Is this a good buy? '97 4Runner with E-Locker

[hyken]

171,000 miles. 1997 4Runner Limited 4WD with E-locker. According to the guy it runs and drives fine it just looks like a POS. He's asking 1440, but I offered 1100 and he accepted. Is this a good deal? See pics:

 

[hyken]

And more:

 

[jgue467]

If it ALL works, yes. :cowboy:

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want just a POS beater to get you from place to place, and if it indeed drives well, then this seems to fit the bill at a reasonable price.

If you have ANY thoughts of fixing it up into a presentable vehicle, you will spend way too much money trying to do it on this one; I'd get a nicer one to begin with if you can afford it. It'll be cheaper in the long run.

Have you actually driven this truck?

 

[hyken]

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want just a POS beater to get you from place to place, and if it indeed drives well, then this seems to fit the bill at a reasonable price.

If you have ANY thoughts of fixing it up into a presentable vehicle, you will spend way too much money trying to do it on this one; I'd get a nicer one to begin with if you can afford it. It'll be cheaper in the long run.

Have you actually driven this truck?

I haven't yet, but I will tonight. I already have a 1999 that is rusted to oblivion, so I was trying to find a cheap one that I could either mix and match parts with, or simply switch to. I off-road mine a lot and use it as a work truck, so cosmetics are not super important to me. Looks like it's leaking oil or diff fluid in the top part of the pic of the underside though...

 

[Friday88]

Personally I don't trust vehicles that look like they haven't been cared for. If a person doesn't give a shit about the cosmetic condition of literally everything, it's hard to believe they gave a shit about any maintenance.

But I only speak for myself. Maybe this thing has had perfect oil changes with royal purple lol

 

[AntleredRuin]

Geez that's all kinds of beat to hell. I can't tell, but it looks like the trailer hitch is pretty dented. Might have rear frame issues. There's definitely slight denting in the support core up front. I wonder how hard it is to even open the hood.

I'm a bit concerned about the $1440 price, honestly. Usually only scammers deal in odd numbers like that.
You say you've not seen it in person, yet? I'd make sure this is legit before doing any other real leg work.
They might be using the 'POS' look of the truck to throw you off the scent.

But you get some aftermarket rims with the deal!

 

[hyken]

Geez that's all kinds of beat to hell. I can't tell, but it looks like the trailer hitch is pretty dented. Might have frame issues.

I'm a bit concerned about the $1440 price, honestly. Usually only scammers deal in odd numbers like that.
You say you've not seen it in person, yet? I'd make sure this is legit before doing any other real leg work.

Yeah it seems super sketch to me too, but I went ahead and pulled a CarFax and it does check out with 2 confirmed collisions with minimal damage. 3 owners total.

I can't tell if the dude selling it is a really good scammer or he honestly doesn't know what he has (if it all works of course). He did send me a video of it starting up and running smooth though.

 

[hyken]

[MENTION=129892]AntleredRuin[/MENTION] here's the video he sent: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ep0RAYa95t1mlyVkOkFKahdlzoXJSN7D

 

[dogtail]

Looks very neglected, but at that price and if legit mileage its safe roll of dice, especially if it turns out all cosmetic. Undercarriage looks decent. Most people don't even know they have a locker and what it even is.
WTF did he hit, somebody in a crosswalk?

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I've seen MUCH nicer 4Runners at the junkyard, but if it runs and does what you want, and you don't care about cosmetics, then the price is not bad. Although other than the e-locker and the running motor, I'm not sure there is anything of any value in that truck.

Then again if you just want the frame and e-locker for your '99, this may do it!

 

[gamefreakgc]

Those are the kinds of 4Runners I used to buy with the sole purpose of parting them out. It's absolutely a waste of money to try and fix it up, but if you take out and sell the ECU's, rear locker, sunroof, etc. etc. you can make all your money back real quick.

If you just need a parts truck that'll fit the bill just fine.

 

[yella]

Personally I don't trust vehicles that look like they haven't been cared for. If a person doesn't give a shit about the cosmetic condition of literally everything, it's hard to believe they gave a shit about any maintenance.



But I only speak for myself. Maybe this thing has had perfect oil changes with royal purple lol

I agree. Its a first impression.


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[Dezert4Runner]

I’ll play devil’s advocate here. Assuming there are no deal breaker issues here ie: roached frame, blown head gasket, pink milkshake, salvage titled, etc, I think it has potential. Assuming you could get the driver’s side Ltd trim, hood, front bumper, seats from a junkyard for like $1k or less, you could easily flip that truck for a $1-2k profit here in SoCal. Not sure your market makes the same sense :shrug: I personally would pass if it was for my own private use and I wasn’t parting it out or building it into a rock buggy or something.

 

[hyken]

A wise man listens to council so at the better judgment of you good T4R people and my voice of wisdom (my wife), I decided to pass on it. I feel it would have been a good part car, but there was just too much trouble in trying to get either one in good shape. I'll bide my time and keep looking...

 

[thezentree]

I mean, $1100 for a running, driving 4wd isn't that bad if you're looking for a trail rig. That thing looks like a perfect candidate for doing something like what CrawlerJamie did: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/257262-bargain-beater.html