Good Buy? or Good bye?

[sami]

I'm looking into a '97 SR5 4runner sportin the 5 speed for $4,000.... sounds incredible right? there is a catch, 240,000 miles. However, it was owned by the owner of a dealership from '97-06, and meticulously cared for and serviced, as it was his wife's... Then in '05 or so his daughter drove it all over the country for work (hence high miles). Then they sold it to the current owner, who now needs to sell it cause his business isn't doing so good at the moment.

This thing has serious balls. the engine has loads of torque and power, and it shifts very smooth. The interior isn't terrible, but it's not pristine either. The exterior as you can see is slightly rough, due to the daughter bumping into stuff... alot so it would seem. Worste case is the dent on the hood.. no biggie, a sport hood with the scoop would be a great fix

So, that's the story...

I'm taking it to a Toyota specialist tomorrow, the only guy that my dad trusted to wrench on his Toyota racecar. So i'll report back as to what he says.

Initial thoughts? Concerns? Ideas? Warnings? Go for it's?

Thank you in advance

-Jason

[mountainpete]

You asked for initial reactions so here is mine... that is REALLY high mileage and eventhough it is a Toyota and was taken care of, I wouldn't go for it.

By the sounds of your description the high mileage was compiled over a very short period and then the truck was sold. If that is the case the previous good service record really doesn't describe what the current condition is. I hate to be mistrusting, but I also wouldn't believe the dealer servicing without seeing records that include the mileage listed.

If it was my money, I would invest into a slightly older 80 series Land Cruiser with less miles.

Pete

[KingCrabberCurry]

Do you want this strictly as a trail rig? I'd be leery of using anything with a quarter of a million miles on it as my DD, Toyota or not. Also, not to be stereotypical, but girl drivers (the kind that put Roxy stickers on their vehicles and run into stuff all the time) do not take very good care of their vehicles. I had a girlfriend once who went 12,500 miles between oil changes in her 1995 Blazer. (It didn't work out.)

My $0.02.

[preacherman]

My opinion is this. If someone "bumps" into that much stuff and puts that many dents in the exterior, just how well did they take care of the rest of the car?

Usually you can tell how well someone takes care of the mechanical by how well they take care of the rest of the car. Also, is there any documentation on the whole "owned by a dealer" or just a great story? If daddy was a dealer why didn't he give her a good deal on body work? I bought an Audi one time that was "owned by the dealer" and upon the sale he gave me three file folders of records. Oil changes, tire rotations, even gas receipts with the octane rating highlighted. If you are looking at a DD move on, the exterior and interior fixes will nickle and dime you alone.

[dieselcruiserhead]

The question is what you want to do with it. I have seen a couple Toyotas with over 400K that you could not tell they had more than maybe 150k miles. But that said, you never know. Seems like a decent deal if it really does run well and the story is true, I just bought one with 236K and feel like it's just getting ready for its second life. But it has a new engine as well. I think for what we are doing and where we are going you'll probably be fine... Make sure you have AAA plus I suppose

[kcowyo]

The miles wouldn't concern me since it has either the 3.4 or the 4 banger. Two rock solid engines. But looking at all of the dents front & rear, I have to wonder, was she far-sighted or do the brakes just not work?

In an off-road loving state like Utah, where there are tons of 4wd Toyotas for sale from mild to wild, it would seem there is a better option out there to spend $4K on.

Keep shopping.