Opinions please
- Thread starter Baker11
- Start date
RunninInGA
New member
You're asking the seller to do your work for you in my opinion. I wouldn't be willing to go through all that trouble either, not knowing if the Buyer is actually gonna show up with cash in hand.
I understand that aspect, if he didn't live 4 hours away and I didn't already have to take time off of work to go up there I would go look at it and take it to the dealership myself. I have offered to split the $90 for the inspection. I will send him something written up by an attorney that if the inspection turns up clean I will purchase the vehicle.
OK, we will see if he gets back to me with my the deal I am offering him.
PitbullRescuer
New member
The PPI should be on your dime, not his. And it should only be after you left him a deposit. I have to side with the seller here too, I wouldn't go for what you're asking either. I would if you paid for it and sent a deposit though.
I would be fine with a deposit on the condition that everything checks out and I would reimburse him the full amount if everything checks out. It just makes things difficult due to the distance.
I sent a message saying that I would pay for the inspection on the terms that everything comes out clear as a sign of good faith that I will come up there and by the vehicle. You guys are right I was asking to much.
RunninInGA
New member
But, that's not the Seller's issue as much as it is yours. I'm not trying to beat you up here either as I want you to find the right 4R and contribute to this group. The distance is something you need to consider when determining the value of the opportunity you may or may not have found in any vehicle.
My suggestion to you is to go see the vehicle with cash in hand. You've agreed on an amount assuming everything checks out. Now its time for you to go check everything out, which may or may not include inspection by a dealer / third party mechanic. Remember, it's Buyer Beware, not Seller Guarantee on an as-is used vehicle.
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russ_
New member
Prices must depend on location a great deal. That 4runner in the condition you've stated is $8-8.5K around here all day long. If I could have gotten that for $6.5K when I bought mine, I'd have jumped on it. Providing things check out at the mechanic, that seems like a really good deal to me.
I want to be a part of the 4R community. With all of the other stuff I am going to have to do like tires and the sunroof, etc. those being the biggest issues anything else that would need to be done would be a deal breaker for me. I am not a mechanic and don't have all of the mechanical know how to inspect the vehicle and know if it has any underlying problems.
RunninInGA
New member
Just like in real estate. Supply and demand is largely geographically driven when transportation of goods can be costly.
I paid nearly $10K for my 2002 Sport Edition with 100K miles in Atlanta. Atlanta prices on used 4Runners specifically are about $1K to $2.5K higher than most other areas in the southeast.
Probably because of all the snow? I am ready to pick it up as long as it checks out. The guy works 3rds so I think he is probably sleeping so I guess I will wait and see what he says. I am hoping he agrees to my final offer on the inspection.
lem14
New member
If/when the inspection happens I would take a real good look at the valve covers. It is easy to see if the valve cover gaskets leak, you will see oil residue on the engine and valve covers. Looks like the circled below (from a LR DII) but similar concept.
Circled in green in the evidence of valve cover gasket leakage, notice the oil residue. Ok, now compare to how nice it should look (circled in red). The blue arrow points to the where the gasket actually is. Similar to the 4runner and is easily seen on the drivers side.
The green circles the valve cover and the blue lines where the gasket would be. Also check the length of the valve cover, not just under the oil cap (people spill).
GL and to me $6400 sounds like a fair price, but if the valve covers leak ($6000).
Circled in green in the evidence of valve cover gasket leakage, notice the oil residue. Ok, now compare to how nice it should look (circled in red). The blue arrow points to the where the gasket actually is. Similar to the 4runner and is easily seen on the drivers side.
The green circles the valve cover and the blue lines where the gasket would be. Also check the length of the valve cover, not just under the oil cap (people spill).
GL and to me $6400 sounds like a fair price, but if the valve covers leak ($6000).
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If/when the inspection happens I would take a real good look at the valve covers. It is easy to see if the valve cover gaskets leak, you will see oil residue on the engine and valve covers. Looks like the circled below (from a LR DII) but similar concept.
Circled in green in the evidence of valve cover gasket leakage, notice the oil residue. Ok, now compare to how nice it should look (circled in red). The blue arrow points to the where the gasket actually is. Similar to the 4runner and is easy to seen on the drivers side.
H
The green circles the valve cover and the blue lines where the gasket would be. Also check the length of the valve cover, not just under the oil cap (people spill).
GL and to me $6400 sounds like a fair price, but if the valve covers leak ($6000).
Thanks lem, that's really helpful.
That's my plan at 6400 I am fine fixing a few things, but say I go up there and have the inspection done I take my bank check and the inspection comes back with something I am not ok with I am out 90 bucks, plus the cost of driving up there. I have offered to pay for the inspection if it comes back clear so we will see if he gets back to me.
RunninInGA
New member
It happens. In February 2011 drove an F350 (hauling a trailer) from Atlanta to Nashville to pick up a 1961 Volvo wagon project car. Upon arrival, I quickly noticed the Seller had openly lied about several key pieces of information in an effort to get me on site to look at the car. Long story short, I didn't buy the car and was out a couple hundred bucks just from fuel costs alone - not counting my time and those that rode with me. I hope this doesn't happen to you, but be prepared to walk away if the deal doesn't seem right. :twocents:
Haven't heard back from the guy so I guess that the deal isn't going to go down. 
I've offered to pay for the inspection if he will drop it off at the dealership. It is hard enough for me to get time off of work right now with the holiday's especially to drive up there and have the inspection done, and something show up with it that is a game changer and I have to come all the way back home. It sucks but I am doing as much as I can at this point.
I've offered to pay for the inspection if he will drop it off at the dealership. It is hard enough for me to get time off of work right now with the holiday's especially to drive up there and have the inspection done, and something show up with it that is a game changer and I have to come all the way back home. It sucks but I am doing as much as I can at this point.
RunninInGA
New member
Haven't heard back from the guy so I guess that the deal isn't going to go down.
Have you seen anything south of the border that some of us ATL or GA guys could help you with on an initial look-over?
PitbullRescuer
New member
It does happen. I flew to Atlanta for a
BMW a number of years ago. The guy met me at the airport. While I was about 30 feet away from the car I could see it had been hit and repainted after he assured me it had never been in an accident. I was ready to knock him out. I walked back in the airport and flew home, out a few hundred bucks. But better than getting stuck with a piece of sh*t.
Baker, where are you located? Nothing closer to you that would make more sense for you?
BMW a number of years ago. The guy met me at the airport. While I was about 30 feet away from the car I could see it had been hit and repainted after he assured me it had never been in an accident. I was ready to knock him out. I walked back in the airport and flew home, out a few hundred bucks. But better than getting stuck with a piece of sh*t.
Baker, where are you located? Nothing closer to you that would make more sense for you?
