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1999 Toyota 4Runner — cheap project has enough margin to fix and resell?

DetailDadCommunity StarterJan 14, 20261999 Toyota 4Runner SR5NYC
I found a running car with cosmetic damage and deferred maintenance at a low price. Before treating it as a flip, how do you budget hidden repairs, title/registration, taxes, transport and selling time? I am in NYC. Mileage is about 18,000.
apr
7.22
location
NYC
ppi planned
term months
60
asking price
69000
dealer doc fee
699
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4 replies

HighwayCommuter400Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 15, 2026permalink
The trap is a pretty payment hiding a worse car price. Two 1999 Toyota 4Runner quotes only help if both include tax, title, and the same options. That's the part that actually changes the decision. If they can't show the line item, I assume it's hiding. If they only talk monthly I'm walking.
HighwayCommuter400Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 15, 2026permalink
I'd slow the salesperson down here. If one piece looks too good on the 1999 Toyota 4Runner, hunt doc fees, accessories, and the APR next. That's the part that actually changes the decision. If they can't show the line item, I assume it's hiding. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
V8Fan67Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 15, 2026permalink
Hard-won lesson from my last deal: Call your insurer in NYC before you fall in love with the 1999 Toyota 4Runner. I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. On “cheap project has enough margin to fix,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Verbal 'we'll take care of it' is not a plan. Climate here is different, so treat that as a local data point. If they get vague again I'm shopping the deal elsewhere.
V8Fan67Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 16, 2026permalink
If I were shopping this, if they're pushing term length to shrink the payment, the 1999 Toyota 4Runner price probably got worse. Screenshot the worksheet if you can. I'd want that in writing, not as a promise. If they only talk monthly I'm walking.
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