I owned a ‘98 4Runner for 15 years, and we’ve had a 2013 Sequoia for 6 years.

We thought we wanted the Sequoia for the 3rd row (we have 3 kids), but use it more for extra room and storage than for the third row. Most of the time the rear seats are down. The Sequoia’s turning radius is amazing, and I love the way it drives in city/highway good weather conditions. The 4Runner was more capable in bad weather or off-road in my opinion. The Sequoia is slightly more comfortable than the 4Runner was.

From a reliability standpoint I feel they are both the same, both only needed basic maintenance, but did seem to go through rotors faster than my Fords. One thing I will say about the technology in the 2013 Sequoia is that I believe the touchscreen and “infotainment” system was designed by people who hated humanity and wanted us all to suffer. The tech flat out sucks in the 2013. The touchscreen is angled so it is useless as a backup camera in the day, and makes changing anything as difficult as possible.

As the 4Runners have gotten bigger over the years, if I were going to buy a mid 2010 SUV again I would go 4Runner over Sequoia.

I think the 4-Runner benefits from being made in Japan unlike the Sequoia, which I believe is made here. Case in point, the hattery on mine that was still OK after 7 years was labeled Panasonic. I replaced it with one from the dealer labeled Toyota. It died after 3 years.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
I think the 4-Runner benefits from being made in Japan unlike the Sequoia, which I believe is made here. Case in point, the hattery on mine that was still OK after 7 years was labeled Panasonic. I replaced it with one from the dealer labeled Toyota. It died after 3 years.

It's my understanding that is the only way those batteries make it into the States, in a new vehicle. My Panasonic lasted about 8 years before it started to give me problems in the winter.

So spent a bit of time shopping on line. Prices vary some but there look to be some nice deals. An auto seller who buys at auction. Most do. Had a few in my price and mileage range. When I looked at the carfax they all came from the Northeast. MA. CT. NH. How much of an issue would that be for you on a ten to 12 yo 4Runner? Thinking about corrosion mostly.

Thanks guys.

FWIW, I bought a Land Cruiser from Minnesota that was garaged in winter, mostly. Still had considerable corrosion.

If I were buying, I'd trade time for getting exactly what I wanted. Buy from the SW or SE, and it'll be worth the wait. Will add to that to research origins of SW and SE vehicles, many come from rust belt states...

To add to that, I also advise looking for one that was a "grocery gitter," vs one modded ad infinitum by someone you don't know.

quote:

Had a few in my price and mileage range. When I looked at the carfax they all came from the Northeast. MA. CT. NH. How much of an issue would that be for you on a ten to 12 yo 4Runner? Thinking about corrosion mostly.

Like slabsides45, I try to buy cars out of the Southern states.
Before buying out of the NE I'd definitely get underneath it with a flashlight. I found a nice 4Runner Limited once at a great price but it came out of Pennsylvania. Once I looked underneath I decided to pass.

I have a 2011 SR5, 6 cyl, 4.0 liter. 2 WD
Bought it at 60 K miles. Has 194 K miles now. Battery and tires and oil and air filter changes only.
20 mpg everywhere. Best car ever!
I have a 4000lb. Boston Whaler. 4Runner has enough suspension, go, and whoa to tow local but I will not go on long trips with it. The boat weight and surface area (Wind) push the 4Runner around like it is a much smaller car.

Bought a used 4Runner years ago. Originally owned by a farm vet. V8. Still driving it. The engine is great, and it has taken everything I’ve thrown at it. Electrical issues, but that may just be a fluke with my used vehicle. My husband tried to buy me a Lexus a couple years ago, but I didn’t want to give up the 4Runner..it may be time soon, though..it’s an older version, 2005 or so, I believe. A good, solid do it all vehicle.

Update:

Thanks Lady and gents. So here is where I am at to this point.

After researching, communicating with a localish dealer and a local used car guy I trust, finding a good, lower mileage, 3rd gen. 4Runner in good condition that was not an auction rig shipped in from a location that I would be hesitant to get one from at a reasonable price is going to be a tall mountain to climb. That is even after raising our budget considerably.

The used car guy said you will be so close to new $ for a later model unit with 50k-90k miles it is crazy to just not buy new.

We have not bought a new car for probably more than 20+ years so maybe it is time. My wife is nearing retirement so this will be her rig. Lord knows she deserves it.

So in thinking new I would like to hear thoughts about models and amenities one should consider.
Navigation is not a big thing for us. It will be 4wd. We do live in cold and snow country. Two things I would kind of like is Leather seats and a sunroof not mandatory though. Seems like I can get those without going to the limited model.
Can I get this rig for under $40k?

What else should I be thinking about? Thanks all.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: old rugged cross,

I'm not going to be much help but I'll throw my 2¢ in.
I had a 1997 4x4 4Runner.
Leased it for 4 years (freshly divorced and broke) and bought it after the lease.
10 years and 110K miles of trouble free bliss.
At times I wish I still had it, because it was paid for a long time ago..

Traded it in on a 2005 Tundra, traded that in on a 2014 Tundra.
I plan to keep buying Toyota Tundras until I can no longer drive.

Good luck with your purchase...

I traded my 17 Tacoma Pro(120k miles) in for a 2020 T4R Pro about 6 weeks ago. I can't be happier. Vehicle is more to what I need and a much more comfortable to ride in for hours on end (I'm a region sales rep, so I spend LOTS of time in a vehicle)

you may be able to find a limited (nightshade edition is basically a Limited with appearance package) , only one with leather, that 5ish years old, for less than 40. a new one will be mid 40's easy

I suggest skipping the sunroof. They’re potential headaches and not just because headroom is reduced by a bit. After all, something that isn’t there can’t leak, have electrical issues or need regulators replaced. Besides, rolling down the rear window provides all the fresh air & openness you could possibly need without buffeting. As far as upholstery, I had Wet Okoles installed over the factory fabric right after delivery on mine. They don’t feel or look at all like covers and they’re waterproof, plus when you decide to sell you can take them off and the seats are “new”.

Your options for leather will limit you to the LIMITED trim.

Sunroof will be standard on the TRD off-road premium and TRD-PRO, both come with softex (vinyl) seating. The TRD off road premium can be had for $38-$40k, I paid $38,500 for mine.

The TRD-PRO will be MSRP+ unless things have changed over the past few years.

Couple of responding thoughts based on my anecdotal data. (We’ve put 265k on our ‘02 Cruiser and 165k on our ‘12 Tundra - both owned since new.):

My Texas-produced Tundra has required less R&M to date versus the Japan-made Land Cruiser (at the same mileage). Some of that difference is due to simplicity but much is due to continued improvement in overall reliability / longevity of vehicles.

I’ve never had a leak in my Cruiser’s sunroof.

I’d pay money to not have a sunroof in a new German vehicle but I wouldn’t worry about one in a Toyota.

Proud owner of a 2019 TRD Pro here.

I can't say enough how much I love this vehicle. Where I live, and you are familiar, between the 20" of snow since the day after Christmas and the 45* daytime temps with melting, the roads are a muddy mess. The T4R PRO has not backed down. I would not recommend the Pro trim unless you will A. be doing a lot of off road and B. Don't want to later change the suspension. That's what we got it for and is is great for that.

If you are looking at new here is a couple things to consider.

The 2020s have upgraded technology. That's it. Lots of folks out there trading lightly used 2018/2019 for the 2020 just for the newer tech. You [i]might]/i] find a low milage 2018/2019 at (quite) a few thousand less than what is structurally the same SUV for 2020 minus the upgraded tech.

Currently if you are set on leather, then the prior year issue applies, you're looking at the Limited which is full time 4wd. Additionally I am not a fan of the body panels on either the Limited or the Nightshade version. To each their own, but it looks clunky to me.

If you or the better half likes the sunroof, get it. I know lots of guys with 15yr old 4runners with sunroofs that have never had an issue on them. Thats an older myth I believe that cannot be generalized to the 4runner.

The Toyota website is actually fairly good at showing the differences in trim levels, standard features, options and what the options and standard features do.

As said above, Off Road Premium is gonna be in the $38k - $40k range. Many toyota dealers are going to "no haggle" pricing and no salesman but "product specialists". I consider both of those things to be the dealers problem not mine. Want to sell me a car, here is where I have two legs to walk and take my funds elsewhere. So I am negotiating. In my research on the 2019 models, MSRP averaged 7.5%-8% over invoice and another 2% on hold back. So basically if you pay msrp the dealer gets 10% gross profit, there is a somewhat reasonable negotiating margin. If you are considering either the Pro or Venture trim, they will be asking MSRP plus $5-$10k. 5% of Pro purchases at best are only slightly under MSRP. I have heard plenty of SR5 and Off Road trim purchases getting them at $500-$1000 over Invoice.

Good luck M, you know the digits if you have questions.

quote:

When I looked at the carfax they all came from the Northeast. MA. CT. NH. How much of an issue would that be for you on a ten to 12 yo 4Runner?

Vehicles rust bad enough down here. I shudder to think what one from one of those states looks like.

Thanks Sigo, glad yours is serving you well out there.

I know we more new 4Runner owners here. Chime in guys.