Question about buying high mileage 4Runner
- Thread starter Carpenterjake
- Start date
Carpenterjake
New member
Truck
It has 155K miles on it, but in really nice shape for its age. It's tight on bumps with no body squeaks. No damage or rust on the paint or chrome. The underside has some surface rust on the underside of the body, skid plates, rear end, etc, which I'm going to grind off and repaint. I think this is from salt spray, cause it was originally from Ontario.
I'm changing all the fluids, switching to synthetic oils, and new filters etc that aren't on the maintenance record, and installing new shocks, cause it looks like it has the originals, replacing sway bar bushings and a couple of body mount bushings that are missing.
But it's not looking like I'll have to drop much more money into it to have a great daily driver and occasional bush beast. That worked out well: I was looking for a 5-speed for months.
Japanese vehicles are great
Jake
It has 155K miles on it, but in really nice shape for its age. It's tight on bumps with no body squeaks. No damage or rust on the paint or chrome. The underside has some surface rust on the underside of the body, skid plates, rear end, etc, which I'm going to grind off and repaint. I think this is from salt spray, cause it was originally from Ontario.
I'm changing all the fluids, switching to synthetic oils, and new filters etc that aren't on the maintenance record, and installing new shocks, cause it looks like it has the originals, replacing sway bar bushings and a couple of body mount bushings that are missing.
But it's not looking like I'll have to drop much more money into it to have a great daily driver and occasional bush beast. That worked out well: I was looking for a 5-speed for months.
Japanese vehicles are great
Jake
Carpenterjake
New member
Oh ya, and I paid $7000 for it. The guy was asking $7500 and I talked him down cause it needs a timing belt in 30k or so.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Congrats to the OP
High mileage on a 3rd Gen is different than high mileage on a chevy of the same vintage, no comparrison
BUT, you need to do a metric ton of maintenance, probably, and you already got the link to the Buyers Guide thread, go focus on Post 7 that outlines maintenance
Regardless of the purchase price (I paid $6K for my 99 SR5 2WD with 67K on the clock) you need to invest in maintenance items ona 17+ year old vehicle - no denying that. So while 150K+ miles on a 3rd Gen 4runner doesn't scare me at all (as long as no rust, damage, pink milkshake or blown head gasket) you need to budget for maintenance too.
Welcome to the family :hug:
High mileage on a 3rd Gen is different than high mileage on a chevy of the same vintage, no comparrison
BUT, you need to do a metric ton of maintenance, probably, and you already got the link to the Buyers Guide thread, go focus on Post 7 that outlines maintenance
Regardless of the purchase price (I paid $6K for my 99 SR5 2WD with 67K on the clock) you need to invest in maintenance items ona 17+ year old vehicle - no denying that. So while 150K+ miles on a 3rd Gen 4runner doesn't scare me at all (as long as no rust, damage, pink milkshake or blown head gasket) you need to budget for maintenance too.
Welcome to the family :hug:
02gixxersix
New member
I bought mine because I got a crazy deal on it. $2800 with 193K.I was actually shopping for a Cherokee and came across this one. I'm currently $6K into it, though, but a lot of that is in the lift and tires and I have dont all the labor. Usually they are $5-6K in this condition, at least asking price.
thecole1098
New member
I only paid $1200 on my 96 w/ e-locker when it had 224k on the clock earlier this year. However, I ended up putting in a junkyard motor and dumping about $2500 worth of maintenance related items just to make it up to my standard. Now add the lift and tires we're talking about $5500 including cost of the car. I got a hell of a deal on this and I couldn't love it more.
It is worth noting that I fully knew what I was getting myself into when I bought this rig. It needed a lot of TLC as it was sitting for a while.
It is worth noting that I fully knew what I was getting myself into when I bought this rig. It needed a lot of TLC as it was sitting for a while.
geocook717
New member
Wait, you HAVE 6 3rd gens? Or have had 6 over the years?
geocook717
New member
I bought an 01 SR5 3.4L 4WD with 190K in July of this year. I paid $5500 in Pennsylvania. I basically lucked into it. In the end, I felt like I got a good deal, only because the vehicle is in really good condition and had good maintenance records. I love that vehicle, more every day.
I was just perusing on the forum yesterday on one of the high mileage posts. Saw a beautiful 1st gen with over 500K miles. No idea if its completely been restored or all original, but damn! I'm at 196K right now, I can only dream of half a million...
I was just perusing on the forum yesterday on one of the high mileage posts. Saw a beautiful 1st gen with over 500K miles. No idea if its completely been restored or all original, but damn! I'm at 196K right now, I can only dream of half a million...
Hopeless Diamond
New member
Newbie here, just joined the family.
Just picked up a '96 SR5, 349k miles - $1500. Effectively the second owner. Local (Seattle area) car, serviced regularly at a dealership. Last timing belt was at 281k so good for a while. Ball joints are tight, but I have new OEM ones sitting here to go in when I feel ambitious. Changed fluids (have to look at rear end, drain plug is gacked up so will have to deal with that), changed plugs and wires. Valve covers have some leaks, but not too bad. Have on OEM radiator and B&M cooler on the way. Shocks and springs have seen better days. The seats were cracked so I put on some seat covers, added seat heaters too (nothing like a warm backside on a cold morning)
Using it for a spare vehicle and to do some light off-roading. As normal maintenance items come up, I'll upgrade them. i.e. Tundra brakes when I do the brakes, lift kit when I replace shocks.
Soaking up a lot of great info here, although it's not helping my wallet any..
JR
Just picked up a '96 SR5, 349k miles - $1500. Effectively the second owner. Local (Seattle area) car, serviced regularly at a dealership. Last timing belt was at 281k so good for a while. Ball joints are tight, but I have new OEM ones sitting here to go in when I feel ambitious. Changed fluids (have to look at rear end, drain plug is gacked up so will have to deal with that), changed plugs and wires. Valve covers have some leaks, but not too bad. Have on OEM radiator and B&M cooler on the way. Shocks and springs have seen better days. The seats were cracked so I put on some seat covers, added seat heaters too (nothing like a warm backside on a cold morning)
Using it for a spare vehicle and to do some light off-roading. As normal maintenance items come up, I'll upgrade them. i.e. Tundra brakes when I do the brakes, lift kit when I replace shocks.
Soaking up a lot of great info here, although it's not helping my wallet any..
JR
