Prior 3rd Gen 4runner owner

Any 3rd generation 4 runner prior owner here.

Been debating the merits of my 2014 TRD OR DCSB purchase as a
replacement for my 2001 4runner. While the tacoma is definitely better in all aspect, i just miss the tight rawness of the 4runner's handling. For some reason i keep on going for the 4runner more than the tacoma..

what am i missing?
Now I am debating on which one i am going to start building up.

Id like to hear others input from their experience.

 

are you comparing the new taco to a new 4 runner or the new taco to the old 4 runner.

the old 4 runner / 1st gen tacoma's are a fucking bitching vehicle... full boxed frame, the bulletproof 3.4L and their size lends them to wheeling much better on technical stuff.

Part of me REALLY wishes i bought a used 1st gen to beat on, but i love the creature comforts of my 2013 TRD OR DCSB.

 

Ive always lusted for the 1st gen Tacos but could not justify the asking prices of a decent unmolested one. So i just went for a new 2nd gen tacoma.

I wish i have known this forum earlier.

 

haha yeah that was my delima.... unmolested one i wanted, would of been 15k OTD for a 10 year old truck with 100+k on it.... no thanks.

My buddy has a 3rd gen 4 runner and that thing surprises the hell out of me.... and he doesnt even have a locker!

 

I had a '99 Limited, but due to the requirements of my new job (having a vehicle less than 5 years old), I got a Tacoma and sold the 4Runner. Should have kept it. That's all I have to say about that.

 

I have a '96 4Runner with 327K miles, just picked up a '15 access cab TRD OR.

Both are manual transmission.

The 4Runner feels more like a truck to me. The new taco is so smooth and refined it's more like a car.

My plan is to fix up my old 4Runner now that I have additional winter transportation.

 

Coming from a prior 2nd gen Taco owner, the first gen Tacomas were built better. The build quality of my 04 is top notch compared to the way my 2nd gen was. Both are good trucks though and you can't go wrong with either depending on your needs. I myself find the smaller first gen just as comfy as my 2nd gen was. Only thing to worry about with first gens is the rusty frames.

I was going to get a second gen double cab, but I found a smoking deal on an 04 double cab with 75k original miles I couldn't pass it up!