Crapple21

Hi I'm looking at buying a first gen 4runner that has 306xxx miles on the drivetrain except the engine which has 40xxx on rebuild with receipts for everything. The 4runner is completely stock with everything there. I drove it today and drove perfect with no problems. It is owned by an old guy that has owned it for 3 years. He put a trail gear front bumper and winch on. I guess my only concern is it has 306xxx on all te other running gear I feel like that is pretty high oh and he is asking 3900 which I think is too much as well. But this is by far the nicest one I have looked at so far but I'm dragging my feet on the miles. What do you guys think?

California

If you inspected the vehicle, and then drove it and feel like the vahicle is in good shape, then I wouldnt worry too much about the 306k, as long as you're willing to accept that stuff is going to need replacing periodically. You're not buying a lemon - you're buying a 25 year old vehicle.

It will take you years to find the "perfect" 1st gen that will be reliable for the next 30k miles. It might even be impossible.

If you arent comfortable with the $3900, it sounds pretty reasonable to me to ask for a 306k discount, unless the guy has other buyers. Cash is king, so if you walk up to him with $3k, he might just take it.

Hilux4Life

What year? If its a 85 that's a steal. Do you have any pics? I wouldn't worry about the mileage. Its a Toyota! It's all in how you maintain it.

RAD4Runner

+1
If not an 85, I'd offer 3K.

Agree.

runs-on-4

iTrader: (1)

i got my 85 with 22ok for 1800. depending on your location 3900 is way too much. my brother bought a 87 sas 4runner with 290k and a new motor or 3k sounds like its worth 2000

85TurboRunner

Agree.

I paid $2200 for a bone stock never wheeled 85 4runner a couple years ago.

These things are getting absurdly expensive.

runs-on-4

iTrader: (1)

i see overpriced toyotas all the time, if i wanted to spend a ton of money on a wheeler id buy a jeep..... okay no i wouldnt

abecedarian

Bought my 88 with over 200K on the odo for around 1600 a few years ago.
If the owner would have had receipts for a new clutch, trans, rebuilt engine and gears I may have offered 2500.

Receipts mean little more than to serve as proof something was done. That doesn't mean it was done correctly. You could give me receipts proving the oil was changed every 1000 miles, but that won't tell me if you ran it with the drain plug removed for 200 of each of those 1000 miles.

Nothing more to add.

Crapple21

Ya I feel as if it's overpriced as well an it's in great shape I live in Washington and everybody seems to want 3500 for ones that are rusty and have crappy interior and been beaten. I would buy it if it was 3500 but he won't do it with the winch and trail gear bumper I might try and wait him out and see he thinks it's a pot of gold but I feel it's not worth as much as he thinks. Maybe I'll try and haggle with him a bit more

malteserunner

iTrader: (1)

Let him know your $3500 offer stands, and wait him out. He may not find anyone willing to pay his price, and call you up. Meanwhile, there are other fish in the sea; shop around and find another one. I know I wouldn't give my 4Runner away, for what some people 'think' it's worth, but every man has his price. When buying or selling, I always try to be polite, and patient. The right deal always seems to come along in the end.

BadaBoom!

hows the suspension and gearing?

Crapple21

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/ctd/3183204522.html
Here's the 4runner as soon as I got there he dropped the price to 4300 but his for sale sign said 3999

Crapple21

And everything is all stock

Discombobulated

It does look nice but I'm going to agree that it's a bit high, I could kinda see if it had some nice wheels and came with the bumper and winch but that's just me. Depending on the interior also but it does look pretty clean hmmmmmmm that's a tuffy but just because I would love to have it

Duffdog

I would be REALLY wary of the "new head". If it is not a toyota head from the dealer, its going to crack and fail on you.

In fact, I would pass on that truck completely unless the engine "rebuild" had receipts for everything and I recognized the shop. Otherwise its just a hackjob hiding under the nice paint. (which also looks repainted by the way, possibly indicating an accident. Original paint my a55-- just look at the picture of the engine bay where you can see the original paint looking different than the newer "original paint")

Luvmeye22re

That truck is in amazing shape. My last 86 was almost perfect but that truck tops it...

That said. it is not WORTH the money he is asking but, depending on how often you see them and how rare it is to find one in that condition it may be worth it to YOU to buy it for his price. I can honestly say that I see a 1st gen 4runner that nice about 1 out of maybe 30 times so that counts for something. Check the frame really well for rust.

Trucks from Arizona do rock in the rust area, they are usually pretty clean so that's a good thing the truck has going for it.

If it drives perfect and it's as nice on the inside and the outside and you've got the coin, decide if it's worth it to you.

I don't think I'd drop 4k on it but I'd have no problem paying 3k and maybe $3500 if mechanically it was a big winner.

Crapple21

Ya I thought it looked repainted to me too which i thought was a little weird but it did come from arizona so i assume that the paint was super faded from the sun but could have been from an accident i guess and ya I was wondering about the head too if it's rebuilt in the first place why would he put a new head on it? I'll ask him more questions about it tomorrow

Crapple21

And the interior is spotless and ya I would feel more comfortable at 3500 because I feel it's worth

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

With the dollar worth less and less every day these vehicles are going to be going up in price.

I have to agree the price does seem a little high .Funny need to sell ASAP but will not budge on price something feels funny!!

I can also give you a stack of receipts but most just say the date and year and make and model of vehicle and work done.

Any more unless the invoice is printed on tractor paper with the vin and you can trace it back to who did the work and see the original. But who really has time to do this on some thing worth less then $10,000.

Luvmeye22re

Offer no more than you feel it's worth. At that price it is what it's worth to you. It's still just a truck, although a very nice 1st gen 4runner.

I got my 94 4runner with a rebuilt 3.0 with 60k on it for $2800 with a stack of receipts from the first service it needed. VIN numbers do match up on mine, the original owner took it to the dealer/used dealer parts for most of the work he did on it (Aside from some crazy ball joint adventure but... lol) and the 2nd owner only had it for about 5 months.
That said, the 1st gen would still be worth more money to me but it would have to be nice
P.S. do what I should have done and take it to a mechanic you know and trust and have it looked over, you might be shocked at what a person who stands under vehicles all day can find that you don't. If the owner doesn't agree to let you do it, there may be something they have to hide.