Im new to this forum. Been searching for a daily driver to replace my car which was totalled recently. Im from NJ so I need an SUV for winter driving. I have found a 1995 car with 112K miles on it. It is a green color V6 4wd 5speed Toyota 4 runner. Seller is asking for $4900 but I got it down to 4300.

The truck was a preowned vehicle when the seller bought it back in 1997 with 20K miles on it. He has records of all maintainance. He is selling it because his son who used to drive it doesnt need the truck anymore and the vehicle hasnt been driven for the past 3 mos.

There are no rust in the body and wear and tear typical of its age. Interior is clean . Two problems I noticed:

1. The windows on the rear will go down but it has to be adjusted manually so it will go up in proper position else it tilts on either left or right side.

2. When I was driving the truck I noticed a hissing noise when the transmission is at 5th gear. It disappears when its at 4th. The seller doesnt know much about this truck since his son owns it .

Now my question: Is the $4300 a fair price or am I paying too much? The window problem is not a big deal but do you think the hissing noise at 5th gear is a sign that the transmission is about to go? I've checked the maintainance record and I didnt see any major work on the car. TIA .

 

Definetely sounds like a good price to me. As for the hissing I have no clue.

 

Excellent price, have a mech check out the hissing. Also check and see if the seller had the head gasket replaced, if not call Toyota with the VIN # and see if it qualifies.

 

Definitely have a mechanic check it out. Also steering idler arm recall on that year range.

I just bought a '93 with 178k for $3000 out the door. Since then, I've had to do the following:

Radio and speakers - $400
CV joint (parts only) - 80
Brake caliper (parts) 40
Timing belt (parts) 30 (due every 60k-90k miles)
Service 150 (oil change, coolant flush, diff/transfer case flush/fill)
Steering comp 670 (add'l parts and labor done during steering recall)
Rear springs 150
Shocks 150

So now I have it in top notch running order with very little rust, and have about $4700 into it - so $4300 is a really good deal if you don't have to put anything else into it. Good find.

 

Sounds like a great price to me. I would certainly do a compression test on it before buying. It seems like 100k-125k is the danger zone for blowing head gaskets on these engines. My '95 didn't qualify for the head gasket recall/campaign and I doubt this one will.

 

Stay away from 95s, the headgaskets were never fixed, but Toyota says they were and will not budge on the recall. They WILL fail.

Lamm

 

That's a great price? Good! I did not know mine was worth that much!

 

sounds exactly like mine, minus those odd problems. Is still working fine for me and has yet to break down. Keep in mind though, the HG will blow.

 

Mine was covered in the recall.

 

Yes there were a few months of production that were subject but chances are seriously stacked against the 95 owner.

The whole notion that of 7 years of production 10 months were done right is absurd.

Lamm

 

even though it might not be covered in the recall if it does go its still not that much out of the ol wallet to get it fixed considering the good price for the 4runner which sounds to be in very good shape and not beaten on for its entire life. Now the fix will cost you if you cant find a good none dealer mech, but if you can find a friend of a friend whose a mech your in business.

 

I bought the same exact car but without the hissing for $5500 so i think you have a great price!!!! as for the windows mine goes down very slow in the back and i never use them so i think you should be fine!!!

 

if your hissing could be considered a wining sound it is most likely a bearing in the tranny assuming its a manual. the multiplier bearing in the trans is at work in all gears except 4th because 4th is 1:1 normally you cant hear it in 1st-3rd because of engine noise. but at speed youll hear it hope this helps.

 

honestly, I think part of the problem is the runner itself refering to the HG. No doubt, there is a design flaw but there is the fact that its a heavy truck for any smaller engine. I am starting to regret buying mine reciently: bad HG, bad knock sensor. I'll bet the #6 valve burns soon.