Buying 3rd Gen and confused

RiverRat37

RiverRat37

New member
Hey guys I took your advice and didn't buy the 4R from my last post. Now I have a couple others to choose from and just wanted to see what you thought of them. Here are my newest finds and I'd greatly appreciate any input about them. First is a 1999 Limited 164k miles with E-locker and a CLEAN carfax. It's listed at $7995. Here is the link to it, Toyota 4Runner Limited, 1999 Next is a 2000 Limited with 131k miles its listed at $9480 and from the pics it looks very nice but I don't know anything more about it as of now. Here is the link to it 2000 Toyota 4Runner LIMITED Last as of now is a 2000 Limited with 141k miles listed at $8300. I don't know much more of it either except what they say in the ad. The ad for it is ****2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED**** These vehicles are a pretty far ride from me and I'd just like to see which you guys would check out first. I'm in the process of learning all about these 4Runners and I just want to thank you for all your help.
 
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Lucky you have choices like that at those prices....man..the one with the locker looks LEGIT, clean, and not a bad price which of course you always can go in way low and see what happens...that one with the locker Id be all over
 
Ask if the TB/H20 pump has been changed on any of these. If not, use such as $$$ leverage.

I'd choose the first one based on what I see. For the third one, there just isn't enough info to make a solid guess.
 
Ok, my 2 cents:
The 1999 Limited has a missing fog light on the driver's side, I would find out why (like has the bumper been replaced because of an accident)...and it appears to have corrosion in the engine bay. It does have cool features (locker- (really cool/multi mode 4x4 and leather and good tires). I would find out where it came from like maybe the PO lived near the coast or spent some time there...
The Black 2000, based on the photo the radiator doesn't look black on the top, has it been replaced?
The last one...too hard to tell anything based on the photos, might be worth checking out/might not.
I would also find out about the Timing Belt and maintenance if possible. Definately crawl underneath them and look for issues like old leaks, rust, etc. If you do go and drive them make sure to put them in 4x4 (all modes) and do some really tight turns in a parking lot. You will be able to tell if it is operating properly just by the way it drive, listen for noises and things that don't sound right.
Ultimately it is your decision so Good luck and I hope this helps.
 
The one piece of advice I can give you is look under the truck for rust. Some of the pics of the engine showed signs of rust you normally wouldn't see for a 4r from NC. They may have been trade-ins or bought from more northern areas where salt destroys it.

I know because I am from NC originally and checked out a lot of 4r's in the Raleigh area and although the inside and body looked clean, the engine and the undercarriage were extremely rusty.

That one factor keep me from buying 3-4 4runners that otherwise were great. Get the carfax and that should show you were its from. Something in the years you're looking at will be extremely rusty if they were from the NE.

They rest I'd say is personal preference and your financial situation.
 
yeah you're right the 1999 from Raleigh that has 164k miles and the locker and the engine corrosion was originally from New Jersey... I'll let that one pass... Is a little surface rust acceptable? Thanks
 
Honestly, those all look a bit expensive. Maybe if they were in Cali or CO, but NC isn't a premium market.

The first has nice features, and the corrosion in the engine bay may not be a big deal, but you would really need to look at the rear axle, front suspension (look from inside the engine bay at the UCA's), and the frame rails to check for serious rust. If you got flakes, run away. The price isn't terrible, but it sure isn't good either.

The second looks great, but is way overpriced. I'd say more in the 7-8k range

The third, yeah, there isn't much info. The rear look pretty saggy. Either way, 8300 is probably overpriced. You should start at LEAST 1k down from that.
 
RiverRat37 said:
What you guys think about this one? 2000 Toyota 4Runner $9,980 - Wallace Imports - Johnson City, TN 37601 Dealer
Click to expand...

Extremely overpriced. The seats and door panels have been dyed and frankly don't look very good; this fact alone should drop the price 1-2k, but it seems to have raised to price that much. It's a bright red, not very attractive (not like the darker red that is so common on LTD's). Also has some engine rust, maybe more. I'd put that around 6-7k (assuming it is rust free and runs like a top). Dude's high at 10k (as in, on crack).
 
HAHA I agree... I'm getting ready to go look at this one ****2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED**** and the dude says he has a 1999 also for $7900... He said one of them has rear locker so I guess we'll see. On the phone he did say that there was a little rust underneath one of them. How much rust should a person be ok with and how much should scare a person away?
 
There will probably be surface rust under most vehicles. Like NelsonMD said if it flakes off then you have a problem. Look for spots that are rusted through or holes and things such as that. If it requires more than a sanding/grinding and spray painting that might be an issue.
 
Thanks man.... I want to ask you guys opinion about one more and then I'm out the door to go check some out... This one is a 1999 with 136k miles. It has the rear locker. It appears to be a good looking vehicle but I don't know anything further about it other than on the ad. Bonus would be the low miles and the locker but the price is a little high I think... Here it is http://www.billhendersonautomotivegroup.com/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=137106068 Thanks for all your help
 
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Sorry bro forgot to put it in the thread... It's there now... Also for some reason 4runners are always priced high in my area. I'm not able to go real far outside my area and just can't find anything really cheap. Thanks again...
 
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Those all look like pretty good options. I am partial to black, so based on appearence I like the 2000 Limited with 131. Plus its pretty low miles. I paid $6000 for my 98 SR5 last year with 161K on it. I wanted to pay a little less, but I was too hasty with my decision. But after looking around, I would say what I paid was about average overall.

That being said, I wish I had waited before buying the 4Runner. I only drove 3 of them, and none on the highway. Right after purchasing mine I got on the highway and discovered the vibration issue that so many of our 3rd gens seem to have. You may not be able to avoid this, but I would still try to drive as many as you can to get a comparision.

In the end my decision would be based on the overall condition of the ride, exterior, interior, undercarriage, mechanics, and maintenance records of the vehicle. Of those 3, I would take the one that feels the best driving down the road and has meticulous records of all repairs/maintenance. That black 2000 limited blue books for around 8800, so I would try getting it for 1000 less than what theyre asking. Something around 8400. I say if you can get a 3rd gen 4runner in good condition for under the blue book, your getting a good deal.
 
You're right, the 4r's in your area are priced a little higher than normal. I noticed that when i was looking in Eastern NC. Keep checking CL since there are instances when someone does try to sale one for a reasonable price. Those you have to jump on. Sounds like you are figuring that out!

Another suggestion, if you find a dealership that sells used 4r's, tell them what you want. If they are good salesman, they'll keep an eye open for you in case the have a 4r trade-in or they buy one at an auction. Just don't tell them what you're willing to pay, that can always be done later!
 
I can attest that 4Runners in NC are on the high side price wise.
I was looking at absolute POS that I swear one of them should not even been allowed on the road that was sitting at a used car dealer in Raleigh on Capital Blvd and they wanted $8000 for it.
I literally had to laugh at the guy when he came out and threw me the keys, I said I don't think I will be needing those this thing looks like a family of Chimps drove it and left it in a ditch.
It was destroyed inside and out.

In fact for about 6 weeks of searching hard the only decent 4Runners I saw at all was one that was a 1999 was a strange kinda copper color but looked really good and they wanted $7500 for it bit it was a 2WD.
All the rest that were even remotely decent were all at Carmax and started at $13,500 and up.
I was getting really discouraged for awhile there because I was pounding the pavement and the keyboard for hours every day looking for "the one".

I finally found mine from a private party in Charlotte NC and was the very last section of ads I was looking at for the night on Craigslist and I could not believe my eyes a perfect 2002 Sport Edition with a 3" OME lift, nice 17" FJcruiser rims, new tires, Tacoma brake mod, nice Weather Tech mats all around, nice front brush guard & lights, new stereo, remote starter and much more and the guy was a Fireman and took really good care of the truck and had 7 years worth of receipts to prove it was a folder at least 3"+ thick and he wanted $7900. It checked out perfect, interior looked like maybe it was 2 years old it was so nice so I just said straight up whats your bottom dollar and he said $7,700 and said sold and handed him the cash.
I was about to do a back flip.

So they are out there you just have to really look every where.

One tip I found out is when you search on Craigslist try spelling 4Runner differently in the same areas some times different ones will show up if you do.

such as 4 Runner, 4runner, 4Runner, etc
Check in ALL areas on Craigslist anywhere near you as far away as you are willing to drive to check one out.

Also do not take what Carfax says as gospel, it is good to get the place of origin and certain aspects but it will miss a lot of things like wrecks and such.
It will also say that a car was in a wreck when it never was.
Just have a good and trusted mechanic check it out.

and if at all possible you are better off buying from a private party.








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