Torn on what to buy

D

durrell

New member
So I have been miserable without my 3rd gen since last summer, and it's time for me to buy another one. My other vehicles have sold, so I'm ready to buy.

Some examples of what I've found:

02 SR5 4x4 with 131k miles for 8800
00 SR5 4x4 with 159k miles for 6500 (talked down to 5650)
98 Limited 4x4 with all records (timing belt, tranny flushes, etc), 217k miles for 4500 (talked down to 4000)

Obviously I'm familiar with the 4Runner and the 3.4, but I'm debating what price is fair for what mileage. I figured I'd get more opinions. These prices may seem a little high to some of you, but a Toyota 4x4 is basically gold on wheels around here so those are just some examples of what I'm dealing with price-wise.

Any suggestions? Anyone in NC want to sell me a decent 3rd gen for 7k or less? Haha.
 
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Singtoe said:
Which one has a diff lock?
Click to expand...

Haha, I don't think any of them do. But I may have found a solution to my problem. Found a guy in Raleigh selling a 1 owner 98 SR5 4x4 with 191k miles for 3350. I'm probably going to pick it up Tuesday.

Words can't describe how happy I will be to be back in a 3rd gen.
 
If you can, take your time to find the right one.

Good luck, and yes these 3rd Gen's are awesome.
 
dif lock

Singtoe said:
Which one has a diff lock?
Click to expand...

How important is that dif lock ?(I'll be doing mostly mild / moderate off roading in Northern VA, MD. Some mud here, but don't think there's a lot of big rocks.

Now that I know there's a dif lock, I obsessed with it. Is just 4Lo good enough for mud and some soft trails? Or do I need the rear dif lock? thanks for any advise
 
Dont let it be the deciding factor in a buy. Unless its gonna be offroading every freaking weekend just forget about it.
 
I have used my diff lock twice in my 14 months of ownership.

Once on a snow run to avoid sliding off a bank to my death.

Once to crawl over a hole in the middle of a steep and muddy hill.


I don't need a diff lock, but it is nice to know it's there.
 
Are you looking for this to be your daily driver? And what is your budget?

Based on your 2 choices above - #1 would bother me a bit because of the known problems and the owner hasn't had it very long and is admitting to rust and other issues already. I would be suspicious that they are just trying to dump a problem on someone else. #2 is cheap but doesn't give any info on what was maintained and when.
 
#2 is a one owner vehicle and has been maintained. Timing belt was changed around 150k miles. It is in pretty much mint condition. I'm going for #2. I agree with your idea that #1 may end up being more of a problem than it's worth.

Yes, it will be my daily driver. I am willing to spend up to 7 but I'd really like to keep it under 4500 since we're in the midst of trying to prepare for a baby.
 
AZ4FNER said:
If you can, take your time to find the right one.

Good luck, and yes these 3rd Gen's are awesome.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I wouldnt get either of those. This is just me, but if I ever buy a different 3rd gen Im going to wait and wait for the right one. Something with relatively low miles, a color I like, options I want, really well maintained. I think in the long run its wll worth spending a few extra grand to get something that has what you want and has lower miles.
 
I like the color and options on the 98. It's exactly what I'm looking for. The only issue I have is those *&^(*&^*( cupholders. :D Low mileage is unfortunately not an option since around here they run about 3-4 times what I'll be paying for this one.
 
Hard to lose on #2 if you are satisfied with the condition and the maint. I'd throw a new radiator in it for starters.

I'm from NC as well and you are right about having to buy down the mileage. I had found an 02 SR5 in Raleigh in mint condition with 80k miles on it. But the dude was trying to get $12.5 out of it. I might have gotten him to $12k with cash in hand but that was still too much. It had been maintained but a lot of things, like the timing belt, were original because of the mileage. I feel like a came out better with my 00 limited because it was also just as clean. It was a couple years older and had 126k on it but it was a limited with elocker and almost everything that needed to be done had already been done. And it was several thousand cheaper.
 
People are buying them up like crazy around here. And Tacomas are even more ridiculous. There's 95 Tacomas with 200k miles going for 7-8k. Ridiculous.

With #2 I'm gonna throw an external transmission cooler in it like I did on my previous 3rd gen to avoid the pink milkshake. Everything else sounds like it has been maintained and should be in good shape.
 
A.Wilson013 said:
I have used my diff lock twice in my 14 months of ownership.

Once on a snow run to avoid sliding off a bank to my death.

Once to crawl over a hole in the middle of a steep and muddy hill.


I don't need a diff lock, but it is nice to know it's there.
Click to expand...

Exactly!! Plus, even though none of us want to ever think about one day selling our rigs, It's nice to know that it may bring you a little more money. Seeing as we are on this site and when someone posts about which 4runner to buy, one of the first questions that goes up is, " Does it have a diff lock?"
 
I picked it up tonight. It is in mint condition. The paint is excellent and everything else is too. The only minor issues:

-Brake rotors are vibrating
-Valve covers are leaking
-Driver's side visor won't fold up
-Needs tires

Other than that, it's in amazing shape. I'm happy. Thanks for the advice, guys. :D
 
Well, from what i read on this site, bad rotors arent uncommon and leaky valve covers can be fixed without breaking the bank. The last thing done to mine before i bought it was new cover gaskets. And at a good pice on the vehicle, i would rather choose my own tires than to have to toss the brand new set of crap the seller put on just to move it.

Congrats and welcome back.
 
Yeah, I know the brakes are too small for the 3rd Gens and they tend to overheat and warp.

Not worried about the valve cover gaskets. Pretty sure I can do that myself on a Saturday.

And you're right about the tires. They're not in awful shape, but I'm not sure they'd pass the NC state inspection.
 
Perfection said:
Congrats on another NC find!
Click to expand...

Thanks. :)

It is from the Crabtree Valley area. She bought it new at Leith Toyota in 1998 for 32k. :wow:

There's almost no rust whatsoever underneath. I am SO pumped. I feel like I stole it compared to what others are going for around here.
 
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