Buying help

[valleus]

So, bought a 2017 trd off road after finally finishing 12 years of school. Wife surprises me last week (she is pregnant) and says she would feel safer in a minivan....ugh. Happy wife, happy life. So, sold the 4runner for $1000 more than I paid two months prior to get the minivan (love that resale value), but I still want a 4runner.

So, looking to buy a 3rd gen...always thought they were the best style hands down. I've read the helpful stickies, and will ask the sellers about timing belt replacements, etc. Plan to off-road on the weekends and mod it.

Can anyone comment on these CL ads? Thanks!

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/1999-toyota-4runner-limited/6351210414.html

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/1997-toyota-4-runner-sr5/6355417626.html

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/1999-toyota-4runner-limited/6330395552.html

 

[JayRolla]

So, bought a 2017 trd off road after finally finishing 12 years of school. Wife surprises me last week (she is pregnant) and says she would feel safer in a minivan....ugh. Happy wife, happy life. So, sold the 4runner for $1000 more than I paid two months prior to get the minivan (love that resale value), but I still want a 4runner.

So, looking to buy a 3rd gen...always thought they were the best style hands down. I've read the helpful stickies, and will ask the sellers about timing belt replacements, etc. Plan to off-road on the weekends and mod it.

Can anyone comment on these CL ads? Thanks!

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/1999-toyota-4runner-limited/6351210414.html

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/1997-toyota-4-runner-sr5/6355417626.html

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/1999-toyota-4runner-limited/6330395552.html

1st post. The replaced trans worries me.

2nd post. The mileage condition worry me but great price.

3rd post. Looks like the cleanest. I would go for this one.

 

[Link12]

Forget the first one. I would go for the second one. The mileage difference between the second and third isn't really that much so for the price difference I would go for the second one.

 

[Mark_BC]

Looks like the 1st one has an e-locker

 

[Road Bull]

It always amazes me that some put so little effort into trying to sell their vehicles. How hard is it to get rid of the trash, tidy it up, and wash it off?

Rant over.

Okay, I would rank them like this:

#1 White 1999
#2 Black 1999

I personally wouldn't waste my time checking out the 1997. I am suspicious of non matching hood and driver side fender paint. Could be that they just upgraded to a sport hood of a different vintage at some point, and they simply don't match. But could be an accident survivor.

No matter what, CHECK FOR RUST! Get under there. Look at the frame. look at the rocker panels. Running boards can hide rust, and lots of it. Someone could be passing on their problems to you. I am suspicious of freshly painted "rust proofed" frames, as you should be as well. While timing belts are important, there are other things like suffering from a "pink milkshake" that are more catastrophic in their potential problems.

Go give them a drive. See how they feel. If you are really slick, you could bring a code reader with you. Check for codes to see if they recently zeroed out the system, clearing pesky check engine lights to make it look like a solid vehicle.