Help an Old man...

[gerry100]

At 63, I'm old enough to remember when a car/truck was old when it when over 50k.

Now that I'm looking for a reliable,capable SUV for a winter backup for less than 20k, I'm seeing a lot of 6 figure cars that are selling for good money.

I've got a buddy with 200k on his 4runner and from my research it seems that the 4runner is the gold standard.

Since this vehicle will only be used 2000 miles per year, I'm trying to avoid year to year depreciation for the 5-10 years I'll have it.

Help me accept that a 100k plus 4R will be reliable and have low maintenance costs in this scenario.

Thanks for taking time to input

 

[DaGimp]

200K for a well maintained 4runner is still pretty high. Age is also important, rubber dries out and plastic gets brittle with age.

You might have to spend some money here and there, but a toyota is toyota and I've only really had to work on the ones I abused.

 

[zopperman]

My 3rd Gen went to 350k original engine with just standard maintenance. I did blow a balljoint and needed some new suspension stuff.

200k is definitely high. What's your budget and what's his asking price? You could get an 03-04 with half that mileage for 10k ish.

 

[gerry100]

I didn't mean to imply that I was buying my buddys' car, he wants to keep it. His experience just another data point.

I'd like to keep the investment under $15k while having a reliable go-to SUV in the driveway.( may spend a few K more if I'll get it back at resale).

An $8K, 150K 4R might fit the bill but I want to avoid surprise maint costs and worrying if it will do the job as the blizzard is rolling in. Therefore, I'm willing to put in up to $15k for peace of mind.

If I can find a $15K,75K miles 4R I'll jump ( an FJ would work, but I would want a discount v the 4R).

Problem is, $15K is is short unless I go for higher mileage.

Real question is - will a 100K miles plus 4R fill the bill?

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

I bought my 2003 SR5 V8 2WD at Carmax October 3rd, 2011 for $15,798. Best part? She only had 55,777 miles when I drove her off the lot. Had her transferred from North Carolina and not a spec of rust (was originally sold in Florida, I'm in Georgia).

Take a look at Carmax. They have a 3 or 5 day money back guarantee. They don't sell wrecked cars either. I would give it a very close look because you never know how people treated their cars, but Carmax is pretty good.

 

[WXman]

At 63, I'm old enough to remember when a car/truck was old when it when over 50k.

Now that I'm looking for a reliable,capable SUV for a winter backup for less than 20k, I'm seeing a lot of 6 figure cars that are selling for good money.

I've got a buddy with 200k on his 4runner and from my research it seems that the 4runner is the gold standard.

Since this vehicle will only be used 2000 miles per year, I'm trying to avoid year to year depreciation for the 5-10 years I'll have it.

Help me accept that a 100k plus 4R will be reliable and have low maintenance costs in this scenario.

Thanks for taking time to input

You mentioned two things. High mileage concerns, and depreciation. Here's what I've noticed:

1) Even though SUVs are more expensive than pickups when new, in the used market pickups sell for much more. Take the 4Runner and Tacoma for example... my 4Runner was $40,000 when new in 2004. A high end Tacoma would have been in the $30,000 range. But now in 2013...I bought my 4R for $13,500 and you cannot even remotely think about touching a Tacoma for less than $18,500. This is true of all brands. Pickups simply hold value better. ANY SUV is going to depreciate terribly as the years go by.

2) Toyota isn't the gold standard. I've seen a ton of Jeeps and Dodge and Ford trucks with 500,000 to 1,000,000 miles on them...still used daily for work and play. The thing you have to do is properly maintain your ride. If you do what the owners manual tells you to do, just about anything on the road today will go the distance.

If you like the 4Runner, find a specimen that has been cared for. Don't worry about the mileage...just find one that has obviously been cared for, pay fair price for it, and then treat it well and it'll treat you well. Love it and enjoy it and you will get your money's worth out of it. For the most part, I absolutely LOVE mine and it's about to roll 110,000.

 

[Robs08Runner]

With what you can afford to spend, it should be a piece of cake to find a nice one. If it were me, I would get one and do all the maintenance items in the first year. That way its 100% and you can just drive it after. Good luck.

 

[zopperman]

With what you can afford to spend, it should be a piece of cake to find a nice one. If it were me, I would get one and do all the maintenance items in the first year. That way its 100% and you can just drive it after. Good luck.

This.

If it's a v8, make sure timing belt has been done.
look out for seized front calipers
fluids spark plugs etc...

 

[chmura]

Welcome to the forum.

What is you intended use for this vehicle? 100% street use? Off roading?

Basically any Toyota SUV is reliable. If i were you I would look into all types of SUV's Toyota has to offer.

If your intended use is for city driving during the winter with snow then check out the Highlander, we have a 2005 Highlander AWD with 180k miles and no problems with it at all. It rides like a Camry too, very smooth.

Highlander AWD, 4runner 4x4, RAV4 AWD, can't go wrong with any of these cars. All are pretty much bulletproof.

 

[gerry100]

Welcome to the forum.

What is you intended use for this vehicle? 100% street use? Off roading?

Basically any Toyota SUV is reliable. If i were you I would look into all types of SUV's Toyota has to offer.

If your intended use is for city driving during the winter with snow then check out the Highlander, we have a 2005 Highlander AWD with 180k miles and no problems with it at all. It rides like a Camry too, very smooth.

Highlander AWD, 4runner 4x4, RAV4 AWD, can't go wrong with any of these cars. All are pretty much bulletproof.

Use will be for local light hauling, a few 300 mile trips and for getting out of my 150 ft country driveway if I have to in a hurry during a blizzard ( we're both 63). At 2000 miles/yr, fuel mileage not important.

(BTW- the other car is a Jetta Diesel for most things, S2000 and old 911 for summer)

We had a Honda CRV, great car but not sure it can handle the extreme conditions.

I don't need the exact right tool for the job, I need a big reliable hammer. A strong,body on frame 4wd seems right.

 

[chmura]

Use will be for local light hauling, a few 300 mile trips and for getting out of my 150 ft country driveway if I have to in a hurry during a blizzard ( we're both 63). At 2000 miles/yr, fuel mileage not important.

We had a Honda CRV, great car but not sure it can handle the extreme conditions.

I don't need the exact right tool for the job, I need a big reliable hammer. A strong,body on frame 4wd seems right.

Yes the 4runner does the job and will do it well for you. Seems like the 4runner is an excellent choice for you.

 

[oljedi11950]

Notice you're n NY, lots of rust would be my worry on that old of a 4r , so buyer beware maybe look on carmax from southwest to be shipped . Probably find some 3rd gen 4r in that 2000-2002 that might fit your criteria ?

 

[iBison]

Use will be for local light hauling, a few 300 mile trips and for getting out of my 150 ft country driveway if I have to in a hurry during a blizzard ( we're both 63). At 2000 miles/yr, fuel mileage not important.

(BTW- the other car is a Jetta Diesel for most things, S2000 and old 911 for summer)

We had a Honda CRV, great car but not sure it can handle the extreme conditions.

I don't need the exact right tool for the job, I need a big reliable hammer. A strong,body on frame 4wd seems right.

S2000, Porsche, 4Runner. My kinda garage. I bought an 04 with 135k in February this year. It came with about 6k on platinum extended warranty. I had it checked out and checked e service records. I'm not a bit worried about driving it anywhere anytime. BTW you can look up the service records performed at the dealer on the toyota website.

 

[04rnr]

Gerry,
keep your eyes open, I bought my 2004 V8 4x4 with 60K miles for $16K, I could have talked them down, but it was late and I wanted it lol so we bought it and left.
If you are able to travel to pick one up, look in Colorado, there's LOTS of 4runner here.

 

[lunchindabox]

I might have exactly what you are looking for. I have a 04 V8 SR5 with just about brand new wheels/tires (take off from a 2013 tacoma with 5k miles) and a timing belt/water pump done last week (receipt available) New serpentine belt too. Recent brakes and rotors in the rear. WeatherTech floor matts. 102k miles. Zero Rust.
This thing was loved! Clean carfax. I got it from a dude whose mom died and was liquidating her estate.
No kids, no pets and no smoking.
Looks great. Runs perfect.
The only things it needs is a bulb in HVAC controls for when you are driving at night (I can get it fixed) and I need to get the TPMS sensors programmed. And one parking log scruff on the bumper only.
I'll let it go for 13k delivered to NY.
Pics available if you email me at [email protected]