New Here -- Tell me about the 3rd Gen

That's low miles but for a 96 4 banger with a manual I wouldn't pay any higher than $5K unless it was pristine. If it's really nice I'd offer him $4500 or less to start.

You only have to worry about pink milkshakes with auto tranny's.
 
Nunyabiz said:
Here are a few other options... California has tons of 4 Runners
Click to expand...

Looks like it! Now, it's just a process of finding the right one. Thanks for the links. I've seen several of those on CL, but let me address each...

4 Runner/Rock Crawler

--> My wife won't abide anything she has to climb up into. No rock crawlers for us, I'm afraid. This is not really to be a recreational vehicle per se, but something for my son to drive and also for us to be able to load up and take on weekend mountain bike trips (my current Explorer Sport Trac, while an awesome truck -- my third -- just doesn't have the space a full SUV styled truck has in it -- and I will be keeping the Ford as my dd).

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4X4 3.4L V6 - reduced

--> $8900 is way too steep for me. I am looking at '96-'00 trucks between $3-6k max (and even $6k is a bit rich for me, and what I need, I think -- I'd need to talk someone down from that price point -- if they were firm on $6k, I'd just have to walk away, no matter how perfect a truck at that price might be).

1998 toyota 4runner 4 runner

--> This is a possibility. Maybe. Those wheels... (I know they can be replaced, but really?...). Definitely in our price point, but I would hate to have to invest in new wheels right off the bat, especially when these black/red ones are adequate to the job, but just fugly (no offense to anyone who likes them, of course!). We'll see on this one...

1985 ROCK CRAWLER TOYOTA 4RUNNER

--> Camo rock crawler. Not for us.

If 2WD is acceptable to you this one "looks" clean.

1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED, AUTO TRANSM, VERY CLEAN......

--> 2WD is probably fine. We would at most be hauling up some fire roads and stuff like that. I don't expect to become a desert rat boogeyin' through the off-road under brush in my T4R once I pick one up.

Nice looking, well kept truck (and the leather is definitely a PLUS -- wife wants a leather interior if it can be had -- the red truck I posted up above is leather inside). Out of my price range at $7,900 though.

1998 Toyota 4Runner - 4wd

--> No pics. Really? I have a hard time taking seriously any CL listing that does not have pics by default. It just seems an unnecessary hurdle I gotta jump through in order to even see if it interests me. Price point is good, but sounds from the desc that it may be in need of outer TLC.

High miles but engine totally rebuilt.

1997 Toyota 4runner 4wd 4x4

--> This guy wants to run the show! I saw the posting yesterday -- he wants an offer based on the tiny pics he included. Again, hard to deal with as I would want to see and drive a vehicle before I even thought about offering up cash money for it (which I have in hand). I get that he doesn't wanna deal with CL flakes, but he is in danger of throwing out the baby with the bathwater by being pugnacious about his sale. Might come back to it. We'll see.

New engine.

TOYOTA 4RUNNER

--> Looks fairly clean. As with the truck just above, not a big fan of white (though I am also not a fan of RED, but you see me taking that one seriously!). THe older 1993 styling doesn't thrill me, either. Just a wee bit too old, I think, but the fact that it has a brand new motor is really compelling (not great to look at but runs like a dream, right?...).

Thanks so much for throwing all of those my way, Nunyabiz. I do appreciate it.

As I continue on in this process, things are coming to the fore a bit. I started off knowing nothing, and was immediately guided to the 3rd Gen, so that's my starting point -- I limit all of my searching to '96 - '00 now, looking for that gem.

Also, it seems clear that the price point I need to hit is somewhere around $5k max (though you do see me looking as far north as $6k, but, as explained above, the price on something up there would need to come down).

The RED truck seems to nail several points for us. Here's my short list (some taken from you folks, some from the RED truck, and some of my own). Most of these are preferred, not absolutely essential (except a couple):

--> 3rd Gen ('96 - '00)
--> V6 preferred, though 4 Cyl. is okay, I think**
--> 2WD or 4WD (either okay, I think)
--> Auto preferred, Manual will do
--> Leather (essential)
--> No major probs (who's gonna tell ya any different though?...)
--> Black exterior (or some very dark color, though as stated many times above, RED currently seems to be on my list...)
--> Good condition, at the least (trying to avoid "Fair" vehicles as they usually suck pretty bad)
--> A/C
--> Power Windows (front and back)
--> Low-ish mileage
--> Stereo of some sort (CD would be great, MP3 mini plug even better)
--> Tow hitch
--> Roof rack

** - What are the towing capabilities of the 4 banger engine? Will I be able to tow anything with that RED truck above?

Thanks folks.

- shud
 
Try looking on crazedlist.org - I've sniped quite a few good things that way... I paid 2K for a 96 with 200K miles (body) 110K on engine - 4x4, 5sp. If you are not afraid to turn some wrenches or some elbow grease you can get a really good deal if you look.
 
AHHHHHHHH Shudder, im a 17 year old kid living in socal! i could probably help you out kind of. My parents originally started out saying that thay will pay for half my car if i pay the other half under $5k. at first i was looking at subaru wrx's and that crazy ****, haha but then i rode in my friends 4runner, absolutely loved it, that was back in january, ever since then i looked on craigslist every day for them. and noticed the good ones were going really quick. end of story, i finally got my 02 4runner last friday, paid 7000 for it, 150k miles, and all maintenece done, however i did pay half, make your son pay half if he wants a better car. its going to take awhile to find the perfect one, and tell him to be responsible and get a job to pay for the gas, because they definatley do not get the greatest gas mileage.

Peace, love, 4runner, hahah
 
02adventurer said:
AHHHHHHHH Shudder, im a 17 year old kid living in socal! i could probably help you out kind of. My parents originally started out saying that thay will pay for half my car if i pay the other half under $5k. at first i was looking at subaru wrx's and that crazy ****, haha but then i rode in my friends 4runner, absolutely loved it, that was back in january, ever since then i looked on craigslist every day for them. and noticed the good ones were going really quick. end of story, i finally got my 02 4runner last friday, paid 7000 for it, 150k miles, and all maintenece done, however i did pay half, make your son pay half if he wants a better car. its going to take awhile to find the perfect one, and tell him to be responsible and get a job to pay for the gas, because they definatley do not get the greatest gas mileage.

Peace, love, 4runner, hahah
Click to expand...

I'm 17 with a job, 03 SR5 V8, pay for insurance, gas, do maintenance my self. Only time my mom is gonna help
Is with tires, they need to be replaced ASAP.

Just had to say that, because most of my friends think I'm a spoiled brat who's never satisfied with anything.

Random I know :)
 
shudder said:
** - What are the towing capabilities of the 4 banger engine? Will I be able to tow anything with that RED truck above?
- shud
Click to expand...

The 2.7l will tow most anything a vehicle of this weight and braking capability should be towing. You can upgrade to Tundra brakes, which is highly recommended. Remember, the 3rd Gen is not a 3/4 ton pick up. I have towed an ATV on a trailer for a 1500 mile round trip. I thought it did very well.

What about anti lock brakes? I know it never rains in So Cal, but is learning to drive w/out ABS kind of like learning to drive a stick? Is this something everyone needs to know how to do?

I have the TBU and fairly new tires. When there is snow on the street, I can lock up the tires and slide to a stop at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. In the other (ABS equipped cars), the ABS pulsates the brake pedal and I usually end up halfway through the intersection.

In that situation I'm not sure which is better. And I'm not sure if I would turn a kid loose with a non-ABS equipped car.
 
20034RunnerV84x2 said:
I'm 17 with a job, 03 SR5 V8, pay for insurance, gas, do maintenance my self. Only time my mom is gonna help
Is with tires, they need to be replaced ASAP.

Just had to say that, because most of my friends think I'm a spoiled brat who's never satisfied with anything.

Random I know :)
Click to expand...

Hey, I totally relate man... I'm just a bit older and I already have a '97 Chevy Lumina as well as a '98 4Runner and I own both, free and clear... Granted, the Chevy is almost worthless now (329K miles) but I pay insurance, gas, and all work that needs to be done on both vehicles. and I have a job... If a kid wants a car, I say, make him pay for it. If he wants the responsibility, make him earn it.

Kudos to you for your independence! :D :gun5:
 
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