https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...81474979855121

This article again??

Also, he's wrong: the 1st gens are the best/coolest. But the 3rd gens have 4 doors and can keep up with traffic.

1st gens are only more cool if they have the solid front though lol

And fuel injection. Only one year you could get both.

Had one. Shouldn't have sold it. Kid wrecked it.

The sheer fact they have the first gen as #5 makes that entire article moot.

well, no shit.

Actually, check that; they have 2nd gen as second best. BS article. ;)

Completely agree. 2nd gen 4runner is one of the worst toyotas ever made of it has the 3.0l v6 and auto.

I love this truck. I’ve had it since 1999 and just love it and will never sell it.

It depends what perspective you have, from a wheeling point of view 3rd gen and 1st gen could be tied, but hardcore wheelers would put 1st gen first

From a stylistic angle, 3rd gens are classic and have great lines. In the same perspective, 5th gens look pretty stout, 1st gens were "immature" and boxy.

Power-wise, the 4th gen with a v8 gets a nod for being first in the family to get the larger power plant.

2nd gens were just an evolutionary step and are becoming extinct on all levels, unless of course you own one

I'm partial to the 3rd Gen and feel it appeals to all audiences. It's timeless and classic, it's stout and dependable and can be adapted to all use cases. I think they got that part right.

Now let's discuss which motor oil is best

I don’t think Doug DeMuro really knows what he’s talking about, at least when it comes to the mechanical side of things.

Last summer my girlfriend sent me his XJ video when she was trying to convince me that we should get one (spoiler: she got her way). I recently rewatched his review out of curiosity and noticed a number of mistakes / oversights in the video. He says the engine is bulletproof (true enough) but makes no mention about everything else on the car breaks constantly. He talks about the ride quality as if the condition of the vehicle he’s in is applicable to any other XJ. How could that be true, when a vast majority of XJs have had their suspension replaced, if not upgraded (even if not lifted)? He claims you can take the XJ apart with a screwdriver and a wrench, when the reality is that the exposed screws and bolts are more for aesthetics than practicality. Sure, XJs are easy to work on, but that’s more of a function of the simplicity of the vehicle than the fact that the you don’t have to unsnap some trim before you can access the screws.

I don’t care so much that he demoted the 1st Gen – if you prioritize comfort, like most drivers do, he’s hoenstly right. The ridiculous thing is that he put the 2nd Gen in 2nd place. The 3.0 is the worst engine ever put in a 4Runner.

DeMuro’s videos are entertaining (especially his take down of the H2) but if you’re talking about cars and ignoring the mechanics you’re missing half the picture (if not more).

Lolol some of you guys just don't get it. Doug really knows his stuff. He can go from talking about a Mclaren Senna to a 4Runner and even know minor details. Issue is that he doesn't speak from the perspective of a DIYers that obsess over external transmissions coolers and lower ball joint brands, nor do his videos aim to appeal to them. No one really cares that the 3.0 V6 was one of the least impressive Toyota engines of it's time. From the perspective of the world, the 2nd gen was the most significant 4Runner.

Also, he focuses on clean stock examples. Ride quality is a significant factory. Drive a low mile 3rd gen and compare it to a 200k example that may have had a few things changed. It is not the same. Same can be said for any car.

Most people I talk to say they can't stand Doug, but I love him. You know he's unbiased and I usually agree with most of what he says.

I don't really understand the hate. I think most people just don't have the attention span for the details he goes into. It's a sort of art I guess. Personally having met the guy I understand these people even less. Humble fellow IMO and its shows in the variety of cars he talks about. Not many guys will go from discussing vintage Ferrari to an Acura Vigor.

Maybe he does know his stuff, but his videos seem to be directed to those who don't.

I guess the XJ he test drove could be 100% stock, but most on the road aren't. Even if stock height, most people go aftermarket for shocks once they need to be replaced. Seems pointless to review the ride quality when it's not applicable to a majority of the XJs out there.

Edit: I do enjoy his other videos. Honestly, my knowledge on cars isn't that deep and is limited to XJs, 4Runners, and old Volvos. So what do I know? I just found it remarkable that on the two vehicles I feel like I know *something* about, he seemed so off the mark.