After driving my '97 4Runner SR5 4WD since '99, I bumped into an '05 Mustang convertible last June going about ten miles an hour. I got minor fender and front end damage. The Mustang didn't look so good. Other than a pinhole in the radiator, it drives like new. Insurance gave me $5k for it and I bought it back for $680. Not bad for a 20 year old 4Runnerr w/317,000 on it. I've finally gotten around to looking for another 3rd gen. I'm finding lots of rusty NE trucks, but not many rot free. The seller in the link below is supposed to send me more pics showing that its cancer free. Assuming it checks out, anyone have any opinions about whether it looks like a solid platform? I'm not expecting it to be perfect. I just don't want to start fresh with something that's going to be problematic. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Charles


https://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-Toyota...Ba6Qdn&vxp=mtr

 

Obviously only one little opinion, I tend to be very pessimistic...

Well the antenna is broken. That's the good part.
The front bumper crunchiness is pretty obvious, the right fender is bent as evident by the marker light not fitting within its space any more, the right rear door doesn't seem to fit right any more especially at the bottom near the front door, as if the sill (and maybe more) is bent and the right sill does look mashed.
To quote the ad
....EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT, RUNS AND DRIVES GREAT, PA...
when it's obviously NOT via the pics would make me feel squirrely about this one. That and in general the PA trucks I've seen are anything but clean rust-wise.

I'd also question the maintenance this truck has had...it says 90,000 tb service, was that 50,000 miles late or ? What about the other service things? Was the truck cared for or not?

So long as you don't think you're getting what they're saying they're selling and don't mind working with a bent-up body best case. Frame = ?

 

I would be very hesitant to buy anything I had not driven. Make sure they send you pictures of the undercarriage before you bid. New timing belt is good. It looks like there is a lot of bidding on it.

 

Good luck shopping. I second points mentioned above.
However, my biggest concern with the 3rd-gen 4Runner is Lower Ball-Joint Failure; Make sure you investigate that.

 

I lived in NY for 6 years..I wouldn't buy a vehicle that was from PA or NY.
seller doesn't bother posting pics of the drivetrain and frame in his listing is a huge Red Flag to me

habanero observation about the beat up fat lip is on point. Truck took a good hit.

 

Its definitely taken some sort of hit on this side, the rocker is super warped, and the lower part of the doors don't align correctly.

 

Ugh! My left front failed on my '97. That's an ugly and startling thing when it happens. Don't know if they've already been done, but Toyota still has an open recall on '01 4Runner lower ball joints. I agree about the body damage as well. I got in touch w/them and they sent me another twenty five pics, including the undercarriage. It's not spotless, but it isn't bad and they HAVEN'T undercoated it and SEEM to be answering my questions honestly. When the auction was at $2050 last night, they were agreeable to selling at about $3200. Now that it's at $3000, they've (understandably) decided to let the auction run out. My max offer was $3500. At $3500, I'm comfortable with it, given the additional pics and having talked to them. Anything much more than that and I'll keep looking. For once, I'm not emotionally invested in it, so I feel good about it. If it stays at or below $3500, I think its a fair deal. I appreciate the input.
Charles