A 4Runner may be in my future even though I don't really love 4Runners

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/18/2014 at 17:42 • Filed to: None

In my continuing quest to maybe sorta kinda replace my Grand Cherokee with something else to drive in winter, I drove this here '99 4Runner Limited last weekend. I didn't necessarily love it, but through a series of circumstances, I may buy it anyway.

I had kinda settled on an '02-'04 Pathfinder LE or '01-'03 QX4 as my next winter vehicle. But, there aren't any suitable Pathfinders or QX4s here in Madison. I test drove an '01 QX4 here in town, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and the dreadful navigation system.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This 4Runner's not as comfy inside as the Pathfinder, and neither of them is as comfy as the Grand Cherokee, but it's not terrible, and it'll be damn reliable. It also has extensive service records on file at the Toyota dealer that's selling it, so I'm reasonably confident it won't need a bunch of extra work put into it.

There are several Pathfinders and QX4s in the Chicago area, and I'll be in Chicago this weekend helping my mom pack up my grandma's condo because my grandma's going to assisted living. I had been trying to scout out these vehicles by email & phone, and well, these car dealers in Chicago !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Anyway, back to the 4Runner. It's here in Madison. It doesn't have heated seats, which I'd like to have but oh well. It has 157k miles on it. The asking price is too high. There's hail damage on the hood. But it does have a couple things that are very appealing.

According to the dealer, these tires are brand new, and according to Tire Rack's survey results, they're pretty solid in the snow.

This is a pic I found on GIS, but the 4Runner I'm looking at has this button, which is for the optional rear locking differential.

Not that I'm looking forward to packing up my grandma's place, but I'd rather just deal with that than try to also buy a car while I'm down there. So I'm going back to the dealer here in town that has this 4Runner, and it'll be time to play hardball on pricing.

Maybe it works out, maybe not. I guess we'll see.

DISCUSSION (21)

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 17:47

What are they asking for it? a clean 3rd gen with the rear locker is pretty rare these days.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
11/18/2014 at 17:52

Asking price is $8741.

Last year before I bought my Grand Cherokee, I put a deposit on a '99 Limited with the rear locker, 156k miles, and some particularly ugly pinstriping, at a dealer in Illinois. They were asking $5995.

I couldn't make it down to them and backed out of the deal. Guess I should've found a way to make it down there.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 17:56

87 is a bit steep, especially with hail damage. When was the timing belt/waterpump last done?

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 18:05

You probably covered this in another post, but why are you replacing the Grand Cherokee?

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
11/18/2014 at 18:07

I just called the service department, who said they started working on it in 2008 when it had 115k miles on it. They had 16 service records, but actually no record of a timing belt/water pump service. They did suggest that Toyota dealers are supposed to put a sticker on the timing cover when they do the services, so it would be best to check under the hood for the sticker.

So...more investigation is required.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 18:10

no timing belt/waterpump at that mileage is way CP.

Textured Soy Protein > Steve in Manhattan
11/18/2014 at 18:11

Here is said post.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
11/18/2014 at 18:16

I agree.

It's still possible the timing belt was done. The service department could've checked for that sticker when they first started working on it and seen that it was already done.

I talked to my sales guy earlier today, but it's actually his day off. I emailed him to ask him to check under the hood for the timing belt service sticker.

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 18:23

NOW I remember. Considered another Grand Cherokee and stripping parts off the other one for when you need them? Or you want something more reliable ....

NeilR > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 18:26

If it has been done and you can get the price down to 8k or less, totally do it. I love my '97 to no end and it has rust and no rear locker.

Textured Soy Protein > Steve in Manhattan
11/18/2014 at 18:51

I'm not looking to do a bunch of work. The main cost in all this stuff is labor, but I just want something I can drive around and not have to spend a bunch of time fixing it up.

Textured Soy Protein > NeilR
11/18/2014 at 18:53

I guess I'm kicking myself a little bit because of the deposit I put down a year ago on a '99 Limited with rear locker, timing belt service, and same mileage, for $5995 asking price at the time.

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 19:05

I think you've reached the right answer - 4Runner. Tough, reliable, and a real 4x4.

Steve in Manhattan > HammerheadFistpunch
11/18/2014 at 19:06

We know this is a belt, not a chain?

HammerheadFistpunch > Steve in Manhattan
11/18/2014 at 19:08

the 5VZ-FE was a belt driven non-interference engine.

rockingthe2 > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 19:11

Heated Seats are actually pretty easy to install, even easier if you are going to put seat covers on the seats. You could have a decent place wire them up for probably under $150. I did mine in a weekend for maybe $150 using an accessory fusebox (an added $60, and not necessary in most applications) and a few relays (my car doesn't have anything I felt comfortable hooking it up to without a relay).

Steve in Manhattan > HammerheadFistpunch
11/18/2014 at 19:15

Forget what was in my '87 Toyota 4x4 longbed, but it had a belt. I remember that much.

RockRam > Textured Soy Protein
11/18/2014 at 19:27

Don't pay more than $6500

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
11/19/2014 at 19:05

I heard back from them, they said they checked the sticker on the timing cover and there's a sticker that the belt & water bump were changed at 126k miles.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
11/19/2014 at 19:06

nice!

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
11/19/2014 at 22:22

Now if only I can get them to come down out of the stratosphere on price, I might buy the damn thing tomorrow.