So, most of our 3rd gens are aging at this point mile-wise. My 2002 has about 270K now. I really can't imagine ever wanting a different vehicle so that got me thinking. How long will these machines be viable? Do we say "Screw it, I will fix this thing piece by piece for the rest of my life, money be damned." Or do we always keep looking for the next gem with <100K miles? Just looking for discussion here. (BTW I just got a steal on 4 2016 Tacoma Sport wheels and tires and I'm pretty pumped!)

That's pretty much my take on it, replace/upgrade as needed. I know that if I tried to sell it, I wouldn't get nearly the amount of money I put into it. BUT I have no idea why I would want to sell it, if I did get a newer Toyota, I'd just have to do the same things again because it wouldn't be the vehicle that I want it to be, MINE.

I love my truck but age probably caught up more than my mileage as I incured a leaky head gasket right around a 187k miles and I almost decided to get rid of it but figured since I just did a new radiator,new front rotors and pads along with a new exhaust it was worth getting a low mileage engine and doing a swap instead of searching for another low mileage Runner since for the money I'm spending a low mileage one would never be found.

(if you don't get this, you're lame lol)

I mean, assuming you like it, a newer car comes with complications the T4R doesn't have, computers and sensors that constantly go bad, this is one of the last cars that is still fairly mechanical. For reference, I had an AMG for 5 years, and it was a lovely car, but at a certain point the stuff that started failing, had nothing to do with the mechanical components, and everything to do with electrical and computer components. I replaced the ECU for 2500 bucks, the chip key system for another 1200, and random sensors for ~1000. In the meantime, the engine and transmission were solid as could be.

I sold it, bought my Carrera and never looked back.

So long as the frame and the body are solid, you just have to keep replacing rubber, suspension, brakes, and eventually overhaul the engine and transmission. I guess maybe do a repaint sometime if you feel like it? All of that together is cheaper than most new cars.

Also, the 4Runner is one of the only trucks that you aren't making a ton of sacrifices for the mechanical simplicity it has. Good A/C, decent interior, decent power (stock or supercharger). Need a backup camera, GPS or bluetooth? There's great aftermarket stuff to take care of you. There isn't much you need to do to keep it current.

If you've put 270k on it in 14 years, even if you rebuilt it tomorrow, it would probably take you that long to put on another 300k and then how old would you be?

So long as nothing catastrophic happens, I plan on having this car and my Carrera until the sun explodes.

The only thing I'd consider getting if my commute stays long, is a battery powered car, but the 4Runner would be my workhorse, and the Carrera would turn into a lightweight track rat.

My Dad was a very thrifty individual. He always said that the time to replace a vehicle was when the cost of repairs each month exceeded the payments on a replacement vehicle.

My Dad drove some real junk. $100 - $200 cars that he'd put tires on (one at a time - used - you never knew when the wretched things would give up the ghost) drive 10K - 30K miles and junk for $50. Maintenance? Naw... these things burned oil faster than you could put it in - the ultimate self-changing oil system. None of us kids would ever ask to borrow his cars, which he considered an added benefit. The whole thing was a bit of a game to him.

I'm not quite that cheap, but I do like a good value. That's what my T4R is all about. It's depreciated down about as far as it ever will, the valves were done a while back so the motor should be good for another 100K easy. The trans is the only other big ticket item but I am good with maintenance and being as it's a 4 banger and I don't tow I would expect it to make another 100K miles as well. So far I enjoy working on it (to a point) so there is hobby value as well. It still looks good and I like driving it - a lot.

The only thing that might kill it is a good wreck, and I'd probably buy another one if that happened. It's saved me enough gas over driving my work truck that it's already paid for itself.

I'm just gonna import a land cruiser when my 3rd gen retires
My 02 just hit 87k this morning though so I have some ways to go

I have a nissan leaf for around town. Way cheaper to drive and it saves putting miles on the 4runner

The biggest problem will be whether or not Toyota sees enough of a market to continue to build replacement or refurbished-to-new-spec parts. The only other alternatives are aftermarket new or refurbs and the bone yard....and you never know the quality of either.

If Toyota continues to make parts (and much of the platform is shared world wide in the Prado and Tacoma line)....you could probably still get parts 30 years from now....just like you can still get parts for a '79 Toyota 4x4 Hilux....or an even older TLC....though the LC enjoys a cult following that the Toyota pickup/4Runner crowd is slowly amassing as well...which is good news for us.

Some really good thoughts guys!

There's a nice stock 4Runner on eBay with under 100K that will probably go for just a touch over $10k, nice examples really hold some value and I can only assume the nice ones will just get more expensive as time goes on. These have a cult following as you well know.

I'm going to keep mine until I wreck it, someone else wrecks it, or I find another one and give this one to one of my kids. Until then I'll probably just keep fixing anything that needs fixing.

The 3rd gen 4Runner is my choice of truck for the apocalypse or even just an everyday catastrophe...or just going to the store for milk.

Outside of the fact that the truck is very capable even in stock form, that it last forever, that it's easy to work on and that it's good looking as all hell; the biggest advantage to these trucks in the event that shit goes down or that Toyota stops making parts for them — is that everywhere I look I see parts. It's like having a parts store with you wherever you go.

Every parking lot, every neighborhood, every stretch of highway and damn near every stretch of road — has a 3rd gen on or in it. If things were to ever go south and I needed a critical part — well I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this...

Hell I was looking at Google street view in Russia the other day (don't ask) and within seconds — what catches my eye? Yep Russian 3rd gen...they truly are EVERYWHERE.

I plan on keeping mine forever. Just like everyone else has said. I think the 4runner is right at the line between good mechanics and unreliable electronics. I had the money saved up that I could buy a brand new TRD pro. But I decided to put all that money into upgrading my 3rd gen. For example. If I go through a river and end up getting water up to my ankles in the cabin, no biggie, just pull the floor plugs and I'm good to go. In a more updated model I would be worrying about things like electric and heated seats, cpus and what not, not to mention my brand new carpet will be ruined. I would never wheel a $40k vehicle, but I'll easily put that into my 4runner to help it last forever. Hell the 3rd gen are the last throttle by cable 4Runner for example. I'm a true believer in the 1st rule of engeneering: KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid! I'll keep upgrading and swapping parts as needed, forever. I've even purchased an old beater 89 pickup 4 banger 4spd to keep the commuter miles off the 4runner. Adventure miles only!

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i change vehicles all the time. at all times i have 3 vehicles and i usually sell and buy new ones once a year when i get bored. i dont see that happening with my 4runner. only reason i sold my last 4runner was because it was 2wd and 4cyl, and wanted a v6 4wd. ive had this 4runner for about 7 months so far and i still love it and havent even thought of getting rid of it. just keep finding new ways to modify and maintain it. about 290k on the clock and she feels like shes got a whole lot of life left in her.

Once, I get my 4runner built up to where I want it and graduate college, i'll do the same. My 4Runner only has 174K miles and has been very well taken care of mechanically but still. I want to reach 300K miles!

Right there with ya. Bought it new in Dec. 98....dropped about $20K in parts this last year....so I'm hoping I can keep it pretty much forever.

I just know in the past I've owned vehicles that the factory stopped supporting and parts dried up.

As you noted though....the 3rd Gen 4Runner is ubiquitous all over the globe, and it's enjoying a huge following....so hopefully, even if Toyota stopped critical part production, you could get upgraded aftermarket parts (kinda like ordering an upgraded/built manual tranny from Marlin or similar).