Potential trade in Tacoma for 4Runner

Good morning 4Runner forum. I'm getting rid of my Tacoma one way or the other, and a third generation 4Runner with the 3.4 and manual is one of the options I'm strongly considering. I've found a 99 SR5 with the locker and only 97k from one owner about 100 miles away. According to the buying guide I found on another forum, this is supposedly the most desirable version of 99 and 00. They say it has all service records and has had all recommened maint taken care of, like the timing belt. Only problem is a dent on the rear bumper.

This looks like it could be a winner, I can probably run there monday and try it out. The local Toyota dealership shop says they'll do an inspection for $110, I'm not sure if that's reasonable or if I should find someone else.

The advertised price is $13k, but the KBB shows $10.5k for retail, and NADA is closer to $9k.

If the inspection and test drive checks out and I can get their price down to a reasonable level, I will probably buy it. I'd rather trade my Tacoma in to the dealer who sold it to me in case it has any more problems, but these things with less than 150k miles on them seem pretty rare.

Does this sound like something worth pursuing to you guys?

 

I suppose it would help to post the link to what I'm looking at.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tab=summary&recnum=&actLog=&listingId=94071412&paId=464420308&listingRecNum=0&criteria=sf1Dir%3dDESC%26mkId%3d20088%26stkTyp%3dU%26mdId%3d20482%26rd%3d150%26crSrtFlds%3dstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-transTypeId%26zc%3d82007%26rn%3d0%26PMmt%3d1-1-0%26stkTypId%3d28881%26sf2Dir%3dASC%26sf1Nm%3dprice%26sf2Nm%3dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3dfalse%26transTypeId%3d28112%26rpp%3d50%26feedSegId%3d28705&tracktype=usedcc&pageNumber=&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE&certifiedOnly=false&&aff=national

 

If it's as good as it looks, I was thinking of offering $10 or $10.5.

 

That is a really nice 4Runner. It's actually what's called a 4Runner "Highlander". The Highlander package was only offered in 1999 and came painted in Imperial Jade Mica (green) and black. From 2000-2001 the Highlander package name was changed to just being called the "Sport" package and later the "Sport Edition" in 2002. To find one with the factory locker, 4x4, the 5spd transmission, and with low miles is icing on the cake. The Highlander model also features the tallest coil springs of all the 3rd generation 4Runners. The 01-02's are the lowest and the Highlander sits about 1'' taller than other 4Runners with stock suspension. It's sort of a "factory lift".

One like that would sell for quite a bit more than $10k easy in Hawaii. If the maintenance records look good and it looks as good in person as it does in the pictures, I'd say go for it!

 

Yeah, after what happened with my Tacoma, I'm going to look that thing over like crazy, and then get it inspected somewhere before I decide on it. I'll probably drive down to Denver tomorrow morning to check it out.

 

If it's all that the pictures and description say it is, it looks like it could be an awesome and completely dependable vehicle to drive for a couple years. I can always come back to a Tacoma later, perhaps when they update the engines in 2015

 

That's the one and only 4-runner. I love that gen. This one looks in great condition, but I agree with others that $13k is a little high for a 99. On the other hand it is just again another testimony of how Toyota keeps it value.

 

From what I've read, the third gen 4runner is one of the great examples of Toyota quality. My girl didn't understand why I was considering something that old with that many miles on it, I had to explain to her that these routinely go over 200k miles with very few problems. I can see where she's coming from though, her 95 Dakota is damn near falling apart with 160k miles.

 

Exactly. Look at same age, let's say 10-year old Toyota and Chrysler products next to each other, and the Toyota is worth 3 times more - there is a reason for that.

 

It sold before I had a chance to drive down to Denver to look at it. Damn work.

 

Ahhh that sucks man! Oh well, really nice ones appear for sale every now and then. Just gotta keep searching.