Should I buy it?

[cnl390]

My next door neighbor is selling a 1990 4Runner SR5, 4 door, loaded (except sunrooof)
The body is mint as is the interior.
It has 248,000 miles.
My neighbor is the brother in law of the Toyota dealer and owns 5 Toyota's.
His girlfriend sold Toyotas for the dealer for 15 years. she sold this vehicle new to one of the Toyota mechanics, when he traded it in she sold it to her nextdoor neighbor who just drove it to work & back (honestly!) when it came time for the neighbor to trade in she bought it from him.
No one has ever smoked in this car nor have there ever been any children in it.
I can purchase for between $2500 & $3000.
Should I buy it??????
Thanks for the help, my emotions say buy but I want candid oponions.
Charles

 

[ssmumich00]

maybe for $500 or so, I wouldn't pay that much for a 13 year 4Runner. . .

Suneil

 

[peter78]

Well, it certainly is worth more than $500 dollars. The pirce can be as high as $5,600 for a low mileage cream puff. I noticed you did not state if it was a 4 cylinder or a V6, 2 door or a 4 door. Yes, if it is a nice 4Runner that could be a good price.

Now lets talk about some of the concerns:
1.) At 248,000 miles it is near the end of it's life. Yes, it could run another 20,000 miles with out a major problem, but I doubt it.
2.) There have been concern over rust in the 2nd generation 4Runners. You will have rust, question is how much? Look under the bumpers and wheel wells.
3.) A old 4WD can be expensive to keep up. There are a lot of items that need replacing on a regular basis. Good records will help, such as when was the timing belt replace, if it is a V6.

Overall, the 4Runner good be a good buy. The truck has a wonderful reputation and it could give you years of service, just don't be surprised if you have a $2,000 problem come up at any time.

 

[peter78]

Here is another opinion on buying a old 4Runner. I thought the second person's comments were very good.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/[email protected]@.ef17652