Should I buy (if it checks out ok)?

[G_fresh]

Hi. This is my first post! Please keep in mind that I have never owned a real truck, let alone a 4X4. I do know cars fairly well and do a lot of the maintenance/upgrading on my '95 M3. So, I'm not a total noob to vehicles...

I'm trying to find a 3rd gen 4Runner to use as a getting to the ski slopes and doing some light to moderate off-roading for fun. Since this will be a utilitarian 3rd vehicle for my wife and I, we don't care about the appearance too much.

I may have found a good candidate. Here was the craigslist ad:

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4Runner 4X4 - V6 SR5 - $6300

110K mi., auto, A/C, PW, PD, PM, moonroof, AM/FM cass. & Cd Player, keyless entry, tow package, Green color w/ tan interior, vehicle runs good have had for 5 yrs. with no problems, (this vehicle was purchased at an auction by me and was in an accident and was repaired. The car has a clean title, no salvage title) $6300 OBO, make a reasonable offer
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It also has the locking rear diff. And, below is some other maintenance that has been done since '06 that I have found out from the owner:

Brakes F/R done recently, starter and battery replaced, rear axel bearings replaced (could this actually be the axle seals?), left rear control arm replaced, end links replaced.

But, no timing belt done yet! Two tires were almost dead. The body had a fair amount of dings/scratches/chips but no real dents. The interior was worn and dirty. The engine bay was dusty/dirty. The air box had been mangled.

I went to look at it yesterday. The accident repair seemed like a reasonable job. But, I did notice that it looks like the seam at the rear door's bottom door jamb had been re-welded. Normally, I would have walked away from this if it were a uni-body car since it is indicative of major hit/structural weakening. But, on a truck like the 4Runner, can't the body have been hit pretty hard and need pretty big repairs without the frame rails really being disturbed? If the frame rails were unscathed, the suspension/driveline should still be good, right?

Assuming that I get it check by and independent off-roading shop and it gets a clean bill of health, would you guys bite? Or, just walk? What about the price for CA, Thousand Oaks?

Oh, and does anyone know of a good shop near Thousand Oaks to do a pre-purchase inspection?

Thanks for reading through all of this and for the upcoming responses!

 

[SH0ck-D]

if you ever have any doubts on a car you are buying, walk away from it. I would rather spend my money on something I am comfortable with, than some car that I will always be wondering if I made a good investment on.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Airbox mangled?

A number of us have modified our airboxes-it is not that unusual-

search "deckplate mod" for more info. Generally speaking a hole is cut out of the front of the airbox to allow more air to enter the airbox.

"Mangled" however makes me a little leery what you are describing....

The ad does not state the year of the vehicle?

Yes if it checks out well a 3rd gen is a highly desireable vehicle to own. I would recommend 99 and newer-but that is me, I prefer the 5 speeds as well.

Most likely the rear axle seals would have been done at the same time as the bearings, or as you state, perhaps they meant to say the rear axle seals instead.

Either way they should have documentation of the repairs and maintenance or I would walk away-me personally. The price seems a little low for a major metro area, they likely already know what it is worth, but trying to get a little more by selling to a private owner.

Yes the timing belt should have been done at least once-and the water pump is generally changed out at the same time. I would negotiate off the price about $700-$900 for those items. And get it done right away if you decide to buy it.

 

[G_fresh]

Re: Airbox mangled?

Search "deckplate mod" for more info. Generally speaking a hole is cut out of the front of the airbox to allow more air to enter the airbox.

"Mangled" however makes me a little leery what you are describing....

Yeah, I meant mangled. I saw the deckplate mod before. This is like 1/4" holes drilled all over the box. And, some fiber-glassed section that seems as if it were cut away previously...

The ad does not state the year of the vehicle?

Sorry, I thought it was in there; it's a 1999.

The price seems a little low for a major metro area,

Yeah, it's due to the accident...

Thanks for your insights!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Okay good luck with inspection

It sounds like you know the Runners pretty well if you are already familiar with the deckplate mod.

That seems like a great price for a 99 with the rear locker and that kind of mileage.

Best of luck with the inspection-I would say you should be able to haggle them down some dollars due to the accident and the mangled airbox.

16" wheel and tires I am presuming? The early 99s had the 15" package. Not really sure which is more desireable....

 

[G_fresh]

Re: Okay good luck with inspection

16" wheel and tires I am presuming? The early 99s had the 15" package. Not really sure which is more desireable....

I don't know. I didn't check since I did not know that was an option.

So, bottom line: Even if the body is a bit tweaked and frame rails/suspension are good, you'd have no problem going for it?

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

mine is Oregon branded

Bottom line-yes. I bought mine with an Oregon "branded" title which translated to a Colorado "salvage" title. I had to pay a body shop about $75 to properly align the doors and their strikes
which seemed to me a bargain to get into a 3rd Gen Runner I otherwise would not have been able to afford.

If you intend to keep it and enjoy it for many years I say go for it.

If you are looking to resell in just one or two years I would pass on it. But I don't know the LA market....you likely could save a lot of money finding a 2wheel drive if you really have no need for 4wd and other buyers/owners do not care about the 4wd.

The 2wdrives just are not brought into the Denver metro area and are harder to sell in general. It is screwy here as we rarely even need 4wd-very little actual snow in the big city(though last year was not normal) and few folks even use it in the mountains.

Please do not use me as your only info source. A solid hands on pre-purchase inspection will present other issues you need to be aware of. Those issues will give you more negotiating leverage.