Most know me on the the 3rd Gen forum as I have done alot of mods and write ups to my 98 4runner. As such I have gotten very familiar with my truck. when my daughter decided to get something to supplement her driving for her job she decided she wanted a 4runner and has asked me on numerous occassions about 4runners. Long story short, she bought a 2nd gen despite my warnings and proddings to wait for a 3rd gen. When she started have a few issues with it after her puchase she understood what Dad had been trying to tell her. Some times you just can't tell your kids about pitfalls and they have to experience them for themselves. She overcame thos issues but soon found the truck was not going to be quite what she wanted for her needs. As luck would have it (if you can call it luck)she then had an accident this past winter and totalled her truck which was a blessing, she was not injured and the car she slid into on ice was a p arked car thank goodness and she ended up getting back from insurance what she paid for it.

Now she has decided she would like either a Tundra (08-10) or newer 4runner, but starting at most dealers at $30K+ I have told her too much money right right now and I know NOTHING about them. She has always loved my 3rd gen and I loaned it to her about a month ago when she moved from one place to another . She has an 06 Audi Quattro A4 which she drives pretty hard (she still young at 29) Her job as a coffee sales rep has her driving ALOT. She got the Audi new and it has over 160K on it and has been costing her quite a bit to maintain. She wants a lower milage truck as she intends to drive it until the wheels fall off! But also something she can depend on to get her where she needs to go and be able to haul stuff to shows, sales calls and then on long weekends to recreate.

She found this 4runner: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/2375304429.html and the dealership seems very anxious to move it off the lot. Bottom line on this is one owner (older lady) drove it rather sparing ly (yeah like 7500 miles a year) They are willing to take her Audi in trade and it is looking to need about $12-1800 in service immediately after she put nearly $5k into it last year. So they are telling her that it would be $22,500 out the door it seems to be a pretty good deal for her. That includes paying off her trade and cost of the 4runner. she feels really good about the over all cost but they are going to give her hard numbers later today. I have not had a chance to look at it as it is about an hour drive to get there to see it and I have been swapped at work.

Biggest things I need to know are concerns about maintenance. The truck has 51000 miles and has been serviced regularly by the previous owner. I have not heard as to what dealership did the maintenance on it. They are going to give her a copy of the CARFAX but I know nothing about the 4.0 in these trucks, does it need timing belt service or does it have a timing chain? Tranny service interval? Things to be checking for underneath? Any one know of any service bulletins? Recalls? thanks for any inputs and recommendations.

 

4.0 has a timing chain.
That's all I got