Reasonable Price?

K

Kiotae

New member
Since everyone here seems to be very helpful and willing to offer buying advice I thought I'd ask about another one I'm checking out tomorrow.

1998 Toyota 4runner

I'm not overly familiar with what sort of value the modifications add (or subtract?) in the T4R world.

I don't mind the lift and can deal with the tires (by deal, I mean I like them and my wife is meh on it). The snorkel is wasted on me but if it can be reduced in height I don't mind it.

What I like about this one is the care that's gone into it and that its a 5sp. Dunno if there's a locker, it isn't that important to me but I know it adds to the value.

Assuming all looks good on inspection, ideas on fair offer?
 
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I think it is about 50% over priced. The mileage is decent for a 98 (very good in fact) and it does look well-maintained. But you can find 98s around here in the 170-200K range for about $4500.

Also, a good rule of thumb is buy a stock rig owned by an older guy or woman. You want to start with a fresh rig and modify it yourself. That way you know it hasn't been beaten to death on the trail. Modified rigs say 'I've had an exciting life' to me. That one just has big tires and a lift and does look like it's been well maintained (but so has mine and it sees offroad 'work' on a regular basis, nothing too bad, but lots of forest roads).

He has done some mods on it, that might save you some work (if they are the mods you want). But, it doesn't look like he's done $2500 worth of mods to it.

I wouldn't pay over $5500 for it (though I'm sure someone will). FYI, I bought a 2002 Limited, 144K miles, one-owner (older couple), dealer maintained (3000 mile oil changes at the dealer!) in excellent shape last April for $8000 at a used car dealer. Deals are out there, but this one is pretty over-priced IMO.
 
Thanks. My preference is to find something stock, but most of the stock ones I've found so far have been either neglected to some extent (drove a '99 with 234k on the original clutch yesterday), or severely overpriced given their mileage.

I'm taking a look at this one simply because it's well maintained and the mods may have narrowed his market enough that he's having trouble unloading it and will sell at a good deal.
 
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You might consider giving him a low-ball offer. Considering the mods aren't all that extreme and if they are things that you'd like (specifically the lift) then it would probably worth it to bargain up a little. Still, take this with a grain of salt - used 4runners seem to be worth more in the western US - so this doesn't seem that out of line, price-wise.


Questions I would have are:
* no rear e-locker specified - is there one?
* what mileage was t-belt done?
* does it smell like bacon?

Those costs on the work done by the dealer sure do show how much cheaper it is to do work yourself. I am about to replace plugs and wires - less than $75 in parts including a tube of dielectric grease (all OEM, too). So he may have a distorted idea of the value of all that work he had done.

On the other hand, it just sits in his driveway - so five grand might take it away.
 
If five grand would take it, I'd probably go for it. Even though 3" lift is more than I would choose and the tires are more aggressive than I would purchase.
 
98OzarksRunner said:
Also, a good rule of thumb is buy a stock rig owned by an older guy or woman. You want to start with a fresh rig and modify it yourself. That way you know it hasn't been beaten to death on the trail. Modified rigs say 'I've had an exciting life' to me. That one just has big tires and a lift and does look like it's been well maintained (but so has mine and it sees offroad 'work' on a regular basis, nothing too bad, but lots of forest roads).
Click to expand...

THIS. Who knows how it was really driven.
 
5speeds are always more, i paid a little more for mine with 135k for a stock rig, and had the TB/WP done at 128k

TB/WP done back in 2007 so might be due for that again soon ($1000)

Lift+tires look good so that will save you lots if you had that planned

Prices usually change by area but at $7500 i would check it out

hate snorkel but thats me
 
IMO, anyone who keeps a pretty comprehensive list of maintenance and upgrade reciepts, spends a good chunk of change repairing some paint fading, and uses it as a second car, has probably taken pretty good care of it. I mean really, everybody is all "I would only buy a truck if it was from an older couple who took really good care of it and never took it off road". Well, I take my truck off road, but I think a lot of people would be hard pressed to find a truck that has been taken care of as well as mine has. Just because a truck has some mods and has been off road, does NOT mean it has been abused and should not deter you from buying it. The guy has obviously taken pretty good care of that rig, and IMO, if I was in the market, I'd be seriously considering buying that truck. Not so much because it's everything I'd want, because it's not, but because it appears to be really well cared for. I do, however, think it's overpriced, but not by a whole lot.
 
Think I found the one I'm going for. Going to check it out to make sure it's all good tomorrow.

'98 Limited with 220k. Rebuilt tranny, good tires, all appropriate maintenance done, factory rear locker, all other options. $3800
 
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