Would you be afraid of a 4 runner with high miles?

[ColoradoCarlisle]

Its a 97 with 255k on the clock. The owner had a toyota tecnition in the family that brought this in on a regular basis and 25,000k ago replaced timing belts, cv's, suspension, water pump and looked through it to try to find anything. Looked at pistons and said everything looked great. Its 4x4 with rear diff lock and its in my price range. Has the 3.4. new tires looks to be in very nice condition.

I was looking for a gen 2 4 runner due to price but saw this. Im only after a DD with deep snow being my main obsticle. Minor off road. Will keep stock for the most part. I want to buy one cash and I want something reliable that gets better mileage than my 80 series and my 100 series.

Its just the number 255k what do you think

[Matador98]

A year ago I bought a 100 series with 192K, so I'm not afraid of high miles. 255K is a little high for me, but if I was confident in it's service history, then yes, I would buy it and not be too worried about it. But I'd also be prepared for little things to possibly pop up, like brakes, fuel pump, etc.

[Duane]

Well I'm not afraid of a high miler... most high milers mean someone did regular maintenance or else it would never have made it that far in the first place.
The other thing about a high miler is usually if the engine and transmisson are original then it was a good match and things are aligned well. Most of them just have a sweet spot driving down the highway, a speed where there is no vibration, it just cruises.
When I hear of someone on their 4th transmission something is definitely wrong.
I have approx 170,000 miles on my 2.7 litre 3rd gen runner. I just keep a close eye on on the levels of fluids and usually change everything every 60,000 miles except brake and power steering fluid. Engine oil every 3500 miles.
I drove a 92 gmc pickup to 270,000 miles before I sold it. I changed regular oil every 3000 miles and powertrain fluids every 60,000 miles.
Sometimes a high miler is a better deal as many things have been changed already.
The landcruiser we have at approx 450,000 miles just comes up with all the weird stuff to fix now. Door latch mechanisms, master cylinder, switches, fan motor, flattened out seat, door hinges, etc.
It's always good to price out main components if you had to change an engine or tranny and be prepared if it happens but if it has gone this far it will likely run until you are sick of driving it if you keep clean fluids in everything.

[Mars]

Originally Posted by ColoradoCarlisle

Its a 97 with 255k on the clock.....

Has the 3.4. new tires looks to be in very nice condition.


.... I want to buy one cash and I want something reliable that gets better mileage than my 80 series and my 100 series.

Its just the number 255k what do you think

If you are just going to daily drive it, and its the 4runner with the 3.4, I don't know if you will be really fulfilling your desires. The 3.4 will get better mileage for sure than the 80, but not monumentally.

Sounds like 4x4 is a necessity, and daily drivability a major factor. The smaller motor might fit your needs for higher MPG's...

[cackalak han]

I'm not afraid of high mileage vehicles, but 255k is pushing it. Who knows what will go. I'm not talking about just the engine, either.

Do you need the 4 seats? You've already got 2 SUV's. I would personally suggest getting a 22RE Truck with a 5 speed transmission for a daily driver. Good gas mileage, fairly easy to work on, and now you've got a truck to haul junk with. Just my 2 cents.

[Jetboy]

I've only got 160k on my 3.4... only. Anyway it's been essentially flawless. I bought it used with good service records and they show no repairs to the engine or tranny. Plus an engine and tranny can be had for around 1200-1500 so it's not a huge expense if one were to go bad. If the rest of the vehicle is in good shape i'd be ok with it. The other wear parts would be a concern like wheel bearings and even differential bearings at this point, but they are easy enough to replace. I get much better mileage with my 3.4 than got with any of the other toyota trucks I've owned which includes 20 and 22r's and a 3.0 v6. Plus this is a 4runner so it's heavier. As for mileage I get an average of about 18 mixed and as much as 21 on the highway. I also run 265 70 17's (on Fgay cruiser wheels) so they are taller than the factory 265/70/16's which may reduce my mileage a little. I'm a big fan of the 3.4. Plus with the 3.0 issues it might be more reliable even with that many miles. I never had a single problem with my 3.0 though.

[Rattler]

I bought a '91 4Runner from a guy that was in our old truck club. It was a trade-in at the Toy dealer he worked at. Had 204k on when it was brought in. I got it from him with 213k. I drove it until it had 245k. I had to have a clutch put in it (he towed a 22 ft. boat with it on occasion). It had a 22RE/5 spd. and it ran like a top from the day I got it until the day I sold it.

I did not hesitate on it when he offered it to me(it helped it was a good $$ too).

[toyminator]

My 99 4Runner has 212k on it. I got it with a bad motor but that was the previous owners fault. It blew a radiator hose and he never paid attention the the temp gauge until it was too late. all other stuff performs as new.

[fortysixandtwo]

If it seems like it has been well taken care of, drives nice, and is in your price range, I say go for it. the 3.4 is a great motor, i know a couple guys pushing 300K on their original 3.4 and drivetrain. its right up there with 22res in terms of being a rock solid engine

[Rattler]

Originally Posted by fortysixandtwo

its right up there with 22res in terms of being a rock solid engine

Wow thats a bold statement!!

[Mars]

Originally Posted by fortysixandtwo

If it seems like it has been well taken care of, drives nice, and is in your price range, I say go for it. the 3.4 is a great motor, i know a couple guys pushing 300K on their original 3.4 and drivetrain. its right up there with 22res in terms of being a rock solid engine

Originally Posted by Rattler

Wow thats a bold statement!!

Agreed...I don't think the motor's been around long enough to be put in the same class as the 22re...

Not saying its a fantastic motor...just not proven to the same extent.

[cackalak han]

There are a lot of engines I would put up against the 22RE. I think people sometimes get dazzled by the fact that it's a "22RE!!!!!!" and think they're indestructable. Simply not the case. Plenty of have gone through issues. Now, if taken care of properly, they're are very reliable. But, you can say that about a lot of engines. My father has always bougth GMC trucks, and they get beat on pretty bad. 3-4 of his trucks have over 300k and still going strong. Never had major issues with them, either. Regular oil changes, fluids all changed regularly, etc. and all is well.

3.4L V6 is definitely a great motor (Just wish it had a timing chain!) and I would put it up against a 22RE. Even the new 4.0L V6 would be a great contender.

[mtngirl]

2 1/2 years ago I bought a 97 4Runner with 101k....and it has an S title. Since, I have put another 60k on it. I have had absolutely NO problems and I love it almost as much as my 2000. I talked in depth to the guy who put it back together and had my brother in law look at it. I trusted, but did not know the guy I bought it from. He had driven it fir 10k miles to make sure nothing was wrong with it. For two of those years I lived in the mountains of Colorado at over 10,000 feet so it went into 4WD nearly everyday .

[d0ubledown]

my 2nd gen runner i had currently is at over 450K km. and thats the 3.0L V6. HG was done...and proper maintenance ever since.

the rest of the truck is slowly dying...but the motor is still strong.

its a toyota...feed it proper maintenance and she'll be good to go. the 3.4L will get better mileage than an 80 or 100, and it'll last. if youre worried about it, get a thorough inspection done with compression and leak down tests...

[ColoradoCarlisle]

Bought a 1998 4 runner with 190K about 1 month ago. Its amazing. I cant believe how well it drives. It feels so tight and quiet, I just chuckle every time I drive it. It has great maintenece records and I honestly cannot find anything wrong with it. (I did put front pads on it and the console has a crack)

My last tank of gas was 20.8 mpg's. But Im very easy on the skinny pedel.

Love my new 4runner!!!

[cackalak han]

Nice. Does it have a rear locker? Auto? Make sure that timing belt is done. Though the 3.4L is a non-interf. engine (assuming you have the 3.4L), it could leave you stranded waiting for a tow truck. Check the steering rack bushings, sway bar bushings and endlinks. They tend to go about every 100k.

Have fun!

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

My wife has an 01 V6 auto, and it's a very nice truck, quieter than the highlander we traded in, gas mileage is around 18-19, but we live in the mountains... I would not be scared of the high miles, the 3.4 is a smooth engine.

[ken_79-fj40]

My 2000 has 165k on it now, and my fathers 98 3.4 tacoma has 175k on it. Both run perfectly fine and don't use any oil. I work with a guy who has a 96 4runner with the 3.4 and a 5 speed with 310k on it. He bought it for $500 and it runs great. It needs a steering rack and a cat to pass inspection, but the thing runs as good as mine with half the miles on it. I also would agree that these are great motors, perhaps as good as the old 22re. I have a 22re in my 89 with about 200k on it now that has only had the timing chain replaced. The head's never been off. It doesn't burn any oil, but it sure feels tired.