2021 4Runner TRD Pro, 70k mi, $45kclean CARFAX, Lunar Rock vs 2023 ORP. looking for ownership/reliability input
I’m considering a 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro 4WD in Lunar Rock for work in remote desert terrain. It has approximately 70,000 miles, a 4.0L V6, 5-speed automatic, part-time 4WD with low range, and a clean CARFAX. Asking price is $45,000, with shipping/fees separate but comparable to other options. I will be driving 3 hrs per day on the road and also off road in the Mojave daily.
Location: Huntington Beach, California; I would register it in Nevada.
Condition/history:
- Clean CARFAX, no reported accidents.
- 3 owners including dealerships
- I will get an independent pre-purchase inspection before buying.
- I plan to keep it stock; no lift, aftermarket suspension, oversized tires, or major modifications planned.
Factory equipment that matters to me:
- Fox suspension with rear reservoirs.
- Factory all-terrain tires.
- TRD front skid plate.
- Locking rear differential, Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, and 4LO.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, JBL audio.
- Lunar Rock is my favorite fifth-gen color and I strongly prefer it over white.
I am also considering a 2023 TRD Off-Road Premium 4WD at about $44,000 with roughly 30,000 miles, 4.0L V6/5-speed automatic, in white. It was corporate-owned and has a CARFAX-reported moderate accident, though the airbags did not deploy. The dealer says it has been inspected, has driven it personally, and would offer a warranty at cost. It appears stock, but I would still obtain repair records and an independent body/frame/mechanical inspection.
I understand the newer ORP has a substantial mileage and age advantage. My concern is that the accident history will affect both long-term confidence and resale, while the clean Pro has the factory equipment, color, and history I prefer.
How much weight would you place on a clean-history 2021 Pro at 70k miles versus a newer, 30k-mile ORP with a moderate non-airbag accident?
Photos are mostly of the 23 with the accident showing the front end where the damage is reported.