Help Deciding Between Two 2004 4th Gens

Hello,

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to make a purchase this week. We need a 4x4 vehicle to be used at our vacation property which is off-grid. The roads are rocky with a muddy, clay spot after it rains. I'm deciding between the following two vehicles. One is cleaner with fewer miles and the other has some modifications...

Blue:
Dealer
$8700 + tax and fees ($10,000 total)
2004
*204k miles
V6
Mostly stock
Cleaner than the other
New lights
New stock Michelin tires
Detailed
4G booster
Kenmore stereo with backup camera
................................

Black:
2004
Sport Edition
Private seller
$9800
*244k miles
V6
New hubs and seals
3-inch mild lift with bilstein and oldmen emu
New wheels - BF Goodridge KO2 tires Radiator - flush front
Rear diff oil drained

 

Both of those descriptions mention some niceties but not really the crucial info... though the Sport one's diff flush and new hubs/seals does pique my interest.

You need to go look yourself or get pictures of the engine bay and every which way you can see the frame underneath. That'll be the telling info. Also, whether the water pump/thermostat have ever been touched. Any maintenance info to be had on oil change history? Trans ever been touched? Head gaskets?

 

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to have a mechanic look at both. I wouldn't know what to look for. I guess my question should be:

If both vehicles are in good working order, motor and transmission working properly with no previous repair, which one is more appealing? Higher mileage with some mods or lower mileage mostly stock?

 

Do you like hood skewps? If yes, go black, if no, go blue

Kidding aside...If you plan on modding your truck, my vote is go for the stock one. If you're less inclined to DIY and don't plan on modding and want it to be purchased in a "done" state, go for the pre-modded one.

Or, look at the frames and go with the least rusted frame hah.

 

Haha I didn't even think about it or realize that those scoops are purely cosmetic.

Anyway, thanks for your message, Spencer. Along with my mechanic, I decided on the blue one. I just drove it home today. It actually feels good to be in the family my first Toyota. It honestly drives great and the mechanic said it's a great buy.

I took the advice of Incrediboy above and asked the seller of the black 4runner for a photo of the engine bay. Coincidentally on the same day I made up my mind to buy the blue, stock one, the seller of the black one said it was becoming too much of a hassle. It was a "bother" for me to ask for a photo of the engine bay. He sounded like a nice guy at first but???

So I'm happy with my purchase so far. Thanks!