gnomachine

I just got into a truck frenzy, I've been looking for a toyota exclusively. I currently own a v6 93 camry, and even if it has 260k+ on the counter, I feel it will keepgoing for a while.

Now I shopped for a 4runner and I found one. It's a 1993 sr5 v6 manual with 325k on the counter. The guy took great care of it, he changed the timingbelt/headgasket/waterpump/radiator recently. The exhaust had some work done too, so do balljoints and breaks. I popped up the hood and and revved the engine and floated the rpm to detect any play in the rods/pistons. None.

I went for a test drive, and the only thing I could hear was a faint lifter noise. The thing handles great and I haven't heard of anything uncommon except for break squeaking coming from a truck that hasn't moved much for a couple months.

I believe it should be said that I am a professional mechanic, but I am no toyota guru. So here are my questions

1) is 2500$CAD a reasonable price?
2) is 325k that big of a deal for a toyota?
3) What kind of problems should I be looking for owning a 15 years old Toyota(what breaks more often, what are the most common problems with them)


I know that toyota's are reliable, but HOW reliable?
Thank you to everyone who will give me inputs

Forgot to mention, I had the money loaned to me, and now I have this HORRIBLE buyer's remorse before even owning it. So either talking out of it, or through it

76ANTHONY

switch them clicks to miles for me and how much cash is that?

gnomachine

201k miles and money is about the same, it's canadian
but ummm, here 2500CAD = 2,434.51USD

Mr_Martinez1982

201k miles ant about $2433 it doesnt sound too bad, but expect the following
to do another HG in the future,
horrible MPG
underpower
sagging rear end
and depending on what you want to do to it... allot of money for upgrades.

76ANTHONY

dont you canadians run around with that much cash just sittin in your wallets anyways?
well my opinion is, thats not a bad deal and the are underpowered but put headers on it for valve and headgasket issues and replace the timing belt and water pump on her

Mr_Martinez1982

no no no... remove 3.0l an insert 3.4l i went with the header fix, an im happy, but wouldnt do it again. I say ride her till the HG goes, then drop in the 3.4L. and since the Previous Owner jus did the HG, i think you have some time b4 it gives, so start saving for a donor.

gnomachine

i was thinking about keeping my camry with the 3vz-fe for a donor

tc

What are you planning to use the truck for?

The 3VZFE won't work for a swap ... been discussed MANY times in incredible detail. The heads/manifold are sideways due to the Camry being FWD and therefore transverse mounted.

gnomachine

btw i am not looking to "pimp" it up or anything, i just want a nice cruiser with not so high mpg

tc

I assume you mean not so bad mileage .... 2nd gen 4runner with the 3.0 is probably the worst choice of any Toyota truck for mileage. The heaviest truck with the thirstiest engine. They are plenty reliable and have nice interiors for vehicles of the era, though.

SurlyJohn

Listen to TC....he's a wise person.
I have a 1992 4runner 3.0 V-6 which I bought a couple of years ago for $4,500 since it only had 125K miles on it and was an SR5 with every option except leather seats. The thing is comfortable but eats gas like a V-8 Mustang. Heavy truck, not so efficient engine. Now I'm trying to sell in and not a whole lot of people want it and I'm asking $3,750 with 127K miles on it. Losing my shirt on it.....
I found a 1994 4runner with 254K miles on it with a blown head gasket for $1,200 American the other day, I bought it in a second since it's a 22re 4 cylinder with the 5 speed. Now that's a decent rig, underpowered but at least you get more than 200-250 miles per tank full of gas.
If you want a 4runner, I say go with the 4 cylinder since the 22re was one of the best motors ever built by Toyota. Avoid the 3.0 V-6, wish I would have at this point, but you live and learn.
The 3.4 is a good V-6, have friends with that engine, not the same issues as the 3.0 to say the least.

gnomachine

what i'd like to know is what kind of problems should i worry about owning this truck

abecedarian

everyone else who has posted on this thread have already told you what you should worry about.

Team420

H/g's...thats it... till u get past 300k... then u worry about every thing, cuz youre still driving a vehicle that has 300k...lol

abecedarian

hehe... not only are the heads and manifolds sideways... the block is too.

Jay351

Where abouts are you located?

2500 is a decent price, but its still got 300k on it. I wouldve talked the previous owner down in the 2200 range. Hows rust on the frame/body?

If the truck is properly taken care of, has the right tire/gear ratio expect to get in the 16-20mpg range, mixed driving.

I can get 18-19mpg if I baby it, more if I draft big rigs...they don't seem to like it though...

I like how everyone bitches about the 3.0 like its gonna pop a hg tomorrow... If you take care of it it will last a long time. I have over 126k on my rebuild (toyota recall on the headgasket, find out if yours was done) and its running great. Taken over 5,000rpm weekly.

Don't feel bad, you bought a nice truck. Post some pictures Nice to see you're taking care of it

the 3.0 tends to tick, a tappy engine is a happy engine...