Opportunity to Purchase 2007 Low Miles 4Runner

[Kai Slater]

Hey everyone,
I am still on the hunt for a nice, used 4runner and I think that I may have found a hidden gem. It's a 2007 SR5 Sport edition that has only 94,000 miles and change on it. From pictures, it looks to be very well kept and it's for sale by a very reputable dealer. Price + tax would be $12,600. Clean CarFax and Autocheck, and just one owner.

Now, here's the catch for me.......it's over 500 miles away from me and I can't just hop over there any check it out. From the pictures it looks good and the dealer has a no questions asked return policy.

Is it too good to be true for me to pull the trigger on this? I already have a 2004 Fourth Gen. with over 200K miles on it, so I'm already pretty familiar with this style of 4Runner.

 

[badattitude]

Last Year I found a 2008 V6 Sport with 60,000 and couldn't buy it fast enough. Get some pics of the chassis from the dealer before you go.

 

[thennen]

Hey everyone,
I am still on the hunt for a nice, used 4runner and I think that I may have found a hidden gem. It's a 2007 SR5 Sport edition that has only 94,000 miles and change on it. From pictures, it looks to be very well kept and it's for sale by a very reputable dealer. Price + tax would be $12,600. Clean CarFax and Autocheck, and just one owner.

Now, here's the catch for me.......it's over 500 miles away from me and I can't just hop over there any check it out. From the pictures it looks good and the dealer has a no questions asked return policy.

Is it too good to be true for me to pull the trigger on this? I already have a 2004 Fourth Gen. with over 200K miles on it, so I'm already pretty familiar with this style of 4Runner.

Research in every way you can to get the history of the vehicle. And do like badattitude says, get chassis/frame pics. Sounds good though.

 

[eddielasvegas]

Ask dealer to take a deposit (refundable based on test drive, etc.) while you work out the details on having it looked at.

The dealership also might be willing to take it to a shop for a PPI.

Good luck,

Eddie

 

[Kandor]

Where does Carfax indicate it has spent the majority of its life? Lots of NE vehicles somehow make their way south and have significant rust. Like others have stated I would insist on good photos of the undercarriage. Believe me, many dealerships definition of minor rust or some rust is not mine or any reasonable and somewhat knowledgeable persons definition.

 

[Kai Slater]

Where does Carfax indicate it has spent the majority of its life? Lots of NE vehicles somehow make their way south and have significant rust. Like others have stated I would insist on good photos of the undercarriage. Believe me, many dealerships definition of minor rust or some rust is not mine or any reasonable and somewhat knowledgeable persons definition.

2007-2009 was in New Jersey, then 2009 until now, all registrations have been in Florida.

 

[Kandor]

2007-2009 was in New Jersey, then 2009 until now, all registrations have been in Florida.

I'm at the point I don't even bother looking at vehicles from New York and New Jersey because every one I've looked at has more rust than I'm willing to accept. Although with this one only spending 2 years there it may be ok. Also, there are lots of snowbirds from NJ who summer in NJ and winter in Florida so it may have never spent a winter in NJ. Make sure to get a couple good photos of the frt crossmember if you request photos because they seem to go first.

 

[bsa70]

Crawl underneath with a high powered flash light and check carefully bumper to bumper. Really focus up around the gas tank. If its been up north, Im sure it has been in brine. I know folks that have bought jeep wranglers and never looked at the chassis before buying. Did not work out for them.

I've never heard of a money back guarantee from a dealer. Are you sure that is right?

 

[Kai Slater]

Thanks for all the feedback. They sent me pictures of the undercarriage and it was quite rusty, so I decided against buying this particular 4runner. Maybe another good one will come along soon.

 

[Vertflex]

Kandor was right, no luck comes from cars in those states.

 

[Kimokona]

I found a certified 2013 Tacoma with 60K online in Houston Tx before buying my current 4runner about 4-5 month ago.

Checked the carfax and noticed it was in the NY area for 2-3 years. I figured 2-3 years only, probably cleaned regularly due to pics online and it was certified.

So I drive out to check it out, body looked fine, interior was the same, bent down to look under and could not believe how bad it was. I kept looking, trying to find some non rusted areas, thinking I could clean and fix it myself.

I left after 5 mins, the frame was toast !