buy something with less miles.my plan is to flush all fluids when i get it , change the timing belt and refill all fluids with synthetics. id like a mild lift with 285s and be done with it as my yukon serves as my hard use trail rig. the ones im finding with 120k or so though are going for like 6500-7k ish . going to look at it on saturday. thanks in advance
about to buy a 3rd gen
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Ol'Blue
New member
Well you seem to be off to a good start so far by doing your home work.
This is what is going to come down to. Maintenance, period. At 220k there will be some things that need to be addressed as I'm sure you know already. If he is will to work on the price and you can get it for 3k then I think it is a good deal. Even if the head gaskets go on you and you have to fix that or do a motor swap you will be out 1k.
Try and take some pictures if you can and post them up. I did and was glad I did. I passed on the first truck I looked at, and found something much better for cheaper actually, guy had no idea what he had.
Blue
This is what is going to come down to. Maintenance, period. At 220k there will be some things that need to be addressed as I'm sure you know already. If he is will to work on the price and you can get it for 3k then I think it is a good deal. Even if the head gaskets go on you and you have to fix that or do a motor swap you will be out 1k.
Try and take some pictures if you can and post them up. I did and was glad I did. I passed on the first truck I looked at, and found something much better for cheaper actually, guy had no idea what he had.
Blue
yea after reading the buyer guide im thinking probably a radiator too. and really i look at it this way i spent 4800 a year on truck payments. (400/mo ) so if i buy this for 3-3500 and it lasts 7 mos and i have to put 1800 in it to make it go another 100k im still ahead of the game 
plus i like old stuff,always have been an old jeans with holes in them kind of guy as opposed to new stiff ones lol . new cars dont excite me anymore, theyre all kind of boring to me these days i mean look what the pathfinder has tunred into:barf: not only that but SUVs are getting crazy big too . the 5th gen 4 runner is like the size of my yukon . they also are are seemingly more and more like cars than 4x4s and many have lost any offroad prowess they once had. will someone kick toyota in the ass , i want a 70 series land crusier pickup in the states already!!! lol
plus i like old stuff,always have been an old jeans with holes in them kind of guy as opposed to new stiff ones lol . new cars dont excite me anymore, theyre all kind of boring to me these days i mean look what the pathfinder has tunred into:barf: not only that but SUVs are getting crazy big too . the 5th gen 4 runner is like the size of my yukon . they also are are seemingly more and more like cars than 4x4s and many have lost any offroad prowess they once had. will someone kick toyota in the ass , i want a 70 series land crusier pickup in the states already!!! lol
blizz86
New member
yea after reading the buyer guide im thinking probably a radiator too. and really i look at it this way i spent 4800 a year on truck payments. (400/mo ) so if i buy this for 3-3500 and it lasts 7 mos and i have to put 1800 in it to make it go another 100k im still ahead of the game
The brown you are talking about is anthracite metallic. Easily one of the best colors the 4runner was ever made in. Each time i see one around i always think of how much better it would look and how much better i would treat it vs their current owner lol.
Its good to see that you did your homework through the stickies. That said 200K is a lot, but it can easily be a nonfactor if you are willing to provide the necessary maitenance and if needed just swap in a motor. Like you said you prefer older things and even this route you will still be ahead!
Test drive it, make sure all the 4x4 components work and dont hesitate to pay a shop 100 to check it out!
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blizz86
New member
yes the buyers guide is very thorough!! and it turned out all my prospect runners were turds lol except the baby blue one which could not be in better condition but i just cant get past the color. so for now at least looks like the yukon will not be reprieved from daily duty just yet. she wants to be though because she just aint built for it lol im putting her in the shop next week though to make her a bit more DD friendly ( i NEED AC!!! lol) get the exaust quieted down and im putting my suburban seats back in for a bit. DDing with high bolster racing seats and h harnesses gets a little old lol i hope to find my perfect runner soon. i did find a REALLY nice white 99 today but i thought price was a bit high ... 7995 for 120k SR5 ....had all the options moonroof everything but it just seemed a bit much .. what you guys think
audiness
Senior Member
3rd gen low-mileage 4x4s still command premiums. I overpaid for mine, but I had to have under 120k miles, limited w/elocker so I was ok with it.
You might also like the 2nd gen 4runners, like the 3rd gens, they are cheap, last forever, and a lot of the ones i see for sale have a good many upgrades done to them.
You might also like the 2nd gen 4runners, like the 3rd gens, they are cheap, last forever, and a lot of the ones i see for sale have a good many upgrades done to them.
BigSlim
New member
I just purchased my 97 T4R a few days ago. It has 254K on it. It had been maintained really well with all of the major issues such as timing belt, water pump, exhaust, etc. being replaced. It runs and rides better than about anything I have had in quite awhile. I plan on seeing if I can put 400K on it. I gave $3500 for it. I feel it was worth it.
yea i really want a 3rd gen . they seem to get better mpg and i remember my moms 95 was way underpowered . also you cant seem to find many in good condition theyre usually pretty beat up ....at least in my area they are.
I just purchased my 97 T4R a few days ago. It has 254K on it. It had been maintained really well with all of the major issues such as timing belt, water pump, exhaust, etc. being replaced. It runs and rides better than about anything I have had in quite awhile. I plan on seeing if I can put 400K on it. I gave $3500 for it. I feel it was worth it.
good looking runner man! i found one for 3k that has around the same mileage as yours but idk if i could pull the trigger on it. yours looks really well kept though !!
