should I buy this '98 Limited?

[amm888]

hi boys and girls. I hope you'all aren't too sick of replying to newbies looking to buy 4runners...

I found a pretty clean 4x4 Limited, dual power seats, sunroof, tow package (though I've heard these trucks can't really tow), rear lock, desert dune (gray), with 65k asking $11.7 in the LA area.

She test drives nice though I think the rotors may be a bit warped (pulse on heavy braking) and the tires need to be balanced or perhaps it's the alignment, because there is a wobble in the steering wheel.

Transmission and engine feel nice and the seller is the original owner with quite a bit of paperwork (oil changes, etc.).

The seller didn't know of any dirt in the area to fully test out the 4x but I gave her a quick spin on the cement and she started to bind up and skip the tires (on a turn) so it seems to be working. She also made an audible clunk when going back into 4x2 mode (I'm assuming this is normal?). I didn't change the the 4x shifter, cause I wasn't sure how and the seller couldn't recall either. I tried to simply shift it, but it was a bit tight and I didn't want to force it since I wasn't sure how it worked. He said he hadn't used the 4x for 2 years (trip to lake tahoe).

Any thoughts? Seems like a decent deal to me. Any particulars to look for?

hope I didn't bore you too much with details,
al

 

[amm888]

I just noticed that while KBB has this truck at 12.9 for private sale, edmonds.com lists it at 10.2.

do people actually use edmonds.com? it seems that out here the prices are more in line with KBB.

 

[davefromIndy]

If you want it, buy it. That is really low mileage. As for not being able to test the 4x4, I wouldn't worry about it. Most 4Runners never get used in 4 wheel drive so there may be little usage.

 

[p nut]

That's not a bad price. I also hear an audiable clunk when getting out of 4wd (which is normal). But, you should be advised that you should NOT use 4wd in dry pavement. It will put lots of stress on the 4wd system and may cause parts to break.

 

[amm888]

That's not a bad price. I also hear an audiable clunk when getting out of 4wd (which is normal). But, you should be advised that you should NOT use 4wd in dry pavement. It will put lots of stress on the 4wd system and may cause parts to break.

yeah, it seems like a good price to me as well. i wouldn't normally use 4wd on pavement, but i wanted to make the 4wd system was at least functional. hopefully i didn't do any damage testing out the 4wd on a few hundred feet of pavement.

al

 

[khaug]

I found a pretty clean 4x4 Limited, dual power seats, sunroof, tow package (though I've heard these trucks can't really tow),

Who told you that? The 25,000 miles I put on my '98 Limited towing my Porsche 911 says otherwise.

Toyota rates the 3rd gen V6 'Runners for towing a max of 5,000#. My rig weighs about 4,000#, and I towed in the summer, in the mountains of W. Va. and Va., A/C on, without a problem. And with no add-on tranny cooler.

The one dodgy issue is brakes. 3rd Gen brakes are simply not up to towing, and I twice had my brakes totally go away on long, steep downgrades. Learn to manually shift the A/T, and follow Toyota's advice to turn OD off when you tow. This'll help somewhat.

I traded our '98 in at 5 years of age, 75K miles, and it still was like new. The only unscheduled maintainence needed for this period was replacement of one oxy sensor. This was one great truck!

 

[amm888]

Re: Re: should I buy this '98 Limited?

Who told you that? The 25,000 miles I put on my '98 Limited towing my Porsche 911 says otherwise.

Toyota rates the 3rd gen V6 'Runners for towing a max of 5,000#. My rig weighs about 4,000#, and I towed in the summer, in the mountains of W. Va. and Va., A/C on, without a problem. And with no add-on tranny cooler.

The one dodgy issue is brakes. 3rd Gen brakes are simply not up to towing, and I twice had my brakes totally go away on long, steep downgrades. Learn to manually shift the A/T, and follow Toyota's advice to turn OD off when you tow. This'll help somewhat.

I traded our '98 in at 5 years of age, 75K miles, and it still was like new. The only unscheduled maintainence needed for this period was replacement of one oxy sensor. This was one great truck!

I believe I read that sentiment (that they don't tow well) on several MSN autos users reviews, though I've read so many different reviews it may have been somewhere else.

Either way, I'm glad to hear the contrary (not that I tow...).

al

 

[alaskaflyer]

Check the price at www.nadaguides.com

I just payed10K for a 2001, granted it had 100k for mileage but it runs real good.

 

[amm888]

Check the price at www.nadaguides.com

I just payed10K for a 2001, granted it had 100k for mileage but it runs real good.

thanks for the link, but as far as i can figure out they only give retail prices. this car is listed at 13k ave retail, but i'm buying private.