Need input, Is this a good buy?

[chairwitharmrests]

Ok so I have been in the market for a vehicle to tow my 2100lb track car about 10 times a year and also serve as a daily driver. I have looked at everything and I narrowed it down to either a 96-01 4runner, tacoma, or the frontier. All of which are extrememly hard to find with decent mileage and within my price range of 6k. So I finally found a silver 2001 Desert Runner XE with 100,300 miles on it. The owner is the second since 05 and says he alwalys used synthetic at every oil change. According to him it is clean and runs great other then a little rust on the rear bumper and the a/c is not working for some reason. Anyways he is asking $4995obo, which sounds reasonable for what it is. It is way more modern looking then any chevy or domestic and the toyotas for that matter that I could get for that price not too mention more reliable then the domestics atleast. As far as reliablility how is the 3.3l that comes in these? is it comparable to toyotas v6? Because I do not seem to see high mileage frontiers like I do tundra's, and there is another 98 frontier 2wd I saw with 140k but had a new engine put in at 80k for some reason. Input please.......

[roastbeef]

i have never had a problem with my 3.3. maintain it and it will run forever.
these trucks don't have tons of power though. max tow capacity is 5K lbs. its still going to be a dog pulling that car/trailer though.

[cntryby493]

the gas mileage will be horrible an it may be a little ruff taking off considering the weight of the trailer too .

[Abmobil]

The 3.3 is very reliable,
My dad has a 01 supercharged with 175k that runs great ,and uses no oil.
Never any problems except for the crappy exhaust manifolds being replaced at 70k ,and of course the passenger side is craked again!!!!

How much does the trailer weigh that your putting the car on?
The 3.3 will pull it ,but it will be SLOWW, but it should still get the job done.

[Whiffle]

How often do you plan on pulling with it? Does the trailer have brakes? If its pretty regularly, get a full size. That gas mileage won't be much worse if at all and it'll pull a whole lot better. When I was looking at trucks I drove one with the 3.3 and a 5 speed, I can't imagine trying to tow something with it. It would do it I'm sure, just not happily.

As far as domestics reliability goes... I had very very few issues from my chevy. Actually, I only got rid of it because the interior is falling apart (power locks, rear window not working, etc), but the drivetrain is solid at 200,000 miles. Its 14 years old as well.

[chairwitharmrests]

I work at chevy and I see and work on the trucks that come in and I wouldnt drive one other then the fact that I know them so well.

Anyways I knew the truck wouldnt accelerate and brake like a fullsize would but towing an aluminum trailer with or w/o brakes and my car altogether waying in around 3300-3500lbs 10 times a year on a 400mile round trip at most, i think it should do farely well.

So does it sound like a good buy otherwise? 2001 Silver Desert Runner XE, 100,300miles with broken a/c(that I could fix) for $4995 obo?

[Abmobil]

Sounds like a good deal to me.
The timing belt is due at 105k.

So if he hasent done that your looking at around $500 to $700 dollers for a dealer to do it.

[Whiffle]

Originally Posted by chairwitharmrests

I work at chevy and I see and work on the trucks that come in and I wouldnt drive one other then the fact that I know them so well.

Anyways I knew the truck wouldnt accelerate and brake like a fullsize would but towing an aluminum trailer with or w/o brakes and my car altogether waying in around 3300-3500lbs 10 times a year on a 400mile round trip at most, i think it should do farely well.

So does it sound like a good buy otherwise? 2001 Silver Desert Runner XE, 100,300miles with broken a/c(that I could fix) for $4995 obo?

Hah, I don't think I've ever heard someone who works at company X and would drive a product of company X. Funny how that works...

Sounds good to me.