Low Mileage find
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MN4runnerman
Senior Member
I saw this one this morning too. God I want it! Looks just like my 99 5 speed
AntleredRuin
New member
I'd definitely run a CarFax on this before purchasing.
I had to pass over 4 different 4runners due to their odometer being tampered with when I was looking for mine. Mileage that low is a major price factor, so if it's falsified, they will be cheating you good.
I had to pass over 4 different 4runners due to their odometer being tampered with when I was looking for mine. Mileage that low is a major price factor, so if it's falsified, they will be cheating you good.
And a maintenance history. I passed on one with under 100k miles because it was clear it had spent a lot of its life in the shop for major issues. Another had been in a major accident and apparently sat for years before it was repaired. My parts car has 8k miles in the last 6 years bc it's sat rotted in more than 1 driveway
I prefer a nice steady and consistent 10-12k miles a year for 15 years vs. these ultra low mileage rigs. Youre still gonna be up for a timing belt,full tune, and replacing any rubber part in the near future. Another $3k on top of the high price just doesn't seem worth it.
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gamefreakgc
Elite Member
The low miles are really nice, but an 18-year old SUV is not worth 14 grand. Sorry.
AntleredRuin
New member
Well yes and no. Yes it's old, but it looks to be well maintained. Obviously it'll be up for some big maintenance items soon, but if it technically could go another 350k+, how is that not worth it?
Better that than a new 4runner for $40k+ and higher monthly insurance, if you don't mind not having as many bells and whistles.
$3k? New tires, TBelt (if you do it yourself) and new fluids, spark plugs, wires, etc, shouldn't even run you $1k...And he technically has over 30k miles to go before worrying about the Tbelt. Tires are as needed, and the basic maintenance can be done a bit over every weekend spread over paychecks (get the fluids changed immediately, obviously).
If properly maintained by the PO, real number low miles could be a gold mine. That's that many less miles to have to worry about the history of the vehicle.
I got mine with 132k and while I have maintenance records, the PO still could have redlined it to every stoplight for the 1st 132k of its life.
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mtbtim
Elite Member
Every time I've seen a very low mileage 3rd Gens for sale, especially when they are being sold by a commercial entity, they always want seriously stupid money for them.
I'm with [MENTION=142684]tomatuvm[/MENTION]. I'd much rather buy a rig that was driven on a regular basis. No way in hell this is a good buy for that kind of coin. But, you know somebody is going to buy it close to what the seller is asking.
Better to be patient and search for a relatively low mileage 3rd Gen that is priced more reasonably. It takes LOTS of patience to find a good one, but it's a worthwhile endeavor IMHO. I could literally buy two solid low-mileage 3rd Gens for that price. It took me 2 months of searching to find my 2000 SR5 4x4 with 111,000 miles for $6300.
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gamefreakgc
Elite Member
I think he meant having a shop do it.
What he's getting at that after $15,000 - $18,000 geting it back up to "new" you could pick up a cleaner, newer vehicle. Some things on a vehicle age due to time, not mileage. It's not uncommon to have part failures and leaks spring up on a vehicle that has not been driven much at all. Case in point, my brother bought a 94 with only 90k miles on it. Shortly after the radiator sprung a leak on a long drive, overheated and blew a head gasket. All because it had sat around for a year or so not being used. The parts still aged even though it wasn't getting miles put on it.
Collkid
New member
This is where I would land too.
However, I would be he gets over 10 for it.
I will always choose maintenance > miles.
Exactly. I was ballparking to have a shop do it. Timing belt, brakes, radiator, plugs, wires, battery, pcv, antenna, LBJ's, and any of the other common maintenance things are going to need to be addressed at the same cost and within the same time whether it's for 55k or 155k.
And like you said, once you get to $15k+, you gotta be a real 3rd gen die hard to not get a newer one.
Now, if money was no option and I was building the ultimate weekend expedition toy with a $50k budget, I'd absolutely plop down $13k for a totally rust free 5 speed with an elocker
AntleredRuin
New member
That makes sense. I'm kinda anti-shop (I don't like spending money, and I love wrenching), so any of these basic items I always just automatically assume everyone does themselves, especially on a forum like this.
I guess it depends on how much he drove it during its first 55k miles. If he put the miles on in 2 years, then let it sit, then no. But if he put a few thousand miles on every year, I'd think it'd be ok. With those miles, he could technically have put 3k on every year, which is not unheard of with a short commute. That could be enough to get everything lubed up regularly and prevent dry rot.
I guess with that, though, the engine may never have really gotten up to highway speeds, so it may have mostly been cold startups and short drives, which might not be good for it. If he let the engine warm up first before going anywhere that'd help a lot.
I know my grandmother's 98 Taurus' tranny gave out last year at 45k original miles because her commute was so short and with so many stop signs that she never even got out of 2nd gear...but then, that's a Ford, and the Taurus sucked anyways.
I agree that the price is definitely high, but if you are willing to do your own work and the PO took proper care of it, this truck could last you to your grave for not too terribly expensive (haggle the price down, obviously).
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ben550
New member
I saw a guy selling a 2008 Tacoma 4 door locally. It was parked on the side of the road in front of his house. I stopped to look at it. No price on the window. He came outside and I started chatting with him. Older guy. Truck had 10k miles on it. He had a short commute and three cars... He was asking 28k for it... haha. He put a little over 1k miles on it a year. The truck would be a great buy if the price was better. He failed to see that years depreciate a vehicle not just miles...
Like you said, if he put 3k miles on it a year it would be a great buy for a lower price. I would not go over 10k for it. I'd say 9k would be more than fair.
Consider the leaps and bounds in safety technology/standards since the late 90s. Its nice but not worth 13k.
Comb through maintenance records and carfax to ensure mileage and dates match. If you see any that don't match look for tampered odometer.
Like you said, if he put 3k miles on it a year it would be a great buy for a lower price. I would not go over 10k for it. I'd say 9k would be more than fair.
Consider the leaps and bounds in safety technology/standards since the late 90s. Its nice but not worth 13k.
Comb through maintenance records and carfax to ensure mileage and dates match. If you see any that don't match look for tampered odometer.
volkinator
New member
Definitely out of my price range, but man this is a good topic between age/mileage. I'm with a majority here, mine has 218k on it, and is working just fine. Regular maintenance makes it last. Just thought it was an impressive vehicle, and a 5 spd at that. Saw it and thought I'd share!
volkinator
New member
You've got room for another don't you!??
jeremyc74
Banned
This just popped up on my local CL. If this isn't a scam someone needs to snatch it up!
1997 toyota 4runner limited-only 66k miles
67000 miles for $4950!
1997 toyota 4runner limited-only 66k miles
67000 miles for $4950!
Now that's a deal! And a story that makes sense (sounds like a car kept at a winter house). Might as well pick it up for $5k and list it for $10k in a month
AntleredRuin
New member
Was there a Limited 4x4 4cyl option in 1997?
