I was just thinking that the 5th Gen 4Runner had a whopping 14 year run, while our 3rd Gen had only a 7. What COULD have been had Toyota given it a 14 year run also?

What factory changes would you have like to see based on the "tech" that was available from '96-09? Not so much things you can install yourself, but would need to come from the factory. I really think the 3rd Gen is the best generation, just the perfect size and reliability and the look is timeless.

I'll start:

-Reclining rear seats
-Rear center armrest
-Factory Heated rear seats (though I managed to install aftermarket)
-Side and Curtain Airbags
-A decent VSC, fully defeatable, that didn't remove the Rear Locker
-Maybe a good Toyota AV system with Birdeye and various cameras
-AutoDimming side view and rear mirrors (I'm iffy about this one if they're going to leak but the Toyota ones seem pretty robust)
-Power folding Side View Mirrors
-Aux fuel tank of some sort
-Trip computer with Range, MPH, TEMP, compass, etc
-Better Sound deadening, thicker or dual laminated side glass
-Drivers seat with more adjustments for thigh support

Oh, but I'd never want:
-Push to start (leave me my damn key! lol)
-Engine off at stop (even if they provided a override)

You already have a supercharger?

Optional V8.

A ABS off button. Early abs sucks, sucks more off road. I bought this 4runner as it doesn't have tech, that's what makes it so damn good.

Maybe have been s/c'd from factory not as a option. All 5vz's came with sc's. V8, ehhhh maybe but not really. The 5vz is pretty damn bullet proof but gutless. Key word: reliable.

Yes, I already have the 2nd Gen SC installed.

Oh yes, if they could have fit a V8 as reliable as Toyota V8s have been (and easy to work on), that would have been nice.

Good point, I didn't think about added power or a different powertrain initially since they've proven to be pretty solid, but yes, they had some nice ones 96-09 that they could have used. Even the ubiquitous 3.5, but tuned for more torque would have been a solid choice.

Exactly why it wasn't on my wishlist since it's pretty damn bulletproof and I'd take over any of the silly Forced Induction stuff they're pushing out now. Good luck NOT having any issues on those in 20-25 years. These 5vzs just seem to keep on going...

EDIT: Also isn't there a way to disable the ABS through a switch you can add (I can't recall the specifics now), you'd have to turn the car off and back on again to reenable to the ABS but if you're offroading, you wouldn't need to worry about it.

Yes there is a way to bypass the abs, but I was referring to toyota adding it to the vehicle as a wishlist.

Planning on doing the little abs switch thing at some point.
But ditto on KISS principle with my vehicles.

I wrote out a bunch of stuff, but basically the 4th Gen
should have been a continuation of the 3rd.
Bigger front diff, rear discs, etc.

Still want a 2nd gear start for autos
Back to the normal 6 dash gauges
Maybe a center console fridge?

Rear a/c vents would be amazing. Other cool extras would be: driver side vanity mirror, outside air temp gauge, reclining rear seats, front/rear camera, aux/usb, volume control on steering wheel

Would not want: push to start, engine off at stop, electronic tc (leave my manual tc), sunroof (I keep my cars too long to want to deal with feature leaks. I also like the extra headroom you get without a sunroof.)

Oh, for what it's worth I think Limited get driver side vanity mirorrs, 01+ have homelink and sun extenders.
Limiteds get the Outside air temp gauge.

The JDM 4Runner (Hilux Surf) had reclining rear seats, at least in some trim levels. Not sure how much it reclined.

I'm intrigued! I wonder how it worked, since the "hook" is on the C pillar, it'd would need to have a lever and locking mechanism at the base. Time to research!

some past discussions:

Reclining Rear Seats

JDM Tyte Yo!

I entertained the idea, but I've pretty much had at least one seat down for about a decade now - the dogs kinda won that round...

How often are you sitting in the back seat of your own vehicle and want to recline 3 inches? If you want to lay back, the front seats already do that

Rear center armrest would be cool, I would recommend going to a 60/40 split bench in that case. I think it would have benefited from the rear disc axle from the Prado 95. I think the V8 would have happened if they kept production longer. Likely either the 2UZ or a reduced cost variant of the 1UZ using a cast iron block or something. Side curtain airbags sound far fetched, but then again Nissan was able to adapt the R50 Pathfinder much later in its production cycle.

I have a mostly stock 2001 Ltd, so already have outside-temp, rear A/C controls, ...

The missing things I wish were built in:
- Rear view camera (maybe as integrated F/R dash-cam recording)
- GPS navigation system
- USB port, or BT, in the radio

The things I wish were improved: (based on experiences in new 4Runners)
- Road noise isolation
- Engine power/efficiency while keeping reliability
- Suspension dynamics

Otherwise, like others, I think 3rd gens are awesome.