jeremyc74
Banned
:iagree:
All good advice, but especially this part. I'm looking for a unicorn right now so I gave this a shot. It takes some time for a full Craigslist search, but it damn sure works!
How patient were you when you were tying to find your 4Runner?
- Thread starter Road Bull
- Start date
:iagree:
All good advice, but especially this part. I'm looking for a unicorn right now so I gave this a shot. It takes some time for a full Craigslist search, but it damn sure works!
98OzarksRunner
New member
I looked for about 6 months, and checked every day on craigslist. I found one on a small used car lot about 75 miles away. Paid about $2000 under KBB and got a one-owner, dealer-maintained beauty. Patience grasshopper. 
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:white rocket
New member
I searched for 8 months so I suppose I consider myself patient. I specifically wanted a 99-00 Limited due to the features it offered(AWD mode, e-locker). Minimal to no rust, service records available and decent mileage were my "wants". I just searched CL everyday and low and behold the right one appeared. I responded and struck a deal within minutes of the seller posting the ad. The good thing about waiting is you begin the know the market and see which ones sell fast and which ones don't. I bought mine last August and I have yet to find an equal deal available (yes I still look on CL)
I'm glad I was patient as I love the one I found.
I'm glad I was patient as I love the one I found.
98OzarksRunner
New member
That's because you're in CO. Everybody wants one there. When I lived in Denver (99-03), I looked for a long time for a 95, and finally bought a fresh trade in at a Toyota dealer (called me when they took it in) but paid a premium price. Check CL for Kansas City, OK City, etc. You'll probably find more and cheaper. You'll just have to drive a little.
Road Bull
Senior Member
Great information guys! This helps me paint a better picture if what to expect and has a lot of helpful tips for ANYONE searching for a 4Runner to buy. It makes me a little nervous carrying that kind of cash around, but I have a CDL and if need be, I van drag a friend along.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
I have bought two V6 5-speed 4runners with the e-locker, which is supposedly a rare or hard to find combo.
Both times, I just popped on Craigslist, saw the truck, and went to look with cash in hand. No search time at all, really. Maybe I just got lucky. :shrugs:
Both times, I just popped on Craigslist, saw the truck, and went to look with cash in hand. No search time at all, really. Maybe I just got lucky. :shrugs:
Since I was ready to buy, to when I finally bought mine, it must have been a month or so. I had looked at a dozen, had leads on at least 5 more that got away. My advice to you is seriously scan craigslist all day and be ready to hit the door within an hour of the posting. I lost out on 3 very good priced runners that sold in less than an hour due to this. I finally ended up doing it and got a '98 Limited 4x4 with diff lock with 180k on it for $2500. It needs some catching up on maintenance and a little bit of interior love. But the body and underneath is in very good shape, mechanically is very good as well.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
I paid with a cashier's check. I don't carry $7,000 cash in my pocket and then go visit a stranger's house, since I'm not exactly a brawny sort of person. When you do find one and settle on a price, see if the seller will let you go to a bank and get one (takes all of 5 minutes). They normally charge you like $10 to do a cashier's check and it's verified funds, unlike a personal check. Money order's don't go that high.
I had called him as soon as I saw the posting go up (was the first to contact). I met him the next day after talking back and forth. I can read people very well and he was very honest (even told me over the phone of every cosmetic dent and chip on the whole 4Runner), although very inept at mechanical things. Nothing too bad though so I planned on giving him the full asking price so got the check before heading to his place.
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I have searched in the surrounding states and on here. Arizona is even worse, I think. Looking more in the midwest you have to worry about the rust. You would think since the supply is so high here in CO that the price would actually drop a bit but I guess the demand is equally if not higher.
There's basically 2 types of T4Rs. The beat to shit ones where the owners are delusional and think it's worth the price of a pristine one. Then there's the pristine ones where the owners are even more delusional and think it's worth near the price of a new one.
I know my pricing might seem a bit off but if it's over 200k miles I am not paying over 4500 for it. I don't care how much maintenance you've put into it.
jeremyc74
Banned
I'm about to hit 200k and I've been offered $6500 for it once, and $6000 by two other people. Now, that's a truck that spent most of its life in FL and HI, and with a new set of wheels and tires and the offers were coming from the salt belt but I turned them both down because I don't think I could replace it for that. Nice ones pop up on CL and disappear the same day because people are searching far and wide for them.
The reason you're having such a hard time finding one is that they're getting harder and harder to find in the criteria you're looking for, and there are more and more people who want them. That's driving the price up. Remember a used car is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it.
98OzarksRunner
New member
Here are a few. The one for $7500 is probably high, but they all look decent with reasonable miles.
Reduced 2002 Toyota 4Runner Sport excellent cond
2002 Toyota 4runner SR5 4x4 Automatic
01 Toyota 4Runner 4x4
I'm going on 3 months now and nothing has really popped up that fits the bill. There have been what appear to be some descent ones but they are usually WAY over priced or are fake spam adds.
I will just keep looking. I figure when the right one comes along it will be meant to be.
I will just keep looking. I figure when the right one comes along it will be meant to be.
Yes, thank you for defining simple economics and stating the obvious.
I steer clear of Hablo Espanol ads. They are shady as hell (no racists). I know there are decent ones out there but I want a solid truck at a reasonable price. I've given up for a while since we just bought my wife a new vehicle so the 4runner which was going to be a toy is on the back burner.
A good tool is the Csmart Craigslist app which alerts you when something pops up with your criteria. You can also do statewide searches.
jeremyc74
Banned
No need to get bent out of shape. I'm just saying you might want to consider the reality that what you're looking for isn't going to be easy. You may get what you want, but how long are you willing to wait? These things get more miles on them by the month.
NorthernRunner
New member
I researched for about a year and started looking when I was on vacation in Ontario over Christmas. I knew what I was after and was prepared not to find anything, but one come up 2 days before I was leaving that was exactly what I was looking for, so I had a look and bought it a few hours after the ad went up.
Like most people have said already, it seems to be mostly luck finding the ones that are in good shape. The guy I bought mine from was 70 when he bought it and he just took it on runs to his cottage and the grocery store, and parked it in the winter. There's no other way that I would have found a 99 with zero rust in Southern Ontario.
Like most people have said already, it seems to be mostly luck finding the ones that are in good shape. The guy I bought mine from was 70 when he bought it and he just took it on runs to his cottage and the grocery store, and parked it in the winter. There's no other way that I would have found a 99 with zero rust in Southern Ontario.
Road Bull
Senior Member
I think this is a fair statement. I could walk out my door and go find "something". But the devil is in the details. If you want a "great deal" or are looking for something specific, then you need to have time in your hands to find the one. I am not in too much of a rush, but you don't have much time to hem and haw about potential purchases. You need to be ready to pull the trigger when you find your white whale.
I do like hearing about peoples experience in finding their Runners though. It gives a good perspective on what to look for and expect without overpaying.
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