Hey guys new to the forum have been a 4runner owner for sometime now (2007 4runner 90k miles). I have a question concerning mileage on a potential purchase. I have been looking at a 2003 Toyota 4runner limited with a v6. The vehicle is a one owner and looks flawless. The only concern I have is the fact it has 215k miles...... The asking price is $7000.00. What are you guys thoughts and concerns? Thanks
High Mileage concern?
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asahi4runner
New member
Too much
hearno
Senior Member
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/150702-4th-gen-5500-opinions.html
If head gasket has already been replaced and you can get him to $5k or so - not a terrible deal esp if it's clean and up to date on maintenance.
If head gasket has already been replaced and you can get him to $5k or so - not a terrible deal esp if it's clean and up to date on maintenance.
asahi4runner
New member
Yep. That's a little too much mileage for that price. With that mileage lots of wrenching is going to be needed.
asahi4runner
New member
215km is about 120'sh miles right ?
WXman
New member
Had I known about the brake booster problems and all the other 4-figure repairs that these Toyotas need with high mileage, I wouldn't have even bought mine and it's only got 112K on it now. Unless you can basically steal the thing from them, it's not worth the financial risk in my opinion. Nothing is worse than buying a used vehicle with no warranty only to find out it's a potential money pit.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
......aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand your trolling continues.
WXman, with all due respect, it's a high mileage car. ANY CAR or TRUCK with high miles is going to have some sort of issue. There is no such thing as a perfect car. The 4Runner is a modern vehicle with expensive equipment in it. Things will break (not with great frequency). They are expensive. Get over it.
Sorry to hear of your woes with your rig, that doesn't make these higher mileage 4Runner's "junk" as you imply.
OP: $7000 for a rig with that many miles is too much.
WXman
New member
I beg to differ.
Had other vehicles with over 200K on the clock...multiple other vehicles with over 200K on the clock. Some as old as 1988 models, others the same age as this 4Runner. Never had or worried about any of the issues you read about here. So you can stop your generalizing.
I stand by my opinion that I wouldn't buy it. Double that because it's a V6 from the first year of that engine...and those are prone to head gaskets going bye-bye.
For the kind of money we're talking here there are better options. I'm just telling it like it is. If my brake booster goes south I'm up the creek with no paddle. I'm just praying mine holds together. I did manage to get my exhaust manifold done. And hood struts. Still gotta do both CVs. But my money is literally all tapped. If you do buy it though, I wish you luck. I love mine and enjoy driving it...but at the same time I know that at any time it could get parked.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
I'll give you the headgasket issue. But I still believe it's not a widespread problem. 2003 is now a 10 year old vehicle, so if a headgasket goes, well, I guess it's par for the course. I have a 2005, so who knows. I hope they don't go anytime soon.
I also agree that for that kind of money, you can get something better. This of course depending on what they want to use it for.
As far as higher mileage cars, like BlackworksInc said, these are modern vehicles with (painfully) expensive parts. EVEN if you go to another manufacture, you are STILL going to run into some sort of issue that will be expensive. Your 1988 vehicle is not fair to compare, b/c its pre-ODBII.
I suspect my heads are ok for now, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do go. YES, I'm totally F**KED if they do go. Transfer case actuator: My transfer case hasn't been switched over to 4 wheel drive mode in a over a year (we had a lousy winter last year). If my transfer case kacks on me, yep, you guess it, I'm screwed. All in all, I STILL wouldn't call the 4Runner an unreliable vehicle. Why? Because I got it used, not new. If it were new (below 100K miles), then I would totally call it a POS. Anyway, I knew the risk when getting a used 4R. Realize too, that I'm coming from a Heep Grand Cherokee (arguable the worst SUV in the world in terms of reliability).
WXman, I hope you get your issues resolved cheaply. I ALSO agree that if your particular vehicle becomes a burden financially, then one should consider walking away from it. (selling/trading/etc)
OP: Things to look for (you can find this info if you do a search), but here are some highlights:
1) Headgasket on V6 (has it ever been replaced?) If yes, then good.
2) Transfer case (look for leakeage by actuator)
3) Get documentation that the tranny has been serviced at least once every 100K miles. By now, it should've been changed twice now.
4) Does it have XREAS? Do they leak? If so, rip em out and get "regular" shocks.
5) Seized calipers. Not overly expensive, but still a pain.
If you can't verify all 4 items above, then you can't be sure that she (4R) is in good shape. If the body/interior is well kept, then that's a good sign she's been taken care of. Still, make sure. $7K is still too much IMO. I'd chew them down to $5K and see where that goes.
Can't think of anything else that 4Runners have "issues" on.
WXman
New member
[MENTION=97032]hearno[/MENTION] Not having the Internet doesn't change the fact that I had none of these issues, and by word of mouth (which WAS the "internet"... people used to speak to each other face to face back in the day :nod
I'd have heard about them.I forgot the t-case issues.. that can be over $1,000. Luckily, this 4R I bought was on the verge of freezing up, but I was able to get it unfrozen and it doesn't leak.
hearno
Senior Member
[MENTION=97032]hearno[/MENTION] Not having the Internet doesn't change the fact that I had none of these issues, and by word of mouth (which WAS the "internet"... people used to speak to each other face to face back in the day :nod
Lol I don't remember 1988, too young. I guess my point was, many come here looking for answers to problems. You don't find too many of the "4runner masses" checking in to say, hey my truck is problem free. By masses I mean non enthusiasts and your average person who just bought one to buy a toyota suv that was bigger than the highlander and smaller than the sequoia. this forum is a resource for people with issues and google sends a lot of searches here. obviously you'll see a higher percentage of people with problems.
gshadow325
New member
[MENTION=50507]CookieRoe[/MENTION] you round the corner from me. I work in west philly and line in springfield delco
Bought my 164k 03 SR5 V8 with aftermarket leather and sunroof (fake limited) for under $6000 in march 2013.
in the last 6552 miles, 5 months and 26 days i spent the following
Seems like alot huh but look at that littel line on the bottom Services $3205
in that number includes the following
-OEM RED box FULL timing belt service, water pump 950
-OEM RED box brake pads all around 150
-aftermarket rotors all around 100
-OEM RED box driver side front and rear O2 Sensors 300
-FJ Coils 125
-FJ Bilsteins 200
-Daystar Lift/level kit 150
-Redline front/transfer/rear diff fluid 100
-18" American Racing wheels 550
-BFGoodrich rugger trail ta tires 275/70/18 100 used craigslist
-royal purple oil changes and filter 75
-labor for suspension/fluid 200
-spark plugs 80
-cabin filter 15
-brake.thud.clunk noise fix aka driveshaft lube 30
these are all things any normal new to you used car would get. full stage zero, aka bring maintainance up to date. with the exeption of a few unecessary mods LoL.
if the limited you are looking at has decent records you and look at. it might be worth taking a look. i can put my 171k 03 vs a 70k 07 and they can both look and run the same. i expect my truck to run another 50k easy with no major $$ put into it! since previous owner already blew up the transmission @ 146k and replaced it with a oem unit from the dealership for $4000!
btw- go on toyota.com punch in the vin and see what dealer services were done. used that to negotiate my price down from $8000.
current snapshot of what the 03 v6 limited is going for RIGHT NOW at auction
LandCruiser
New member
I sold and/or broke all my Toyotas after 200-250k, with exception of my FJ Cruiser which didn't make it to 70k due to clutch and transmission problems.
They last, but a heavily used Yota with 200 large on the clock will only make your wallet sad.
They last, but a heavily used Yota with 200 large on the clock will only make your wallet sad.
