Opportunity to buy '95 T4R

[smokey847]

This bad boy belongs to a family friend of ours who moved from California to Nashville probably six years ago. It was a lease that they decided to to buy and has been lady-driven. They towed it with a U-Haul across the country and it has sat where you see it ever since.

Overall, from an amateur inspection, it appears to be in decent shape. The paint is covered in deposit from the tree it sits beneath, but I think with some elbow grease, it will shine up. The chrome bits are also in decent shape, with only a minor dent on the front bumper. The exhaust pipe is, however, rusted. The interior is in good shape, besides a small tear in the driver's seat.

My main vehicle is an impractical two-seater, so I've been looking at these old T4Rs for a while as a winter car, hauler, and for bad weather. The odometer reads "9264," assuming it has 109,624 miles.

The truck clearly will need a new set of shoes, a new battery, odd & end exterior work. As an amateur, I'm asking what else should I expect to replace on a car that has been sitting for this long. Also, with all this in mind, what would be a fair price to pay? Thanks for the help!

 

[HARP]

So it's been sitting there roughly six years and hasn't been driven? Is that right?

I'd start with the VIN and decode it. Use that and your best sight judgment, then plug it into Kelley Blue Book online to get a baseline value.

I would assume a full tune up is in order, even if it had one before it was parked. We're talking all fluids, belts, hoses could be cracked. It could (I don't know for sure) have some leaking seals.

If it were me, I'd rather the seller get it running and road-worthy (assuming it's not at present) just to limit the surprises. There's just too much you can't tell about it if it's not running that could mean quite a bit of money.

The upside is that they are pretty simply to maintain and repair. Even if you don't know anything about T4Rs now, you can use the forums, owner's manual, and a Haynes or Chiltons manual and save a lot of money.

Definitely worth looking into, just be careful.

Update with any info you find out. It looks sharp.

 

[smokey847]

Yes. It's been sitting where you see it for that amount of time.

All I know is that it had no problems when it was parked. Its state has been caused by sitting--not abuse.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Looks great!

And to give you ideas - after my accident I was unable to drive my 93 4Runner, and so she sat - for over a year and a half.

When I was finally able to deal with it all I did was charge the battery, add a can of SeaFoam in the gas, cranked her a few times to get the oil circulated to the top of the engine. Then - she fired right up!

These trucks are freakin' tough!

Go over it with the owner. Check out the fluids, underneath, and if possible have someone with you that knows Toyotas.

If it was me - I'd get it!

:usa2:

 

[KidVermicious]

Trucks don't like to sit, six years is a bit too long to just fire it up and drive. Seals wear out, belts crack, wires corrode, etc. Go for it if the price is right, just be ready for a project. It won't all go wrong at once, it'll nickel and dime you over the first year or two of driving it.

For starters, plan on replacing the entire fuel system, pump to injectors.

 

[smokey847]

What would be a right price?

 

[KidVermicious]

Does it run at all? The paint and interior would have to be stunning for me to pay more than $1000-$1200 for a non-running truck.

I'm thinking more like $700 tops, but I'm me, and I'm sitting here in Utah in a completely different market, and I'm a 1st gen guy. You're you, and you're in Tennessee. See what similiar trucks are going for in the classifieds, and go from there.

 

[89FourRunner]

I would rather hear it has been driven for the last 6 years. Tune up and all fluids are a must, and like was said some seals could be shot from sitting, thats the big one. Thats not the end of the world, but it would mean an investment if you cant do it yourself.