Good deal on a 1997 4Runner?

S

sibanez

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Looking to buy a 1997 4Runner and found a potentially great deal. The truck has 170,000 miles and comes with the 3.4, 4x4 and the 5-speed manual transmission. The truck was bought new and has been in the same family since 1996. All maintenance has been done at dealerships and recorded. The timing belt and water pump were done at 115k so it will need it again fairly soon. Here is the list of issues that the dealer discovered during the last inspection:

Stabilizer bar links and bushings
Spark plugs and wires
Engine air filter
Fuel induction flush
Rear muffler leaking
Right rear differential seal leaking
Brake shoes and drums turned
Parking brake bell crank rusted
Leaking valve cover

Is $3,100 too much? The body is in great shape and the truck sounds/runs great. I can do much of the work myself, but want to know if there's anything else I should look for.

Let me know.
 
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Satter said:
Pics please? :)
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photo.JPG


Here is a photo, no fading or peeling in the paint. More photos can be seen here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/steven.ibanez/4Runner02?authkey=Gv1sRgCKalzfKwocu2NA&feat=directlink
 
wow - $3100 is half the price I see for the same in this area ... I watch craigslist daily looking for 4runner or tacoma deals. The list of things to fix doesn't sound bad either ... just stuff you can do at your leisure as you learn more about your truck ...
 
I'd buy that just to flip in California....Never find anything like that for 3,100....always salvaged title or completely not taken care of what so ever for that price.
 
The ultimate decision lies with you but it really depends on what you are looking for and to do with it. It would be a good buy. Especially if you can do most of the work yourself. Some of the things the dealer listed are general maintenance. If you are like most of us, you will spend money on lifts, tires, etc. in the future anyway and $3100 seems like a good price. The fact that it is a "one owner" vehicle is good and all the maintenance was done regularly. Good luck with the decision.
 
It seems like a good deal! If that is the dealers acking price, offer lower (stating all the things needing fixed)! Worth a shot and if they won't budge then $3100 is still a good price!
 
$3100 is a steal...pretty much anywhere! I would CarFax it, and if the history checks out & the rust isn't too bad, go for it!

All the items on the list you posted are no big deal--and you're likely to find another 4R for twice the $$ that needs the same stuff done!

Get it!
 
That does sound like a good deal. One thing that I noticed when I had Toytoa check out my 4Runner before I bought it was that they said I needed new spark plugs and wires, and a new air filter just because they were not Toyota oem parts. But like others have said, most of those issues are maintenance. Good luck.
 
I agree with the others, it's a good deal. All that maintenance is common and routine so I would go for it! The leaky rear axle seal probably means you need new brake shoes because the oil ruins the brakes for good - they can't be cleaned. but the rear brakes are still an easy job and not very costly.
 
+1, if I found that deal around here, I would definitely move on it. Mostly based on this: "All maintenance has been done at dealerships and recorded"
 
I shall ask one of the questions I most commonly do in threads like this. What does the undercarriage look like? PA...
 
From what I can see, don't look bad for a PA vehicle. May be a transplant into PA. Either way, I'd wanna good look for rust. But like everyone has said, buy it. Did you carfax? if you decide to pass let us bottom feeders in, I may get involved for a flip. What color is it, looks grey. Oh boyee my next favorite color. ya let us know. But nice find for you.
 
Well hi bought the 4runner. I think it will take me a weekend and roughly $400 to get her right. I went ahead and ordered the ome kit as well for the next weekend!
 
sibanez said:
Well hi bought the 4runner. I think it will take me a weekend and roughly $400 to get her right. I went ahead and ordered the ome kit as well for the next weekend!
Click to expand...

CONGRATS! That is a great buy and you need to post some official pictures now that you own it!!! Keep us posted!!
 
Quick update, I bought the 4Runner and drove it home to New Orleans the next day. Everything is fairly solid and the truck is running great. I will spend the entire weekend wrenching on it for the next few weeks, but nothing is wrong with that.
 
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