Need some help deciding - what do you think I should offer for each one?

A) '99 SR5, manual 4WD V6, 126k, no E-locker, very good overall condition, well maintained, cloth interior, asking $7k

B) '00 SR5, manual 4WD V6, 135k, no E-locker, good overall condition, extensive maintenance history, cloth interior, asking $6.5k

Thanks!

 

B, due to the extensive maintenance history. Offer $6, but even at $6.5, it's a great deal.

 

none of that stuff matters....
what COLOR is it??? THATS what matters! if its RED, buy it!

 

Truck A is in slightly better shape, overall though, and it has some records (timing belt, water pump, joints greased, etc), plus slightly lower mileage.

I had thought people were going to point me to Truck A.

Both of these trucks are silver.

 

look like your basically debating over the same thing. I would decide if the '99 is worth the extra 500 and also consider which you actually like better. Sometimes when you buy a car one just stands out over others. Maybe one seller may be willing to give you a better deal than the other. Talk to the sellers and see where they stand as far as negotiability.

 

Not trying to be a jerk, but how can I tell which is in "slightly better shape" with the 1 sentence you wrote down? If you had pictures, it'd be one thing, but with what you wrote above, I still say B. It's a year newer, has documented maintenance history, is cheaper and who cares if it has 9k more miles? I put on 9k in 3 months.

 

Go with A. It's a '99. The 99 should sit almost 1" higher than the 00 also.

 

The 99 is going to sit higher than the 00. If you ever plan on doing any kind of off-roading, you are going to want the locker. Since that 99' has the timing belt done I say go for it. Never hurts to offer a little less than what they are asking too... especially when you break out cash money!

 

Some '99's came with the standard lower springs. Some '00's came with taller springs. Still don't get why this is such a big deal. It's just stock springs. If you're going to wheel, you're going to get a lift anyway, negating this supposed "advantage". Those springs are sagging by now anyway.

 

if the 99 is mechanically sound i would go for it. I paid more for my 97

 

I agree that they both sound to be a good choice. I would look over each one very well and just find the one that fits you better. Maybe you can use the other as a bargaining chip. "Well there is another one that i found...."

 

Well I would imagine that many folks don't want to drop $2k on a lift and tires right after they spent $6-7K on a new-to-them 4runner. At the same time, a lot of folks DO want to go off-roading right after getting their rig so in such a case, that extra ground clearance would be nice. There is a visible difference in the 99's vs the 00's that I see riding around town (no doubt still on the original set up) that makes the 99's look a little tougher and a little less street IMO.

 

Test drive them, the 500 difference could quickly be squashed by weird vibrations or sounds, a bad clutch etc.

 

Not too many differences in terms of options between 99 and 00

Jalaber has a great site that breaks down the year differences, check it out:

http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist32000.html

 

id say B, the 2000 4R.

 

Never said they need to spend $2k, but people make it seem like the 99 coils are the "deal breaker". They can spend $700 for a brand new quality lift or even as low as $50 for some taller OEM springs. And like I said, with the mileage that those rigs have, the springs are likely to be sagging anyway.

To me, I could care less if one was sitting higher than the other. If the maintenance history is there and the owner sounds like a responsible person, that's the one I'd go with. And trust me, no stock 4Runner looks "tough."

 

Tough, no... tougher, yes.
Maintenance is definately a big deal and if wheeling the locker is too.
Did you get one yet?

 

Actually, yes - I decided on the '99, as I was able to get it for just under $6k. I will be picking it up very soon.