Hey everyone, just wanted to get any input you might have on the post I put on the toyota forums site earlier today:

My wife and I are wanting to sell her 96 camry le 4dr with 90k miles in order to get a 98-99 4 runner. We are looking at one right now that has 134k miles on it and is going for 13,400 it is an sr5 (link attached below) at the local dealership. Is that worth the value with all those miles? Does anyone know what kind of mileage it gets on average (gas mileage)?

What kind of questions should I ask regarding a 4 runner with that many miles? are there certain maintenance things that should have been done by now and how can I be relatively assurred that it will go for another 80-100k? I just want to make the best decision as we could keep her camry which has been great...no problems at all, but we really would like to have something 4 wheel drive for winter and with more hauling capacity. Any input is greatly appreciated. Also is there any reason that you would not buy a 4 runnner?

http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=170224400&dealer_id=73062&car_year=1999&make=TOYOTA&distance=25&max_price=&model=4RUN&end_year=1999&advcd_on=n&min_price=&address=60187&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1981&color=&cardist=5

Also is there any reason that you would not buy a 4 runnner?

Uh, yeah cause it's a Toyota?

JUST KIDDING! Sweet looking truck actually - that black one you sent the link to looks pretty nice. Too bad I don't know much about 4runners though, sorry dude.

You really should check out http://www.edmunds.com. This is a FANTASTIC site with tons of reviews about all cars from almost any year. They will tell you TONS of info, even bluebook price (tho you could find that elsewhere easily), invoice cost, all kinds of stuff. They have a bunch of articles on here for when you buy a used (and new) car, so definitely check that site out. I think it will help you a lot.

:gl:

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/toyota/4runner/index.html?tid=edmunds.u.mmindex.content.num1.0.to yota*

Also http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/toyota/4runner/8054/options.html?tid=edmunds.u.tmvmipmake.tmvpricetabl e.num6.1.toyota*

Price it out w/options at that 2nd URL, looks like the Auto Trader ad may be a decent deal to me.

I have a buddy who sold his 4Runner about a year ago. It had 220,000 miles on it and was still going fairly strong when he gave it up. It needed TLC throughout his ownership and I gave him many a ride to the shop to drop off/pick it up, but it lasted him rather well.

I personally would not spend $13,400 on a car with that many miles. That's a lot of jack for a 5+ year old, high mileage truck. If you're fixated on brand loyalty with the Toyota, I'd find one with lower miles. Being the Saturday mechanic to all of my friends, including the above mentioned 4Runner, at that mileage, in my automotive experience, with the Toyotas, you're looking at replacing suspension components - as well as your average wear/tear maintenance items. Repairs/replacements generally cost more where suspension is concerned if it's a 4x4; generic parts tend to be harder to find for the 4x4's because replacement parts are usually of a higher quality and cost as much if not more than OEM parts.

There are much more affordable routes to go. Auction is the best way to buy a car if you have the cash, the access, and know what you're looking for. No payments, no hassle, and you get it way under dealer cost. I'll never buy from a dealer again. Case in point, I'm looking at a 2002 4x4 Frontier crew cab right now (the wife wants one). They retail around $20K. Auction: in the neighborhood of $15,000. Then I'll turn around and sell our current truck at auction. Actually, I don't do the auctioning... a friend who buys/sells cars for a living does - good friend to have. In turn, I often do maintenance work for the cars he buys at auction if they have problems.

-R

Toyotas are very expensive. In Canada where I live, they are way more pricey. You get what you pay for and it is not uncommon to see them around here with more then 200000 miles on them and they are still like brand new. I would definately buy one if I were not a Chevy girl. They are really nice looking, especially in the black with the limited package on them.

One thing that should be done before you purchase it, is to replace the timing belt. These stretch with mileage and often they do not get replaced. It costs a fortune to have it done later.

I can't say what bluebook/edmunds estimates their prices at, but edmunds.com, mentioned above, has a lot of detailed specs on the 4runner including gas mileage, and even user reviews by owners. kbb.com will give an idea of the theoretical value of the vehicles.

Most importantly though when trying to determine what one should cost, go to autotrader.com and see what they are selling for in your area. Also the local paper is a good idea - I'd all but forgotten papers existed, but when I bought my last car I went though my local paper's online ads and it had WAY more cars listed than autotrader. I paid $6k for my 97 maxima and it was worth, honestly, at least $7k.

The thing about cars is people price them wildly. I took a darn long time finding my car, and also of note I wasn't even sure I wanted a new one. That's why I only got this one because the deal was outrageous. I was not emotionally involved with it, or desperate for a car. So, time is your friend.

I think I'm off topic. Like I said, I don't know what that truck is worth exactly, but $13k+ for a vehicle with that many miles would definitely give me pause. Toyotas and Hondas are good, but their resale is too high for my tastes. Nissan, with quality in the same ballpark, offers I think a better buy used, because nissan resale is comparitively poor. $13k+ on a used pathfinder would definitely get one heaper and/or with lower miles, almost certainly.

You could consider a subaru. I found a 99 outback with something like 100k miles on it for $7500 a while back.

Thanks for the input everyone. All good stuff.

So, I bought it. Got it for 12,700. I had printed off all the info online regarding trouble spots that this automobile has and talked to the mechanic at the dealership once the sales guy was gone. The truck was mostly highway miles, had been inspected for timing belt, transmission, etc...perfect body condition, the barcoded manufacturer's parts tags were still on the doors and body and almost completely clean. New battery and tires. I know I will have to put some money into it over the next years, but I would have to do that with the camry as well when it hits 100k and the truck provides more of what my wife and I wanted than the camry in terms of space, 4x4, truck and so on.

I hate buying cars because you just never know, so hopefully this one will work out.

Just take care of it and it'll take care of you.

I had a Hyundai Excel that lasted me ten years and 115,000 carefree miles - only one breakdown ever. Religious maintenance is the key. I bought it for $6700 in 1993, sold it for $1000 when I gave it up two years ago. Saw it the other day (I customized it, of course!) and she's still running and the owner seems to be taking good care of it.

How's the 4runner working out? I have a 96, I bought it in 2002 with 60k on it, I now have 136k on it and have not had a problem, unless you count the time I replaced the starter myself and it turned out to be the battery. Long story.

How's the 4runner working out? I have a 96, I bought it in 2002 with 60k on it, I now have 136k on it and have not had a problem, unless you count the time I replaced the starter myself and it turned out to be the battery. Long story.


Thanks for asking. I really like it a lot, however, it is my wife's daily driver. I usually drive it though on the weekend when we are going places together...especially in the winter I try to keep my bmw in the garage (biz car). I do have one MAJOR complaint and that is the gas mileage...I think something might be wrong with it. I dont know what your experience is, but right now I am lucky to get 13 miles to the gallon. I knew that I would be getting less than great mileage when I got it, but I figure at least mid teens or a bit more.

I have done a full tune up, and used several fuel injector cleaners and still to no avail. So once it warms up I will be taking it to my mecahnic to see if there is something wrong with it that I cannot detect or fix myself that might bump the mileage up at least a couple miles per gallon...I need to do that especially with gas prices rising the way they are!

I would not be concerned except for the fact that most other people I know with similar model runners are getting mid teens or above consistently.

I am really looking forward to loading our mountain bikes on there this summer and going out to the lake front or down to Starved Rock which is a great place to ride over in western IL.

yotatech.com

ask all your 4runner questions there. Ive got an '01 and love it.

yotatech.com

ask all your 4runner questions there. Ive got an '01 and love it.


Love that site, I am on it almost daily...tons of great info and input.

I poste under the same name that I do here...how about you?