First time buyer; is this 2024 with undercarriage scraping a good deal?

I'm looking to buy my first 4runner and am looking for something that is already setup. My intent would be to own the rig for another 10-15 years, with regular maintenance and care. I’ll be using it for work and know I need a 2.5-3” lift to safely access certain field sites.

Is this rig this is still a good deal at the price or do you think that waiting for a well-cared for earlier model (2019/2021) would be better?

Specs
2024, $42K, 38K miles, TRD Off-Road Premium, Oregon
Still under power train warranty
Dealer says it was repossessed (owner could not pay) and that is how they got ahold of it
AZ owned

Upgrades it has that I'm looking for in a vehicle
King Shocks (they say it is 3.5" right now, but I've asked them to measure, and I'll see if they can lower them before I drive it anywhere as I'd prefer a 2.5-3" setup)
Warn Industries Winch
Steel front bumper w/cut
Falkon Wildpeaks (I love this tire)

Other Upgrades it has but I don't need
Morimoto Front Headlights
Stealth PPF full body
LED Headlights
Molle Racks
Raceline Off-Road Wheels
Aftermarket sway bar mounts

Downsides/Points of Concern

* There's a minor-moderate damage to the RF that's listed on Carfax; the dealer thinks it's from the replacement to the front bumper which Toyota sometimes marks as damage. They are not certain, however. The damage is not listed as a collision. Is this common for modified bumpers to be listed as damage by dealers? And would they only list the right front like they did?

* Inspector mentioned the angles were a little high and he was worried about wear on the stock axles at its current lift height

* The vehicle has clearly seen off-road use. It has scrapes along the front frame rails

* The stock skid plate on the gas tank is dented >1" (the dealer has said they'd be ok with removing the plate to make sure that the gas tank looks alright underneath)

* EVAP has been recently replaced by Toyota under warranty

* The scrapes have slight rust (as expected) and it doesn't seem like it has a coating to protect against rust.

* Vehicle has no skid plates or runners, which I would want for the eventual build; inspector mentioned lots of mud has gotten up in the engine bay

* Power steering fluid is dark and needs replacing, which feels like a red flag if they had it taken to Toyota for a service. I'd be worried about a leak.

* Inspector said it pulls to the left. Dealer insists it runs straight and the issue was the roads in the area were in bad shape. Hard to know on this one.

Thank you guys for your help!

 

nope, the pics say everything

 

The stock gas tank skid is super thin. Mine was wrinkled like a used soda can until I replaced it with something better.

I don't think however I'd want to drop $42k on something that was obviously used offroad and has all those red flags.

Find a 4Runner owned by an old couple and pay a shop to throw a suspension, wheels, tires and a winch on it.

Edit to add: That Carfax also shows, "Structural alteration disclosed by seller". That sounds ominous.

 

Pass

 

38k miles or 138k miles?!?! It looks pretty rough for the year and mileage. I’d look for a stock one if it was me and add the mods.

I should sell my 23 Pro at the insane prices these are selling for.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Sorry, it's a NO from me, while the outside looks good, the underside looks rough, in one picture you're showing us it looks like it has a KDSS suspension, not a fan of this system due to the high cost of maintenance and complexity, dealer cares about a dollar in his pocket, taken from you, look around.

 

Mods reduce value, because you have to assume it was not done properly. It is also obvious that this truck seen offroad use (and no additional under body armor), these are hard miles that can cause internal component damage (e.g., water in diff).

 

What's that red moss stuff

 

Hard pass at that price. Looks like the vehicle lived in the "rust belt" - not out West.

 

“Welcome”

 

Welcome, I'd pass

 

Sounds like similar story I rejected to accept my TRD ORP after it was repaired due to a major accident. It was reported as minor accident.

The dealership try to tell me the stiffness of the steering, not returning back to middle, pulling to the side and many more is normal. I asked the service manager "would you like to drive my other 4runner?".

IMO dealership are full of lies. Carfax accident report is a joke. Try to find a low miles no accident well maintained 4runner. Also avoid KDSS swaybar ones. Then you build it the way you want and have the warranty on your hand for the aftermarket parts.

 

It’s a no for me. Too many mods, too much accelerated wear, too many red flags and too much money.

 

If you can get it for 30k I say yes. But that's wishful thinking. Someone will pay and go for it.

 

Most of the red color stuff is rust, from the paint getting scraped off from sliding over rocks
The down tubes where the front skid plate goes, that is red clay splashing up from muddy/wet red clay road. That can come off with soap and water.

To the OP
That vehicle was driven fairly hard and wheeled hard. Its got a lot of money put into it but..... you can see it two different ways. You would be getting a vehicle with a lot of work done to it without having to pay for all that work BUT.... You would also be getting a vehicle that has clearly been used hard and put up wet more than once. These vehicles are as tough as nails but they gotta have maintenance. That one is jacked up high, has unknown damage on CarFax, has a wrap on the paint that is questionable. How long has the wrap been on? Was the wrap done to cover up damage or scratches? How much longer till you have to rip the wrap off because its lifting or fading? How long till the KDSS goes out because its been run at high angles from the lift. How many miles do the KINGs have on them and how many more miles before they need a costly full rebuild that will put the vehicle down for weeks while you send them off.
Lots of questions, you gotta be the one to make that decision if the questionable stuff is worth the price.

 

Yeah prices are nuts. Good quality used 2019s in the TRD Premium trim with some upgrades are selling for 36K at 80k miles. I’ve been keeping track of FB sales for a few months now to get a good idea of general price by year and mileage.

Used car market in general is still pretty darn inflated.

 

Yeah, KDSS is a hard pass for me. I can’t afford the upkeep on that one when it inevitably breaks.

 

The underside isn't a concern that happens when you use them off the road but I would still pass those angles are crazy

 

Thanks all! I super appreciate your wisdom here. And re-affirms I want something clean and low miles to start on. I’ll definitely be passing on it. Plenty of fish in the sea, and I’ve got time to get the right one.

 

lol wheres the front skid plate? Nothing covering oil filter and area. Looking at corrosion on oil canister housing, looks like somebody trashed their skid then drove on it for awhile allowing rust up there. I have a lot of rust on mine, but no rust up there as the skid blocks it off.
Kings are nice, parts are nice. However like everybody else said

HARD PASS!

 

I think the previous owner took the skid plates and sliders and what ever possible to remove before it was taken away "Dealer says it was repossessed (owner could not pay)". Dealers always have some story.

I'm pretty sure at this state of mods this 4R had other offroad lights and previous owner took them off before the "repossess".

 

I bet he crunched them considering the slide across the gas tank skid and some other stuff you can see. If he had it repo likely he couldnt afford new skid.

Course dealer is likely lying as their mouth is open and they are talking.

 

ive had a dealer do the following

Crush factory side steps using the hoist and try and hide it
Take an angle grinder to the inside of my wheel which was black and vandalize it
Steal stuff from the glovebox
Claim to do service they didnt

Pretty much stopped going to dealer over 6 years ago unless i need some parts.

 

BMC probably? Don't think that gay Viper cut qualifies as "structural".

I'd absolutely pass on that for questionable mods, but also it just looks like ass.

Get a stock one, OP.

 

Welcome to the forum from North Carolina.

In your journey for a 4Runner, I would pass on this particular unit.

 

Continue your search…

 

https://www.compmotorsportsllc.com/inventory/toyota/4runner/234762/

 

It'll never cease to amaze me how people can spend so much on mods but can't afford to pay for the actual vehicle. Truly living above their means