Buying a 4runner, thoughts?

I would not buy one with more than 150k miles if you can afford to do so.

100 - 150k is really the sweet spot.

At 200k miles you are going to have a lot of work to do and re-builds / cracked-heads are NOT uncommon after 200k miles. We see it pretty often on the forums now.
 
SilentYoda3 said:
thanks! That's good perspective. Is 225,000 to high? I'm in college so time is sort of precious to mem obviously. But my dad is a mechanic and i had a project 4runner until i totaled it. (Not my fault, stupid girl didn't stop.)

my 1994 had 208,000 and ran fine. And i've heard the 3.4L is better than the 3.0L i had too.
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Engine swap was my very first time, with no help. Took 3 weekends. Could have been 1 weekend if I didn't have to move parts to JDM engine. So it's not that bad. You could do it MUCH faster with help. I had lots of downtime waiting for parts due to clogged oil cooler and broken flywheel bolts.

Time is precious sure - but still for 13k you can buy TWO 4Runners so that if one breaks you still got another!

Plus, I was quoted 1,200 labor to replace the engine by a very reputable shop. So that means $2,500 for someone else to do the swap and the JDM engine. A pro mechanic will get the job done in 10 hours.

In the end, I would rather pay 4k for a truck today and then 10k over the next 5+ years than $13k right away.

And yes - once you're over 200k, blown HG and cracked heads are a real possibility. I would use this on any truck over 150k UVIEW 560000 Combustion Leak Tester : Amazon.com : Automotive - now that I got screwed hard.

In the end, buying any used vehicle is a gamble, I'd rather take the risk on a 14 year old car that's 4k rather than 13k.
 
I think that price is very high. On Thanksgiving weekend I bought my 02 4 Runner Sport. Mine came fully loaded with 84,000 miles. My dealer had it listed for $10800.00 and I got it for $9500.00. It's super clean and drives like a dream.

4Runner002.jpg~original


My 4 Runner is an automatic because it's my daily driver and I'm not a big off roader. I love a stick for certain cars, my 94 Wrangler was a stick and my 68 Firebird is a stick but for my daily driver/family car I prefer an auto. Here in PA a stick wold hurt the resale value. You'd have to find a buyer who specifically wants a 5 speed 4 Runner. Remember this forum is for people who like a 4 Runner for what it is and what it can do but tons of people out there just look at it as a daily driver and don't or won't ever take it off road. They just want to put it in drive and go.
 
For that price, it should be the nicest 4Runner in the country. It isn't.

The SR5 and 4WD badges are too close together, which probably indicates that the rear hatch has been repainted (and badges pulled off and replaced). The front bumper is dented. The tires are cheap off-brand models. And, aside from the rear diff lock, it's kind of a mid-level model. No sunroof, no flares. Probably was $31,000ish new, maybe a bit less. The original owner probably paid $26,000 just because the dealership didn't know what to do with a 5 speed model. Is it really worth paying half of that today?


:)

Keep shopping. If your budget stretches that high, your search range should go outside of the PNW. Bound to be a clean five-speed out there for much less.
 
Super-G said:
I think that price is very high. On Thanksgiving weekend I bought my 02 4 Runner Sport. Mine came fully loaded with 84,000 miles. My dealer had it listed for $10800.00 and I got it for $9500.00. It's super clean and drives like a dream.
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You're also from the NE where the prices are much lower than here. Which is why people buy them from there and ship them here to sell at a premium.
 
anyone paint their 4runners? Or an idea of what it would cost?

Yeah i've seen that one in gig harbor, it was on there for $6800 last week.
Only problem is that I won't be home until the weekend of the 19th :/ nor do I really have that cash to drop on it.
 
SilentYoda3 said:
anyone paint their 4runners? Or an idea of what it would cost?

Yeah i've seen that one in gig harbor, it was on there for $6800 last week.
Only problem is that I won't be home until the weekend of the 19th :/ nor do I really have that cash to drop on it.
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Then how was the expensive green one even an option? If you though the seller would finance it - that's generally a poor plan with a used car. Check out Pentagon Federal Credit Union for used car loans. I've used them before and they were awesome.
 
If your budget is like 10k, why don't you look all over the country for THE perfect truck, and then buy a one way ticket to fly out and drive it back. $10k should get you a flipping AWESOME 3rd gen. $13k is like low mileage 4th gen territory.
 
What he said. Mine wasn't 'perfect' (no manual elocker) but it was darn near - automatic, 4WD, power everything, Highlander package (heated mirrors, stiffer/higher springs, etc.), and *ALL* maintenance done. All I've had to do was

- replace the brakes with Tundra brakes
- replace the LBJs/OTRE's

And I ended up paying $7200.
 
agloukhoff said:
Then how was the expensive green one even an option? If you though the seller would finance it - that's generally a poor plan with a used car. Check out Pentagon Federal Credit Union for used car loans. I've used them before and they were awesome.
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I've never even heard of them. Well the $13k is at a dealer so that can be financed. Anyone know if Bank of America does anything with used car loans from a private owner? I've never really dealt with a bank for loans and stuff. (First two cars were free since they didn't run, then my 2nd gen i bought straight up 3k after working all summer)

I actually don't really mind the red since it's a darker red not a candy apple or ticket me red haha

The e-locker is a really nice function too. Can that be used in snowy conditions on the road? (Since it'd be lower traction)
 
SilentYoda3 said:
I've never even heard of them. Well the $13k is at a dealer so that can be financed. Anyone know if Bank of America does anything with used car loans from a private owner? I've never really dealt with a bank for loans and stuff. (First two cars were free since they didn't run, then my 2nd gen i bought straight up 3k after working all summer)

I actually don't really mind the red since it's a darker red not a candy apple or ticket me red haha

The e-locker is a really nice function too. Can that be used in snowy conditions on the road? (Since it'd be lower traction)
Click to expand...

Interest rates for loans on 10-15 year old cars are not very good. If you can pay cash for a more reasonably priced 4Runner, it would make a lot more financial sense.
 
SilentYoda3 said:
I've never even heard of them. Well the $13k is at a dealer so that can be financed. Anyone know if Bank of America does anything with used car loans from a private owner? I've never really dealt with a bank for loans and stuff. (First two cars were free since they didn't run, then my 2nd gen i bought straight up 3k after working all summer)

I actually don't really mind the red since it's a darker red not a candy apple or ticket me red haha

The e-locker is a really nice function too. Can that be used in snowy conditions on the road? (Since it'd be lower traction)
Click to expand...

All banks do used car loans - but it can be hard for a 4Runner due to them often being WAY overpriced. For example, I'm pretty sure you'd not get a bank loan for a $13,000 14 year old car.

Anyway - Pen Fed is awesome because they are technically only for Federal Employees so they tend to not be as profit motivated as a bank - but you can get in for a $15 charity donation. They have been by far the best rate wise for me for used car loans. Good luck getting 1.49% APR for 60 months on a used car elsewhere.
 
Well if i get him down to $5500 or even 6000 i could pay for it out of pocket.


only problem is i wont be home until the weekend of the 19th to look at it :/
 
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So i'm going home this weekend finally, the 4Runner prementioned is still up for sale!!! YEAH!!

1997 Toyota 4Runner w/ Diff Lock

this 4Runner has grown on me. I contacted him and am seeing it sunday. The original price 2 weeks ago was $6800 and now it's $6400 so it seems he wants to sell and he hasn't had many bites.

This is both good and bad in my eyes, i think the reason though is that it does have 233k miles on it.

But looking at it, what should i look for specifically?
I've read the buying guide, just asking for some of the more intimate details of the car you guys have found difficult to fix or something (i.e. visor not sitting right, or a rattle somewhere, or something)

The car looks extremely clean, so obviously i'm excited to see it. Just looking for some more opinions. Thanks guys.

Also one more question, how do these 3rd gen 4Runners do pulling up hills? My 2nd gen 3.slow could only creep up hills. Not a big deal, just curious. Thanks guys!
 
For what it's worth, I sold my 97 with 35's and fairly new suspension and all maintenance done with 194K for $6K. So I think that's a little high but that's just me.


<------------- it's that one
 
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Like [MENTION=56396]Hepar[/MENTION] and [MENTION=84346]BlackCat914[/MENTION] said, keep your options open and look outside the PNW.

Personally, I would be willing to buy a 4Runner just about anywhere in the US for the right price, and combination of options... If it was rust free and had all my dream specs, then I would consider the price of a plane ticket and driving it back all part of the purchase price.

I got my current SR5 online roughly 2,000 miles away... Not a big deal to me really... Would do it again in a heartbeat, but without the rust.
 
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