Help with potential purchase

[dmauldin]

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5359753651.html

<a href="http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/dmauldin/media/75B409DB-E14B-4E20-AB6A-DD56E5B562A5_zps4tjftoyr.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r619/dmauldin/75B409DB-E14B-4E20-AB6A-DD56E5B562A5_zps4tjftoyr.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 75B409DB-E14B-4E20-AB6A-DD56E5B562A5_zps4tjftoyr.jpg"/></a>

Just took this vehicle for a test drive. Timing belt was done in 2008 at 88+k miles. Driver's seat bottom was redone recently - looked like faux leather, but well done.

The front door cards are missing their tabs - someone has been in there on both doors at some point. Power antenna sounds like the devil, auto AC controls are unresponsive.

The passenger headlight is burnt out, neither fog light came on. Most likely just bulbs.

The interior has some carpet stains, but pretty good otherwise. All windows and the sunroof works.

The engine bay was dusty, looks like passenger valve cover leaks, maybe cam seals too. Fluids looked OK, though tranny fluid was overfilled.

The ride felt tighter than my 2001 Limited...though the shift lever wobbled ALL over the place. The transmission shifted pretty well, maybe a little less subtly than mine. Shifts were firm, no slipping or hesitation to shift.

Overall, pretty good looking vehicle.

Few questions: how hard are the 'pinstripe' decals to remove when they are all crusty and old?
I'm thinking to offer $5,000 - thoughts?
Is it common for the airbag door on the dashboard to appear a slightly different color than the rest of the dash? Saw no signs of collision, just looked slightly out of place...

Anyone have a carfax membership to get some info?

From Toyota.com/owners: 1/3/13 - 140,857 Repair order "Heavy Engine, Declined Oil Leak" - What do you suspect "Heavy Engine" means at a Toyota Dealer?

 

[techno]

From Toyota.com/owners: 1/3/13 - 140,857 Repair order "Heavy Engine, Declined Oil Leak" - What do you suspect "Heavy Engine" means at a Toyota Dealer?

Have you ever tried to pick up an engine? They're about 500lbs!

Maybe the market is different in TX, but that mileage, and being 2wd, I wouldn't pay a cent over $4000

 

[dmauldin]

Have you ever tried to pick up an engine? They're about 500lbs!

Maybe the market is different in TX, but that mileage, and being 2wd, I wouldn't pay a cent over $4000

Hahahahaha! Yes, the engine is heavy, but I suspect that's not exactly what they meant...

 

[IsaiahC]

Anyone who has ever bought a 2wd 4runner has regret it at some point. Most try and do swaps. Go find a nice 4wd :fishing:

 

[jeremyc74]

Hahahahaha! Yes, the engine is heavy, but I suspect that's not exactly what they meant...

I would suspect it was probably supposed to say "heavy oil leak - declined". Meaning they informed him of a leak, and he declined to have it fixed. I'm betting the text got rearranged in the text box on the service advisor's program. A lot of these companies are still using some antiquated systems for their service records.

 

[Padre]

That would get about 5k here. It's nice but you'd still put 500 into it I'm guessing.

I'll run an auto check gimme a few.

 

[Padre]

Report came back clean. Pm me your email if you want the full thing.

 

[dmauldin]

Anyone who has ever bought a 2wd 4runner has regret it at some point. Most try and do swaps. Go find a nice 4wd :fishing:

I won't regret it...

I've had one 3rd gen and 2 5th gens, don't really need or want 4WD.
I just think they are the best all-around vehicles. Love the size, looks, rear window that rolls down...all of it.

Thanks though!

 

[A.Wilson013]

Who sells a vehicle with a headlight out?

 

[dmauldin]

Who sells a vehicle with a headlight out?

I thought that was slightly humorous too...
The guy also thought this vehicle had a timing chain.

He's a wholesaler. Hopefully I can talk the price WAY down.

I still think $5k-ish would be roughly correct for this one in this market.

 

[Bump N Run]

Priced way too high! Here is a comparable 4WD in great shape near me https://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/5345572050.html

 

[Bump N Run]

And how much to miss work, drive up there, realize its not what you want and drive back down to texas....Come on! I'm sick of seeing posts from different states!!!! If he wanted to buy from corn**** Iowa, he would!!!

Was I suggesting somebody drive here?

 

[Bump N Run]

HAHAHAAHA I see now that they bleeep Corn **** Iowa

We really dont need your smart comments on here.

 

[Padre]

Rare gray interior?! I GOT THE RARE GRAY INTERIOR!

 

[momo.75]

Example...Sight unseen purchase?

enough....

 

[Bump N Run]

Its disappointing that this level of harassment is allowed. Signing out friends

 

[fblainen11]

The ride felt tighter than my 2001 Limited...though the shift lever wobbled ALL over the place. The transmission shifted pretty well, maybe a little less subtly than mine. Shifts were firm, no slipping or hesitation to shift.

Shift lever wobbke is a fairly simple 10-15 minute fix that cost less than $5 for parts from dealership.

 

[dmauldin]

Shift lever wobbke is a fairly simple 10-15 minute fix that cost less than $5 for parts from dealership.

Ah, finally, back on track!

I thought my shift lever had some wobble, this one had much more. I've seen the threads on replacing the bushings. Looks easy enough!

Thanks for any continued feedback on the questions - sans state line arguments!

 

[jasonochs25]

I would like to apologize for my stupid comments yesterday. There is really no excuse for it. I had a rough day, got a little buzzed and then hid behind my keyboard and talked smack to people I do not even know and for no good reason. For this I am truly sorry and will refrain from doing so again. Please accept my apologies! I like this site/forum and we certainly don't need a$$holes like me ruining it. I am sorry...not only to you, Bump and Run, but to the whole forum.

 

[MN4runnerman]

You buy this dude?
Ha ha ha. Guy from Iowa musta quit the forum. Probably had a POS 4runer anyway Ha ha ha. We like everything big here in Texas. Including our attitudes n trucks! Get out our damn way boy! Good job! :clap2::clap2::boxer::thumb3: We dont need no women on here! Ha ha ha! Go horns!!!!! :cheers:
Going to git drunk myself n hunt down some corn ****! :typing: Good job weeding out the trash on here jasonO! :whip2:

[MENTION=49520]Bump N Run[/MENTION] was a respected member of this forum who had been here a long time. What we don't need is people like you joining this forum and making it become like pirate4x4. This place is for helping others with issues with their 4runners not about calling people names and being an a$$hole to others. [MENTION=165]momo.75[/MENTION] [MENTION=25058]ChildrenOfBodom[/MENTION] I don't think this member here wants to be constructive. I respect jasonochs for apologizing we all have bad days.

And to answer the OP's question. The 4Runner in question is in great looking shape to me. I wouldn't get it because it's 2WD that's the only reason. I gotta have 4x4 cuz it's awesome. I think starting at $5000 like you mentioned is a good starting point with the work that needs to go in it. First off the bat is to replace the timing belt and water pump. I have no clue why you wouldn't put new bulbs in if you knew they were out when selling a car but that's more negotiating points for you. Make it sound like a hard job to replace lights to bring the sellers price down a bit more. Good luck man!