Last April (2006) i bought my 96 4Runner for $6000 even.

It now has 166k miles and the original auto tranny/engine

Well it doesn't have an e-locker, and I took a loan out for $3500 which i still owe $2500 on

Well a friend of mine just offered me $9000 for my 4runner, and i think i might go for it, but my biggest question for everyone here is will the $9000-$2500 loan = $6500 be enough for me to get another 4Runner with less miles and an E-Locker?

My reason for doing this is to save money for college next year. I could work it off and pay it off by september before school.

So i don't know if i can expect to get a 4runner with the same options as i have now with less miles and an e-locker. Should I go for this or not?

 

6K on a 4runner is a screaming deal. I wouldn;t count on finding a truck with a locker for $6500. However, thats a pretty good profit on the truck. And the $6500 could be a great down payment on a new truck. If you found one for $9000 with all the options for example, you would only owe $2500 on the new truck. PLUS be able to sell it for more if/when you decided to sell it in the future.

 

I know I couldn't find one like that in Arizona for $6500. Usually, even unlocked, they're over 10K for pretty much anything Toyota. If you can even find one.

I saw a 2001 Taco 4x4 TRD w/ >200K miles on it, for 12K.

Honestly, I wouldn't do it. Just pay off the $2500, and it's yours.

 

Well its more than the vehicle is worth, so its a good deal in that aspect. I seriously doubt you could find a 4runner with locker for 6.5k. Just put the 6.5k down on like a 99 to make your loan payments extremely low. That's actually I would really consider doing if I were you. Good luck nontheless.

 

Save up and buy an ARB locker to put into the 4runner you already have.

 

Take the money, buy a older year 4runner in good shape, and have lockers installed yourself, with the left over money.

 

I want a 96 or newer only....

Kinda sounds like some its a mixed opinion... just like my own.

It would be amazing if i could pull it off finding another cheap 4runner in good condition like mine. And if i couldn't and ended up spending all $9k i would just have a nicer 4runner and still be in equal debt that i am in now, not ahead or further in debt

this is by far the toughest decision i have had to make about my 4runner

 

I would keep your 96 and upgrade it if you have some extra $$. You know your truck, you know it is in good shape and has no issues. You could end up selling it and buying a truck that is a money pit.

I was in the game of flipping cars as well (owned 10 Toyotas in the past 8 years), but now it is worth it for me to keep my truck cause I KNOW that it has been cared for and will not let me down. I could sell it and make maybe $4000 from what I bought it for last year. But when I buy something else I might spend the first couple months fixing stuff. It is worth it to me to keep what I know.

Less headaches = better life!

 

Sell it and buy a Chevrolet!!

 

If I had a chance to make a $3000 profit on a vehicle, I would do it in a heartbeat.

There are a few 96-98 4Runners with 150k miles going for $5500 - $7000 around my area. Seems like the demand for these years are getting less and less. A year ago, I bought a 98 4Runner Limited, supercharged, locked with 112,000 miles for $10,000. I could find one for less than that now.

My vote would be to sell it, and find one with a locker.

 

If you have another car to drive for a few months or longer, making 3 grand on a car is not too shabby. Deals do come around on 4runners, but you've got to wait for them. Basically, if you are only going to put 6500 into your next runner, dont bother, keep the one you have and put ARB(s) in it. You know how it's been treated, and 166k isnt bad at all, it's got plenty of life left. . If you are willing to swing the debt you already have, you will have a plethora of choices for 9k.

 

Selling a car to a friend equals a bad idea. Not to say anything is wrong with your truck, but if you sell it for 9K and something goes wrong with it in the next 6 months or a year (at that mileage there is a good chance) your friend might get pissed at you.

But, for that amount of money i would get out from under it and buy something free and clear for 6500.

For 6500 you can get a old runner to beat in the woods and a econo box civic!

 

Well, we aren't great friends. I have hung out with him outside of school once during all of high school... (4 years)

Also i am not even remotely willing to get a 2nd or 1st gen 4runner. I want a 3.4l only.

I guess i just have some thinking to do

 

IMHO, in seems you're wanting too much.

1. you're selling a truck to a "friend" and making a lot of profit. kinda dick huh? like stated above if something should go wrong you're integrity is compromised.

2. you won't settle for a older truck. though any toyota here is highly capable just by the evidence on which people on this forum are able to do with their rigs. plus you'll have cash left over.

3. you're trying to get a better truck with less miles for the same steal deal price you bought your rig for. good luck with that, classifieds will tell you that it's a miracle to find that price.

nonetheless, 3.4 3rd gens a great trucks. and congrats on college and big props for taking loans to pay for it. if you make it, it will definitely pay off in the end.