Hello All, I am new to the form and I can't wait to get my first rig. I am currently 15 and will be 16 in June. I am looking for first car I am thinking about getting a third gen 4runner unless any of you guys think otherwise. My budget for the whole rig with mods ect. I would like to offroad with my friends on the weekends and such. If you guys could help me that would be great. Is this the car? What should I be looking out for? Thanks for the help.

HAHAHA sooooo you came here to ask if we think you should buy 4runner?

Well obviously we will all say yes since we spend so much time on here talking about how we love this car.


One thing you need to decide is, if you want a good gas mileage car or a 4x4 suv with much lower gas mileage. When I was your age I didn't have a lot of money so gassing up my 84 Bronco 2 cost a lot more than my friends with civics.


3rd gen 4runner is a good car to learn how to wrench on your own vehicle and has lots of parts available. Your lucky to have the internet compared to us old farts trying to read a chitons book. I can't even imagine going back.

Thanks. my another question what mileage should I look for?

It's not a car, it's the greatest SUV ever made. Please read the 3rd gen buyers guide. Lots of great info there. Good luck! & dont settle for a rusted out piece of crap, alway look underneath & check for frame rot.

THE GREATEST SUV EVER MADE!!!!! I love my 4runner and wouldn't get rid of it for anything

Actually, the LC 80 series is the greatest SUV ever made. We happen to own the second greatest SUV ever made. lol

OP, do your research in this site and you'll have all the info you'll need to make a solid purchase.

Don't get overly caught up in the mileage. Keep an eye out for one that has been well taken care of and maintained. For example, a rig with 140k miles with one owner with all of the service records on top of being very clean and undamaged would go far further to me than one with 90k miles, no records, many owners and looks to have been rode hard.

Hi there,
I bought my 3rd gen as my second car but still in high school so close enough.

First advice is to just listen to everybody here. As mentioned, read the Buyers Guide and ask as many questions here as possible so you know exactly what you're looking for.

I would really recommend finding something with service records, especially consistent service at one shop. I was able to get a full print out from the POs shop with my rigs last 10 or 12 years of maintenance, this is REALLY helpful if you're on a budget and don't want to piss away money on unnecessary maintenance. A consistent maintenance record also affirms that it was taken care of. These things are amazing but they are all coming up on 20 years old and contrary to popular opinion, do not run on faith and reputation.

Do your homework on 3rd gens in general and especially on every one you check out and I guarantee you will have very few problems and no regret!

That's highly debatable with that vastly underpowered V6 & expensive repair & modding costs. And we can squeeze between trees. LOL

Edit: but being triple locked is pretty cool. \m/

The only thing that's made me think about getting rid of my 3rd gen is the 100 series LC I bought my wife.

Thank You Guys so much

Straight six.

A lot depends on you and your resources. My daughter bought hers in July when she was 14 for 2000, just turned 15 got her permit on monday. we have had a great time wrenching on it. biggest problems it had were cosmetic. we bought a rolled 98 with good seats but same interior color, ripped both out and put it back with the best of both. next project is painting new fender and finding new front bumper. She loves it and is putting time in it.

Now the older parent thing.

plan on doing some work on it and learning to drive well before modding it to much. Watched too many friends roll their lifted vehicles in high school. lot of time money and love wasted because they didnt take the time to build the #1 safety feature, themselves. I love seeing young people work on their vehicles. I hope you have many years and fun times with it. a 3rd gen is a wonderful vehicle. put as much time on yourself. a real driving school (not the drivers ed for your license ) would be the investment of a lifetime.

Good luck and safe roads

Awesome! I feel like learning to take care of your own vehicle at that age would help you be a more cautious driver. "I give a damn about what happens to this vehicle."

Every time a new driver wants a 3rd gen to go offroading with his friends.