So, are telling me I should get it? 
I’m almost there, I just need a nudge.
I wish click and clack were still on the air, they would have knocked some sense into me!
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If 4-runners came in a manual we wouldn’t be having this nice discussion 
They would tell you to buy a used Corolla, nobody needs a 426 Hemi, FJ Cruiser or a Corvette, save your money for a rocking chair.
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4Runners used to offer manuals, depending on how old you’re willing to buy (until around 2000 IIRC).
My old boss was brought over on assignment from Japan, and his wife wanted an FJ to drive around here. (He was an avid off-roader and had an 80s-vintage Land Cruiser back home.) The FJ had been out of production for a couple years, and his wife wanted a rare color (yellow with a white top). And since they were new here, a Japanese-speaking dealer would be a plus. Amazingly they found one locally with only 14,500 miles that met all their criteria, but I’m pretty sure they paid its new MSRP for it.
If you’re looking for a bargain 4x4, you won’t find it in a Toyota or a Jeep - I’d suggest something like an older Nissan Pathfinder or Frontier. They may not be “as reliable” on paper, but you’d have to make a lot of repairs before you spend as much as the Toyota. If, on the other hand, you have your heart set on the FJ and don’t care about getting a “deal”, then I’d say go for it because otherwise you’ll always be wondering if you missed out. YOLO. 
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OK , for those who don’t know > YOLO is annoying shorthand for ( You Only Live Once ) .
YOLO is annoying shorthand
Agree 90% of text speak is very annoying what ever happened to spelling thing’s out?
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First it was teletypes from the 50’s. Then came smart phones. This generation things they invented it.
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Says who? I’ve owned 2 older pathfinders (1990 and 1998). Both lasted well over 300k miles. The 98 pathfinder was still going strong when we sold it with over 400k miles. The older pathfinders were very reliable vehicles. My 2005 4runner was also very reliable. We sold that with over 300k miles. The 4runner had a brake caliper design flaw that forced me to replace the calipers and pads every 18 months or so. I loved my 4runner, but I give the edge for reliability to my Pathfinders.
The FJ is more of a trimmed down version of the 4runner. Both are built on the same platform, but I don’t think you could get a V8 in the FJ. But a manual tranny was possible.
Nissan’s reputation seems to have taken a hit in the last 10 years or so… I’m not sure if it’s just the CVTs (which aren’t in their trucks) or if it’s cost cutting on all models. The 90s-vintage Pathfinders do have stellar reputations but I wasn’t sure if OP was looking for something that old.
FWIW, I tend to think virtually all brands are reliable enough nowadays that the Toyota and Honda premiums aren’t worth it.
And yes, no V8 FJ Cruisers. 
Nissan completely redesigned their Pathfinder. It’s not a truck anymore. More like a Cross-over. The Pathfinder use to compete directly with the 4runner. Now they compete with Highlander.
The last year of the truck style Pathfinder was 2012. Body-on-frame with an extremely durable 4.0l V6. I think you could still get with a Manual. If I was looking for a used SUV…that vehicle would be at or near the top of my list.
Thank you…
Did the professional mechanic put it on a lift and do a thorough inspection? If not, get that inspection for about $125. That’s more than 10 times less than the seller wants for it, and we’ll worth the cost.
Thank you guys for all the advice.
Apparently the inspector found that the exhaust smoke was blue, for oil smoke. He found that the front timing cover was leaking oil on the right side.
He advised that the tailgate needs hinges, it closes, but you have to maneuver it to close. The inspector suggested a body shop to fix it.
So, I wrote the dealer back with a counter offer of 8k. Which most probably he will refuse
The hunt continues
G
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Oil burning? Don’t counter offer, just forget that one.
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You’re too generous. $8k for an SUV with 202,000 miles, which will need a costly engine rebuild/replacement in the not-too-distant future? It sounds like these things really are a cult, because rational thinking would be to buy something else which runs well, has less miles, and costs less.
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Old FJs are collectors items. I didn’t think the new ones were.
They’re not. Maybe they might be, but I doubt it. The Old FJ’s were used a lot for off-roading. The FJ’s -while very capable of off-roading - very few people ever did. But a good overall solid body-on-frame Suv.
Whether it is worth it or not is one question. But the asking price is not all that far out of line with what other sellers are asking for these vehicles.
For one reason or another, there are buyers willing to pay $10K or more for high mileage FJs. That is the current market.
As an owner of 2006 vintage of this R51 platform Pathfinder, I pretty much support the recommendation for it over FJ if funding is not unlimited 
I should warn about “extremely durable V6” although: while it is true in general, some of engines were produced with defective secondary (small) timing chains, resulting in “whining” sound by the mileage around 100K or even sooner, moderate complexity fix for DIY, but quite expensive to outsource.
Early R51 years also puked the coolant into the transmission fluid due to defect in the transmission oil loop inside their radiator, so it’s a good idea to replace it preemptively, but other than that, it’s a great car with just enough of “brick-shaped-look”
Concur. It’s in the right spot for one, and it has the +/- buttons for adjusting braking force.
This means, of course, that this FJ was used to tow something heavy, so you’re going to want to check it over extra carefully, because if they didn’t do it right or didn’t keep up on maintenance that could cause problems.
The price for used Japanese trucks is absolutely freaking insane. Especially ones that say Toyota on them. You’re gonna get ripped off even paying current market value. Go in knowing that and if it’s what you really want, that’s fine. But don’t expect a price drop because Ford is coming out with a toy truck. I mean, the prices didn’t go down when they released the new Ranger, did they?
There is a big market desire for older Japanese trucks, and the people looking for them would in general have to be talked into going domestic even for a significantly lower price. This means a $30,000 domestic SUV is not going to be competition for a Toyota SUV that costs less than half of that.
But have it inspected by a mechanic before you buy.