Buying a 4Runner for my girlfiend. What do you guys think?

That's what I've learned. I've always been a Chevy guy and my family is a Chevy family. after my 08 Colorado gave it up a 2months ago I decided I'm going Toyota. I couldn't be happier and everyone I've talked to that has gone from Chevy or Ford to a Toyota said they would never go back. I always take care of my cars. I use full synthetic oil, chevron gas and I stay up on all the scheduled maintenance when its due.

 

Yeah it's better she exits that car. Those Volvo XC70's from what I hear can be no fun once the transmission starts having issues. $$$$

 

the Volvo has been Nickle and diming us for awhile now. its also a pain in the ass to work on so I have to take it to the shop for almost everything. I do almost all my own maintenance on my truck and I will do the same once she gets a car I can actually work on.

 

as a technician working for Chevrolet, I can tell you I am only there for the money. I worked for Toyota for 3 years and couldn't make money because they don't break. I will never leave Chevrolet. hopefully that's speaks for itself.

 

I could think of a lot worse things to spend $3800 on. Go for it

 

I never told you that story?!?!

There are pictures of my truck with the dashboard taken out buried somewhere in my MegaThread. The saga begins in May or June 2017; I happened to reach across and feel the air coming out of the far right vent in my truck when I had the A/C on. The A/C was blowing ice cubes out of the left vents, kind cool out of the middle right vent, and hot humid outside air from the far right vent. I brought it to my mechanic; He pressure-tested the system and could not find a leak, but he charged it and it worked fine again for the rest of the summer.

In 2018, I used the A/C for the first time in April while taking my then-girlfriend to a car show in New Jersey. It was blowing ice cold on the left side, but warm on the right. I brought it to my mechanic AGAIN, and he charged it but again couldn't find the leak. By July 2018, it was doing the same thing again (blowing cold on the left and warm on the right).

I went to the Carlisle Truck Nationals first weekend in August, and made it through a brutal heat wave with my A/C only working at 60% capacity. I took it to the dealer the Monday after Carlisle; they charged the system and put die in the refrigerant. I was instructed to bring the truck back in two or three weeks to give the dye time to circulate. I brought the truck back in late August or early September, and it was worst-case scenario. The evaporator core was leaking. The tech brought me back into the shop, gave me a pair of UV glasses, and shined a UV light down into the engine bay.

My dad had to help me pay for the repairs, but the dealer did actually fix it; When I got my truck back after the 2-day repair job, the A/C was working better than it had the last two years.

 

What sucks is that next to Toyota, Chevy is my second favorite brand of truck! I prefer the older Chevy and GMC trucks though...

 

Is your '02 a stick shift?

 

@TacomaTyler_2002

My cousin and her husband live in Northern California, and he had a 2010 Volvo V50 that he absolutely loved; He bought the Volvo new and let his sister drive his 2006 Toyota 4Runner for a while. In 2017 with about 70K on the clock, a computerized HVAC part in the V50 failed, and the A/C started blowing warm on the driver's side. My cousin's husband was quoted about four grand for parts and labor. He promptly traded the Volvo in for a brand new Toyota Highlander!

 

Automatic 2.7l

 

Can you drive stick?

Also, I showed my dad pictures of the T4R you're looking at buying for your GF. He is very picky about used vehicles and was absolutely amazed by the condition. I'm wondering if you can get the seller down to $3,500?

 

its been years since I drove stick but yes. I plan on buying another Tacoma 4x4 stick shift for just off-roading.

 

any interior pics? that 4runner is badass

 

And it's a stick shift too!

 

I just drove my friend’s ‘04 TRD 3.4L/5-speed last week!

 

My girlfriend stole my 99 Wrangler I picked up a few months back, it was gonna be my off road toy so I was not beating up my Tacoma. She drove it a couple if times and told me she was taking it as a Christmas present. Maybe I should get an old 4runner.

 

Ended up buying the 4Runner yesterday, clean on the inside and out, looks like it’s going to need a new valve cover gasket but other than that no issues.

 

Looks like a nice clean 4Runner, as others have said just make sure 2wd works for you(her). I had a 3rd gen 4runner and mine was trouble free.

 

Very clean purchase. As long as the chassis has no rust and it has been maintained, the price you paid is decent.

I would make sure of the following though:
-LBJ's replaced?
-Radiator/Trans mix? (Pink Milkshake)
-Timing belt replacement

Other than that, you have a 3rd gen ready for another 200k