Newbie Looking for 4Runner Buying Advice

[bCaHnIaCnKa]

Hi guys,

Newbie here to the SUV world, was looking for a used 4Runner as a daily to replace the groggy Toyota Sienna Van and decided on the 4th gen in general ... was wondering if there is anything I should be on the look out for when buying a 4th gen and if any year(s) are particularly good / bad (particularly looking a 2003, 2004 and 2005) .... or just any advice at all I suppose since I don't know too much about SUVs :biggrin2: ... also I was thinking about a darker color like Black, the Gray Mica, or the shadow mica and not sure if it is really difficult to keep a darker SUV clean ... I have a ton of trouble with dark cars as is ... Thanks in advance!


-Lorrie

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Hi guys,
Newbie here to the SUV world, was looking for a used 4Runner as a daily to replace the groggy Toyota Sienna Van and decided on the 4th gen in general ... was wondering if there is anything I should be on the look out for when buying a 4th gen and if any year(s) are particularly good / bad (particularly looking a 2003, 2004 and 2005) .... or just any advice at all I suppose since I don't know too much about SUVs :biggrin2: ... also I was thinking about a darker color like Black, the Gray Mica, or the shadow mica and not sure if it is really difficult to keep a darker SUV clean ... I have a ton of trouble with dark cars as is ... Thanks in advance!
-Lorrie

Welcome...
Dark colors are a PIA, period... There aren't any "bad" ones in the year range you're looking at. The best are the '05's as they recieved some mechanical updates. The '06 got the cosmetic updates.


:cheers:

 

[hammersc]

Welcome ... and might I say that's a fine looking m3. All of those models have a stellar reliability rating, especially the '05, and not because I own one, CR says so. Mine has 65k miles or so on it and someone would be very lucky to buy it if I were to sell it today. Still as mechanically sound as day 1.

 

[Nuke]

You can't go wrong with just about ANY Toyota. Being a previous owner of a 2nd gen and a 3rd gen, the 4th gens are much more refined over the earlier versions.

And don't sweat what non-Toyota owners consider high mileage. Most 4Runners aren't even cutting their teeth until about 100,000 miles and will last beyond 300,000 miles providing they're maintained per the schedule.

 

[bCaHnIaCnKa]

You can't go wrong with just about ANY Toyota. Being a previous owner of a 2nd gen and a 3rd gen, the 4th gens are much more refined over the earlier versions.

And don't sweat what non-Toyota owners consider high mileage. Most 4Runners aren't even cutting their teeth until about 100,000 miles and will last beyond 300,000 miles providing they're maintained per the schedule.

oh wow 300k! ... hahaha the average life of a sports car is like less than 80k ...:bash:

well that's good to know because many of the ones I've been looking for on listings have anywhere from 60k-90k miles already ... I guess I shouldn't be too worried?

 

[Nuke]

...well that's good to know because many of the ones I've been looking for on listings have anywhere from 60k-90k miles already ... I guess I shouldn't be too worried?

Absolutely nothing to worry about, IF it was maintained. Even if the previous owner had lapsed, not much will hurt these engines in 60k-90k other than not changing the oil and filter.

I'm new to the 4th gens myself. The 3rd gens had a recommended timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles and I don't know if this is true for the 4th gens. I'd check on that to see if you have a maintenance item coming due on whatever you end up buying.

I sold my 3rd gen 3 nights ago with 152,000 miles on it and I would put money on another 150,000 relatively trouble-free miles. Of all my Toyotas that I've sold, the 3rd gen had the fewest miles on it. I sold a 2nd gen with 205,000 miles on it to a friend and he says he now has over 320,000 miles on it and hasn't done anything to the engine since he bought it.

 

[bCaHnIaCnKa]

Absolutely nothing to worry about, IF it was maintained. Even if the previous owner had lapsed, not much will hurt these engines in 60k-90k other than not changing the oil and filter.

I'm new to the 4th gens myself. The 3rd gens had a recommended timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles and I don't know if this is true for the 4th gens. I'd check on that to see if you have a maintenance item coming due on whatever you end up buying.

I sold my 3rd gen 3 nights ago with 152,000 miles on it and I would put money on another 150,000 relatively trouble-free miles. Of all my Toyotas that I've sold, the 3rd gen had the fewest miles on it. I sold a 2nd gen with 205,000 miles on it to a friend and he says he now has over 320,000 miles on it and hasn't done anything to the engine since he bought it.

!! wowowowow, that's awesome to hear . I'm pretty excited because my M3 is plagued with standard German car issues and just ... issues in general haha .... I would love to own a car/SUV that doesn't go to the dealer 28 times in two years

ugh but about the dark colors being PIA. I'm disappointed haha ... I really wanted a black or metallic gray 4runner , is there a section on this forum specifically for car listings? or are there other places to better search for 4runners?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

We do have a classified section, but there aren't many 4runners for sale there.

I would check Craigslist or Autotrader.

 

[Nuke]

Used 4Runners are tough to find since few people are willing to part with them. And when they do get listed, they don't last long before they're snatched up.

Best bet is whatever on-line listings you can find plus local papers. I visited my local dealership about once every week or 2 to look for used 4th gens before I bought my '08.

If you can afford a leftover '08, I hear Toyotas offering $8,000 cash back (but my guess is that's on the list MSRP price. If that's below you're negotiated price, that would be a STEAL). I bought my '08 last November for $3600 below invoice ($7100 below MSRP).

 

[bCaHnIaCnKa]

Used 4Runners are tough to find since few people are willing to part with them. And when they do get listed, they don't last long before they're snatched up.

Best bet is whatever on-line listings you can find plus local papers. I visited my local dealership about once every week or 2 to look for used 4th gens before I bought my '08.

If you can afford a leftover '08, I hear Toyotas offering $8,000 cash back (but my guess is that's on the list MSRP price. If that's below you're negotiated price, that would be a STEAL). I bought my '08 last November for $3600 below invoice ($7100 below MSRP).

although it does sound like a great deal, I'm actually trying to trade in and/or sell the van (2000 toyota sienna XLE) and it sells for around $9000, so I don't really want to put a WHOLE lot more on top of it so I was thinking around $15-18k ...

 

[p nut]

Banana Chick

 

[bCaHnIaCnKa]

Banana Chick

 

[p nut]

actually a quick look at craigslist or autotrader or even cars.com kind of shows a few categories

there are a few cars around $19k-22k range with 60k-70k miles that are 05/06 range which was out of my budget

then you get a handful of 03's that were around $13-15k with around 80-90k miles ... which I was more interested in ...

Perhaps it your locale, then.

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1006209443.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1004665333.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1003669881.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1002120168.html

Tons more where that came from. I'm sure you can talk them down way more than the asking price, too.

 

[Lowpro]

I drive a 07 4R and absolutely love it. Now my wife wants one too.

We're gonna try to go check this one out.

2005 Toyota 4Runner
$14,791
Mileage................. 21,798 Transmission....... 5 Speed Automatic
Exterior Color...... Black Fuel....................... Gasoline
Interior Color....... Grey Drive Type............ 2 wheel drive - rear
Body Style........... Sport Utility Stock No.............. 10571
Doors................... Four Door
Engine.................. 6 Cylinder Gasoline

We don't need 4x4 out here in Sunny Los Angeles.

Good price?

 

[hammersc]

I drive a 07 4R and absolutely love it. Now my wife wants one too.

We're gonna try to go check this one out.

2005 Toyota 4Runner
$14,791
Mileage................. 21,798 Transmission....... 5 Speed Automatic
Exterior Color...... Black Fuel....................... Gasoline
Interior Color....... Grey Drive Type............ 2 wheel drive - rear
Body Style........... Sport Utility Stock No.............. 10571
Doors................... Four Door
Engine.................. 6 Cylinder Gasoline

We don't need 4x4 out here in Sunny Los Angeles.

Good price?

That is some low mileage. Barely broken in. I'd ask why they are selling it. Is it SR5, limited, ???

 

[Lowpro]

That is some low mileage. Barely broken in. I'd ask why they are selling it. Is it SR5, limited, ???

Limited. It's at a Land Rover dealership. The carfax report comes back clean, privately owned.

Gotta figure out what to do with her 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 47k miles. I wonder if they would take it in. KBB is $12k, but in this case I'd take $10k for the trade in to get the the 4R.

 

[p nut]

Limited. It's at a Land Rover dealership. The carfax report comes back clean, privately owned.

Gotta figure out what to do with her 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 47k miles. I wonder if they would take it in. KBB is $12k, but in this case I'd take $10k for the trade in to get the the 4R.

They will definitely take a sedan over an SUV sitting in inventory, especially if it's lower priced. But beware, the saying goes, "trade-in's keep the lights on at the dealerships."

 

[Lowpro]

They will definitely take a sedan over an SUV sitting in inventory, especially if it's lower priced. But beware, the saying goes, "trade-in's keep the lights on at the dealerships."

Understood. We are able to pay the $14k in cash but we don't need the Honda lying around, we rather get rid of it. I'd take $10k to be done with it.

When I sold my last car (96 Jeep GC) before I got my 2007 4R, I literally sold it in 3 hrs! I sat outside a police auction garage and waited till everyone came out. In less than 3 hrs I was at the dmv doing all the paperwork stuff

 

[hammersc]

Yea I'd trade private party on that accord. Dealership makes a fortune on trade ins.

Sounds like a pretty good deal on that '05. I'd offer 13,5, they'll say no, then write 13,5 on your business card, give it to your salesman then leave. They'll call within a few days. Especially right now approaching month's end.

 

[Lowpro]

Yea I'd trade private party on that accord. Dealership makes a fortune on trade ins.

Sounds like a pretty good deal on that '05. I'd offer 13,5, they'll say no, then write 13,5 on your business card, give it to your salesman then leave. They'll call within a few days. Especially right now approaching month's end.

Yeah, I hear ya. Seems like a pretty good deal as it is though. I would like a few days to transfer money and all the good stuff. I put in a call, waiting to hear back from him.