Update 9/4/2018 – Eric sent in additional photos of his 4Runner, so be sure to take a look at the photo gallery below!
From 8/21/2018 – While this Toyota 4Runner is newer than most of the stuff we feature, but it looks like a great rig and would make a good driver for someone. It’s hard to believe it’s almost 20 years old! These third generation 4Runners have really aged well and are still popular. Reader Eric E provided a ton of photos of it, plus documentation showing the recorded maintenance history. It’s currently located in Ridgefield, Connecticut with an asking price of $5,800.
Asking Price: $5,800
Location: Ridgefield, CT
Mileage: 204,174
Title Status: Clean
VIN: JT3HN86R2X0210462
Seller’s Description: Really clean, quite original (except for rims), runs like a top.
Body Condition: A few dings and dents, has had some rust repair but done in metal. Looks great.
Mechanical Condition: Solid, as I say, runs like a top. Starts every time, shifts smoothly, strong, smooth power, turns and stops beautifully. Niggling stuff to fix like the power antenna and heater valve is finicky coming on (turns off fine though),
These Toyota’s are known for their durability, especially if they are well cared for. This one might have 204k miles, but it appears to have received regular maintenance and should keep going for years to come. If you spend a lot of time on dirt roads hunting for barn finds, this truck could be a great companion! Be sure to contact Eric via the form below if you have any questions and to make a deal.
List your classified here on Barn Finds!
I’ve got 150k on my 2002 SR5. The 5ZV-FE is a great engine and these are great vehicles. You could easily get another 100k+ out of this…a much better deal than a modern SUV based on capability vs price.
I like these but Not with 200K miles on it !! It may well look and drive very good but maybe its physcological for me regarding high miles !!
In New England it’s frame rot that kills them. Check around the rear hangers on any Runner around here.
These things have a HUGE following. I have a 2002 with 360k on it I bought earlier this year as an extra vehicle. I’m the third owner, has original paint with zero rust in body and frame and runs like a top, AC even works. Has been in Missouri all it’s life. Only complaint I have is that the legroom is lacking a bit, I’m 6’ tall and wish the seat would go back about an inch more. I paid $3600 for it, and had shopped them enough to know it was a good buy because of how it has been maintained.
Get out of the states, and Toyota trucks are the first choice for consumers in many countries. The 4 Runner is the one to have of all the choices in Toyota world.
I agree at 200K this guy has got a lot to give in it, and they’re easy to work on and parts are cheap.
Find one with a diesel and it will last the rest of your life if you take care of it.
I have a 2008 Prado with 250K on it, and it still looks like the day I bought it.
Oh look ” another barn find “!
Great trucks! I ran my ’96 to 293k before what I had convinced myself was “cosmetic” rocker panel rust turned into a rotted front body mount, which was a bit beyond what I was willing or deal with. Sold it to a guy who uses it as an off-road/hunting rig. It still ran great, and aside from typical stuff like front end components and a replaced alternator, I don’t think I made a single major repair. My Tacoma has 232k and is the same story; runs like new, doesn’t feel like a tired old engine at all. The 5VZ-FE V6 is one of the all-time automotive reliability home runs and I’d have zero qualms about buying one with 200k if the price was right.
The truck does indeed look great, but I’m curious about the rockers on this one. It looks like they’ve been painted black. I have yet to see one from the salt belt that came with factory running boards that didn’t have some rust hidden there. The frame is also subject to rust-out on these, particularly on the back right corner where the exhaust comes out. Thorough undercarriage pics are a must; hopefully the seller can help with that.
I will get some pix of that area tomorrow. Have undercarriage and vids of the undersides of the rockers posted, but not that far back.
I’ll also take some closer pix of the outer rockers. Yes, the body shop guy painted the bottom, maybe inch and a half in POR-15 or something when I had the right rocket fixed. It wouldn’t have been my choice. Right side has new metal there. Left side hadn’t rusted through, so it’s sanded down and painted. The black stripes are thin and not very noticeable. Look like shadows.
Here are pix of the rear floors on each side behind the axle:
Yes I will have to agree with most of the posters, Toyota SUV’s really hold their value, mileage doesn’t seem to be a major stumbling block for a buyer. Toyota has had a few problems but overall they have a good track record for long mileage and reliable. Yes some do have frame rust but that too can be fixed or change out the frame if the rest of the vehicle is worth it. I’ve seen it done.
It turns out, on further consultation with the body guy, this frame has also had some rust repair (prior to my owning it). He said he was impressed with how well it was done. I’ll get some pix of that, too.
A little bit too much $
If you think it’s too much, make me an offer!
Aloha I live in Hawaii and these are all over the place they run forever. Even first generation ones are still here ticking along. Just take care of the basics. I have a 07 Tacoma with 120,000 and it runs like a top.
That’s a 10’000 dollar car here in Hawaii all day long
I’ll bet you could ship it there for $4,200!
Cost about 2000 to ship a car from Florida to Hawaii
I have a fair bit of experience with the 4 runner and every experience has been mostly positive. Mechanically they are great, they drive very well get decent mileage and I like them a lot. 2 items I don’t like is legroom and the range between fuel stops. With that said I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one!!
I have owned 20+ cars, American, British, German, Japanese, Swedish, oldest a ’39, newest a 2014, got 200,000 miles out of most of them not counting the British, but BY FAR my 4Runner has had the least problems, in CA all its life, in dry country, garaged most of the time, at 140,000 only the tape player and two dash board lights have quit. Yes I have done all maintenance by the book. Lot of “off road” on dirt roads, deep snow, 3 minor dents from snow related accidents (not my fault, except maybe I should have stayed home). The V8. 17 -19 mpg on the paved roads. Oil remains yellow and clear at the end of each 5000 service interval, and is generally down about a half pint. Fast, 60 to 90 mph to pass on our remote two lane roads in no time. Comfortable. The best all around vehicle I have ever owned. Locking center differential for deep snow or sand. I expect it will exceed 300,000 miles – mailman’s friend has over 400,000 on a 4 cylinder model from the early ’90’s, still strong.
I LOVE my 95! had two major issues, neither of which were the vehicles fault. tow company did a front end tow on an automatic. you know how that worked out? DIDN’T! (tranny rebuild) Found out the previous owner replaced the original three core rad with a one core cheepo! Lugging through some STEEP mountains, I failed notice the temp going into the RED! you know how that worked out? DIDN”T! (engine rebuild) Neither issue were the Runner’s fault. Both were stupidity issues. On the bright side, I will have this thing forever!