One owner first year R50 southern truck, garage kept—how much?

[DukeNukem]

Hello gents, I have been looking to purchase a 4Runner or Pathfinder in the 1995-2000 era for a while.

Mostly focusing on the Yota.  But I have recently come across a great find in a 1996 Pathfinder, and I am curious what the community thinks?

 

You hear about car stories like this, but I have personally not ever come across one before.

An older gentlemen is selling his 1996 Pathfinder SE 4x4 that he is the original and only owner / driver of.

He is retiring and moving to be with his children / grandkids—the reason he is selling.

This Pathfinder has been garage kept it’s whole life—and it is obvious. Even the weatherstripping has no dry-rot or cracks.

He has stayed on top of the maintenance, and clearly has the means to take care of his baby.  Nothing has been neglected.

Additionally, nothing has been modified.  EVER.

 

It is bone stock. In addition to the standard options of the SE 4x4, this vehicle has $5,000 dollars worth of options.

I know, because he sent me a picture of the WINDOW STICKER along with the other documents.

Included in the options of this SE, are the power sunroof, off-road package, leather package, spare tire carrier on the back, and auto-climate control.

All of which work flawlessly.  The seller claims the only item that doesn’t work as new, is the power antenna. 

The leather seats look incredible—though I prefer cloth for durability.

The paint looks incredible.

It truly is a time capsule.  Despite the 30 years and 175,000 miles.

 

It currently gets driven a few thousand miles per year.

The older gent doesn’t take it on trips—he has a new vehicle for that, and is not comfortable driving it on at highway speeds since the speed limit went up from 55mph due to the engine rpms exceeding 3200 rpms. 

🥹

 

And did I mention this is a 5-speed manual truck?

 

Truly a gem of a find for anyone looking for a first series R50.

The downside?  It is 2 and a half hours away—so a bit of a hike for me.

The asking price is $6500.  What does the community think?  Worth it?  Not sure if he would take less for his baby.

And I don’t want to drive that far to just one back empty-handed.

[BCangler99]

Sounds like a good truck and it's a 5 speed. Do you know if he's done the timing chain and water pump? How is the rust?

6500$ US asking price is a bit much. But sounds like it would be a solid rig to last you many years if he's kept up on it.

[DukeNukem]

Upstate North Carolina truck—in an area with one or two light snows per winter.

He provided pictures from a couple years ago when it was up on the lift to get new exhaust.

some surface rust on heat shields and skid plate, but zero structural rust, and little to zero rust on any of the main hardware.  

No rust visible anywhere in the engine bay, other than a couple spring clamps on some of the vacuum lines.

 

He has done all the regular items:

-timing belt, water pump, clutch/pressure plate, shocks, alternator, starter, rear trailing arms… all documented.

 

[hawairish]

Sounds like a gem.

 

$6500 feels high, but all things considered (including today's economy), it also feels worth it if it has all you're looking for...and IMO, having a vehicle in excellent physical conditions goes a long way to justifying the price, not to mention one that's mechanically sound with proof of maintenance.

 

By comparison, I paid around $5K for a 2004 SE in 2014 with 156K miles.  Was in great physical shape, very good interior shape, and great mechanical shape, with OME suspension lift, and armor items (skids, sliders).  That was a deal I didn't pass up.

 

I guess my questions for you are:

1. What are you looking to do with the truck or use it for?

2. What features are you looking for that limit the search to the pre-facelift years (96-00 with 3.3L) vs. facelift years (01-04 with 3.5L)?

 

I don't know anything about 4Runners, aside from the likelihood someone with one asking $6500 for a truck with 250K-300K on it.

[CALPATHY]

The price is a little high, but if you are looking for a manual there are not easy to find.  It took me a long time to find one even back then when they were more common.

[DukeNukem]

Here is a couple pictures of the time capsule.

Haven’t bought it yet.  But I intend to make the trip this weekend and hopefully get it for 5500.

[BCangler99]

37 minutes ago, DukeNukem said:

Here is a couple pictures of the time capsule.

Haven’t bought it yet.  But I intend to make the trip this weekend and hopefully get it for 5500.

Looks really good  

[DukeNukem]

CP2 Mahogany Pearl

 

Wouldn’t be my first choice in color.. but it looks nice

[DukeNukem]

Absolute top Kelley Blue Book value is showing $2663.  

I feel crazy for even considering $6500.

 

$4500 I would feel good about, given the single owner history and great condition.

[hawairish]

I've not considered KBB as reputable for pricing for a very long time, at least not in the last decade.  I mean, pretend you were in the other guys shoes and owned that vehicle...would you list it at $2663?

 

Obviously, R50's aren't any sort of heritage vehicle, but they're pretty good looking, dependable, and have a solid drivetrain.  I'm not huge on mahogany, and I'm not even sure I've seen that color before, but it looks great.

 

Does the buyer seem flexible on pricing?

[DukeNukem]

Haven’t even discussed price.

He seems like a nice older fellow.  Provides any information or pictures I have asked for.

I am just going to be frank and let him know that after considering everything, I still would like to purchase the car, but $5000 would be the most I could do.