Which 4Runner would you choose?

2nd gen because my brother has one and those things will take punishment, ours which is a 99 limited 2wd has been through an accident where an impala hit the passenger rear wheel causing the back end to fly into the air turn around and land on the hood of a maxima at a stop light, no one was injured and all that happened to the 4runner was broken side step, scraped up rear door panels cracked axle and bottom rear passenger door was just pushed in so there was a gap between the roof and door. The 4runner had no dents or broken class and no body damage besides door panels. The 4 runner also had 2 break ins and is driving back and forth from college of charleston to alpharetta ga atleast 7 times a year. That suv still runs like brand new and is fun to drive and is fast

 

I would take the second gen. That is if its well kept with good maint. records.

I'm not too fond of high mileage auto tranys, you just don't know how it was driven by the previous driver & a rebuild could mean big bucks (assuming it's an auto).

 

i would take 2nd generation because thats what i have a 94 sr5 with 135,000 and i love it for off roading but not as fast as the 3rd gen

 

2nd partly because of the low miles, and i slightly like them more

 

For the record, speed is not really an issue. There are no 4runner racing circuits that I'm aware of. This would be a combo DD/light offroader. Auto or manual are available. I'm leaning toward 3rd gen because if minor repairs are necessary, I already know my way around the 3.4L. Most of the 3rd gens that I'm looking at have anywhere between 145K-190K. I'm no stranger to high mile Toyotas. I bought my Tacoma with 103k and it currently has almost 127K. My old Tercel had over 150K when It left my family. It was still running great at the time.

 

My brother has a 3rd gen but it looks more like the 2nd gen which i like the look of more. The engine in the 3rd gen is better they call the 2nd gen v6 the 3.slow...My brothers 4runner is nice and fun to drive its like driving my tacoma but with a cap.

 

I'd go with the high mile 3rd gen. My wife has an 02 4X4 that we bought new. Been trouble free for 158,000 miles so far just routine maint. Still drives good as new and we have no intention of replacing it for the forseeable future.

 

isnt the 3.0 the worst toyo engine made? doesnt it have constant head gasket failures? why not a second gen 22re'd 4runner? i have a 3rd gen and its a sweet truck

 

I've read alot about head gasket failures in the 3.0's. No 22RE's for sale in my area. I'm leaning toward a 3rd gen like yours. It's going to serve as surrogate Tacoma til I get back on my feet again.

 

I had an 89 V6 auto that I should have never never sold had a 90 5 speed way under powered and I currently have two gen 3's a 99 limited 4X4 and a 96 limited 4X4 I really like the 3.4 motor.

 

That's bad-ass. The pictures worked fine.

 

3rd gen...but only cause thats the only one ive owned but i loved it. plus like you said you're already familiar with the 3.4l which is a great engine. sometimes i wonder why i traded mine in but im very happy with my 09 taco.

 

3rd gen is what i'd choose...even with higher miles....still gonna run forever, looks a bit better, and it has the 3.4!! tons of sweet ass mods for it too!

 

Funny you should mention that. I have a brushgaurd in my garage that just might work.

 

i have that brushgaurd thats in my pics hanging in my garage too...i need to get rid of it. would it fit a 1st gen taco?

 

yep...it will. i got mine in from ebay(hunter truck accessories), and the papers that came with it said for 98-04 tacomas, and also 02 4runners.

 

thanks will, ill probably list it on here soon (sorry to highjack the thread)

 

if you know the 3.4 V6 better and already have a usable brush guard go with it, toys go distance and then some

 

Me too!
For the poll, I voted 3 gen after owning a 3.0 & driving it for 200k I have done my time.


fwiw that truck is still on the road with no head gasket failures. In my ownership, the truck only needed normal maintenance & a timing belt. Some Vins were effected and Toyota did a head gasket campaign covering those trucks, I certainly would not classify the truck as the worst engine, its reliablity was spot on for me (a J vin) and my Gen2 Tacoma has given me much more trouble.