Good Deal? Should I buy this?

[mace4runner]

hi guys,

I am in the market for a 4th gen.

I have looked at a couple... from 2003 - 2006.


I have my eye on a 03 SPORT - with 139K on it.

1 owner - test drove it and it all looks good to me. no rust that i could tell, 4 wheel drive works, good tires, new brakes.

remote start - tow package -


He is asking 8K.


Is this a decent price? Most of the other ones I have looked at are in the 10-12K range... but also a year or 2 newer.

thoughts?

 

[blackjackck]

Do you have the maintenance record?
Do check the X-REAS as they are know to break down around 100k miles.

 

[delz05]

That is a decent price... if it is a V6 engine. The 8 cyl would be due for a timing belt change and that seems to run in the range of 700-1200, depending on where it is done.

 

[mace4runner]

That is a decent price... if it is a V6 engine. The 8 cyl would be due for a timing belt change and that seems to run in the range of 700-1200, depending on where it is done.

yea 6 cyl engine.


yea -- maintenance records -- seem to check out --


but not sure about the suspension.

seemed OK when i test drove it -- but I am 95% sure he hasnt done any suspension work to it.

so not sure if that is due to be upgraded soon?

 

[mace4runner]

my other option -- is wait another couple months save up another couple grand -- and try to find a 2006+ sport with similar miles for 10K.


There is one out there right now that i see -- but cant afford that much just yet.

The other 06+ sports that I can find are alot more than 10K.

 

[rich045]

i would buy an 05+ mainly because of the 5 speed tranny. thats just imo

 

[mace4runner]

i would buy an 05+ mainly because of the 5 speed tranny. thats just imo

yea, i have heard people argue for both ---

but noted.


I think if i were to go '05 -- i would def try for -06+

 

[rich045]

thats why i bought an 07 2 months ago lol

 

[blackjackck]

It all comes down to what you're comfortable with and how handy you are. If you could do a lot of the work then the 03' could work for you. I thought about getting an 04' with 80k miles for $4k less than the one I ended up getting with 74K miles. I wanted the Tranny and the added safety stuff.

good luck