Gearhead4

I'm looking at a 97 4Runner 5spd with 170k. One owner rig very well kept but he wants $10k.😥 Seems kinda high but what do you guys think?

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Wow!!!

Gearhead4

Wow is all I get? A little more info about the truck. It is all up on its service work. All performed at a dealer. I know the 4x4 5spd is hard to find but $10k is high I think.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Really depends on is it worth it to you. Personally for me just too rich for my blood.

Gearhead4

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Looks good. Should be a good rig.

Gearhead4

Any input from you guys on how hard it is to find a 5spd? I'm thinking that it must be harder because mostly I see auto trans when I search.

habanero

It can take some looking and sometimes a lot of looking, but sticks are out there. We stumbled upon the 96 here in town, the 99 took a couple of months....but we wanted the manual/locker combo and were willing to wait for it.
FWIW, The 96 is changing- if I want something that it didn't come with I alter or plan to alter it to what I want.

You'll have to ask yourself how much time have you got, how far are you willing to travel, how much work are you willing to do to get the truck tip-top?

The 4Runner you posted seems a bit high to me too, but I can't see just how clean it is or how much work was done. Maintained by a dealership doesn't necessarily bake my cookies- I'd want to know what 'all up on it's service work' means exactly.

Lastly, I'm in the midwest. That means watching out for rust, but maybe better pricing than some areas. $10 grand would buy a lot of 3rd gen 4Runner here, I think. Your part of town may differ.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

They might want $10,000 and be willing to wait as long as it takes offer them $7,500 and let the dealing begin.

Just how much you spend is up to you .

Then maybe the service writer at the dealer suggested it is time for a timing belt and they did not like the price.

They may have been quoted a few thousand less on a trade in.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

That seems high to me. I know just a few miles south of me, and it was posted on Yotatech, a guy had a super clean 9? with the e-locker and stick and if I recall right it was $8500.

A U-Haul dolly, a good tow truck, a lot of searching, and a few hundred dollars can save a lot and can get the truck I want and come out of a rust free area.

Gearhead4

Ok thanx for the input. Keep an eye out for a super clean 5spd 3 gen for me! Lol

Gearhead4

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A little background about me. I got this super clean 95 for my son when he turned 16! It's still going strong. Did have to replace the 3.Slow. At 160k. You never guess what happened. Blown head gasket that screwed up the block deck.

blake.nemitz

for that price you could buy a clean auto for 5-6k and swap a manual in. thats what i would do as toyota parts in Colorado are a dime a dozen. r150 96+ from a tacoma would work. its up to you though 10k isnt a lot of money to some people, to me it is. just got done converting an auto 2jzgte 4runner to r150 4x4 manual. it only cost a grand and half of that was a bellhousing adapter and flywheel. around here i expect to pay 500 or less for trans tcase and shafts from the yard by me.

Gearhead4

Yeah I think that I'm gunna find a came from the factory 5spd 4Runner. Not really wanting to spend 1500-2000 swapping things around.

ThorInc

Since I have an almost identical 5 speed with less mileage and the RR diff lock, I would like to believe that he/she can actually get that price. Given that, if the service records are there and the undercarriage has minimal rust, it sure is worth it if you get two years without spending much on maintenance.

Gearhead4

You sure your not drinking the same Kool Aid? $10k for a 20 year old 170k mile rig is a hard pill to swallow. Blue book is way lower than that. Like 1/2.

Malcolm99

I paid $7500 CAN + tax for a 99Ltd with 140,000KM a couple years ago, loaded, e-locker, leather, mint inside and out, heated garage kept, 100lb old lady original owner, Zero Rust, 1 ding, new tires, Timing belt done at 140,000km, her husband worked at a Lexus Dealer and vehicle was religiously maintained there for free. Personally I would hold out for a Limited Auto Multi-mode 4x4 after years of driving stick, especially if you do a bit of offroading or city driving the Auto is far superior, durable and very forgiving. Also after having SR5's I found the fit and finish of the Ltd better and quieter, OEM Flares are really nice and to be able to drive around in AWD centre diff unlocked is a must for winter driving on black ice. I had to hold out for awhile and got the Gas Gauge recall issue a year later but it was worth the cash and wait, stick is overrated old technology IMHO.
EDIT* The Supercharger option does lend itself to a Standard Transmission as I have heard people having trouble with Autos and higher boost levels if that is in your future it may be a consideration.

Gearhead4

I'm glad you are happy with your limited. It sounds like a great rig. I personally like the SR5 look better without flares and extra door plastic.

Beaumont67

Gearhead4 - I think the 1997 is worth closer to $8,000 than 10G's / but still a pristine example, a rare enough find.
Someone will usually pay for decent quality, but the mileage is creeping up there !!
- so if it was mine, I'd probably start asking $10,000 and hope for 9G's.

I'm from the Ontario rust belt / finding 15-20 year old ultra clean vehicles, next to impossible locally.
However - I got a steal of a deal on a black-original paint, 2000 4Runner SR4, v6-3.4L, auto. 4x4...helps to have a good friend, that buys & sells autos.
- I'll probably never find another, this good again

>> Paid $9,000 Cdn money equaling $6,600 USD...at 73 cent $ exchange rate...with tax, this SR5 sold new for $40,000 Cdn / 2000 Limited's @ $45,000.
- with Dealership serviced 129,600 Km equaling 80,500 miles / true rust free & paint 9.5 out of 10 / interior +9 out of 10
- one senior owner, maintained at Lexus/Toyota dealership, since new
Always garage kept, timing belt, WP & Toyota radiator @ 110,500 Km (or 69,000 miles, at 10 years old).
- new 16" BFG's, two months prior to trade-in, on 2015 Toyota

My plan is to keep it as my DD for another +15 years / probably worth +12,000 USD currently.
- I expect I could make several thousand Canadian dollars profit (easy enough), just South of the boarder
But could never replace old Toyota SUV, around here...our roads get salted, every winter.
- when you find a clean original, KBB price guide, might as well be "thrown out the window" / values don't compute, on old vehicles with a loyal following
- plus the 1999-2000 T4R's seem to have the cup holders... / & slightly more iconic, model year status

PS - I am also a big fan of the SR5, maybe I'll add some 17" OEM TRD-FJ Alloy Wheels, otherwise: keep in fully Stock condition.
- while mine is loaded, wish it had the tow package, moonroof & E-locker / but still stoked, to have a very clean-original one...beginners Luck !!

My purchase price also included safety certification and E-test pass...probably saved me $2,500 Cdn (in top quality parts & shop labor).
- used car dealer/friend changed front end parts (Moog LBJ's) & rear axle leaks forced new premium seals, Koyo bearings, ABS gears, ceramic shoes.
Maintenance costs can add up (even on a vehicle, not driven much) / but normal wear & tear problems where fully taken care of, by my honest dealer.
- my T4R was driven 11,000 Km/Yr (or 6,900 miles) on average, over first 10 years and under 4,000 Km/Yr (or 2,400 miles) on average, over last 5 years

Gearhead4

Update: I'm meeting with the Original Owner one more time this weekend so maybe!😎