Share your 4runner purchase!

[4runner15]

Haven't seen a thread on this and super curious what the market has been like over the past years for our 3rd gens. Would you guys care to share your purchase of your 3rd gen 4runner(s)?

When did you buy it?
What city/state did you buy it in?
What year/model did you buy?
How many miles were on the car?
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents?
How much did you buy it for?
Additional stories?

Hope this isn't too personal for everyone.

I'll start...

Purchased in early 2012
San Francisco, CA
1997 4Runner SR5
144k miles
Clean title but was in minor bumper accidents
$3,300 cash

My story.. i actually bought the car in Pittsburg/Antioch area and appeared to be a great deal (i still think it is) but when actually checking out the car, it seemed a bit strange. Long story short, the guy who i bought it from likely worked at a shop and bought the car from the owner after the damages were too costly to fix for the owner. The guy probably zip tied my bumpers together and painted some fenders of the car. I didn't notice any frame damage but the driver side UCA was new. So this must've been repaired and sold. Nonetheless, i own car today and am loving the runner. It's not as clean as one would want but it's definitely going to be my project.

Care to share?
:keyboard:

 

[Millerad1651]

When did you buy it? October 2011
What city/state did you buy it in? Greenwood, IN
What year/model did you buy? 1998 SR5 auto 4x4
How many miles were on the car? 156K
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean, no accidents
How much did you buy it for? $5000
Additional stories? The guy had purchased the truck from a guy in Kentucky, who was original owner. His wife only put 2000 miles on it in a year. It was also virtually rust free, as they don't use salt down in Kentucky. I have been looking for one for my wife, and now my dad wants one. Guess we're gonna be one of those families!

 

[4runner15]

Sweet looking runner!

When did you buy it? October 2011
What city/state did you buy it in? Greenwood, IN
What year/model did you buy? 1998 SR5 auto 4x4
How many miles were on the car? 156K
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean, no accidents
How much did you buy it for? $5000
Additional stories? The guy had purchased the truck from a guy in Kentucky, who was original owner. His wife only put 2000 miles on it in a year. It was also virtually rust free, as they don't use salt down in Kentucky. I have been looking for one for my wife, and now my dad wants one. Guess we're gonna be one of those families!

 

[rm2fast]

When did you buy it?...2011
What city/state did you buy it in? waynesboro pa/ dealer
What year/model did you buy?.....96 limited fully loaded leather e-locked
How many miles were on the car? 150,000 CLEAN truck
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? no accidents clean title 3rd owner
How much did you buy it for?.....7,000 after mods so far 12,500

 

[LittleCaesar]

2006
1999 4wd Limited
Charleston, SC
73,100 miles
Clear
$12,300

I had just bought a boat a couple of months before and needed something to pull the boat with. My Acura was not going to be up to the task. I found a couple selling this 4runner to buy a Prius. They had every receipt for everything done to it, including every gas fill up. They were going to GIVE it to their grandson for graduate school but he convinced them he needed the 4th gen with the V8 to tow the Uhaul trailer to the university so they bought him one off a lease. They even bought an extra set of key fobs for this 4runner so I have four total to unlock/lock/rear window one car. It sees about 4,000 miles yearly. Not my color of choice (love IJM), but oh well.

In front of my sis's house:

 

[Lowriderman234]

When did you buy it? 1998
What city/state did you buy it in? Danvers, MA - dealer
What year/model did you buy? 1998 T4R Limited 4x4
How many miles were on the car? 0 miles
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean, no accidents
How much did you buy it for? Around $34,000
Additional stories?
My dad bought this brand new in '98. It's mine now and its definitely going to be my project rig soon.

 

[ctruss53]

When did you buy it? Just 4 days ago. 7/19/12
What city/state did you buy it in? Minneapolis, MN
What year/model did you buy? 2000 4Runner Limited
How many miles were on the car? 116,000
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title, perfect Carfax
How much did you buy it for? $8900
Additional stories? This truck is in PERFECT shape except for the tailgate window. It comes off it's tacks when you roll it down. Oh well, I'll fix that. Other than that the body is perfect, there are no scratches, dings, or dents, and the only rust is a couple bubbles on the rear bumper. The dealership I bought it from even put new tires on it.

 

[white_n_slow]

When did you buy it? May 2012
What city/state did you buy it in? Louisville CO
What year/model did you buy? 1997 SR5 with locker
How many miles were on the car? 185k
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clear title, decent condition
How much did you buy it for? $5500
Additional stories? I wasn't really planning on buying a runner, maybe a FZJ80 or Tahoe, but I thought it was a good deal and figured why not?

 

[olSkoolSi]

When did you buy it? Last week
What city/state did you buy it in? Mesa, AZ
What year/model did you buy? 98 SR5 4x4
How many miles were on the car? 222,500
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title, no accidents
How much did you buy it for? $4850
Additional stories? Previous owner kept up with maintenance... oil changed every 3k, new water pump, all 4 brakes, ball joints, etc.

 

[JasetheDamager]

When did you buy it? April of 2012
What city/state did you buy it in? Sacramento, CA
What year/model did you buy? 1997 SR5 4x4
How many miles were on the car? 132,000
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title, 2nd owner, minor damage to rear driver's side bumper, which I swapped.
How much did you buy it for? 4,200$
Additional stories? Truck was rust-free. Like everybody else on here, I have the mod bug, plus I'm a perfectionist and I want my truck to ride as perfectly as a lifted truck on 33s can ride. I'm in the process of learning how to weld and work on my truck.

 

[4runner15]

man, that's an awesome deal you got. what color's the runner?

When did you buy it? April of 2012
What city/state did you buy it in? Sacramento, CA
What year/model did you buy? 1997 SR5 4x4
How many miles were on the car? 132,000
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title, 2nd owner, minor damage to rear driver's side bumper, which I swapped.
How much did you buy it for? 4,200$
Additional stories? Truck was rust-free. Like everybody else on here, I have the mod bug, plus I'm a perfectionist and I want my truck to ride as perfectly as a lifted truck on 33s can ride. I'm in the process of learning how to weld and work on my truck.

 

[SJC]

When did you buy it? 2 months ago
What city/state did you buy it in? Washington State
What year/model did you buy? 1997 Sr5
How many miles were on the car? 208,000
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title until now.
How much did you buy it for? 500$
Additional stories? It was my sisters for 8 years, she took horrible care of it. When I got it there were stains in the carpet and dog hair EVERYWHERE. It was full of trash and stunk, full of old air fresheners. She never got the oil changed, no maintenance done. It took me a few days to clean it up completely and now the inside is spotless. Outside not so much. Hit a tree and got rear ended in the same week. Runs a little funny but Iv been working on figuring it all out.

 

[Runner4twitch]

3 days ago
Oroville CA
99 4x4 sr5 5 speed
224,000
Clean title. Never been in an accidet- seems hard to Beleive with that many miles but it checks out.
I bought it for $3600. He called me 4 days after I offered him that much and said ok he'll take it.

I had a runner before but it was an auto and I sold it ONLY for the reason that I wanted a 5 speed. Took me 3 Long months Of intense CL searching and I finally found this one.
It's gonna be my daily driver that I snow wheel in.

 

[foxrider56]

When my brother bought it
When did you buy it? 2009
What city/state did you buy it in? Philly PA
What year/model did you buy? 1999 sr5
How many miles were on the car? 100k
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents?Clean original owner, replaced timing belt and a bunch of other stuff
How much did you buy it for? 6000
Additional stories? I bought it off of him about a year ago and had to watch it sit in my driveway until I got my license for $2500 with about 130k on her, pretty good family discount

 

[Matt's 97 runner]

When did you buy it? 2 weeks ago
What city/state did you buy it in? La Mirada
What year/model did you buy? 1997 SR5 2wd
How many miles were on the car? 233,000!
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title no accidents
How much did you buy it for? $2530!

I have always wanted a runner and I was actually shopping for a sedan since I didn't think I had the budget for a 4 runner... But then I found this one. It is a one family car, 2 owners with all service records. Recent timing belt, brand new Michelin tires and the perfect fit for me. It will be a simple build for me while I drive it and save for a 4wd... So far I love this truck and can't wait to tear into it!!

 

[ABOZEYAD]

When did you buy it January 2012
What city/state did you buy it in? Brooklyn NY
What year/model did you buy? 2002 SR5
How many miles were on the car? 97K
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? clear title perfect condition
How much did you buy it for? $8500

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[GSPRunner]

When did you buy it? July 2010
What city/state did you buy it in? Kirkland, WA
What year/model did you buy? 2000 Limited 4WD
How many miles were on the car? 98,355 mi.
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title, no accidents
How much did you buy it for? $8850
Additional stories? While I have always liked 3rd Gens, I wasnt really looking for one at the time. I've had a few Toyota's(2 Tundras, 92 SR5) and at the time was in my 2009 Tundra Crew Max(lease) I had been thinking of downsizing due to the purchase of our new home and didn't want 2 car payments anymore. I work for a dealership contracted auto reconditioning/accessory company and walked into one of my shops while the 4Runner was being detailed. It was a one owner that got traded in on a 5th gen and was pretty mint. Bought new from Toyota of Kirkland and serviced there as well. They gave it to me for $750 over what they paid for it and I drove it out of there later that day

 

[tbone52]

3 months ago.
Washington State.
99 limited with e-locker.
Clean title
Bought from a dealer. (Lexus of Tacoma. )
$9200.00
160000 miles well taken care of. Timing belt and water pump at 109000 miles.
Could not be happier.
One small ding in corner of rear bumper.

 

[Socco]

When did you buy it? August, 2003
What city/state did you buy it in? Surrey, B.C.
What year/model did you buy? 1999 SR5 V6
How many miles were on the car? 101,936 kms or 63,340 Miles
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? Clean title, no accidents
How much did you buy it for? $23,500
Additional stories? It was the first time I had ever owned something that wasn't a V8 or at least a Supercharged V6. When I started looking for a 4R, I had a line on a smokin' deal for a '98 but it turned out to be a 4 cyl. It was so gutless that I cried during the test drive.

I've only put 56,000 Miles on it so far.

Excuse the picture, digital cameras were horrible back then.

 

[ALBPM]

When did you buy it? August 2002
What city/state did you buy it in? Albuquerque, New Mexico
What year/model did you buy? 2002 SR5
How many miles were on the car? 30
Salvaged/Clean title? Any accidents? N/A
How much did you buy it for? ~33,000

Additional stories?
I wasn't planning on getting the Runner.... I went to look for a 4 door, Pre Runner to replace the wife's 2 door T-100.
I went and looked at the Runners and didn't see anything I liked - I wanted another White Runner.. But, I always wanted a 3rd Gen to replace my "2.7 Slow" 2nd Gen Runner.
Then, someone pulled up in a Gold Runner I checked it out and liked it despite the color. I checked to see if it was still for sale and ended up driving it home...:biggrin2:

Brand new:

Wife's Tacoma:

First lift were 1" PP coils and Bilstein HDs:

Then replaced the rear PP coils with Downey 3.5" coils: I still have these on the Runner today with Bilstein 5125s.

More Mods: ARB

Then a lot of changes over the past year.

As it sits today:

Next to 4-Ripcord's: