170k miles too much for a $5,500 1998?

is 170,000 miles too much for a 98 that's selling for 5.5k?

 

With the tiny bit of information you supplied...that's not too much money and not too many miles.

 

do you think i should buy it?
my parents are telling me other wise because how many miles that are on it

 

170k sounds like a lot for sure but for a 22-23 year old vehicle that's not bad...less than 8k miles/year. and 4Runners hold up much better than many vehicles, if they're maintained well. How's it look? if owner has maintenance records that's a plus.
I can't say for sure without seeing it, but I'd buy it unless there's something obviously wrong with it. (and I'm a dad of two teenage boys, so I understand the concern)

 

thank you for your help!

 

Parents can be wrong. My parents and I went through half a dozen Jeeps across 15 years before I made the switch to 4Runner last year.

 

A friend of mine has a 98 with 400k on it. 170k is actually LOW , especially for a 98.

It'll probably need some maintenance, factor in another 1k if the timing belt needs to be replaced. Other than that, these are very solid vehicles .

Oh, and if you're in an area that uses road salt, check the frame carefully because they're very prone to rust.

 

I bought a 2003 Jeep Wrangler X with 150k+ miles 6 years ago and subsequently sold it to a friend. He's still driving it with no issues. If a Jeep will go that many miles, a 4Runner with 170k is no issue. Unless it's a rust bucket, I'd be all over it for that price.

 

Older generations used to think a vehicle with 100k miles was ready for the scrap yard...things have changed.

 

But wasn't that before Daimler made the biggest changes to the TJ? Like putting in the Liberty automatic transmission and something to the engine that I don't remember. If I was going to get a TJ, I'd go for a 90s one, first few years of the 00s at the latest.

 

I wasn't the biggest fan of the 42RLE automatic, which began in 2003, and was in that 2003 X and my 2004 Rubicon, but it kept going, and still is today, with no issues. Given a choice, I'd have had any of the 5-spd manual transmissions (not the 6-speed introduced in 2005).

 

My 03 TJ has 110k, I barely drive it. The 4.0 straight six is a great engine, easy to work on too. But my DD is my 245k mile 02 4 runner.....

 

I have a 1997 with that many miles. It runs fine, miles don't kill these- neglect kills them. I would buy a 400k mile 4runner with the proper maintenance records over a 100k mile 4runner that sat parked in a field for 10 years because Toyotas will reward proper maintenance by staying reliable unlike BMWs where everything starts breaking suddenly even when it was correctly serviced.

The only real kryptonite is the infamous rust issues. Even I find rust on mine and I really give a shit, a normal owner who took theirs to the dealership and never looked under the vehicle would likely have issues starting by now with rust. If the rust is minimal and the owner seems to be responsible I wouldn't really care about what the odo said (as long as it wasn't suspicious).

Just understand that even the best made vehicles don't last forever, I had to dump 2000$ immediately because parts were nearing the end of their life (like the radiator). It wasn't unexpected, in fact you should assume that there are some parts that need to be changed from age along. But after that mine has worked fine with only minor issues.

 

My Liberty would have needed a third 42RLE and would have gotten it if I didn't get rid of the whole vehicle to begin with

 

Miles aren’t as important as maintenance for these great vehicles. Depending on how old your parents are 100k used to be the magic number you avoid at all costs. And back in the day maybe that was true. Not today. Not these vehicles. Even as a married father of four, my dad accused me of being taken to the cleaners for buying a 10 year old gen 3 with 140k. My dad is long gone but for 11 years that car has been our daily driver, now with 288k. Just listed it for sale this week cause we bought a gen 5. Daughter bought a seven year old gen 1 taco from a dealer with 185k. Today I drive it with a tad over 400k. To me oil changes is what keeps our vehicles in our family.
For this 1998, miles per year is considered low. How many people owned it, how was it maintained, what condition is it in currently and why are they selling it are all factors I consider before getting tripped up just on mileage. Then I make an offer that’s comfortable for me even if it’s a thousand or more less than asking. But I explain why, so they’ll know I’m not just some low baller who really isn’t serious. The worst that can happen is they say no.

Good luck!

 

Get it inspected first. Is it 4WD or 2WD? Which model? Give us some info.

 

if it's decent...snag it....they are getting harder and harder to find..

 

My 96 had 190k miles on it when I got rid of it….I was soo dumb, it had zero issues but I was afraid it was going to start breaking. I was raised in a dodge family. If the car has been maintained, they will run another 200k miles. Get it!

 

In my opinion, comparing a 4Runner with Jeeps is comparing apples and oranges. Our Jeep Cherokee was the absolutely WORSE car we have ever had!! Bar none!! We've had several Toyotas, Bronco, Scout, Nissan, Dodge and even a Subaru. In 20+ years working for the Department of the Interior, I drove at least a 1/2 dozen more different rigs. The Jeep cost us more in repairs than the payments totaled for the year we owned it!

We currently have a 2019 4Runner with <17K miles and a 1969 (YES, 1969) FJ40 landcruiser. Putting side rails on, I was VERY impressed by how well built the 4Runners are. There are many with 200K and even 300K miles on them and still going!

For health reasons, I have to give up my precious FJ40. However, my wife gave me the 4Runner for my birthday last weekend. We goy her a 2018 RAV4 with ~28K miles on it.

 

i have almost 260k on mine....my friend's '94, has over 600k....they are prone to be bullet proof..biggest problem is RUST..

 

That is not a bad deal for that age. I have a 99 Limited (2wd) I am looking to sell it has 173k or miles on it. Original motor/transmission.
I have 2 other 3rd gens. I have another 99 Limited with 588k miles on it (everything original as well!). I drive it EVERYDAY. I love it.
I have seen on the web 3rd gens with x2 the mileage and x2 the price! It is ridiculous!!!

 

I grabbed my 3rd gen Runner for $5,000.00 from a dealer. He doesn't know Toyota, and didn't do his due diligence. Saw one across Denver from this dealer, that was $12,000.00, and it has an auto tranny. He was even nice enough to give me a $500.00 discount for being military.

TRY and find a manual these days, and you will most likely add $5K to the price for the stick. Incredible.

I'm glad we were able to grab up my 99. I think we got lucky.
Pat☺

 

I have a 1998 with 190k, ( the one in my avatar ), and no way would I let it go for $5,500.00. My wife has the same exact model with only 135k. Throw in my 2016 SR5 and we will never need another vehicle. I might add though that I am no Spring Chicken at 66. Not putting your parents down, however, I don't think they are aware of the reputation of 4Runners.
Like others said, it's hard...sight unseen, but depending on it's condition, I would not hesitate.