Going over to the dark side

[BurbanAZ]

Ive always heard the 3.4 is a great engine even if it doesnt have a ton of power. I just hope that it will atleast be able to drive up the elevation gain between here and flagstaff that we usually have to drive on trips. That climb has taken out a few of my trucks in the past. Yea ill make sure to check all the fluids. I hope the everything is in good condition, sounds like the guy took care of it but that doesn't mean much without receipts. I do mechanic work though and have all the equipment so luckily if i need to do ball joints or something else it wont be that big of a deal.

 

[the kid]

for the price you will pay for a 4th gen 4runner you can pick up a nice 100 series lc, and have way more vehicle... i would not even consider the 4th gens -not that they are bad rigs, but for the price ill buy a 100 series all day long and have a vehicle that has much nice fit and finish, better quality components, is more robust, and rugged and has more room. the thing that keeps the 4th gens price up, is they are newer, but even so they are not as nice on the inside(or outside imo). but they are gonna start at around $10k and go up from there.

as far as that 4runner, idk i dont think they want to much for what it is, but its not a great deal. if it had the rear locker and some records then yeah it would be a good deal. but its a 12yo suv with almost 200k, and no extras, no leather ect. but 3rd gen 4runners hold their value well. some things id look for on it is rust, even though its in AZ, it could of come from the midwest or back east, so rust could still be an issue. if you have the VIN you can go to a dealer and have them look up where the truck was sold originally and if and where and what services were done to it at any dealer in the US. if some midwest or back east dealers pop up id be leary of it...

 

[p nut]

Actually the trac isn't the problem, it's the vsc (stability control). I've had the same terrifying experience. There's a 20 minute mod to put in a switch to turn both off when desired. I have an 02 limited and love it.

Yeah, I had that switch as well. But there were times that I just forgot. Decided it just wasn't worth it and sold it. Great vehicle otherwise.

BurbanAZ - also remember that only 96-00 4Runners came with a rear locker. If that's important to you. I would try to find a 99-00 Limited, as it has an AWD option that none of the 96-00 had. I'd say about 1/2 of those had a rear locker as well (which means 4.30 gearing).

Some examples again, relatively close to you:

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/954061?ad_cid=1

Supercharged:
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/952640?ad_cid=5

This with a manual transmission:
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/953228?ad_cid=3

Another manual:
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/948444?ad_cid=7

Several more on that site.

 

[BurbanAZ]

Ok well something popped up in Craigslist. It's in new condition no wear on really anything the only issue is the odometer or cluster was replaced at some point so it's god a class c title so he has it way low because people can't finance it and we have cash. We just went and test drove it and it's amazing, what do u guys think?

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/4092145246.html

 

[p nut]

I'd be very very careful on those. Any idea why the odo was replaced? You may want to negotiate a timing belt/water pump change. Could be $1k+ job.

 

[the kid]

That's not a bad price, any idea how many original miles? The only thing I dont like about 4th gens is the awd system, if you brake a front cv, the truck is dead. -not sure if the LC100's are this way, but 3rd gens aren't. But yeah that'sthe only thing bad I have to say about them. And that's hardly bad its more of an fyi.

 

[p nut]

100's are also Full-Time 4WD. The truck isn't dead if the front CV brakes. Simple hub flange swap (or tape it off using plastic bottle over the hub), lock the center diff, then drive out in 2WD. I actually love the FT 4WD on my 100. Some ease of mind when my wife drives it occasionally.

The 4th Gen V8's were also all 5-speed transmissions. V6's got 5-speed in 2005. Also to clarify, only V8's were FT 4WD. V6's all had 2WD options (until the 5th Gen Limited).

EDIT: Also, forgot to mention, if you break a front axle on a 3rd Gen or 4th Gen 4Runner with 2WD option, you still need to disconnect the axle from the hub in order to drive, due to the ADD system. I don't think any 4Runners in that gen came with manual hubs.

 

[BurbanAZ]

Yea that's the problem is that he doesn't know the original miles cause it was already replaced when he bought it. It looks an drives like a new truck though so I'd be surprised if there were that many miles. Luckily I still have my suburban to sell so that will give me a couple grand just incase there is something that I need to replace like the timing belt or water pump.

Is there any way to estimate the mileage without the odometer working? It's damn near impossible to tell just from looking or driving it because it's in such good condition.

 

[p nut]

I don't think so. Unless you can find a carfax report to see where the last odo reading was and just try to estimate from there.

 

[Box Rocket]

100 Series Cruiser is a good suggestion.

For a 4Runner I would look at a 2000-2004 with the 5VZE V6.

 

[p nut]

For a 4Runner I would look at a 2000-2004 with the 5VZE V6.

Correction -- 3rd Gen 4Runners (with 5vze) were available 96-02. They didn't follow the same model year schedule as the Tacoma's, which were 95.5-04.

 

[darien]

For $10K, I'd look for a really cherry 80 series Cruiser, or a good 2 door 1st Gen Tacoma, or a post-1995 4Runner (you want the 3.4L V6). All will be bullet proof, all can be fitted out to be superbly versatile long distance wheeling machines. The Cruiser will have the benefit of being...well...a Land Cruiser - but the mileage will be poor. The Taco will have (comparatively) great mileage, will be light and handy, but will not have the interior luxury. The 4Runner might be the best compromise and they're out there in your price range ready to roll.

And, by the way, welcome to THE LIGHT!!! It's nice here - we have cookies. :chef:

 

[surlydiesel]

If you can get the vin, you can go on Toyota's customer website and get the records on the truck. If it was serviced via the dealer, you can see the records. I did that with my current truck and frankly, I like that I can show that to a possible interested party. Anyway, as long as you can get some idea of the actual miles, I wouldn't shy away from it.

-jorge

 

[BurbanAZ]

Well i pulled the trigger and bought it. I went and looked it over with a fine tooth comb and drove it a few times. It looks and drives perfect, no problems, not even a scratch in the paint. Also he had all the receipts for maint. work. He had just bought the truck about 6 months ago for his wife so he did a bunch of maint. to make sure it was in good shape for her, then she decided it was too big and didn't really want it. He had the timing belt and water pump replaced, plugs and wires, front CVs, belts, hoses, etc.. he did it only 2000 miles ago and had all the receipts. Engine runs like a top and tranny shifts perfect. He also runs all synthetic fluids and had receipts for that as well.

 

[BurbanAZ]

If you can get the vin, you can go on Toyota's customer website and get the records on the truck. If it was serviced via the dealer, you can see the records. I did that with my current truck and frankly, I like that I can show that to a possible interested party. Anyway, as long as you can get some idea of the actual miles, I wouldn't shy away from it.

-jorge

Ill try to do that and see if i can get an idea of the mileage.

I put everything in and this is all i found for service history, doesnt really tell me much