Buying a third gen - first 4runner, can you give me input?

[tekstrand]

Hi soon to be family, I've decided I want to buy a 3rd gen. I went over to a dealership that has a '99 with only 98800 miles on it. It originally came from Minnesota (99-05) then to Texas since, so it does have rust on the bottom. Seeming as this is my first 4runner, I'm not entirely sure what all I am looking at here. I took a bunch of photos of the underside and was hoping you kind people would help me what I may be getting myself into.

Holy crap these images are huge! I'm sorry. Here's the album... http://imgur.com/a/Jb2ES

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

 

[Jagerzel]

Bust the rust off the driveshaft. Make sure its not a flood vehicle. Google 3rd gen strawberry milkshake. Low miles though so thats good at least.

 

[tekstrand]

[MENTION=76737]Jagerzel[/MENTION] I'm 99% certain it is not a flood vehicle, have the title history through CarFax and it's being sold through a Subaru dealership here. After reading around the web at common symptoms, the car doesn't seem to fit any of those so I think we're good.

What else would cause that much rust on the drive shaft and should I be concerned by it?

 

[poleclimber63]

Welcome,
Its great you're looking for a 3rd gen 4Runner. As you're in Texas, I would assume that you should be able to find a 4Runner with little or no rust. I would be a little reluctant to enter into ownership of a less than rust-free truck, if other options are available. From your pictures, this truck isnt the rustiest I've seen, and combined with the apparent low miles, I wouldn't rule this truck off completely, if it could be had for the right price. However, if you're looking for a good reliable truck and you want to keep it for an extended period of time, I'd consider looking for a truck in a little better shape...

Links to give you some pointers:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html

Another guys' thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/176750-buy-not-buy.html

Good Luck!!

 

[tekstrand]

Thanks Poleclimber/doug! I've read through the buyers guide here on the forum about 5 times now, just to make sure I didn't miss anything best info out there.

I appreciate the recommendation about finding something with less rust, those were my feelings but I think I needed someone to back me up and tell me I wasn't crazy for expecting that.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

At the dealership when we suspect a car of being in a flood we pull back the carpet in the vehicle and look for dirt/mold etc u will be surprise what u will find.

 

[Nunyabiz]

If that isn't a flood truck then it has to be a more Northern salted road truck or one that has been driven on the beach a lot.
Hard to tell from those out of focus Pics but it appears you could probably do better.

Also do NOT trust Carfax as a sole source for information about any vehicle.

That truck could have floated down the Mississippi 500 miles to Texas and Carfax would know nothing of it.

Don't be afraid to widen your search area to surrounding states either.
You will usually get a better deal from a private party than a dealer.

 

[maverickhawk]

I have purchased two 3rd gens in the past 4 months, ( does not make me an expert ) and both have some rust issues. I wanted to buy a southern truck but there were none available during my 3 month search. Yesterday I saw a 98 or 99 on Dallas Craigslist I would have walked to Texas to buy.
Today I will spend my entire day getting rusted bolts fixed.

 

[repo]

As long as there's not chunks flaking off or perforations it looks normal to me. See if you can shine a flash light inside the frame or stick a finger in there and feel how thick it is or for flakes. I believe the toyota inspection procedure is simply to hit the frame every 2 inches with a 12" hammer and see if it makes any holes. Check rocker panels for perforations too if you can. Not sure about the entire bottom of the frame having rust... mine only has it along the welds.

I can post pics of my midwest road salt '99 if you want to compare.

Behind running boards:

 

[repo]

I have purchased two 3rd gens in the past 4 months, ( does not make me an expert ) and both have some rust issues. I wanted to buy a southern truck but there were none available during my 3 month search. Yesterday I saw a 98 or 99 on Dallas Craigslist I would have walked to Texas to buy.
Today I will spend my entire day getting rusted bolts fixed.

I used to live in Topeka, keep an eye on Foust's lot if you drive down 29th. They like to get 4runners. Saw a lifted 5th gen trail which I nearly bought (someone else bought it later that day) and a low miles 3rd gen there, sold in a few days. Weren't even posted on web.

 

[reelamin]

I have had two Gen 2's, and just bought a Gen 3 a month ago. Gen 3 is a much easier vehicle to Mod and the 3.4 is way more engine then a 3.0. 4 bangers are all good if you want one.
I wish I had found this site a long time ago. I used to shop vehicles on word of mouth and my personal knowlege of mechanical probmlems. DUH...the internet has a ton of information, but even then you have to really sort through it all. BE AWARE...even the internet has tons of misinformation.
If you don't know mechanics or vehicles find out as much as you can. This site for 4 runners is great so, Read, Read, Read to gain knowlege as ignorance (not the same as supidity) is buyer power!!
Here is my personal view on buying any used vehicle, and I stopped buying new vehicles (personal use) about 20 years ago. I have been fortunate to purchase everything from dirtbikes, boats, passenger cars, tractors, Class 8 Trucks, etc.
I shop all the newspapers and classifieds etc,...the last one I used the heck out of Craigs List. (Internet is awesome!!)
1. Know what you want to buy with all options ifor a different rig if it happens to show up. (Want a gen 3...but a insanse deal pops up on a g2. en 2-4 on your way to shop a Gen 3) It happens but you have to move fast.
2. Get your buddy resources lined up to save you travel time. I am willing to drive 5hrs one way after I get off work to look at a vehicle. But they can save you a ton of time. Just remember to kick down some thanks.
3. NEVER BUY FROM A DEALER!
4. Have a check off list for every possible thing you want to check and follow it. Don't miss one single thing. I bring my flashlight, head lamp, ground tarp, etc.
5. Set your budget and stick to it. I always factor in $500-1000 for travel and fruitless junker trips. I will drive all over looking at possible vehicles after I think it is worth looking at
6 Do not get in a hurry. If it takes 3 months...it takes 3 months.
7. Be prepared to WALK AWAY or BUY IT the instant you know. Amazing how many vehicles I say "No Thanks" as soon as I see it after driving 3hrs one way.
8. If you have connections find a warm weather rig. The last one I got was from California...they moved to Idaho...and the heater was not good enough and ski's did not fit well. (LOL....a new Thermostat later...I have a Toyota Heater again) I know their story was true because I had them show me the registrations from Ca. and Idaho. They swapped it over to Idaho only a month before I bought it...ID plates had just been put on.

Feel free to PM me..if you think I can help. I know mechanics pretty good....but new to Gen 3...4 runners.

 

[GVL]

Welcome,
Its great you're looking for a 3rd gen 4Runner. As you're in Texas, I would assume that you should be able to find a 4Runner with little or no rust. I would be a little reluctant to enter into ownership of a less than rust-free truck, if other options are available. From your pictures, this truck isnt the rustiest I've seen, and combined with the apparent low miles, I wouldn't rule this truck off completely, if it could be had for the right price. However, if you're looking for a good reliable truck and you want to keep it for an extended period of time, I'd consider looking for a truck in a little better shape...

Good Luck!!

This would be my $.02 as well.

 

[Buckaroo]

These are great vehicles but they are getting old. I bought mine new in July 2000 and I love it - 215,000 miles and it has been dependable and fun. But, it is getting to the age where it needs a lot of relatively major work which I am able to do myself and I like doing it. If you have to pay someone to work on your truck, you could have to invest $3 - $4,000 over the next several years pretty easily. Almost all things are fixable with enough time, money and energy...as others have said, frame rust is what will put a stake in the heart of a 3rd gen T4R although even that, if caught early enough, may be able to be patched up by a good welder sufficiently to keep you on the road. Keep your eyes and your checkbook open.....

Buckaroo