After 15+ years of driving BMWs, I've finally bought my first 4Runner. I absolutely loved driving my 2012 BMW 135i convertible but the repair/maintenance expense become untenable. And I have two kids starting college over the next couple of years. Top on my list of priorities was low maintenance followed by a desire to at least enjoy my car.
A used 4Runner seemed a great choice. I did a lot of research into reliability (much of it on
Dashboard Light - Automotive Reliability which I highly recommend) and found that the 4th Gen 4Runner had the best combination of high reliability with my own interest in driving it. It took me about 2-3 months to find a good one that fit all my criteria and budget. I had to drive 5 hours away to Charleston, SC but it was worth it.
I ended up with a 2008 Limited V6 4WD in Shadow Mica. I knew I wanted a V6 as I won't do any towing and didn't want to deal with the timing belt. I wasn't necessarily looking for a 4WD but was happy to get it if things worked out. Having moved from a couple of luxury vehicles I did want a Limited. The one I found had 106k miles on it and appears to have been very well maintained. I had an independent mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection for me and he told me it looked fantastic for the age/miles.
The previous owner had done a few mods:
- Kuat Vagabond roof rack
- Pioneer AVH-4100NEX headunit w/ Apple Carplay, backup camera, and new subwoofer
- Bilstein 5100s up front (I think set to 1")
- LED interior lights for door wells and map lights
- New'ish Bridgestone Dueler AT tires
Here are current photos:
This T4R is my daily driver in the city and I doubt will see a lot of offroading, with the exception of the occasional trip to the N GA mountains for mountain biking or car camping.
Since I have bought it, I have completed more of the interior light conversion to LED: running board lights, glove box light, and both dome lights in the back.
Love to get some feedback on the following:
- I will likely Plastidip the wheels but I'm not sure what color. Black? Gun metal? What color would look best with Shadow Mica?
- Wondering whether it's worth the effort to upgrade the LED in the center console/HVAC controls.
- Once the rear shocks need to be replaced, what should I go with considering the 5100s up front?
- Trying to figure out what to do in the back cargo space. I have the double-decker system and it actually works great for me. I can put my laptop bag underneath it while I'm out and I've bought a plastic underbed case that fits perfectly to store basic tools and the like. Maybe a Weathertech mat?
- What else should I be thinking about?
Cheers!
Linear Mode
