Which one, advice

[Francis]

I'm looking at a couple different T4R Limited in my area. Cant quite decide between the three of them. I would like your opinions if you could please! I have to drive to each of them cant find a silver one in town here.

All are 2000 silver limited, no rust and clean looking with good carfax reports of no damage or major incidents.

1) 171k nice shape/clean, LOCKER, Nebraska vehicle,aftermarket heated seats front bumper has a lot of rock chips on the steel part...hood and everything else are good. Female owned, all stock 7000.00 (3.5hour drive)

2) 134k nice shape clean, Minnesota vehicle, underside a little rusty not bad though NO LOCKER, aftermarket CD player 7500.00 (3.5 hour drive)

3) 120k nice shape, LOCKER, clean another Minnesota vehicle, so the underside is a little rusty not bad as well though. missing cargo cover, 7700.00 (2.5 hour drive)

I would really like to stay close to the 7k mark to leave me some $$ to put towards a Harley I'm trying to get #3 to come down to 7250 but he doesn't seem to want to go less than the 7700.I think if I showed up with 7500 he would take it, but id hate to drive that far and him say no. Id like #3 and my Tacoma already sold and I'm on borrowed time with the vehicle I'm driving. So I need to make a jump soon. I can paint and do some bodywork so the rock chips do not really bother me on #1 it has a front wind/rock deflector that was noted installed on the car fax at 68k miles. They say nothing has been repainted on the vehicle hood and fenders headlights all look great. I typically aim to buy "stock" vehicles even aftermarket CD players bother me because Ive seen some real hack jobs in the past.. #2 is my third choice since it does not have the locker but its in great shape. #1 would obviously be my second choice but it is higher in miles... On the fence everyone, help me out! Thanks!

 

[audiness]

If you plan to do off-roading I would go for one with the e-locker. Its awesome and works great. I ended up driving almost 5 hours to get a clean low-mileage factory locked 3rd gen.

 

[afg10000]

x2 on the locker. I'd be hard pressed to believe there's no rust on #1 from NE. Mine was very well taken care of, nonetheless gots some rust at 112k when purchased. Just the way it is. I know you stated you like stock but I found this a few days ago and I thought about buying it 1996 toyota 4runner lifted Didn't talk to the seller so I don't know if it's sold or exactly what's on it. Looks great other than the mileage -

 

[tek9]

x2 on the locker. I'd be hard pressed to believe there's no rust on #1 from NE. Mine was very well taken care of, nonetheless gots some rust at 112k when purchased. Just the way it is. I know you stated you like stock but I found this a few days ago and I thought about buying it 1996 toyota 4runner lifted Didn't talk to the seller so I don't know if it's sold or exactly what's on it. Looks great other than the mileage -

I'd be super careful about this one. The pics of the truck match the truck showing in 'toyxterra' profile on YotaTech. That user scammed me a year ago (received payment for a 4runner roof rack, only to conveniently disappear after that). So be careful.

 

[Francis]

I had him send me a bunch of pic of the Nebraska truck even undercarriage looked pretty good. Im more concerned with the Minnesota trucks personally. I got some pics from them and they look fine but maybe a bit worse than that Nebraska truck.
I came across that green one. Cool, but not for me. I am looking for something a little more road friendly im still leaning toward the 120k Minnesota truck with the locker

 

[white_n_slow]

I would go with option 1. Rust kills Toyota trucks, not miles. Just my $.02

 

[Francis]

Really they are all in good shape. The undercarriages show well for there age. Nothing major anyway. If you had to decide based on the miles would you choose 120k or the 170k? I know the engines are solid, I'm more worried about the other things transmission ect ect. Basically the body's are all the same. The Nebraska one slightly better but has all the rock chips in the bumper...

 

[BigSlim]

Don't worry about rock chips. You can spray on a good bed liner fairly cheaply and make it look new. I think #1 would be the best purchase. The first thing you will have to consider on any of them, is if the timing belt and water pump has been replaced. This is due around the 100,000 mile mark. Also check the radiator coolant and make sure it does not look like cherry milk shake. This would be the trans fluid leaking over into the coolant due to an older radiator.

Here is a pic of the lower part of my bumper that was rock chipped and aged covered in Raptor Liner. Anyone can spray this stuff if you have an air compressor of about any size.





This 4R has 255k miles on it and drives like a new one. Don't let miles on one talk you out of a good 4Runner.

 

[BigSlim]

I forgot to add, this is a great link for viewing info when considering buying a 4runner.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html

 

[Francis]

Yea I read through the buyers guide before. thanks for the pics that turned out nice. Ive painted a few vehicles before so fixing the chips is no big deal but just another thing to do. Seeing which one out weighs which should I take the lower miles no body work needed and less miles (50k less,he finally came down to 7500 by the way) or rock chips and 50k more miles for 7....

 

[Francis]

Well to whom it may concern, I picked up a nice 00 limited with locker with 120k for 7200! Needs a few minor things wipers and tires (tires are at about 50%) So far so good, stereo needs an upgrade for sure

 

[ColoradoTim]

My two cents.... get the vin # and run a car fax or auto check on them! I am looking here in CO and ran into 2 that either did not know it was a total loss from the past. One guy was upset and I think the other was a scammer....... good to know things ahead.

Good luck!

Timboat

 

[Francis]

yep i had the carfax's about two weeks before I made a purchase there is a nice 1999 one owner white/grey limted with 152k in rapid city might not be too far depending on your location in CO.... Looks very clean with a locker! its on craigslist... Im more of a silver guy and rapid is 5 hours compared to the 2 hours I drove for mine

 

[corndog]

I'd take 50k fewer miles before the locker, but you ended up with the best of both worlds! Do you know if the timing belt and water pump have been done?

 

[BigRogers]

Well to whom it may concern, I picked up a nice 00 limited with locker with 120k for 7200! Needs a few minor things wipers and tires (tires are at about 50%) So far so good, stereo needs an upgrade for sure

Awesome man. Post up some pictures of the new rig! Sounds like you got a good buy as well. Close to your budget and lower miles than all the others plus a locker. Welcome to the club!

 

[SoAZ4Runner]

I'm looking at a couple different T4R Limited in my area. Cant quite decide between the three of them. I would like your opinions if you could please! I have to drive to each of them cant find a silver one in town here.

All are 2000 silver limited, no rust and clean looking with good carfax reports of no damage or major incidents.

1) 171k nice shape/clean, LOCKER, Nebraska vehicle,aftermarket heated seats front bumper has a lot of rock chips on the steel part...hood and everything else are good. Female owned, all stock 7000.00 (3.5hour drive)

2) 134k nice shape clean, Minnesota vehicle, underside a little rusty not bad though NO LOCKER, aftermarket CD player 7500.00 (3.5 hour drive)

3) 120k nice shape, LOCKER, clean another Minnesota vehicle, so the underside is a little rusty not bad as well though. missing cargo cover, 7700.00 (2.5 hour drive)

I would really like to stay close to the 7k mark to leave me some $$ to put towards a Harley I'm trying to get #3 to come down to 7250 but he doesn't seem to want to go less than the 7700.I think if I showed up with 7500 he would take it, but id hate to drive that far and him say no. Id like #3 and my Tacoma already sold and I'm on borrowed time with the vehicle I'm driving. So I need to make a jump soon. I can paint and do some bodywork so the rock chips do not really bother me on #1 it has a front wind/rock deflector that was noted installed on the car fax at 68k miles. They say nothing has been repainted on the vehicle hood and fenders headlights all look great. I typically aim to buy "stock" vehicles even aftermarket CD players bother me because Ive seen some real hack jobs in the past.. #2 is my third choice since it does not have the locker but its in great shape. #1 would obviously be my second choice but it is higher in miles... On the fence everyone, help me out! Thanks!

Shoot I would fly there from AZ and pick up number 3 thats a steal.

 

[Francis]

Here's the only pic so far (also in avatar)
timing belt and both diffs and t-case were flushed/changed at 97k!