njfastlife
New member
All, hope I'm not annoying with the continuous updates.
Checking out this guy this week:
2008 Toyota 4Runner SR5
Owner sent some photos
Rust doesn't look terrible...
Potentially buying my first car ever today. A used 4th Gen 4Runner. Help?!
- Thread starter njfastlife
- Start date
Owner sent some photos
Rust doesn't look terrible...
Owner sent some photos
Rust doesn't look terrible...
That's nothing.
The barest hint of rust....
njfastlife
New member
True but alas something had to be "wrong". No service history at all on the Toyota site and when I asked if he had records: "I have some but I am not as organized as I should be. I will get as much together as I can."
Obviously not the end of the world but now a PPI is an absolute must in my opinion.
99% of the vehicles out there see nothing more than oil changes that are MAYBE on time if you're lucky. That's the big problem with V8s when I was looking, every single one had a timing belt service that was anywhere from 10-40k miles overdue with the buyers wanting "KBB Excellent condition" for an SUV that wasn't anywhere near excellent condition, nevermind the $1k+ in deferred maintenance.
If the vehicle checks out, I wouldn't worry too much. Just go through and do a thorough refresh (filters, fluids, plugs, belts) and you're good to go.
If the vehicle checks out, I wouldn't worry too much. Just go through and do a thorough refresh (filters, fluids, plugs, belts) and you're good to go.
njfastlife
New member
So there's no "major" service records I should be looking for on a 2008 V6 with 75k miles other than oil?
robaroni
New member
I understand that this is your first purchase and you don't want to be duped but you might be going overboard. I never service at the dealership because anytime I have I've gotten sub-par or downright negligent service work (just my experience). Their incompetence has dazzled me in the past and my current mechanic doesn't really invoice because he is me.
Not everyone out there is out to get us. When you meet the seller you should get a good/bad vibe about them and it never hurts to have the vehicle checked out by a mechanic or knowledgeable truck person. Hope you find one soon. I'm not as patient as you. :driving:
njfastlife
New member
update:
had a friend check it out this afternoon. he got a good feeling from the owner. nice neighborhood, couple kids, etc.
no real issues other than a ding and a scratch or two. 4wd lo and hi engaged, though slowly as noted by friend who tested it.
vehicle was relatively clean, though not cheap. he's asking $17,500.
seems relatively well cared for. weathertech floor mats.
again the only real question is that lack of record keeping and nothing on the Toyota site...
would love all of your opinions! thinking i'd prefer to get him down to $16k. no idea what's really fair though KBB says right around $16,500.
what are my next steps? should i throw down a deposit pending PPI before i even get to see it (keep in mind my friend knows more than i about vehicles anyway)
PHOTO GALLERY:
4Runner - Album on Imgur
had a friend check it out this afternoon. he got a good feeling from the owner. nice neighborhood, couple kids, etc.
no real issues other than a ding and a scratch or two. 4wd lo and hi engaged, though slowly as noted by friend who tested it.
vehicle was relatively clean, though not cheap. he's asking $17,500.
seems relatively well cared for. weathertech floor mats.
again the only real question is that lack of record keeping and nothing on the Toyota site...
would love all of your opinions! thinking i'd prefer to get him down to $16k. no idea what's really fair though KBB says right around $16,500.
what are my next steps? should i throw down a deposit pending PPI before i even get to see it (keep in mind my friend knows more than i about vehicles anyway)
PHOTO GALLERY:
4Runner - Album on Imgur
I wouldn't worry about no entries in the Toyota site. Lots of people get work done somewhere other than the stealer.
The tire in the pic is past its born on date...
foxtrot
Member
I paid 18k for my 2006 sr5 with the same mileage when I bought it in 2011. So at that pint it was 5 years old. This one is 7 years old, and the only other thing it has is a sunroof. If it was me I would try to get around the 15k region, but if it's the one you want for sure, you have to decide what it is worth to you. Nada lists clean trade in at $15775, and it is not clean (dents and rust)
pjbrownva
New member
I agree. Lack of records isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most dealers charge top dollar for their service, so I usually avoid them. Even when I bought my first (and only) truly new car, I took it in for a 1000 mile check-up service, but after that, it never went back. On the other hand, I had regular oil changes, and other maintenance such as plugs, air filter, etc as necessary.
I agree with the notion of seeing the truck and talking to the owner -- in a friendly way -- to ask them about what they did and how they took care of the truck.
Myself, I change my oil every 5K miles. I've read a fair amount of research, and any decent quality non-synthetic oil is good for at least 5K - 6K miles.
In the research some oils in some cars was good for up to 8K+. So, my conclusion was and is, use decent, regular oil (not synthetic), and have the oil and filter changed every 5K miles, and your fine.
This makes it really easy, because I start the process on an even multiple of 5K miles. So I just bought a truck with 108K miles. At 110K I'll change the oil and filter. Then I'll do it at 115K, 120K, 125K, etc. That makes it really easy to remember.
Some people think you should change the oil after a certain amount of time, even if you haven't driven enough miles. I don't subscribe to that philosophy, but to each his own.
Regarding the 3K mile oil change... Where did that come from? Remember? Jiffy Lube! Of course they want to tell you to change the oil every 3K miles. Because, they get twice as much business vs (for example) telling you to come in every 6K miles.
So, my oil change rant aside, What I'm really trying to say is that some people take good care of their car or truck, even though they don't go to the dealer, and they don't keep records.
I wouldn't pass on a car because of a lack of records.
However, you should know (as was mentioned) that the V8's require a timing belt and water pump change at 90K miles. So if the car is at or above 90K, try to see if that service was already done. If it wasn't, then factor in the cost of that service when you determine the price of the car.
You can even get an estimate from a dealer, and submit info on the toyota recommended mileage to support asking for a price reduction to off set the price of the timing belt... assuming it's due and hasn't been done.
The timing belt is very important, because if you neglect it, it could break, and when timing belts break, they often cause $4K - $8K worth of damage to the engine (depending on the car... I'm not sure the general price range on the Toyota). But the point is, if the timing belt isn't changed when it should be, then you are basically gambling that it won't break on you.
If it doesn't break, then you saved maybe $1K to $1.5K in maintenance costs...
but if you "lose" the gamble and it does break, then you're out big bucks!
So it's good to ask about the records, but I wouldn't pass up a clean car because of no records. I would, however, try to deduct for the timing belt replacement if it is due, and you can't verify that it was already done.
Also, if there is a lack of records, that's where a 1 owner (or maybe even 2 owner) car is a plus. Usually (but not always) the original owner takes very good care of the car. They bought it brand new. They paid a lot for it, they take pride in it, and they don't want to risk damaging something, especially because they have a factory warranty, but the warranty doesn't cover items if you neglect required service.
Cars that have 4, 5 or more owners, may have had owners down the line who weren't as fastidious about the car. They paid less for it, and it was used and older when they got it. So they're more likely to be "cheap" about some items, and try not to spend money on the car until something is broken.
Just more advice.
Good luck! The black one looks nice, and the undercarriage looks good too!
njfastlife
New member
Last edited:
wadle5
New member
No.
I say this because I don't consider plugs and an air filter major service. Sure, the Toyota dealer will call it a "45k mile service" or whatever and do those at a huge markup.
My 07 V6 I purchased a couple of years ago at 80k miles had never had the plugs done, as I imagine the majority of them at this point. So I wasn't surprised at all when I spent 20 mins to replace them. It did have the air filter replaced at some point, so I was a bit surprised there!
I'm honestly not too sure why you are hung up on Toyota dealer service records. That's something you worry about buying a Ferrari (serious here), not a nearly decade old mass produced SUV.
If the guy can't come up with service records, see if you can get him to knock off another $100-200 on the price. That'll buy you enough to do all the DIY service you will want to mess with for the first year(plugs, filters, belts, fluids).
njfastlife
New member
He came down to $16k and is bringing it for a PPI at the location of my choice
Well done.
There's a good feeling about this one.
Also, to echo everyone else, no Toyota service records means that service wasn't done at the dealership. Nothing else.
Competent repairs and maintenance can be done elsewhere.
Regarding the rust...I live in Maine and have lived my entire life in the Northeast. I've seen rust. Lots of rust. Bad rust. You mention rust and show those pictures and I'm like :wtf:
You don't have rust to worry about. That frame will last you a long time.
njfastlife
New member
It seems the only people balking at the rust are from a desert state (on Reddit, etc.)
Otherwise most say it looks decent.
Thank you.
foxtrot
Member
Is that considered significant rust?
I was more talking about the photos in the link, specifically the one that shows the rear axle.
Ah, yeah.
It's a little worse in that image. It wouldn't dissuade me from buying the car, but I'd take an afternoon and treat the underside. As mentioned by foxtrot it could also be used as a negotiating tool.
njfastlife
New member
agree. treating it is my number one priority. as you can tell, i am very wary of the rust.
i do NOT want to get something that's rusting through.
thanks.
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