how reliable

I was wondering how reliable are the 4runners compared to tacomas? The 4.0 engines are the same that are in the tacomas, correct? The early 2000s were the 3.4? These were good from what I remember. Its when you get into the early 90s. I'm throwing ideas around to be able to get out of my truck payment (not that its high or anything), just to free up some more money for my wife and I not to struggle. Also, when looking at Toyotas in general, how many miles is too much to not even consider buying? I'm hoping for either a 4runner or early 2000s tacoma.

 

4runners are as reliable or more reliable than a Tacoma. Maybe that has to do with the fact that every USDM 4runner ever made is made in Japan and not USA or Mexico.

Condition and use matters more than mileage. My brothers 2003 4.0L V6 4wd has 260k miles and you wouldn't know it. When he got it with 207k he went and looked at shit piles with sub 100k mileage and went with the "high" mileage runner. He made the right choice.

 

Are any years better than the other? Probably looking early 2000s(with relatively low miles) to probably 2008ish if price is right.

 

'03 and '04 4Rs have a fairly common head gasket issue, had to patch mine at 160K. That's about the only major item to be aware of on the runners.

 

Head gasket failure was pretty common on the 3.0 as well. There was even a re-call for it. Loved the smaller 4runners though.

 

my brothers 96 4runner just rolled over 450k miles on it. with the original transmission.
his 4runner is what sold me on Toyota's.

Some people may call them dated but the reliability of them is like no other that's for sure

 

Made/built in Japan still!Not the USA,Mexico etc.

 

actually they are made here, there's a big Toyota plant in Texas that makes a lot of the truck series

 

get a 3rd generation 4runner.

those are the ones that are built like a tank. dependable engine. more reliable than the tacomas for sure.

I have one and love it.

 

My 04 was a Japanese built, I believe all of the 4th Gens were. Any 5th Gen owners, take a look at the driver door tag?

 

If you're looking at older 4runners stay away from the 3.0! They are terrible. The 22RE is better but also underpowered in an SUV

The 3rd gen 4runners with the 3.4 are great.

 

Agreed. 3.0 which was prone to head gasket failure due to exhaust routing and actual gasket used from factory. I'd much rather have the 22-re or the 3.4 which started in 1996+ models.

 

I wouldn't call them the same 4.0 engine IIRC the Tacomas only had single vvti while the 4Runner 4.0 was a dual vvti

 

The 3rd generation are so cheap these days, you can't really go wrong. Stay away from the 3.0

Every 4runner comes from Japan. Made on the same line as the land cruiser. Tacoma and Tundra made in MX, and TX.

what he said

 

No T4R has ever been manufactured in North America.

The current T4R & Lexus GX are based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and while still similar to a Toyota Pickup are different down to their fully boxed frames.

The T4R is every bit as rugged and capable as a Tacoma but, offer a different usefulness.

RED = GOOD
BLACK = BAD



ON EDIT: I've owned both and think both are awesome!

 

had a 03, 4.0. 170,000. only prob area was the rear hatch lock, learned the easy fix after replacing 3 of them. take the 4 runner,much nicer road vehicle, same gas milage as tacoma, and def better on icy or snow covered rds.

 

changed oil around 7,000 miles, still looked like new, the 4.0 is an excellent motor, tuned differently in the 4runner, it runs much stronger, dont know why. holds hills in overdrive, where my 12 tacoma will downshift at the site of a hill.

 

currently headed from michigan to florida in a 15, 4 runner limited, monday hit the worst rain and hail storms ive ever driven in going through ohio, inches of hail slop on the rd and thought for sure we would loose the windshield and have body damage, also i 75 is all construction so there were lakes of standing water. this truck never flinched or did anything out of the norm, to the mountains in georga, hit them at 75-80 no downshifts at all, we are loaded with pro 500 lbs of luggage and crap and comp says 20.8 mpg on last tank, no other vehicle i would want to be in.

 

and no hail damage, yeehah

 

Just did 525 miles yesterday in a '14 T4R 4x4 and achieved 21mpg.

And having owned several Tacoma's can def say the T4R is a completely different beast driving in rain & snow than the Tacoma. Heavy rain and snow covered interstate...T4R is way better.