I bought mine last November @136k for about 12,500. It now has 140k on it, I have put some money into it...full tune up, new 02 sensor etc...I currently get about 17 mpg on it. I am considering selling it right now and am wondering what I could get for it. KBB says around 11k to 11,500. This would allow me to pay off what I owe on it about to the dollar. I am just thinking about getting something else with less miles. I am just worried that it will end up being a dud and I will end up still paying it off, plus making major repairs on it after it hits 150k miles. Anyone with similar experience have any input on this, or anyone who can give me an idea what repairs I may be in for in the next 50k?

Thanks

 

What year , trans, engine etc?

 

I'm curious about the year....

I bought my 97 back in 03 with 153k miles for $9500...that was a pretty decent price then. Now, with over 203k miles I doubt I could get over $7k for it.

Check your local ads and compare prices..start high and go from there.

 

it is a 1999 3.4. Not sure on the trans...according to the dealer it is in good shape...the trans that is.

I just dont want to get stuck down the road where I am spending 300 a month paying it off and 500 a month fixing it ya know?

thanks!

 

140k? It's still a baby. These things will run forever when maintained properly.

 

Dang....that should run for another 6-10 years easily if you take care of it. I traded my last one in with 210k, it was an '87 and I had it for 12 years, only needed a clutch and scheduled maintenance. I just bought this 2002 and expect to run it to the ground. I hate car payments.

So far the 3.4 engine and 1999 4Runner has no major faults that I have heard of. Just do the scheduled maintenance and cross your fingers. Other vehicles rarely hold up as well as these Toyota's.

 

Oh...at 140,000miles make sure your timing belt has been changed, that is one major scheduled maintenance part that you really don't want to overlook. They are typically done at 90k.

If you have a manual trans then about 150k you will probably need to replace the clutch disc.

Other than that it is cheaper than a new car payment.

 

My 91 has 140k miles and I'm expecting to get another 10 years out of it.

 

I purchased my 4Runner with around 230,000 on it and the guy I got it from abused the crap out of it. I’ve put maybe $800 in engine repairs and now she runs like a top.

EDIT: it's more like $400 - $600.

If you take care of a Toyota it’ll take care of you. My 92 pickup has over 250,000 and I’ve abused it sense the day I got it. It just keeps going.

One thing to remember, when you do the timing belt always do the water pump. The last thing you want to do is have the water pump go out on you.

With 150,000 miles on it yours is still a baby. You're just getting it broke in. I know people that have ran there 3.4 with a super charger for over 100,000 miles and they put the super charger on it when it had around 100,000 miles. These motors can take a lot.

Toyotas age like fine wine.

 

Wow, thank you! I have a much more reliable auto than I thought then!

Does anyone know where I can get a scheduled maintenance list? I want to make sure that I keep it on track since it sounds like that is what will keep it running long term.

Also, I am starting to see some rust on the running boards and I want to replace them before it spreads. There are also some other rust prone spots...I know runners are reknown for being rustbuckets. What can be done to protect against this?

Thanks!

 

just change your timing belt and do regular tune up's (spark plugs, spark plug wires, air filter, oil filter, and check fluids) you should be fine for another 140k if not more.

 

I have a p/u and a Runner, both 87's,and they both still do extremely well. 286,000 on the p/u, 147,000 on the 4Runner. You treat these things well, keep up the scheduled maintennance, and they'll keep going, and going, and going...and that SURE is better than a car payment!

 

http://www.toyotaownersonline.com/
under scheduled maint.

 

I just bought a '97 4Runner with 132,000 miles on it for under $7,500. No leaks, no funny noises, no worries. It runs like a top and I expect I'll get several years of use out of it as my daily driver.

Ed

 

Cool, thanks for all of the input it is a great help in deciding whether to keep or sell the rig.

My two biggest concerns for the future as I will now be keeping the truck are:

1. Gas Mileage. I have gotten it up to about 17-17.5 mpg from 12 when I first bought it. That is about 225 miles per tank...all highway driving I have gotten as much as 280 miles per tank. Some of that increase to 17ish is the warmer weather though and I would like to get it up to about 250 at least by the fall if possible as once the winter gas and weather hit it will likely go back down to about 14-15 mpg.

2. RUST - I always have liked to keep my cars clean and looking good. There is some rust on the frame under the car and the underside of the running boards are covered in rust (though you cannot see it on the top of them). The body has no rust yet, but I am concerned about it spreading from the underside of the vehicle. First Plan of Action is to replace the running boards I believe. Any recos on after market RB's in the under 400-500 dollar range? Also, any ideas on how to keep the rust from spreading from under the vehicle?

Thanks again, I love this site and have learned a lot here. I promise to reciprocate the help I have gotten to other people on the boards as I learn more.

 

1. You must have a 4x4 version, probably automatic? My 2WD with automatic gets about 17-19 in the city and up to 23 on the highway. You can probably get a little better mileage with new plugs, wires, and a tuneup. Also do the deckplate mod on your intake to get better airflow.

2. If you are up north were you get salt on the roads then get the underbody cleaned and painted/undercoated perhaps? Some of the guys here from that area can give you some advice. I live down in Texas and I have had almost no rust on any of my vehicles...but we get plenty of heat and sun to fade paint and destroy interiors.

Good luck!

 

Ditch the running boards completely. Spend the money you've saved on some cool mods, like better shocks or tires. As for gas mileage, check your tire pressure, in addition to the list of items above.

Ed

 

Yup, it is 4x4 auto. I have done a full tune up inlcuding plugs/wires etc...I guess I cannot complain if I am comparing mine to your 2wd as I am getting similar mileage to yours.

Can they clean the underbody of rust if it is already rusted to a rather high degree? What about just putting an undercoat of some sort over the underside...that seems like quite a Geri-rig though as the rust will be back in no time probably once it eat through the coating...I just want to basically keep it from spreading at this point I guess. A great running truck is no good to me if it is all rusted out.

 

I bought my 96 two years ago with 118K miles for $8900. Nothing major has gone wrong. I have replaced the starter , plugs , and front brakes so far. All with the help of the tech write ups from this site. I also put nothing but full synthetic oil in , and do changes every 3 - 4 K miles. Mine is also a 4x4 auto and gets about 17 mpg. I now have 159,000 miles and she runs like new.

 

i wouldn't worry. a friend of mine told me that he only buys cars with over 150K on them, that way he knows they're not lemons. if anything is going to go bad, it would have already gone bad by the time he got it. i bought my '89 with 225K on the clock and now its at 245K with no issues at all.