Help with buying a 2005 Limited V6

[prule84]

Hey guys,

I just joined the forums as I am in the market for a new vehicle, and I'll definitely be going with a 4runner after extensive research. I've always wanted to get into off-roading and modding a truck/suv, but I've never had the financial means to do so. I just graduated college in May and was able to secure a full-time job, so I'm looking to pull the trigger on a nice 4runner sometime soon.

I went to a dealer yesterday to look at a 2005 Limited V6 with 77k miles on it. It seems to be a decent deal as it is priced lower than a lot of the other 4runners in my area, but I'm a little bit nervous after looking at the Carfax. It looks like it was in an accident in 2007 with side impact, but when I checked the car out at the dealer I didn't notice anything cosmetically. The truck was also still in their service center, as they were replacing the struts and doing work on it to make it "perfect for when you drive it off the lot" (actual quote).

Also, the following have been replaced on the vehicle already:
Alternator/Generator
Idler pulley
Drive belts

Is any of that something to be worried about? I admittedly don't know much about cars, but I'm getting a bad feeling in my gut after seeing that this stuff has already been replaced in the car. I know that the majority of 4runners are reliable and don't have much that goes wrong with them - but are there some that are just bad right out of the factory?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I really liked the truck when I saw it - and it was in a color that I grew particularly fond of when looking at 4runners online (stratosphere mica).

Here's a link to the Carfax:
CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD

And here's a link to the ad (no pics up as they just received this car via trade-in):
Used 2005 Toyota 4Runner Limited V6 Auto For Sale in Danvers MA | VIN: JTEBU17R258032315

Should I hold off on this and look elsewhere, or is this worth going for? I really like the truck and the price, and they are also giving me $1000 for my POS car that I'm currently driving.

Thanks guys!

 

[cloh09]

Seems like a good price. The accident was over 50k miles ago. Take it for a test drive and see if everything is tight. Take it to your mechanic and tell him about the previous accident so he can pay closer attention to that area. He should look for frame damage and the quality of visible welds, if any. See if you can get a hold of the accident claim to see what was fixed, too.
If all is good then it sounds like a good buy. You might even be able to knock another grand for the accident alone. Good luck! These are very fun and reliable vehicles.

 

[prule84]

Seems like a good price. The accident was over 50k miles ago. Take it for a test drive and see if everything is tight. Take it to your mechanic and tell him about the previous accident so he can pay closer attention to that area. He should look for frame damage and the quality of visible welds, if any. See if you can get a hold of the accident claim to see what was fixed, too.
If all is good then it sounds like a good buy. You might even be able to knock another grand for the accident alone. Good luck! These are very fun and reliable vehicles.

I'm going in either tomorrow or Friday to take it for a spin. I was hoping for today, but I guess it was still up on the lift getting struts replaced and any other mechanical work it needed. Am I being overly paranoid with all the things that have been replaced in it so far? I just worry that it's a bad apple and everything is going to go wrong. My main reason for choosing a 4runner is because I'd like to have this thing running for many years (and miles) to come.

On the bright side, I'm definitely excited to become a member of the 4runner family. I've read nothing but great things about them, and some of the builds you guys have on here are pretty impressive.

 

[grhcan99]

Hey guys,

I just joined the forums as I am in the market for a new vehicle, and I'll definitely be going with a 4runner after extensive research. I've always wanted to get into off-roading and modding a truck/suv, but I've never had the financial means to do so. I just graduated college in May and was able to secure a full-time job, so I'm looking to pull the trigger on a nice 4runner sometime soon.

I went to a dealer yesterday to look at a 2005 Limited V6 with 77k miles on it. It seems to be a decent deal as it is priced lower than a lot of the other 4runners in my area, but I'm a little bit nervous after looking at the Carfax. It looks like it was in an accident in 2007 with side impact, but when I checked the car out at the dealer I didn't notice anything cosmetically. The truck was also still in their service center, as they were replacing the struts and doing work on it to make it "perfect for when you drive it off the lot" (actual quote).

Also, the following have been replaced on the vehicle already:
Alternator/Generator
Idler pulley
Drive belts

Is any of that something to be worried about? I admittedly don't know much about cars, but I'm getting a bad feeling in my gut after seeing that this stuff has already been replaced in the car. I know that the majority of 4runners are reliable and don't have much that goes wrong with them - but are there some that are just bad right out of the factory?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I really liked the truck when I saw it - and it was in a color that I grew particularly fond of when looking at 4runners online (stratosphere mica).

Here's a link to the Carfax:
CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD

And here's a link to the ad (no pics up as they just received this car via trade-in):
Used 2005 Toyota 4Runner Limited V6 Auto For Sale in Danvers MA | VIN: JTEBU17R258032315

Should I hold off on this and look elsewhere, or is this worth going for? I really like the truck and the price, and they are also giving me $1000 for my POS car that I'm currently driving.

Thanks guys!

I couldn't stress the importance of having it thoroughly checked by a certified mechanic enough. Find one where they can get the truck on a lift. Then make your decision based on the findings. As for the accident report your decision will depend on whether the truck is a keeper. If so, for as long as there's nothing wrong with the truck after the inspection, get it. If you're not committed to it and might sell in the future, having an accident claim can negatively affect its resale value.

As for the repairs, I don't find them unusual. Idler pulleys and drivebelt are very cheap repairs. The drivebelt is a wear item and gets bad after a while so it needs to be replaced. There are three idler pulleys in there. They are three of the wheels that help hold the drivebelt. They've got bearings in them and sometimes the bearings go bad so it needs to be replaced. Alternators can also go bad so it's good that it's got a new one. Having new struts are good. They are not that cheap especially on the limited model as they use the XREAS suspension system. Good that they took care of that.

So if you like it, test drive it. Drive over rough road, and make sure to try steep hills and try its power there. Do quick turns, etc. Check for a driveline thud when taking off after stopping. Try braking a little hard at a stop, hold on to the pedal then release. If you experience a thud, a sensation of being hit from behind then that's a deal breaker for me. This is a common issue that Toyota has refused to fix. It's the drive shaft that's binding and I have that. Try shifting from forward to reverse and vice versa especially when the engine is still cold and watch out for a wrenching motion accompanied by noise. I've always hated that. It sort of goes away when the engine is warmed up. Drive up a hill fast especially when the engine is not that warm yet and listen for noise (injector/valve). These are some of the major issues that I noticed on mine after driving it for a month. I don't know what the dealer did but I didn't notice these on my two test drives.

If you like how it rides, drive it over to a shop for a thorough inspection. Don't worry about the initial cost to have it inspected. It's gonna be worth it.

 

[Atlanta_man]

Look for rust underneath - on a lift of course, poke around good

Given the accident, look for unusual tire wear if they are not new tires

 

[grhcan99]

Look for rust underneath - on a lift of course, poke around good

Given the accident, look for unusual tire wear if they are not new tires

Yeah rust, that too.

 

[prule84]

Still waiting on a call back from the dealer so I can go test drive it. As I mentioned before, it was still being worked on as it had just been traded in and they were dealing with any mechanical issues it had before they sell it. I was hoping to test drive it today, but I guess that'll have to wait for tomorrow.

I found a 2007 Limited V8 at another dealership and I may go check that out tonight. Anyone have a ballpark of what I can expect that one to be priced at? (was a "call us for price" listing) It's fully loaded and has 78k miles on it.

 

[prule84]

Just got back from test driving it - man that thing is awesome. I'm currently driving a '97 Volvo 850, which I have always thought was a pretty smooth ride, but the 4runner completely blows it away. It felt like I was driving on a cloud. Tested out all the interior bells and whistles, and everything seemed to be in order. The heated seats took all of 30 seconds to warm up, which was awesome.

One issue though - slowing down at a yield sign before a rotary, the breaks were squeaking/the front end was making a very discouraging grinding noise. When I first heard it, I asked the salesman if he thought it was us (I knew it was us, I could feel it while braking) and he said it was definitely the car in front of us. I waited for that car to pull away, and then I inched up and hit the breaks again and heard the same noise. The salesman changed his tune and said the mechanic must not have finished up with the truck and that there must be something else he has to do on Monday. He also tried to tell me that when you replace a lot of things in the car (ie struts) that it takes a while for them to "settle in", which I think is a load of bologna. Shouldn't be hearing weird noises in the front end during a test drive.

Anyway, I made plans to take it out again sometime this week (maybe Monday) and bring it to my mechanic. I love the truck, and I really want it to work out because it's a decent deal for me, I'm just really discouraged by the noise in the front end. I'm going through a dealer, so I don't think they would sell me the car if there was something wrong with it.

Any thoughts? Would love some input. I'm fresh out of college and this is my first buying experience, so I'm all ears.

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

I would say run away quickly. It's a cheap price for a reason. There will be others out there.

 

[natehack5]

I would say run away quickly. It's a cheap price for a reason. There will be others out there.

Agreed, there are other 4Runners out there. Don't settle on a major purchase like this.

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

Prule84 don't trust a dealership to sell you a car with nothing wrong with it. Does it have a warranty? If so read the fine detail. A dealer is all about profit. They are not going to have a mechanic spending hours going over it to make sure it is perfect. They change the oil, air filter, check the fluids and do a general inspection.
I think your excitement for the 4runner is clouding your judgement.

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

I would try to get the accident report or record of body work done, also make sure the brake issue is figured out and fixed before buying

 

[prule84]

I would say run away quickly. It's a cheap price for a reason. There will be others out there.

Agreed, there are other 4Runners out there. Don't settle on a major purchase like this.

Prule84 don't trust a dealership to sell you a car with nothing wrong with it. Does it have a warranty? If so read the fine detail. A dealer is all about profit. They are not going to have a mechanic spending hours going over it to make sure it is perfect. They change the oil, air filter, check the fluids and do a general inspection.
I think your excitement for the 4runner is clouding your judgement.

I would try to get the accident report or record of body work done, also make sure the brake issue is figured out and fixed before buying

First off, thank you guys a ton for your replies. I definitely won't be moving forward with it unless that brake issue is addressed. I'll try to get ahold of the accident report and see if I can figure out what happened with it. I asked the salesman about it today and he said that it was "very minor" and "nothing to worry about." Besides the basic stuff that you mentioned LUVDA4RUNNER (oil, air filter, fluids) they supposedly replaced the struts too and did some other mechanical work. I'm going to see if I can get a list of that as well.

The most true thing that I think anyone has said to me is "I think your excitement for the 4runner is clouding your judgement." I really think you hit the nail on the head there. My current car is about to croak, and I couldn't be more excited about potentially having a new car. I can't wait until it's sitting in my driveway and I can call it mine, and I think that it's affecting my judgement big time.

The reason I am still considering this car is the price. I was looking at 02's and 03's until I saw this one advertised at roughly the same price. If I bring it to my mechanic (who is a family friend) and he doesn't see anything of concern, would it be a good deal? I hope so.

 

[awdjunkies]

I say it's a good price because it's a Dealership. Potentially though, a "Good Price" can mean good to some and bad to others(Too many variables, such as location, features, color, etc...) ... Which means, in the end, if YOU like it, everything checks out, and YOU can afford it, then why not... The end result will always be, can you live with it... Will you like it/enjoy it, in 3 months????

 

[RCs4Runner]

Prule84 don't trust a dealership to sell you a car with nothing wrong with it. Does it have a warranty? If so read the fine detail. A dealer is all about profit. They are not going to have a mechanic spending hours going over it to make sure it is perfect. They change the oil, air filter, check the fluids and do a general inspection.
I think your excitement for the 4runner is clouding your judgement.

x2. Just because a dealer is selling it doesn't mean it's going to be perfect. Maybe it just needs new rotors and or pads? Take a look at them when you go to test drive it again.

A 4Runner is a not a rare SUV to find. If it's cheap compared to others of the same year / mileage there's usually a reason why. Don't rush, the right one will come along!

 

[prule84]

x2. Just because a dealer is selling it doesn't mean it's going to be perfect. Maybe it just needs new rotors and or pads? Take a look at them when you go to test drive it again.

A 4Runner is a not a rare SUV to find. If it's cheap compared to others of the same year / mileage there's usually a reason why. Don't rush, the right one will come along!

I was hoping this was the right one :ybrick:

Haha no, you guys are right. I really want to be patient with this, but my current car is a ticking time bomb and I need to make some moves ASAP.

If anyone is bored and has some spare time, see if you can find any seemingly good buys in my area that I should check on in person. I'd like to keep it under $15k but could potentially go a bit higher if it was worth it. Trying to keep it under 100k miles too. Not looking for people to do the work for me, believe me I've gone through a TON of listings. I've been using cars.com and my zip code is 01803.

Here's a link to a generic search that I've been using:
Used Toyota 4Runner - in 01803 Area - on Cars.com

Thanks again to everyone for all of your help thus far.

 

[prule84]

I say it's a good price because it's a Dealership. Potentially though, a "Good Price" can mean good to some and bad to others(Too many variables, such as location, features, color, etc...) ... Which means, in the end, if YOU like it, everything checks out, and YOU can afford it, then why not... The end result will always be, can you live with it... Will you like it/enjoy it, in 3 months????

If everything checks out - this is about as good as it can get for me.

Price: It falls ever so perfectly into my price range (which is around $15k), while still getting a 4runner less than 10 years old.

Location: Dealer is ~20mins from my house.

Features: Wanted a LTD for the leather and the heated seats, and wanted the V6 for the slightly better fuel economy and no timing belt (though I've heard they have potential head gasket issues @ high mileage).

Color: Stratosphere Mica - my #1 choice when I was searching for 4runners. Black comes in at a close second, Salsa Red probably 3rd.

So again, if everything checks out, this is perfect. I will 100% LOVE and enjoy this purchase for years to come. I think that's why it's so hard for me to walk away from it right now.

Also, here's a crappy pic I took right after the test drive.

 

[awdjunkies]

If everything checks out - this is about as good as it can get for me.

Price: It falls ever so perfectly into my price range (which is around $15k), while still getting a 4runner less than 10 years old.

Location: Dealer is ~20mins from my house.

Features: Wanted a LTD for the leather and the heated seats, and wanted the V6 for the slightly better fuel economy and no timing belt (though I've heard they have potential head gasket issues @ high mileage).

Color: Stratosphere Mica - my #1 choice when I was searching for 4runners. Black comes in at a close second, Salsa Red probably 3rd.

So again, if everything checks out, this is perfect. I will 100% LOVE and enjoy this purchase for years to come. I think that's why it's so hard for me to walk away from it right now.

Also, here's a crappy pic I took right after the test drive.

Sounds like you've made up your mind, in a positive way... just remember to have them write a due bill out for the stuff which you feel should be replaced, looked at, or doesn't feel right, again, according to you & a certified mechanic.

Good Luck Sir... Even if it's a night pic, she sure is pretty....

 

[prule84]

Sounds like you've made up your mind, in a positive way... just remember to have them write a due bill out for the stuff which you feel should be replaced, looked at, or doesn't feel right, again, according to you & a certified mechanic.

Good Luck Sir... Even if it's a night pic, she sure is pretty....

Definitely have made up my mind as far as it being "perfect" for me, but don't want to let that cloud my judgement too much (it's hard not to get excited though). Having my mechanic look at it will definitely make me feel better either way. If he says it's not worth the buy then I'll have avoided any trouble, and if he gives it his blessing then I'll feel confident driving out of the dealership with a new set of wheels.

Off topic - I just checked out your build thread as well as the video of your exhaust... looks and sounds awesome!

 

[awdjunkies]

Definitely have made up my mind as far as it being "perfect" for me, but don't want to let that cloud my judgement too much (it's hard not to get excited though). Having my mechanic look at it will definitely make me feel better either way. If he says it's not worth the buy then I'll have avoided any trouble, and if he gives it his blessing then I'll feel confident driving out of the dealership with a new set of wheels.

Off topic - I just checked out your build thread as well as the video of your exhaust... looks and sounds awesome!

lol Thanks... Nothing compared to the 30/50/70 pages some of these guys have on their builds... But, like everything else in life, we all have to start somewhere :reddance:


But yeah, I totally agree... Crossing my fingers for you, That the Mechanic/Tech. gives it a thumbs up...