Potentially buying my first car ever today. A used 4th Gen 4Runner. Help?!

[njfastlife]

Found an excellent, low mileage 4th Gen.

Red flag was raised as the listing on CL had no photos and was old.

Spoke to seller, seemed like a legit older guy and got VIN.

Ran it through the Toyota service site and only one record at 90k miles. He was selling it as a 55k mile vehicle. Called dealer and they told me what was done and that they sometimes estimate mileage.

Carfax and AutoCheck look fine. One owner vehicle, no accidents, etc. Only other issue is last reported mileage is 7xxx...

Hes asking $12k and I'm going tonight to look. What are some tips? How should I go about the process of a PPI if I like it? Deposit? I don't want to lose this vehicle if it checks out. I found a decent mechanic local to the seller but seller is an hour away from me so it will be a bit annoying.

Thanks so much, I hope you can sense my excitement.

Some photos:

 

[M1911]

Stop right there.

You already have an indication that he has rolled back the odometer. The Toyota service site says it has at least 90k.

Walk away.

 

[njfastlife]

Stop right there.

You already have an indication that he has rolled back the odometer. The Toyota service site says it has at least 90k.

Walk away.

I called the dealer and spoke with service manager. He couldn't say for sure but he said that it's not abnormal for them to estimate mileage based on age of vehicle and not to necessarily go by that...

 

[LOBO79]

Check the frame for rust. If it is 4wd make sure it is working and everything does what it is suppose to.

 

[Paisano]

I called the dealer and spoke with service manager. He couldn't say for sure but he said that it's not abnormal for them to estimate mileage based on age of vehicle and not to necessarily go by that...

No estimate should be off by 35,000 miles.

 

[Range]

Take a look at maintenance records and see if mileage is on there. Glove box, door pockets etc... There might be something laying around that will give you a true number. If he's lying report his ass. If not then check for rust, have it taken to a mechanic of your choice, not his and if all checks out then buy it. But definitely check the 4wd and diff lock because those are expensive to fix.

 

[njfastlife]

No estimate should be off by 35,000 miles.

It's a 2005. He had it in for service in 2012. That's 7 years. If the service manager estimated 15k/year then it's not outrageous?

 

[njfastlife]

Take a look at maintenance records and see if mileage is on there. Glove box, door pockets etc... There might be something laying around that will give you a true number. If he's lying report his ass. If not then check for rust, have it taken to a mechanic of your choice, not his and if all checks out then buy it. But definitely check the 4wd and diff lock because those are expensive to fix.

Good call. Hes an hour away in a different state. If I like it do I put down a deposit?

 

[M1911]

Seriously, dude. Walk away.

 

[Barefoot]

What's the paper in the back hiding?

 

[Paisano]

It's a 2005. He had it in for service in 2012. That's 7 years. If the service manager estimated 15k/year then it's not outrageous?

It's outrageous to estimate mileage when they could have looked at the number on the dash.

Every dealer and service shop I've ever been to put the exact mileage on paperwork.

IMHO I would not buy this 4Runner - there are hundreds of them for sale, do you have to buy something now?

 

[njfastlife]

It's outrageous to estimate mileage when they could have looked at the number on the dash.

Every dealer and service shop I've ever been to put the exact mileage on paperwork.

IMHO I would not buy this 4Runner - there are hundreds of them for sale, do you have to buy something now?

Playing devil's advocate here...if they don't estimate then what are the chances owner brought it in at EXACTLY 90k

 

[Paisano]

Playing devil's advocate here...if they don't estimate then what are the chances owner brought it in at EXACTLY 90k

Chances are 0 unless there's been a rollback, that's the problem.

Per your title you are buying your first car ever - you don't want to start out like this. Plenty of us have made mistakes when buying a used car - we want to help you not get screwed.

 

[paperchasin]

You know the saying: If its too good to be true...

 

[njfastlife]

Chances are 0 unless there's been a rollback, that's the problem.

Per your title you are buying your first car ever - you don't want to start out like this. Plenty of us have made mistakes when buying a used car - we want to help you not get screwed.

So help me to understand. He shows a photo of car at 55k.

Service history says 90.

Red flag, obviously.

My question was if Toyota didn't estimate and make a mistake then he brought it in at EXACTLY 90k?

Seems almost as unlikely. I'm going to just take a look at it tonight. If he doesn't have detailed service records from a reputable mechanic I'm out.

Are you saying it isn't even worth that?

 

[black4vcobra]

So the dealer and Carfax indicate that the mileage is above what the odometer says? And he's asking 12k for a vehicle that he could get close to 15k for if it did in fact have 55k on it? Something smells fishy here....

 

[Dylan]

Proceed with caution, something seems fishy. Sure, dealers may estimate mileage...but that's usually to the thousand...like 90,XXX miles instead of 89,456 miles. It is in the dealerships interest to have an accurate record of when they did service for a number of reasons, mainly so they can keep track if something goes wrong.

 

[njfastlife]

So the dealer and Carfax indicate that the mileage is above what the odometer says? And he's asking 12k for a vehicle that he could get close to 15k for if it did in fact have 55k on it? Something smells fishy here....

No. Here is Carfax

Here is AutoCheck

 

[Paisano]

So help me to understand. He shows a photo of car at 55k.

Service history says 90.

Red flag, obviously.

My question was if Toyota didn't estimate and make a mistake then he brought it in at EXACTLY 90k?

Seems almost as unlikely. I'm going to just take a look at it tonight. If he doesn't have detailed service records from a reputable mechanic I'm out.

Are you saying it isn't even worth that?

Carfax says it's a 1-owner - if that old geezer has all service records that would certainly change everything. Once you look at the truck, talk to the old guy, and go over the records - you'll have a much better idea. Let us know how it goes tonight.

 

[njfastlife]

Carfax says it's a 1-owner - if that old geezer has all service records that would certainly change everything. Once you look at the truck, talk to the old guy, and go over the records - you'll have a much better idea. Let us know how it goes tonight.

Thank you. I also plan to bring up that I want a PPI (assuming everything else passes the eye test).

Does the owner usually bring it to the mechanic or does the potential buyer? I've identified a solid one right near his home.