How much did you pay for your 4runner?
Jun 18, 2010 | 07:18 AM
#401
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: midwest
1999 4runnner
First time owner. 1999 4runner Limited with 174,000 miles. Excellent records kept on repairs. Gave 5,000 have put two hundred in it fixing small items. Lots of scratches and dings but runs great. At this point I am real happy.
Jun 24, 2010 | 10:24 AM
#404
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hello, first post, first-time 4Runner owner! I just bought (last week!!) a 1998 4Runner Limited, V6, 4WD, 1 (original) non-smoking owner, in beautiful condition (glossy anthracite metallic paint!) with all original parts/engine, no modifications, no accidents, clean CarFax, clean title, etc., and besides all the Limited standard features (like oak leather interior), it also has pretty much every available option on it for that year: automatic, moon roof, CD/cassette, premium speakers, dual power seats, rear locking differential, tow package with hitch, roof rack, rear air, rear tint, running boards, etc. The seller had also installed (by the dealer when he bought the car new) the Toyota VIP alarm system with remote control, and it was still working! He even had 2 remotes. 
Even the tires were okay...they all matched, were designed for off-roading, and have about 50% tread left. So, it was all exactly what I had been looking for (and I'd looked for months without luck), so I actually thought I got a fair deal (not a good deal, but one that made both me and the seller happy) at..........drumroll..............$5750, even though it had 228,000 miles.
Here's why I'm posting, LOL: I just took it in this morning to get it smogged for its registration, however, and even though it passed, the mechanic basically flipped out and told me that I shouldn't have paid more than $500, let alone $5000+.
That definitely made me a bit sad. Even my insurance agent thought I had overpaid--but he was slightly more generous, saying he thought I should have paid something in the $3-4k range. Now, I had checked and re-checked Edmunds and KBB prior to making my offer (the guy was asking $6500 and I talked him down to $5750), and the private party value on both was somewhere between $5385-$7050 depending on the condition, and I am assuming this car is in good to excellent condition, since there is only one tiny ding on the whole car and the interior is spotless--it even has its original carpeted floor mats in pristine, brand-new condition, since the owner had stored them and never used them.
Anyway, I was just wondering what more experienced 4Runner owners might think, so I found this forum. It seems like other people are telling me that all the options on this car should not have influenced the price, and that Edmunds and KBB are way off--i.e., the main considerations should have been the year and the mileage. That said, I *did* have some very specific needs because I needed to tow a horse trailer, so I can attest that it was extremely hard for me to find a 3rd generation 4Runner in excellent, original (nothing rebuilt) running condition with V6, 4WD, automatic, and the tow package...as I said, I had been looking for MONTHS with no luck. I even had the Toyota dealer looking for me, so trust me, he was tearing his hair out wanting to sell me the 4Runner I wanted, but he just couldn't find one for me to buy. So, when this truck DID become available, I guess I also paid a premium for the fact that I wanted something very specific, as well. I definitely recognize that the truck is old and it has high miles, and by virtue of those facts alone, it must have a very limited life expectancy, but even the Toyota mechanic who checked it out for me was flabbergasted that it was in such good condition for its miles/age (i.e., there was actually zero wrong with it--all features work on the truck, including ice-cold A/C, so nothing has to be done to it, other than the fact that it still has its original timing belt that is still going shockingly strong (the owner never had it replaced before!!!!!) after 228k miles, LOL, but of course, I plan to replace it shortly). The other reassuring thing was that the owner told me that he had taken his FIRST-generation 4Runner to **405,000*** before selling it, and it was still running at the time, so maybe this guy just takes excellent care of his cars (I hope)!!! I guess anything is worth what you are willing to pay for it, and I wanted a good, sound, low-maintenance 4Runner that would tow my light 1-horse trailer occasionally without issue--I don't even plan to use this car as a daily driver, and I really didn't want to buy a huge pickup truck just for the light towing I need to do. Case in point: we just drove the 4Runner from SoCal to Texas and back (2600 miles round trip!!) this past weekend in just 2.5 days, PULLING THE HORSE TRAILER, and you never would have known it was an older truck....we had absolutely zero problems! The engine ran rock-steady cool even in the 100+ temps in the desert with the a/c on--so I really couldn't be more pleased with the truck itself!!
In any case, I'm definitely looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts, though!!! Thank you!!
Even the tires were okay...they all matched, were designed for off-roading, and have about 50% tread left. So, it was all exactly what I had been looking for (and I'd looked for months without luck), so I actually thought I got a fair deal (not a good deal, but one that made both me and the seller happy) at..........drumroll..............$5750, even though it had 228,000 miles. Here's why I'm posting, LOL: I just took it in this morning to get it smogged for its registration, however, and even though it passed, the mechanic basically flipped out and told me that I shouldn't have paid more than $500, let alone $5000+.
That definitely made me a bit sad. Even my insurance agent thought I had overpaid--but he was slightly more generous, saying he thought I should have paid something in the $3-4k range. Now, I had checked and re-checked Edmunds and KBB prior to making my offer (the guy was asking $6500 and I talked him down to $5750), and the private party value on both was somewhere between $5385-$7050 depending on the condition, and I am assuming this car is in good to excellent condition, since there is only one tiny ding on the whole car and the interior is spotless--it even has its original carpeted floor mats in pristine, brand-new condition, since the owner had stored them and never used them. Anyway, I was just wondering what more experienced 4Runner owners might think, so I found this forum.
It seems like other people are telling me that all the options on this car should not have influenced the price, and that Edmunds and KBB are way off--i.e., the main considerations should have been the year and the mileage. That said, I *did* have some very specific needs because I needed to tow a horse trailer, so I can attest that it was extremely hard for me to find a 3rd generation 4Runner in excellent, original (nothing rebuilt) running condition with V6, 4WD, automatic, and the tow package...as I said, I had been looking for MONTHS with no luck. I even had the Toyota dealer looking for me, so trust me, he was tearing his hair out wanting to sell me the 4Runner I wanted, but he just couldn't find one for me to buy. So, when this truck DID become available, I guess I also paid a premium for the fact that I wanted something very specific, as well. I definitely recognize that the truck is old and it has high miles, and by virtue of those facts alone, it must have a very limited life expectancy, but even the Toyota mechanic who checked it out for me was flabbergasted that it was in such good condition for its miles/age (i.e., there was actually zero wrong with it--all features work on the truck, including ice-cold A/C, so nothing has to be done to it, other than the fact that it still has its original timing belt that is still going shockingly strong (the owner never had it replaced before!!!!!) after 228k miles, LOL, but of course, I plan to replace it shortly). The other reassuring thing was that the owner told me that he had taken his FIRST-generation 4Runner to **405,000*** before selling it, and it was still running at the time, so maybe this guy just takes excellent care of his cars (I hope)!!! I guess anything is worth what you are willing to pay for it, and I wanted a good, sound, low-maintenance 4Runner that would tow my light 1-horse trailer occasionally without issue--I don't even plan to use this car as a daily driver, and I really didn't want to buy a huge pickup truck just for the light towing I need to do. Case in point: we just drove the 4Runner from SoCal to Texas and back (2600 miles round trip!!) this past weekend in just 2.5 days, PULLING THE HORSE TRAILER, and you never would have known it was an older truck....we had absolutely zero problems! The engine ran rock-steady cool even in the 100+ temps in the desert with the a/c on--so I really couldn't be more pleased with the truck itself!! In any case, I'm definitely looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts, though!!! Thank you!!
Last edited by SoCal4Runner2010; Jun 24, 2010 at 10:55 AM.
Jun 24, 2010 | 02:25 PM
#405
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Paso Robles CA
Sounds like a good truck to me, i think it would definitely be worth 5 grand. That mechanic is a tweaker, he was probably telling you all that crap to try to scare you into selling it to him for cheap haha... Anyway, its a toyota; if you take care of it, it will take care of you.
Jun 25, 2010 | 08:31 AM
#407
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, AR
I got my '86 4Runner about a year and a half ago for quite a bit less than it's worth, I would rather not say exactly how much now because it's for sale to fund the fj40 project
Rebuilt 22RE and Auto Transmission with 50k on them, 190 on body.
Hardly any rust, two tiny dents and purchased from original owner!
Rebuilt 22RE and Auto Transmission with 50k on them, 190 on body.
Hardly any rust, two tiny dents and purchased from original owner!
Last edited by nlinn; Apr 14, 2011 at 05:50 AM.
Jun 30, 2010 | 03:46 PM
#408
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Salem, Oregon
Sep 3, 2010 | 05:07 PM
#410
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: windsor N.S.W Austraila
$4600
4.2 V8
80Ltr gas tank
coil leaf rear
2" all round lift on springs
some rust hear and there
would make a good project for some on
has rego till dec N.S.W..........
V8 and LPG passed by RTA.....
but will sell $3800 as is
needs some work now..........
my other half is sick of the 2 door
she would like a commodore wagon 4 door car ......
4.2 V8
80Ltr gas tank
coil leaf rear
2" all round lift on springs
some rust hear and there
would make a good project for some on
has rego till dec N.S.W..........
V8 and LPG passed by RTA.....
but will sell $3800 as is
needs some work now..........
my other half is sick of the 2 door
she would like a commodore wagon 4 door car ......
Sep 13, 2010 | 12:15 PM
#411
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: central oregon
I just picked up my first 4runner. Its a 1990, V6 manual 5 speed, power windows, sun roof, theres a little rust on the bumpers. it needs very little electrical work. has 230,000 miles. Bought it from an MP on post for $2,000.
Sep 13, 2010 | 01:12 PM
#413
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 4
From: Vian, OK
Hello, first post, first-time 4Runner owner! I just bought (last week!!) a 1998 4Runner Limited, V6, 4WD, 1 (original) non-smoking owner, in beautiful condition (glossy anthracite metallic paint!) with all original parts/engine, no modifications, no accidents, clean CarFax, clean title, etc., and besides all the Limited standard features (like oak leather interior), it also has pretty much every available option on it for that year: automatic, moon roof, CD/cassette, premium speakers, dual power seats, rear locking differential, tow package with hitch, roof rack, rear air, rear tint, running boards, etc. The seller had also installed (by the dealer when he bought the car new) the Toyota VIP alarm system with remote control, and it was still working! He even had 2 remotes. Even the tires were okay...they all matched, were designed for off-roading, and have about 50% tread left. So, it was all exactly what I had been looking for (and I'd looked for months without luck), so I actually thought I got a fair deal (not a good deal, but one that made both me and the seller happy) at..........drumroll..............$5750, even though it had 228,000 miles.
Here's why I'm posting, LOL: I just took it in this morning to get it smogged for its registration, however, and even though it passed, the mechanic basically flipped out and told me that I shouldn't have paid more than $500, let alone $5000+. That definitely made me a bit sad. Even my insurance agent thought I had overpaid--but he was slightly more generous, saying he thought I should have paid something in the $3-4k range. Now, I had checked and re-checked Edmunds and KBB prior to making my offer (the guy was asking $6500 and I talked him down to $5750), and the private party value on both was somewhere between $5385-$7050 depending on the condition, and I am assuming this car is in good to excellent condition, since there is only one tiny ding on the whole car and the interior is spotless--it even has its original carpeted floor mats in pristine, brand-new condition, since the owner had stored them and never used them.
Anyway, I was just wondering what more experienced 4Runner owners might think, so I found this forum. It seems like other people are telling me that all the options on this car should not have influenced the price, and that Edmunds and KBB are way off--i.e., the main considerations should have been the year and the mileage. That said, I *did* have some very specific needs because I needed to tow a horse trailer, so I can attest that it was extremely hard for me to find a 3rd generation 4Runner in excellent, original (nothing rebuilt) running condition with V6, 4WD, automatic, and the tow package...as I said, I had been looking for MONTHS with no luck. I even had the Toyota dealer looking for me, so trust me, he was tearing his hair out wanting to sell me the 4Runner I wanted, but he just couldn't find one for me to buy. So, when this truck DID become available, I guess I also paid a premium for the fact that I wanted something very specific, as well. I definitely recognize that the truck is old and it has high miles, and by virtue of those facts alone, it must have a very limited life expectancy, but even the Toyota mechanic who checked it out for me was flabbergasted that it was in such good condition for its miles/age (i.e., there was actually zero wrong with it--all features work on the truck, including ice-cold A/C, so nothing has to be done to it, other than the fact that it still has its original timing belt that is still going shockingly strong (the owner never had it replaced before!!!!!) after 228k miles, LOL, but of course, I plan to replace it shortly). The other reassuring thing was that the owner told me that he had taken his FIRST-generation 4Runner to **405,000*** before selling it, and it was still running at the time, so maybe this guy just takes excellent care of his cars (I hope)!!! I guess anything is worth what you are willing to pay for it, and I wanted a good, sound, low-maintenance 4Runner that would tow my light 1-horse trailer occasionally without issue--I don't even plan to use this car as a daily driver, and I really didn't want to buy a huge pickup truck just for the light towing I need to do. Case in point: we just drove the 4Runner from SoCal to Texas and back (2600 miles round trip!!) this past weekend in just 2.5 days, PULLING THE HORSE TRAILER, and you never would have known it was an older truck....we had absolutely zero problems! The engine ran rock-steady cool even in the 100+ temps in the desert with the a/c on--so I really couldn't be more pleased with the truck itself!!
In any case, I'm definitely looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts, though!!! Thank you!!
Even the tires were okay...they all matched, were designed for off-roading, and have about 50% tread left. So, it was all exactly what I had been looking for (and I'd looked for months without luck), so I actually thought I got a fair deal (not a good deal, but one that made both me and the seller happy) at..........drumroll..............$5750, even though it had 228,000 miles. Here's why I'm posting, LOL: I just took it in this morning to get it smogged for its registration, however, and even though it passed, the mechanic basically flipped out and told me that I shouldn't have paid more than $500, let alone $5000+.
That definitely made me a bit sad. Even my insurance agent thought I had overpaid--but he was slightly more generous, saying he thought I should have paid something in the $3-4k range. Now, I had checked and re-checked Edmunds and KBB prior to making my offer (the guy was asking $6500 and I talked him down to $5750), and the private party value on both was somewhere between $5385-$7050 depending on the condition, and I am assuming this car is in good to excellent condition, since there is only one tiny ding on the whole car and the interior is spotless--it even has its original carpeted floor mats in pristine, brand-new condition, since the owner had stored them and never used them. Anyway, I was just wondering what more experienced 4Runner owners might think, so I found this forum.
It seems like other people are telling me that all the options on this car should not have influenced the price, and that Edmunds and KBB are way off--i.e., the main considerations should have been the year and the mileage. That said, I *did* have some very specific needs because I needed to tow a horse trailer, so I can attest that it was extremely hard for me to find a 3rd generation 4Runner in excellent, original (nothing rebuilt) running condition with V6, 4WD, automatic, and the tow package...as I said, I had been looking for MONTHS with no luck. I even had the Toyota dealer looking for me, so trust me, he was tearing his hair out wanting to sell me the 4Runner I wanted, but he just couldn't find one for me to buy. So, when this truck DID become available, I guess I also paid a premium for the fact that I wanted something very specific, as well. I definitely recognize that the truck is old and it has high miles, and by virtue of those facts alone, it must have a very limited life expectancy, but even the Toyota mechanic who checked it out for me was flabbergasted that it was in such good condition for its miles/age (i.e., there was actually zero wrong with it--all features work on the truck, including ice-cold A/C, so nothing has to be done to it, other than the fact that it still has its original timing belt that is still going shockingly strong (the owner never had it replaced before!!!!!) after 228k miles, LOL, but of course, I plan to replace it shortly). The other reassuring thing was that the owner told me that he had taken his FIRST-generation 4Runner to **405,000*** before selling it, and it was still running at the time, so maybe this guy just takes excellent care of his cars (I hope)!!! I guess anything is worth what you are willing to pay for it, and I wanted a good, sound, low-maintenance 4Runner that would tow my light 1-horse trailer occasionally without issue--I don't even plan to use this car as a daily driver, and I really didn't want to buy a huge pickup truck just for the light towing I need to do. Case in point: we just drove the 4Runner from SoCal to Texas and back (2600 miles round trip!!) this past weekend in just 2.5 days, PULLING THE HORSE TRAILER, and you never would have known it was an older truck....we had absolutely zero problems! The engine ran rock-steady cool even in the 100+ temps in the desert with the a/c on--so I really couldn't be more pleased with the truck itself!! In any case, I'm definitely looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts, though!!! Thank you!!
that price sounds right...
i agree...the Mechanic is smoking crack if he thinks it's worth $500...
Sep 29, 2010 | 09:13 AM
#418
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal
I bought my 85 SR5 Runner for $800. It had Yukon lockers front and rear, 35" Goodyear MTR's with decent tread on the back, almost new Can-Back soft top, and some other little things here and there like newer 4Runner front seats and complete rhino lined interior. With all that and I even drove it home. Don't get me wrong though, it does need work.
