Keep or Trade?

Yessir!

 

I had a chance to get a 2014 with the 4.0 engine but didn’t and kicking myself over it now.

 

If you trade it in now to a dealer that sells @ Msrp, there’s no better time than now to do it. I’d do it. I think the SR5 is the sweet spot.

 

I kind of did the same thing as the OP. Had a perfectly serviceable 2001 4Runner with "only" 270K miles, but saw the writing on the wall with supply chain issues early last year and was watching inventories shrink and prices increase. I vacillated on selling the '01, but finally pulled the trigger, got a nice 2021 TRD OFF ROAD Access cab, and sold the lovingly cared-for 4Runner with a clean conscience to a little gal that paid cash.

Hang on to your 2nd gen until you have a new one you like sitting in your driveway. A new one is too much money to pay for something that is "just okay," when the only problems with the existing vehicle are peeling paint and minor things that are fixable. It would be financially foolish to give the old truck to the dealer, because that is effectively what you will be doing...sell it on your own instead. The dealer is not doing you any favors. And even Tacos with 200K miles are going for top $ right now around here, because there are. No. Vehicles. (FWIW, a friend in MT just sold his 1st or 2nd gen Taco with 200K miles for $8K and got several immediate offers. He feels like he sold too low.)

This is my 4th Toyota since 1983 (2 trucks and 2-4Runners), and with each successive vehicle I feel like I lost things I really liked and gained technology that I didn't ask for and usually don't use. I did not have a problem getting out to turn the hubs in, I liked the manual transmissions, I liked having an actual KEY, and I miss the damned CD player. My new 3rd gen is amazing, but I'd trade it for the 1980 4Runner that was going strong at 315K miles.

Whatever decision you make will be fine. Do it, enjoy, and don't look back.

 

No truer words have been written, at least in this whole thread!

 

LOL yes. I am a classic car mechanic. I drive old cars from the 60's and 70's all the time. Sure they have lots of wind noise and are loud in general. But add A/C fuel injection, a modern overdrive transmission, and good brakes/suspension and they are SO much cooler than a modern version. And perfectly daily drivable. My tacoma is at the dealer now hopefully getting an issue with the touch screen fixed. I'm driving a new rav4 with lane assist. Who the hell asked for this? I actually used it last night and it does work but it's like riding with a drunk.

I REALLY like my 3rd gen. Just bought it and I paid WAY too much in my opinion. But it was what I wanted right down to the color and I can't afford new. But the last 05 I had was one of my favorite trucks. Out of now 18. I sold it when I was trying to buy a house after my divorce. A year later it came up for sale and I was looking for a truck. I contacted the guy and someone was looking at it right then. I was SO close to getting it back. I would probably still have it had I got it back.

 

Any day without a car payment is a good day! Having said that, I will say that many financial decisions are based emotion versus what is in your best financial interest.

 

I tend to prefer the 4.0 over the 3.5, preference of course

But I like the driving aspects of the 3rd gen better.

I somewhat disliked the around town feel if the 2nd compared to the 3rd gen. Somewhat, to be nitpicking

but I dislike a car payment way more.

tough to say. I tend to develop an almost emotional bond with my vehicles after enough time. Difficult to put a value on that.