95 4 Runner 4x4 transmission issue

Howdy,
Looking to purchase a 95 4x4. Gonna be a primary hunting camp vehicle. Found one about 2 hours from my house with “minor transmission issues”. Spoke to the seller, he says transmission is slow going into drive from Park. Shift into Low or 2nd and it’s fine. My question is this: is this something simple like a fluid flush (clogged filter/screen), low fluid or similar or am I looking at dumping another $2,000+ into a rebuild? Don’t wanna spend a pile of money on something that won’t be my daily driver. Seller is asking $1200 negotiable. 168,000 miles. Thanks in advance!

 

I would want to start with the fluid

 

For that price I would say worth it. If it is bad a transmission swap would be cheap and easy. I would check it out though could be fluid or could be something else hard to say.

 

Where do u live?

 

Also I would talk him down quite a bit. I was quoted $2,300 for someone to pull, rebuild and reinstall my transmission and that was getting a deal. Unless u plan on doing the work urself, then it will probably cost u around $400 to $500 in parts.

 

I know a guy with a clean 1991 4runner with 191,000 on it with the head gaskets and water pump changed 20,000 miles ago asking $800. His also has a bad transmission. I'm in Virginia though.

 

I’m in Louisiana. Sorry to say, I passed on the deal. Seller sent me about 20 pics and the rust cancer on the under carriage was enough for me to say no. I didn’t expect a pristine rust free vehicle, but this thing looked like it sat in water for a long period of time. Nose to the ground, still looking!

 

Well guess it’s better. May have been in a flood, good luck on the hunt!

 

That sucks. You'll find something. Good luck