Last night, Snake207 and I were having a conversation about the Toyota 4Runner. I have owned one in the past and he currently owns one. We were talking and I mentioned that you never see one, regardless of the year model, sitting on the side of the interstate with the hood up. The damn things just keep going and going. They seem to be the vehicle that holds value really well, and you can buy one with 200,000 miles on it and expect it to last quite a while longer. It is also a vehicle that the older ones seem to hold up as well as the newer ones.

What do you guys think?

I'm thinking about a Forerunner for the next vehicle. After a little research it appears the design is due for an update. The current info-tainment system is outdated, no android/Apple car play. It's slow accelerating but even the TRD is a nice ride on pavement. It really shines offroad but seems to be a solid everyday SUV. A coworker has an older one and says it's bulletproof and he'll never get rid of it.

I loved my 04 v8. Sold it my cousin at a family discount with 150k miles and bought a new Tundra when I got a bigger boat. If not for the boat, I'd still be driving the 4runner.

Can I get a new 4Runner in a manual?

I'm interested in these cars if it ever comes time for a new vehicle, but it's gotta be a manual.

I have a 1998 with 165k on it. Not only are they dependable, they are inexpensive to maintain as well. Parts are cheap and available in multiple places. Mine has the TRD supercharger on it, which gives it a little more pep.

My wife just sold her 2006 with 250,000 miles to buy a 2015. Awesome, vehicle.

They are the best midsize SUV on the road. My parents 03 has well over 200,000 miles and has never failed or broken down. The damn things just keep going.

Obviously not an expert and have never owned a T4R. But I've been buying Toyota only. I certainly believe in first order higher level of relative quality, reliability and value of Toyota products, including the T4R.

That said, obviously, I would not opt to buy a used T4R. The higher than KBB pricing coupled with the risk of unknown history of a specific vehicle of this type is unpalatable to me since I can't identify and fix issues myself. The higher than KBB pricing is so prevalent that vehicles that are priced reasonably become suspicious.

I think this is suggestive that the market as a whole values T4R highly for some combination of capability/features, performance, reliability, price. And I can certainly believe in that but would only purchased used IF I could discern the history and risk of a specific vehicle.

If I bought new, I'd certainly expect a T4R to go well beyond 200K miles. Even my lowly sedan has no signs of aging beyond cosmetic at 17 years / 150K miles.

I rarely (ever?) see a Toyota roadside barring an accident.

Balzé, unfortunatly no. The second gen (around 1995 I think) was the last time the 4Runner was offered with a manual. That said (and I know you hate autos) the automatic in that vehicle currently is bulletproof. I'm with you though. The Tacoma still offers a manual and it would be great if the 4Runner did as well.

Just paid off my 2013 yesterday in fact. 4wd SR5. Wife's daily driver and kid hauler and family trip rig. Only 55k and maybe 20k-25k is from 4 very long multi state road trips.

I like the powerband of that 4.0 V6. I wish it was he engine in my 2017 Tacoma.

We have a ton of value in that car and she's talking about trading it on a new 2017 or 2018 4Runner. I know so many others with several hundred thousand miles. Only becuse she wants new and shiny would we consider trading it. If it was me I'd drive it another decade +

Only rap was getting new brakes at around 50k becuse as noted her driving is NO freeways all stoplight to stoplight kid hauling between school, dance, baseball etc around town. Service guy even said I had another 10k minimum but they felt "squishy" to her so I pick my battles if you know what I mean

I have owned the first three generations of 4runners. The first generation Is still my favorite.
I purchased a 1988 sr5 with the 22re motor and 215k on the odometer for $1000. It was a one owner and he had never taken the top off of it. I was offered $5k for it less than a week after I purchased and refused that offer without hesitation. Unfortunately a girl decided to t-bone me three months after I bought it and totaled it.
If the first gens weren't reaching $10k for the same condition as mine, there would be one with the other two toyotas currently sitting in my driveway.

Very interested in this thread. Theres been one sitting on my street, prob 2016 in a dark gunmetal gray, that has me drooling every time I walk my dogs...

Im a Toyota/Lexus lifer (for larger vehicles....I like the Acura/Honda sedans)

The good? It's a Toyota.
The bad? I don't have it.

The 1999-2000 models are the closest thing to a perfect midsize SUV I've ever seen.

Feature rich, nearly indestructible, reliable as can be, inexpensive.

If I was in the market for a beefed up SUV, I'd buy a 4 Runner TRD. Friends that have 4 Runners love them.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Balzé, unfortunatly no. The second gen (around 1995 I think) was the last time the 4Runner was offered with a manual. That said (and I know you hate autos) the automatic in that vehicle currently is bulletproof. I'm with you though. The Tacoma still offers a manual and it would be great if the 4Runner did as well.

Dang. I really like the look of the 4Runner.

Yes and no I would say. If buying one in the 200k mileage range, give or take.

You should be the type that is mechanically inclined and have a heafty budget for maintenance and repairs.

Things like

Water pump and timing belt.
Axles and seals
ball joints.
window motors
Clutch if a manual
radiator
brakes

The list goes on.

This is not cheap or easy for most.

So while a good rig. Buying one with high mileage is not for everyone. And could be a financial disaster just to say you have one.

Also a lot of them for sale on being sold by an owner who has found this out after buying. And or one that was bought and used as an offroad type rig by a guy named Josh or something similar

So just be warying of most of them. Just say'in.

The last 4Runner that was offered with a manual transmission was the 2000 (3rd gen). I own one and it is a GREAT truck.

I don't care for automatics either but the manufacturers are building solid units for the most part now.

My issue with the 4th gen and beyond is the size of the vehicle, the 4Runner is no longer the nimble compact that is once was. Nowadays they are as big as the old Land Cruisers and they have all this electronic crap that is just itching to break.

The only company that makes anything remotely close to a 3rd gen 4Runner is Jeep and the JKU is bigger.

I'm a big Toyota fan. Bought my '03 4Runner in 2005 if I remember correct, sold it last year for $10k in a matter of days. Ended up buying a '97 Land Cruiser a few months later, again big Toyota fan. The 4Runner was virtually maintenance free outside of routine items. I'm loving the LC, but wouldn't hesitate to buy another 4th or 5th gen 4Runner.

Wife has a 2014. It's been a great vehicle for us, done everything we've asked it to and then some. That said; it's slow, the front brake rotors warped at 30,000 miles, the low seating position is not comfortable on long drives, the nav system isn't all that great and the gas mileage is less than stellar.

That said, it's one of the last SUV's that has any type of off road capability. It's also one of the most durable and reliable.

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