87 4runner $1000?

Hello....New here.....just wanting some advice about a potential 87 4runner purchase......I'm from Pittsburgh, PA.......my friend from school and church has an 87 4runner.....22re, expedition white, 249k miles, repairs needed: timing chain guide(the usual driver/left side) broke, rear diff joint broke( was banging around under vehicle before it was parked couple years ago)......has some of the usual fender/quarter rust(replacement?)......my problem?.......the price.......saw a video of another 4runner-89(219k on the odo).......the guy was from PA also.......bought his for $500......it ran and drove it home......the one I am wanting to purchase is a $1000 and doesn't run and needs towed 20 miles to my house......he apparently had 4 new brakes put on and electrical done(alternator/starter?) this is the reason for the price.......is it worth it?........should I show him the video and probably tick him off and then good buy purchase.......claims others want it but keeps people at bay telling them he has it sold to me(nice enough to wait for me to save the money).......tells me he doesn't care if I buy it our not........others will that are lined up........claims friend and family price for it..........need advice, any will help?.........Thanks,Brian

 

I would hesitate on that one- $1000 is a little steep for that truck in that condition, at least where I live. I just bought two not-running 2nd gen 4runners myself, paid $600 total for them, so $300 apiece. I wouldn't expect such a cheap deal as I got, but I don't think $1000 is right, either. Unless they are super rare up there, then maybe it is. I feel that if a vehicle doesn't run, it's worth $500 or less, unless it's a rare/uncommon vehicle, of course.
Anyways, best of luck. If you don't get that runner, I hope you find another one!

 

Hey, Thanks for the help.......I am also looking at a 2003 Tacoma extended cab($5500), 5sp, trd, 3.4L V6, plastic bedliner, silver(almost a given).......it also has something very interesting-a 4wd button on transfer case stick.......strange......it has 215k on the odo....(this worries me, but heard it run-sounds great at high rpm's, didn't drive it)........I had a 2001 reg cab, and 2002 extended cab(both silver), both 5spd, both 4wd........ever since I got rid of my 2002, I have wanted another one so bad.........I'm 41, so this is not a little boys dream........they are just astounding-the 01-04........love the look of them and the way they handle.......off roaded both and so capable in stock form it blew my mind.......I can drive a stick like no one's business........grew up on a farm and learned to drive around 7-8 yrs old.......dad needed someone to help him and gave me a crash course in the old 75 chevy farm truck we had and on the tractors all in one day........my grandfather was very sick........they usually helped each other, I was the next best helper but not great at it........was scared to death..........I guess what I am saying is.........I LOVE TO DRIVE......Well have to go........if anyone else wants to respond to my 4runner ?.........Thanks in advance...........Brian

 

215k isn't bad, that's pretty normal for a Toyota. That sounds like a much more reasonable deal! I would definitely drive it (take it on the interstate for a bit and dog it, if anything is gonna break right offhand, it'll likely do it then.)
I too, have a love for driving, especially if it's a stick shift. My Tacoma is an automatic, unfortunately, as is one of the 4runners I picked up, but the other is a manual. Before my truck, all I'd ever owned were manuals!

 

Yea........I want both.....but you have to make a choice..........next year the 1987 4runner will officially be an antique in PA and I would get antique plates form it..........this is what excites me about it..........Thanks for responding so promptly.........I always thought these sites were a bust, but I always saw other guys talking to each other but I nare got a one response.........can you give me any tips?........how long have you been on the site?........thanks, Brian

 

you can certainly use your knowledge of the other vehicle bought for $500 that did run and drive as a bargaining chip with the one youre looking at. theres also tons of parts around for these 4runners so you should be able to get whatever it is you might need, including motor parts

 

Yeah, the runner would be nice. So they have to be 30 in PA? Here I think they only have to be 25 for antique tags.
I haven't been on this site long, because I just got my 4runners, but I've been a member of Tacoma World for years.