Buying a Hi-mileage 2003 'Runner

[Hotswimmer]

Hey guys,

I have the opportunity to buy a 2003 'Runner for a good price ($12,000). It has the V-8 and is fully loaded. My question/problem is - what, if any concerns are there in buying this 'Runner with 130,000 miles on it? Are there any "known" issues or things I should be looking for? Is there a timing belt/chain change coming up that I need to work about? Automatic transmission?

The car is very clean, and they are almost all "freeway" miles. I was originally going to get a 2000 or 2001, simply because it fit my budget better, but If you guys tell me that I can run this unit for another 80-100k miles, I might go for it. Are these new ones ('03+) as reliable as the 3rd generation ('96-02) ones?

Thanks in advance!

 

[hulk311]

that is a high mileage truck (comes out to 89 miles PER DAY, every single day for 4 years) but from what i gathered around this forum 100,000 miles is just the breaking in point so you should be fine.

 

[sharp4runr]

There is a guy over at yotatech with about 140k+ and he's still running strong. I wouldn't worry a whole lot about it...

 

[Rob96]

At work we have a 1998 Ford Windstar with 200,000 miles on it. 130,000 on Toyota is nothing.

 

[Mr. Lambdebois]

I would want and look for documented up-to-date maintenance records.

 

[swimmer2361]

4 years and 130k!!:jaw drop: wow, mine has 30k on it and its a 2004 model!!

 

[twitchee2]

Its a toyota, it just breaking in. I drive a 96 that had over 200k back in 03. when my mom drove it. (120miles/day easy). Im 17 and i drive it hard no problems at all. im about to hit 225k miles tomorrow.

 

[jeober]

Two things:

1) Run the value through Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/used/toyota/index.html
2) Is it a single owner and are there service records?

 

[peter78]

I like the idea it being a V8. The V6 had a bit of trouble the first year and it was there first year so it is unknown how the V6 is with high mileage. The V8 has been a good while before 2003. Service records are really important. Hopefully the timing belt has been changed.

I will say this, I have owned a lot of cars and tend to keep them forever and I keep records. Cost of maintanence for the second hundred thousand miles always 2 to 2 1/2 times that of the first hundred thousand miles. Things tend to pop up, say a fan for the heater or the distributor goes out, air conditioning, master brake cylinder. Not extra ordinary, but it does happen. (This happened on my current 92 Honda, I now have 207,000 miles.) Still, I would not shy away from it, if it has records, including oil changes and you had a good person check it out.

 

[Falls]

I agree , check on past ownership and service records.

 

[Hotswimmer]

Guys,

Thanks for all your responses and suggestions - much appreciated.