holskey

im looking at buying a 1988 4runner with 5in lift and 33-12.50-15s. the motor has 290000 miles on it but has been rebuilt within the last 15000 miles. the runner only has two small rust spots on it. so my question to the question answering gods is ......... is $2500 too much for the 4runner? thanks for all the help!

fireman1559

have you checked the frame for rot? if there is no frame rot it sounds like a good deal how is everything else on the truck like interior,does it leak,does the heat and AC work, things like that will determine if that is a good deal my only thing is if it has some rust spots it could have more on the underbody but thats me though

91TPU

well that depends on the condition of the vehicle as a whole

break it down into the major groups
-frame
-body
-drivetrain
-exterior
-interior
-etc

any major defects or causes for concern should affect the price...

personally i just bought an 87 runner with very mild rust, 165,000, 22re, manual, 4x4 for 900 bucks...with that said tho it needs work, it sat for two years, needs tune up, exhaust, exterior and interior work, etc...a lot is stuff i would get to no matter what, but this truck needs some tlc as it was not used and well time took its toll. does it drive, yes, is it reliable yes, would i drive it across country right now....no

rangerruck

I would do it at that price, if it is 100% working in all other aspects; needs no other work, all power/electrical is working, no leaks, engine looks good, tires as well. All lights, all interior is working and intact. I just bought one at that price, and it was 100%, all power/electric, perfect interior, all working, with a engine lower rebuild at 200k. Drove it for about 1 month, the manual trans just had the synchronizers go out, so it won't shift into any gear, while the engine is on. Gonna cost about 900 bucks for the tranny repair, as I understand.
and mine was driven very lightly, 1 owner wife's car, who drove it back and forth to work, putting about 10k per year on it, and never off road.

rangerruck

Lets just say this; wave 2000.00 in cash, in front of their nose, and see what happens. Plus remember , you will immediately spend 1000.00 bucks on it, on knick knacks. you will jiffy lube it, you will put your new things that you buy-stuff/tools/lubes/etc., in it, in a couple of carry boxes you buy for it, plus extra flashlights, bulbs, lubricantspray, to climb underneath, and soak down the frame, cleaning up the outside, put on new close up round mirrors,on the side mirrors, a new cover for the a/c front plate since yours will be all dark and almost impossible to see, new alarm, new radio, new antenna if yours doesn't work, new mats, new carpeting pieces to cover the back, new hub covers if yours are lost, new windshield wipers, new rear window wiper, which yours will be totally worn out. Should I say more? also if you are doing a transfer, which you are, you will pay for new ins cost, tax on the sale, transfer cost, new registration tags, new plates, new inspection, etc. all these transfer costs are on top of the 1000.00 bucks you will be instantly dropping.
This is not new, 1000.00 is dropped almost instantly on all cars, we buy new or used, just for the extra stuff we put in them. I also put wind visors on the doors, seat mat covers, and the little toyota cool head beanies, I put on the headrests. I also bought a fire extinguisher, the straps to hold it in place, two ice chests,the kind with flip up carry bars on one side, and wheels on the other, that sit right up against the back of the front seats, loaded with tools, jumper cables, liquids, etc., and are bungy strapped into against the backs of the seats. not only do they carry all the extras, but are ice chests, and meat holders as well, plus can easily double as seats to sit on , if needed. Then I was missing a front D ring and wire hook on the driver's side, so I just had to order that.
Last but not least, unless you are a mechanic/undercarriage mechanic/ tire expert, you will need to go and get these three areas all checked out.
Figure another 1000.00 , in a variety of minor mech repairs that will soon be needed.
I got the guy I bought mine from, to give me a bill of sale for 300. plus it will cost less for the transfer, because it is now 20 years plus old, and has no blue book value. You could proly say it was a gift, and therefore free; from what I have heard, since it is 20 plus years old, but i am not sure, nor am i telling you to do this, when you register it. this way, your tax cost will be much less, actually zero.
So my 2500 jumped to 4500 real fast, and I just did exactly above, what I just told you, over about a 2 week period of time, from the time I bought it,
to the time I finished having it registered, insured, tagged , and inspected.
and again, this was for a vehicle, lightly driven by his wife as a daily driver, less than 10 k a year, and never offroad. Not a dent, ding, rust, or scratch on it.

934rnr

I'd shop around for $2500 you can find a mint unmodified one with less mileage.
Shoot i'd sell u mine for that but I have 35's on it and 140,000 miles.

holskey

thank you all so much i have arranged to go and check out the 4r wed the 18.... so anymore things i should look out for?

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Not exactly the same but applicable:
http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techart...kup/index.html