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The vehicle you are purchasing is generally reliable. The problems I have observed from my experience working on similar vehicles every day were noisy suspension and noise in general. This can be tested for in a simple test drive. Also make sure that when you press the brakes that there is no vibration and that the vehicle does not veer into one direction. Drive the vehicle up to 50 miles per hour before purchasing the vehicle to make sure that the conditions that I mentioned are not there.

As for a more thorough inspection, check all electronics, make sure everything works, make sure all windows open,all doors open, make sure all gauges work. Make sure the sliding roof works. make sure all electric seats work. It is highly recommended that you take it to toyota for a pre-purchase inspection, that way you'll know exactly what the vehicle needs prior to purchase.

I could not view the car fax report, Could you attach it at www.mediafire.com and send me a link?

I checked the car fax, I am not too alarmed by the emissions failure and the exhaust repair. It is normal that vehicles fail the emissions test and it looks like the vehicle passed the test twice after that repair, initially and then 7 months later with another owner so I wouldn't be alarmed by that.

Inspect the items that I mentioned and see what the pre-purchase inspection say.

If you have any other questions please let me know, if you are satisfied with my answer please rate it so I can get compensated for my time. Thank you.

Hello again Charlie,

I want you to ask all the questions that you have, My job is answer all your questions and I fully understand the frustration of buying a car and I want you to be well informed and as comftrable as possible with the purchase.

Now since you are not buying the vehicle from the dealership that will do the inspection they will be completely honest with everything, The dealership might exaggerate the needed repairs at some point but they will give you the list of repairs needed to bring the vehicle to a brand new condition so their list might be big, here's what I suggest. Get the list from the dealership and analyze it I can help with that too.

Your vehicle has not timing belt so you shouldn't worry about this. After you purchase the vehicle take it to your local toyota dealership. Have them do an oil change and inspect the tirs,brakes and suspension. Every car needs repairs but if you keep fixing everything it will never end, so I suggest you start with the basic maintenance and safety items. If your tires,brakes and\or suspension needed attention then take care of it since that's a safety concern. Then check your drive belts, check all the fluid levels and top off as needed. then drive the vehicle for 3 months, See what concerns you have with the vehicle, do you hear any noises?Do you have any problems? And go from there with repairs. A typical brake job at a dealership would be around 250-300, if you needed rotors that will add another 200 dollars. A typical oil change would be around 30-40 dollars.

Let me know if you need my opinion on what the dealership finds on the pre-purchase inspection.

Well since the dealership that is selling the vehicle is cooperative then that's a good indication of their good business, I would definitely ask them to have the dealership test drive the vehicle. Make a deal with them where you will pay a fee for the inspection if you buy the vehicle or not, that way the dealership will do a proper inspection and not a free one.

If it's possible I would say that you are present when the dealership does the pre-purchase inspection, And before the pre-purchase inspection drive the vehicle yourself, If you don't like the way it drives and you see signs of issues then that right there might pull the deal off to begin with, I know it's a long shot but you might want to consider it.

Did you try www.craigslist.org to look for local 4runners?