Here's the story. Wife has been driving a POS Chrysler LeBaron since we were dating, and it's only getting worse. But, we don't have the funds to spoil her with something right off the lot.

My question is, how old is too old for a Runner? I've been looking at some in the local auto trader, and would be nice to find a mid-90s for around $10k with ideally less than 80k on the odometer. I see a bunch in the 100k range, and I'm wondering is this too much mileage?

I had a Nissan Sentra through college which saw 200k, even without the proper funds to fix minor things most of the time.

I figure with good maintenance a Runner should last at least that long, am I right?

 

Id say $10k for a 3rd gen, but not a second. You might have to look outside of AZ though to get a MUCH better price. Most 4Runners see 175k w/o much of a problem. There is a mileage poll on the forum somewhere...do a search for it.

BTW: GO BLUES!

 

I'll keep my eyes open for something.

Personally, if money was tight, I would go for a nice 1st gen. You can score a nice one of those for around $3 - $5K.

 

Wolf,

I would go for a 96 3rd gen (3.4L vs. 3.0L).80 to 100k would be about right for $10k, but you will have to look hard. Pull a carfax on it to make sure it isnt a POS.

 

For a second gen, 10 k is way more than enough! I looked not to long ago and saw quite a few in the 6-8k range.... all in good to great shape!

 

Just remember that the second generation can have head gasket problems if not already taken care of. A 92 pickup with the 3.0 I had blew the headgastket at 92K. If you can find a first generation with no rust, the 22re in my opinion is one of the most reliable engines ever made. As long as the timing chain is changed around 115K, it'll run forever. I have a 1990 Toyota pickup with a 22re I bought as a second car off a friend (a girl who I think barely every changed the oil) that had 134K on it when I bought it. I changed the timing chain and now it has 177K and doesn't even burn oil. Just my 2cents...

 

Thanks for the advice guys...I've found a few worthy of looking on autotrader.com. I was just verifying what I already thought. A mid to late 90s Runner would be roadworthy for the money.

 

If you find a 3rd gen, let me know if you need any help checking it out.

 

Thanks, I'll probably need it! BTW, could someone 'splain just what years fit into the 1st Gen, 2nd, and so on?

I need help, I drive a Tacoma.

 

Everything you want to know:
http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist.html

 

My 94 has over 200k miles. I would say its in "like new" condition. People that have ridden in the car that don't know about Runners think its only a couple years old. Until I shown them the odometer. We didn't buy my wifes car until it had 120k miles. Again like new. I all depends on how its taken care of. We knew the lady that owned our 98. It was always garage kept, and regularly went in for all maintenance. She had every service receipt in the car when we bought it. I plan on keeping mine a LONG time. I like to completely look over a car when I'm buying it. Its hard to do this online. Find a runner thats close by. Thoroughly look it over. Crawl under it and look for rust, bondo, overspray, missing parts etc. Pull back the carpet to look for anything suspicious. A car can be wrecked and a Carfax not show it. A good Runner should last a long time with good maintenance.

 

Looks like you are in Phoenix.

I will be selling my runner here pretty soon. I bought a new car last week.

If you need help looking at any, let me know. I'd say I know my way around runners pretty well now.

Dan

 

My 2nd gen (1991) I bought off a dude who needed the jing. I paid him $3 grand for it. Book on it with 170K miles was still about $5 grand.

 

$13,000.00 will get ya the whole freakin' enchilada- it's clean, ready to go- I've seen it, it actually has my old Detriot Locker in the rear axle!

 

I cannot BELIEVE that rig is for sale. That is a steal for $13K

 

Again, thanks for all the help guys, but it's probably going to be an "after Xmas" buy. Plus, I don't think my wife's too interested in driving a fully modded Runner.

 

crawler#976, its my birthday tomorrow and i would really love that truck, someone buy that thing and send it to me!!! c'mon, help me celebrate my 21st b day, heck i'll even take you off roadin' if you buy it for me