Buying a 4th Gen Tips? Suggestions on current

[flipflopnfly]

Looking for the collective wisdom of the group. Looking (remotely thus far) as an 08 V6 Sport just under 150k miles. Carfax/dealer records look mostly good (a gap the last 15k miles under a new owner, not surprising). Dealer took a few on-ground underbody photos for me - to me the rust looks superficial, but would like more experienced eyes to look at it. I will of course do a personal inspection and then a PPI at a nearby Toyota dealer.

Rust looks nasty, check the radiator crossmember for rust and the spare tire carrier. That one has the XREAS suspension and that looks worn out so apx $1800 to rip it out and replace it with say a Toytec suspension that is comparable.

 

[RunnerDad]

Rust looks nasty, check the radiator crossmember for rust and the spare tire carrier. That one has the XREAS suspension and that looks worn out so apx $1800 to rip it out and replace it with say a Toytec suspension that is comparable.

Here is a different one for comment: an 06 SR5 from a less rust-prone area of the NE US. V6, 129k miles. No XREAS to worry about. Dealer just added underbody photos. Looks like someone applied a quick rust-eater coat, but underlying that looks better than the 08 in my prior post. Dealer states that AC drain area is not impacted.

Below the photos I'll add several comments I put on another thread re: service history. Again, I greatly appreciate the collective wisdom of the forum.

 

[RunnerDad]

Several questions I posted on another (but quieter) thread about this vehicle:

Question 1: what is it with front calipers in this series? This vehicle had them changed (at dealer) in 2015, then again in 2017, and again in 2019 (this time with left front axle too). In both 2017 and 2019 they were reported as seized. With rotors and pads of course.

Question 2: how to judge the service record. This is a 1-owner vehicle, but they had two phases of where they were getting service. The first 65k miles, the only dealer visits were for recalls or similar. No records anywhere for oil changes or anything else during this time. More recently in phase 2 (65k to present), they switched to Valvoline Instant Oil Change service, and that pops up on Carfax every 5k like clockwork. And they also started going to dealer for all other work (like all those calipers, and a radiator replacement at 108k). Clearly not a DIY owner, as they went to dealer for turn signal bulb changes and gas cap CELs. Normally I'd write off a vehicle with that kind of gap in records ...... but the regularity in oil changes once they went to Valvoline might suggest owner was similarly conscientious during phase 1 but just went to a different non-reporting shop (where they would have been getting brakes and tires etc. that also had to have been done but aren't showing up anywhere.) Vehicle condition appearance from photos suggests a responsible owner (they even installed ventshades ).

If I proceed further I will of course go with a PPI. Dealer has offered to drop it at the nearby Toyota dealer for me for a PPI, in fact.

 

[flipflopnfly]

Here is a different one for comment: an 06 SR5 from a less rust-prone area of the NE US. V6, 129k miles. No XREAS to worry about. Dealer just added underbody photos. Looks like someone applied a quick rust-eater coat, but underlying that looks better than the 08 in my prior post. Dealer states that AC drain area is not impacted.

Below the photos I'll add several comments I put on another thread re: service history. Again, I greatly appreciate the collective wisdom of the forum.

That looks much better, no crusty rust. Rust eater doesn't remove the crusty rust the other one had, that looks pretty nice. 129k miles that looks pretty good. V6 didn't need the SAIP bypass like the V8.

 

[flipflopnfly]

Several questions I posted on another (but quieter) thread about this vehicle:

Question 1: what is it with front calipers in this series? This vehicle had them changed (at dealer) in 2015, then again in 2017, and again in 2019 (this time with left front axle too). In both 2017 and 2019 they were reported as seized. With rotors and pads of course.

Question 2: how to judge the service record. This is a 1-owner vehicle, but they had two phases of where they were getting service. The first 65k miles, the only dealer visits were for recalls or similar. No records anywhere for oil changes or anything else during this time. More recently in phase 2 (65k to present), they switched to Valvoline Instant Oil Change service, and that pops up on Carfax every 5k like clockwork. And they also started going to dealer for all other work (like all those calipers, and a radiator replacement at 108k). Clearly not a DIY owner, as they went to dealer for turn signal bulb changes and gas cap CELs. Normally I'd write off a vehicle with that kind of gap in records ...... but the regularity in oil changes once they went to Valvoline might suggest owner was similarly conscientious during phase 1 but just went to a different non-reporting shop (where they would have been getting brakes and tires etc. that also had to have been done but aren't showing up anywhere.) Vehicle condition appearance from photos suggests a responsible owner (they even installed ventshades ).

If I proceed further I will of course go with a PPI. Dealer has offered to drop it at the nearby Toyota dealer for me for a PPI, in fact.

I'd grab it after I drove it and it's smooth. 129k miles with a clean frame you can't ask for more. Brakes I wouldn't worry about. Little known fact, you have to do this thing called "bedding in disc brakes". Bedding In Brake Rotors

You can slap in new rotors and pads over and over but if you don't bed them in properly you'll have the same problems over and over.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Looks pretty good rust wise to me, appears to have been oiled. Looks like there's some leakage where the 2 exhaust pipes are welded together and the flange near there isn't great but not easy to tell in the pics. As for the calipers, they are 4 piston and have a tendency to freeze up at times. Some swap in 5th gen calipers but those seem to have the same issue to less of a degree. Thank the crap they dump on the roads. It seems coated calipers may help, I put those on mine over a year and a half ago...time will tell but at least rebuilt units are not super costly.

 

[RunnerDad]

PPI results update

Pronounced good by Toyota mechanic - very clean frame. A few things to address: rear shock leaking (will go with KYB Excel-G from Rock Auto), torn CV boot on RF (LF axle was changed 20k ago). Tires down to 3/32. And a few minor things. Now to go try it our ourselves. Impressed with comprehensiveness of inspection (AT, diff and transfer fluids checked, batt tested, even AC drain tube ...)

 

[RunnerDad]

Looked good - but turned out to be a bit small for our needs

Pronounced good by Toyota mechanic - very clean frame. A few things to address: rear shock leaking (will go with KYB Excel-G from Rock Auto), torn CV boot on RF (LF axle was changed 20k ago). Tires down to 3/32. And a few minor things. Now to go try it our ourselves. Impressed with comprehensiveness of inspection (AT, diff and transfer fluids checked, batt tested, even AC drain tube ...)

Test drive was great but the reality became clear that the 4runner was a bit too small (especially back seats vs. grown sons). So if anyone is interested in a 06 SR5 with a clean frame in Upstate NY, I can forward you the dealer info.

 

[anteek]

Thanks for all the links