Test drove a 2002, couple questions

[2002tii]

Hi all -

Newbie but not new to 4Runners. I had a 2000 Limited w/locker back when it was new. Loved it, took it to the inaugural CO4RJ (which I guess is now the Colorado Toyota Jamboree?). Sold it and have regretted it ever since. Now, I'm looking for a second/third car and figured a 3rd gen would be an excellent choice.

I tested a 2002 Sport today. 94,000 miles, one owner, private party sale. No wrecks and generally very clean/honest. Owned by a housewife (she is selling it herself) in an upscale neighborhood. Here's what it needs:

- power antenna is bent/doesn't go all the way down
- brakes are strong but some wobble under braking (assume rotors)
- Needs wheel balancing (has 50% Toyo Open Country ATs)
- hood does not close. One of the rubber pads on the fender is gone. Hood will latch but doesn't stay all the way closed (sticks up a bit).
- shifts seem a bit abrupt in 4-low
- and the kicker... timing belt/water pump has not been done.

They want $10,000, which is, obviously, too high given the issues.

Also, it spent 9 years in Colorado and then Minnesota before coming here (Texas), so there is some rust on the frame and suspension. See photos:

Thoughts? What (if anything) would you offer?

1) Is this rust too nasty?
2) how hard is that hood going to be to close?
3) are the hard shifts in 4-low a byproduct of the fact it has probably never been in low range? It went in/out and locked the center diff with no issues.

 

[00_4runner]

I have a 2000 Sr5 Sport, which I bought for $7500 (it was a steal!). It had 94K miles when I bought it. Rotors warped, timing belt/water pump changed. Decent maintenance. I have much more rust than you BUT its all surface rust. It sucks to have but I am going to coat my frame with Rust Bullet and forget it was ever rusted. I live near Chicago, Illinois and $7500 for mine was VERY hard to find. It just kind of fell in my lap haha. KBB for mine when purchased, February 10', was almost $10,500.

Now $10,000 is a bit much. I'd say $9000 is a fair price because overall the condition looks pretty good, and low miles are hard to find. Try to negotiate for $9000 and the things that you mentioned that need repair are not too expensive, especially if you do them yourself. Timing belt would obviously be the most expensive but you should be okay to put it off. Especially since we have non-interference motors and IF one were to break, nothing bad would happen to your motor.

The hood is an easy fix, the rust is not bad (and easily fixed, just need a little elbow grease), hard and abrupt shifts is normal in 4-LO. Your car puts out a lot of power and torque in 4-LO and is only meant for TERRIBLE road conditions, or hard off-road obstacles. Its meant more for crawling over obstacles than it is for street driving.

Its a good buy in my opinion. If your super picky this car looks pretty good and although ten is a lot, considering my experience with my car, I might even pay up if the buyer was SUPER firm on the price. I'd offer $8.5K and complain about the economy haha. $9K is a good price, but I would not complain if it was less. Go for it!

Good luck in your search/purchase! And welcome!
:cheers:

 

[white_n_slow]

As you're probably aware, rust will kill a toyota long before abuse or mileage. I would say do not purchase unless you have a few weekends to dedicate to stripping the frame/axle/suspension, treating with POR15 or the like, and repainting. This alone, would drop the price I'm willing to pay by $1000, not to mention the other maintenance items.

 

[2002tii]

Thanks to both of ya'll. I'm not opposed to coating the suspension and frame in POR-15. I've used it before on other vehicles, but never to treat structural rot. Is this pretty typical for a car that split its time between CO and MN? I know MN would be much harsher.


I'm handy, but I'd rather have a shop handle the timing belt/water pump/thermostat. I guess I'll call around this morning to see what the local going rate is.

As I'm sure everyone is aware, finding a clean, lower mile 3rd gen is a challenge, especially here in the sun belt where most are 4x2s. Still, I've bought enough cars to know not to settle.

 

[audiness]

dont walk, run away from it if there is structural rust

 

[NOT ME OR SOMEBODY]

I may be wrong but, I couldn't imagine getting more than $9000.00 out of my SR5. Likely only $8000.00

With most everything that it needs to have done to it already completed. ( see sig. )

And its in good condition without all that nasty rust underneath it.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

looks to be surface rust to me. But don't tell them that, just use the term "rust."

Hood latch is a stretched hood cable, $35 ish at the dealership and about 15 minutes to replace.

Figure $700 ish on a TB/WP service at a good indy shop using OEM parts that aren't in OEM boxes. (AirCabinMan's kit on eBay.)

Tires are at 50%, your call there. I'd factor tires into the offer.

Antenna is nothing, do the Tacoma Whip Antenna swap, $40.

For Brakes,might as well do the Tundra Brake Upgrade, runs about $280 from Advance Auto after you return your 4Runner calipers as cores. (Does it have the 5spoke wheels? I assume it does. Needed to clear the larger front brakes.)

The rust will just take some elbow grease more than anything else but it's also a good way to give your truck a thorough inspection and get familiar with any other lingering issues.

I'd mention all this to her, offer her about $7,500 and walk away at anything over $8,000.

 

[2002tii]

dont walk, run away from it if there is structural rust

Well, any rust on the frame could be considered structural. I don't think this 4R is going to fall apart, but there is more visible under there than I'd find on a normal southwestern 4Runner. It's a shame Toyota didn't do a great job of rustproofing these.

I may be wrong but, I couldn't imagine getting more than $9000.00 out of my SR5. Likely only $8000.00

With most everything that it needs to have done to it already completed. ( see sig. )

And its in good condition without all that nasty rust underneath it.

10k is on the high end of the market, but the price is about in line with what private parties are asking. A dealer with this truck (after a detail and fixing some of the smaller issues) would probably list it for $11-12k. Hyman in VA has this one listed at 13,500, for example:
2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 4x4 Sport Package $13,500 - C.L. Hyman Auto Wholesale Ashland Virginia 23005

Hard to say, but I can see some rust underneath that. I'm not considering that (price is above my budget and I would like something local), but it does offer somewhat of a baseline.

All that said, I would not consider paying 10 grand for this 4Runner as-is.

looks to be surface rust to me. But don't tell them that, just use the term "rust."

Hood latch is a stretched hood cable, $35 ish at the dealership and about 15 minutes to replace.

Figure $700 ish on a TB/WP service at a good indy shop using OEM parts that aren't in OEM boxes. (AirCabinMan's kit on eBay.)

Tires are at 50%, your call there. I'd factor tires into the offer.

Antenna is nothing, do the Tacoma Whip Antenna swap, $40.

For Brakes,might as well do the Tundra Brake Upgrade, runs about $280 from Advance Auto after you return your 4Runner calipers as cores. (Does it have the 5spoke wheels? I assume it does. Needed to clear the larger front brakes.)

The rust will just take some elbow grease more than anything else but it's also a good way to give your truck a thorough inspection and get familiar with any other lingering issues.

I'd mention all this to her, offer her about $7,500 and walk away at anything over $8,000.

Thanks for the detailed response. I didn't realize the Tundra brake upgrade was so cheap... seems worthwhile. The brakes felt pretty strong on this one, but there was a bit of a vibration. It has the factory five-spoke 16s, yes.

A local dealer said $725 for the TB/WP. They did not recommend doing the thermostat at the same time. I imagine a local indy would be a bit less.

So the stretched hood cable is pretty common? I'll do some research on that. Didn't even think of that as a likely issue.