The 4Runner Triangle of Greatness

[NoVAphotog]

I was faced with the same triangle and picked cleanliness. I figured it would be easier to do maintenance on the car than repaint, rust repair, interior repair, body repair, etc. Here's more info for a datapoint for you:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/209146-new-me-2002-sportedition-4wd.html

I had do a timing belt and did a lot of other maintenance since I did not know the history. I pulled the carfax and it showed the seller routinely went to the dealer and pepboys, so I think the basic items were addressed. The timing belt was 40K past due but my seller wouldn't budge on price since he knew he was selling under bluebook. This car was a 1 owner but he had no records. It had never been used in 4wd nor offroaded so I felt okay with it. My mechanic confirmed everything looked good when he did the maintenance on it.

At that pricepoint it will probably it probably won't sell THAT quickly. You can request to have a mechanic inspect it then use the findings to beat down on the price. Unfortunately, that is a rare car and it is a seller's market.

Yeah, trust me it's tough to walk away from as I agree, it is that much easier to work without having to deal with the rust but the biggest kicker here in comparison is price, he's about 2k OVER blue book given the mileage. And with no service history he is literally ONLY selling the car on the basis of the condition alone and the manual transmission...of which it's not THAT hard to find relatively speaking (mass produced, don't mind a road trip, etc).

The other comments pretty much summed it up though, I just didn't have a good feeling driving it. Guy just drove it and went picked up parts if it needed it...I hate sounding like I'm expecting the world from a previous owner maintenance wise...I'm not...really just want someone who treated the truck with a little more respect than just an a to b 4runner fixed from the junkyard and kept in the garage so it stays clean.

 

[sportscarfan]

Condition would be my primary concern - with these 4runners the biggest concern I'd have is for rust. Everything else can be replaced or repaired easily by comparison.

 

[Jkysh]

Offer 3k cash if you really see yourself in it, and then putting a bit of money into it. Crazy price for zero records and history.

I just paid 4K for my 99 limited auto, has 199k miles, new timing belt, water pump, new/flushed fluids, new battery, plugs/wires and records for it all. Zero rust was a Seattle truck transplanted out east.

As it is I had to just drop 400$ into it for a new radiator as the idiot mechanic who installed it prior to me cross threaded the inlets and was leaking a bit after long drives.

Zero lights now and runs flawless. I would have walked if the previous owner didn't take my final and only offer. There's a lot of them out there!

 

[Riceye]

In Viroqua, WI. It's been up for a couple of weeks. Clean '96 w/ 212k, five speed. $3750.

1996 Toyota 4Runner SR5 PRICE DROPED !!!..

 

[7echo]

Seems too expensive for the miles and lack of records.

I bought mine for $7500, about 105K miles, one owner, no records, tho it did have the timing belt sticker. Lived its life in Indianapolis but the rust was mostly surface, I think it was kept in a garage maybe.

"I just think it's silly when people charge $500-$1000 extra just because they can give you a pile of receipts. Maybe that works for some people but not me."

People with records do that sometimes, but people like me will often tally up the required repairs/maintenance from lack or records and subtract that from the asking price just to start.