Holidazed

Hi Everyone,

I just signed up to this site today. I'm in Vancouver Canada and am searching to buy my first 2nd generation 4Runner.

I found one in the paper and was wondering if this is a good deal or not:

91 TOYOTA 4Runner SR5, 4 door, V6, auto, 220,000 kms, black on silver, keyless entry, anti-theft, running boards, bush bar, newer tires, brakes, muffler, alternator, starter, rebuilt transmission at 219,000 kms, 2nd owner - since 1997, lots of records, AirCared (emissions passed), HG recall done by Toyota in 1998, $6900 obo (Canadian $$)

The owner seemed real nice and honest about the truck. gave me names phone numbers of his mechanics who worked on the vehicle and emailed me pictures. Is it safe to buy one with a rebuilt transmission or should I be cautious about this? The only other bad thing is some rust on the quarter panels and some ont he doors. This seems to be common on older 4runners though, right? I have attached a picture. Is it ok to buy a truck with a small bit of rust or should I avoid it completely? I can probably talk the guy down $1000+ because of the rust. but besides the rust the truck looks nice. I don't plan to keep the truck for years, i just need it for about a year to have some fun with.

Let me know! thanks alot for the advice.

Holidazed

here is another picture of the truck

Fink

I'm really not in the math mood right now...what is 220,000kms in miles?

I'd run a CarFax report on it (www.carfax.com) and see what kinda stuff that reveals.

Fink

bike4miles

I wouldn't say it is a "good buy." Looks like a fairly average deal but if you are hot to get it, go for it. You could probably get a better deal if you look around.

arjan

I would look for one with less rust. There are clean ones out there for a little more. I've seen 4Runners like that as low as $4500 - $5000 Cad. Check the www.bc4x4.com website. They have a toyota specific for sale section. I saw some decent 4Runners in there too. There is usually quite a few in the buy and sell. You might want to check into a 5spd manual, because the 3.0 V6 is not that quick to begin with.

arjan

I just checked www.buysell.com and there is a couple better ones in there in my opinion. Less kilometers with lower prices. Do a search for 4runner and go to the '91 section.

Holidazed

220,000 kms is about 137,000 miles

I checked the buy&sell, trust me...those good ones went fast. one for $3000 sold in 2 hours! another for 4500 i was about a day late on it.
when next weeks paper comes out on thursday i am getting up as soon as its online to check (7 am). the good deals go fast.

so you guys think thats too much rust? how fast will it spread and eat the truck?

there is another guy selling a 1991 for 4600 CAD with 33" tires. there is rust on4 quartter panels..he is repalcing the front 2 and said he will give me the back 2 to do myself. is that hard to do?

arjan

A friend of mine had his rear quarters replaced about 2 years ago. I think he mentioned that one is starting again. If you buy a truck for $4500, at least you have some room to fix it up a bit. On the other hand, you can try to stop the rust with rust mort and buy some bushwacker fenderflares. Those things will cover it up for a while.
I just think that if they want $7000+ for it, then it better be in decent shape.

Holidazed

i'm looking to spend no more than $5500 right now. so if i talk the guy down from 4600 (2nd truck i mentioned) to 4000 and then spend a few hundred swapping quarter pannels then i'd be happy. but how hard is that to do? can i do it myself or have to get a body shop?

i'll check out the bc 4x4 website, thanks alot!

wvuviv30

rebuilt trans is good... did a quality shop do the repairs? also is there a warenty on the rebuilt trans? if so, call up the shop, ask them if the warrenty is transferable. (I don't know much about automatics, I personally HATE them).

I'd take it for a test drive, see how its running.

Check the frame rails. the most common spot is towards the rear, right as it bends upwards, usually rust out.

If frame is solid, drive good... I would buy it... the rust ON the body is easy to fix.

Holidazed

i'm going to go test drive it tomorrow evening.
the guy said the tranny has a 1 yr warranty but only 2 weeks if transfered. what the hell is up with that? i have the number of the shop who did it ($3100 job not too long ago).

Holidazed

anyone else?

Holidazed

nevermind guys...i went and checked it out and it had way too much rust underneath the back end.

see picture