Opinions on this 97 limited?

atalarico

atalarico

Senior Member
So, I put up a want ad on Craigslist, and got this in a response.

He's willing to come down from $7k to $6,500 for it, but he did so fairly quickly, and with little resistance "since it has a couple minor things".

"97 4-RUNNER LIMITED 3.4 V6, AUTOMATIC, 4 WHEEL DRIVE NEARLY PERFECT CONDITION MINUS A COUPLE DINGS, BLACK WITH TAN LEATHER INTERIOR, ALARM ,AM/FM CD/CASSETTE, SUNROOF, TOW PACKAGE. 159K MILES.

WORK COMPLETED, SEVERAL $1000 INVESTED:

NEW TIRES, STARTER, BRAKES, (TIMING BELT, BEARING, WATER PUMP, FAN BELTS AT 124K MILES) . TUNE UP INCLUDING PLATIUM PLUGS AND AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID. NEXT TIMING BELT WOULD BE AT 248K OR EVERY 120K MILES"

Opines? I'm going to check it out and drive it today, but this is running up against the 2001 SR5 for $6,600 that I would have to drive from Michigan to Colorado (seen in this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/68942-question-about-potential-purchase-2001-4runner.html

Cheers!
 
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So, after a good conversation with the owner, it sounds like a pretty decent deal. She needs to get rid of it because she's had some surgery and needs a car that's not so truck like.

I asked her about the minor things and she said that one thing that needs to happen soon is a replacement of the front rotors. She's had them turned as much as she could so far. I called my mechanic to get an estimate on that, so I'm waiting to hear back.

Also, she said there are little intricacies with it. For instance, the rear passenger window rolls down with the rear control, but doesn't roll back up. It rolls up with the master controls though.

The new tires are A/T (she thinks; her son has taken it offroading a little bit, so my guess is that they are too, otherwise he probably wouldn't have).

The maintenance records are very thorough and she has a good paper trail on it.

I guess that warrants coming down from $7 to 6,500, no? Or does it warrant a nudge to go further?

I'll inquire about the rear locker too.

Thanks!
 
Just so you know the stock front brakes on the 4runner are awful they are known to warp. People upgrade the brakes to Tundra front brakes for a couple hundred and the problem is solved. I would try to get her down to 6 at most KBB is around 5400, but that is considered low.
 
Yeah, I'm kind of thinking that $6k is a fairer price considering. I can't tell from the photos sent, but I think the drivers seat is ripped a bit too.

Hmmmm.

Her son already dropped $500 pretty effortlessly, so if I go armed with a quote from my mechanic about the brakes, and a description of what is considered "excellent" condition and what is considered "good" condition, they might move.

Otherwise, should I walk at $6,500? It's the best on paper that I've found so far.
 
That depends how bad you need the vehicle. Can you afford to keep looking a couple of weeks. I would believe they would come down to 6k and say that it needs brakes etc. How bad is the driver seat? Mine has a 1 inch tear on the side of the bottom cushion, not a big deal. Did you find out about the locker, that is worth a couple hundred.
 
rjaudi said:
That depends how bad you need the vehicle. Can you afford to keep looking a couple of weeks. I would believe they would come down to 6k and say that it needs brakes etc. How bad is the driver seat? Mine has a 1 inch tear on the side of the bottom cushion, not a big deal. Did you find out about the locker, that is worth a couple hundred.
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Need and want are two different things! I definitely want it, and I will need a vehicle in less than two weeks because I'm driving out to Telluride from Denver.

I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he quoted me around $200-220 for the front brakes (rotors, pads, and labor). He's also willing to do a free inspection on the vehicle for me since I'm a regular and I'll be bringing it to him for everything.

I haven't spoken with them again, but I'll inquire about the rear locker when I go up to drive it. If it does or doesn't, how should that increase or decrease the price?

The rip looks pretty substantial. The pics aren't hi-res, and they've been lame about sending me more detailed pictures. Here's what I see in the low-res CL posting pic
3n73o63p35Y55Q25U2a7ja695534abb5d1307.jpg
However, do I really care about a rip in the seat? Not really. But, do I know what the KBB definition of "good" and "fair" are, and that all of the things described would put it into the "fair" range, and therefore $6000 and under? Why, yes I do!
 
I wouldn't do anything until I got a look at it, and also have a mechanic check it out first if at all possible. The mechanic inspection can be hard for 4Runners around here just because there is enough of a demand that there will be buyers out there willing to put down the asking price without having it checked out first if it looks good. Just to give you an idea of the Denver area 4Runner market, I bought my 96 Limited 3.4 auto w/ locker and 155K in near-perfect condition (with the exception of the antenna mast not retracting) for $6900 back in December from a private seller in Morrison. We had agreed on the price after the test drive, but I had a bank funds availability problem that prevented me from getting the needed cash for an extra day. The seller almost backed out of the deal because he had people ringing his phone off the hook, some even from out of state, offering to give more than the asking price, site-unseen. Had to give him a couple hundred bucks to hold it for me another day. I wasn't able to have an inspection done because I was afraid he would back out, but got lucky and got a really nice truck. It's hard balancing between making a smart buy and "I must have my new 4Runner now!" :)

$6500 sounds like a decent deal if it's in great shape, and if the seller is being honest (and knowledgeable) about what all is really wrong with it.
 
I can totally relate to that. I got my Runner from Denver as well from a used car lot, I didn't have any issues related to funds but if you find one you like, you have to jump on it fast to get it. Otherwise the next day it will be gone.

Another thing to think about though is that is it worth it throw down that money on a Runner that is ok or would you rather be a little more patient and wait for that gem. Granted no 3rd Gen 4runner today is going to be perfect but it might be better to wait out a little longer unless when you see it in person, you know its the one.

I knew as soon as I saw mine in person, I had to get it. Just my 2 cents.
 
I would probably do it especially if your mechanic looks it over. Their is someone on ebay that sells those seat bottoms for 150. The locker just makes the 4runner more desirable. I do not know if you plan to off road it so it may come in handy.
 
OK, so I just got back from meeting the family and test driving it.

I want it in a bad way.

It has the rear locker, it's been extremely well maintained mechanically. You can tell they are all wrench heads because they had a number of older vehicles (including a pristine 1969 Chevy Nova) that looked in good shape.

However, cosmetically, it leaves much to be desired. Fog lamp cover needed, dirty inside, the drivers seat bottom is torn up on the side, the antenna is stuck, the front bumper is smushed in a bit, and it could use a detailin'.

The family is quite firm on $6,500. The brakes issue is kind of sketchy while driving it. The rotors are warped, and when you apply the brakes, the steering wheel shakes pretty bad. My mechanic told me $200-220 for that job, which is livable.

Otherwise, big still newish a/t tires, rear locker, the 4x4 button on the 4WD shifter, A/C, ECT Power switch, premium stock sound, etc.

What say you? Go for it?

I'm thinking so. I'm going to call to see if I can get my mechanic to look at it tomorrow.
 
For $6500-8500 you can buy a built rig these days, in my opinion there is no need to pay more than $5k for a stock 3rd Gen and that would have to be a perfect one.
 
rusm said:
For $6500-8500 you can buy a built rig these days, in my opinion there is no need to pay more than $5k for a stock 3rd Gen and that would have to be a perfect one.
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Not sure what part of the country you're in, but it's very hard to find a 3rd gen for that little in Colorado unless it's 2WD, a 4 cyl, or has extremely high miles on it. The guy that I bought mine from had picked it up somewhere in TX so that he could drive it up to CO and sell it for 1-1.5K more than what he paid for it. They are in high demand here, and you can tell it because they are everywhere. You can't drive anywhere around here without seeing a 3rd gen every minute or two.
 
That's great it's got a locker... I'm still kind of on the fence with the brake work needed, and the bumper being crunched. I think if it were me, I would probably keep looking, but if the mechanic doesn't find anything else wrong with it and you really want it, go for it.
 
AKAndy said:
Not sure what part of the country you're in, but it's very hard to find a 3rd gen for that little in Colorado unless it's 2WD, a 4 cyl, or has extremely high miles on it. The guy that I bought mine from had picked it up somewhere in TX so that he could drive it up to CO and sell it for 1-1.5K more than what he paid for it. They are in high demand here, and you can tell it because they are everywhere. You can't drive anywhere around here without seeing a 3rd gen every minute or two.
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Agreed, I bought my 4runner in Denver when I lived there, and I probably paid more for it than if I were to buy it here in Dallas, where I live now. Your location matters when it comes to pricing vehicles, don't always go off of what other people paid on this forum because we are from all over the US and Canada. Plus on here, the information on pricing you get is skewed because you will only hear from the people that got a great deal on theirs. You wont here from the people who paid too much, (nobody wants a hurt ego) or the people who paid about average.

Plus pricing used vehicles in general is so very difficult to begin with anyways, just to many variables and its hard to find an apples to apples comparison to try and justify things.
 
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AKAndy said:
That's great it's got a locker... I'm still kind of on the fence with the brake work needed, and the bumper being crunched. I think if it were me, I would probably keep looking, but if the mechanic doesn't find anything else wrong with it and you really want it, go for it.
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*sigh* I know, I just have a feeling this might be a gem as far as being mechanically sound.

The family seems really honest, but I guess you never know. The reason they're stiff on the $6,500 is because they are dealing with a declining medical situation.

The records really are meticulous.

I will see if I can take it to my mechanic tomorrow and see what he says. The rotors are warped because they've been repeatedly turned, but they're on their last leg now.

We'll see...

Such a tough one.
 
Unless if you can get your mechanic to check it and get it cleared through him, I would pass on the offer. There are a ton of 4runners in Colorado and therefore you WILL find another deal.

You don't want to buy this one and then a week later pass by one for sale or see an ad for one that is in even better condition for less money. Be patient it pays off in the end.
 
Crap...well, I just sold my car and it's gone.

So, my options are more limited now =/

I think they'll have no problem having me take it to my mechanic to get it looked over. I was able to test drive it alone with only leaving them my car key.
 
Dude! Don't over think this, go with your gut feeling! Sounds like to me that if you bought it tomorrow you would be a pretty happy camper!
 
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