I know the system design, I owned it for 18 yr no shoddy work done. But, I did add a hidden winch mount behind bumper between frame rails, that's where the concern came from mostly and the age.

I know some people mentioned safety, and from what I've learned from this forum the past few years, the 3rd gen actually seems to have a pretty good crash rating, even compared to newer cars.

No side airbags, etc, but the body crumples less overall (even when flipped) and I don't think I've seen ANYONE post about being severely hurt even when in what I'd consider to be a major accident.



There's also the fact that there's metal bumpers on the front and rear, which do a whole lot more damage to the person hitting you then they do to you (if it's not a completely horrible straight on wreck)

Example: A few months back, I was exiting the freeway and slowing down for traffic and the guy behind me in an newer Civic didn't slow down fast enough. I saw him coming and swerved left, and he swerved right. He clipped my right rear bumper with his left front bumper. I barely felt a thing.
We got out to look, and I barely had a scratch on my paint (and to be honest, the paint was already pretty crappy). By contrast, however, his bumper, whole fender and part of the door was bashed in.
He asked to not involve insurance, (probably due to a lack of it) which was fine with me. I just took a picture of his damage and license plate and pulled the footage from that time on my traffic cam, just in case.
So I got off scot-free, while his newer car was probably totaled. All due to the metal bumper.

Point being: most newer cares and trucks, even the newer 4Runners, don't have full metal bumpers, just metal plating underneath a fiberglass mold. If I were driving a 'better' car, I'd have been pissed. But this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The world is full of better cars than a NB Miata, but anyway, smart move keeping the 3rd gen.

id just buy another one

If I had enough money, I wouldn't need to worry about keeping it.
But if you said I had to buy another car, I would probably go with a 6BT, manual, linked, coilovered 80-series. Would be an awesome project, and is actually something I plan to do in the future when I get a real job after school.

Ha, I feel ya there! I cringe whenever a friend tells me they "invested" in a new car, in which I normally respond with letting them know it lost several thousand in value once they left the parking lot of the dealer.

It's awesome having an inexpensive daily driver and take what we'd normally be paying on a car payment and putting it towards something more useful.

I feel like I'm the only one here that would get rid of my 4Runner if I wanted to budget-in something else. If I could get a good '78/'79 Bronco with little financial loss in exchange for my 4Runner I'd do it

I honestly wouldn't.

I will definitely be getting another long term project in lieu of the 4R, I just wouldnt sell the 96 no matter unless the absolute perfect LC came along. I've had people make offers at gas stations for thousands over what i have in it but nah, i have more time and effort in than the cash they offer. I hate saying it but i'll probably sell my e39 540 for another project long before the 4runner and thats because i dont have room for 3 cars to myself. Also, UT roads make Texas roads seem amazing so that car would suffer here.

I plan on keeping mine for ever. I have a 2015 Ram crew cab long bed 3/4 ton with the 6.4L that I bought new, its paid for and it sits and waits its turn to go on long family trips. My 98 is my daily driver and my wife has a 97 that is her daily driver. We love the 4Runners!

Well, if I sold all of my runners, and both of my Tacos, I could easily clear just enough money to buy a brand new rig in cash. I won't though. These old trucks have one major thing that all newer vehicles lack. They are to the point of being depreciation proof. I have zero dollars tied up in assets that are losing value until I hit the point where modifications and repairs outweigh the value of each.

Oh, and I think I must really like em since I have so many, either that or there's something wrong with me...

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I don't buy anything with the intention of reselling.
That's why I'm still happy with my 68 F100 and still drive it regularly.
The recent, well researched, purchase of the 4runner was to fill a niche in our motor pool.
If I had more vehicle money I would buy a few more ATVs for family and guests.

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Are we talking Jay Leno kind of money? Cause I envy his car collection more than his money. All said the only way I am giving up my toyotas is if there is no fuel to run them. Anything I buy in the future will be electric and toyota is a little late to that party so we will see what happens

Are you so sure about that? Maybe compared to a new Prius C then sure. But an average new sedan? Idk. The small overlap crash test already devours the 5th gen. If the body doesn't crumple then it is you that is taking the shock.

I don’t drive these things because I can’t afford something else… I drive them because I like them.

That said, I am not opposed to owning multiple vehicles if they serve a purpose.