Lot if good responses in my other thread on here about KDSS, I appreciate it. Just curious if any of you also own it have owned a 3rd Gen. If so, how did you like the transition into a 5th Gen? How is the power increase? Is there anything you like better about the 3rd Gen? What are your likes and dislikes of the 5th Gen?

I've owned 7 3rd Gen 4Runners and still have the last one. Seriously considering jumping into a 5th Gen but before I fork over the $40K, I'd like some feedback from you guys.

Well I'm from the 3rd gen world but hope to be joining the 5th gen family this coming week. If you're still looking after I've gotten some adequate time with it I'll report back.

I had a 3rd gen and now have a 5th, but I have had many different vehicles in between and my 3rd gen was my wife's choice and I ended up with it as the family grew, it was a 2wd limited and I did not like it all that much at the time. It was just transportation for me. We purchased it when the demand was very high for them. I felt it was way overpriced for what you got, drove like a small tin box, but she really wanted one. It turned out to be very reliable and very well put together. It kind of grew on me over time, but I was never really happy with it.

The fifth gen is much bigger and more comfortable, but also heavier. I find the utility of it to be fantastic, but the materials to be pretty cheap... The motor is adequate, but nothing fantastic and a bit outdated for today's standards. It is just a truck for me to carry stuff around to do outdoor stuff in including off roading and some overland adventure stuff. I find it a great platform for that. There is really nothing else out that competes with it for the price. I thought about an FJ, but there was not enough room in it for my purposes.

This is just one persons opinion (and what I did), but If it was me, I would not fork over 40k for a new one. I would fork over about 25 - 28k for a lightly used 4wd sr5 or trail and put 5-10k into it.

I did. I sold the 3rd to buy a 5th.
First post explains why

The short story is the 3rd gen was built like a tank. Everything seemed tighter and built well. The interior was very 'durable'. Over the 12yrs, 2 newborns, 170k miles, multiple cross country trips, you couldn't tell the interior had been through what it had. I had the door panels, seats, center console, carpeting all apart for multiple stereo installs, dynamat, cleaning, etc. The door panels were just as tight as if they were off the showroom floor.

The 5th serves its purpose better for me than the 3rd did. I wanted more room, more amenities, more power. It gives that to you with the sacrifice of some quality. Nothing major, but if you take the interior apart, it doesn't 'feel' as tight as the 3rd gen. Everything feels cheeper. I'm not disappointed in the purchase by any means, but I wish some of that interior refinement was still there.

After having said that, you have to take into consideration the cost in 1999 was $32k. Fast forward 12 years (I bought a 2011), the cost of an LE was $40k. Considering the difference in technology with sensors, navigation, engine management, creature comforts, that's a very minor increase in cost to acquire those things.

So, other than the interior quality, I have no other gripes with Toyota. We'll see if the reliability is still there 10 years from now. And hopefully, the resale value which can't be beat.

I came from a 2000 4Runner Highlander edition with a manual transmission. I absolutely loved it, but I was ready for a more modern 4Runner. The 5th Gen provided just that and I am happy I made the upgrade.

My Mom bought my 3rg Gen from me so I still get to see it, lol. The one major thing I miss is being able to get a Manual transmission. All of my other vehicles are manuals and I am not a fan of an auto. Aside from that, however, I like the "newness" and the larger size of the 5th Gen.

Here is a pic I posted previously in the 5th Gen section.

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I came from a 3rd Gen to a 5th Gen and miss my 3rd. Don't get me wrong, I love my 2010, but my 2001 was built like a tank. Because I was younger and a bit more foolish, I took that 2WD 3rd Gen through more nasty crap. It has gone 90 mph on the beach, climbed mountain trails I wouldn't do in my 4wd 5th Gen, survived deeper mud, and towed more (I towed an small excavator and bobcat on a big flatbed trailer). And it always came out the other end well. Finally, after 250k miles of abuse, I got a deal on a 5th Gen that had been turned back into the stealership with 8k miles. I miss that old, bulletproof truck. But I do love my 5th Gen even though at 90k miles it is showing the wear that the 3rd was showing at twice those miles and has been treated much more gently (not to say I don't use her full capabilities, I just don't drive like a bat out of hell or try to tow twice her own weight). My 5th just doesn't seem as stout or as bulletproof.

I sold my 2001 SR5 with 209k miles and upgraded to a 2014 Trail. Unless you're hell bent on getting all the bells and whistles, I don't see why you need to spend $40k (I paid $34k, however I don't have KDSS).

I had some tremendous seller's remorse the night my 2001 left me and I wasn't picking up the new one until the next morning. However, I'd say within 2 miles off the lot I knew I'd made the right decision. I've put 1000 miles on the new truck and don't have any regrets.

The one thing I LOVED about the 3rd gen was its reliability (this is why I bought another 4Runner), but not so sure I agree with everyone when they say the interior in the new ones is so much cheaper. I had plastic that was scratched up, squeaking sunroof, and a radio backlight that would go in and out as if it was a strobe light. None of this mattered though, because it would always get me from point A to point B.

Also, I thought it drove pretty good (guy that bought it said so too...he had another 3rd gen). The 5th blows it out of the water on the road, but strangely it still feels like I'm driving a 4Runner. One thing you will have to get used to is that the 5th gen's are substantially bigger than the 3rd - I could squeeze that 3rd gen anywhere - now it kind of feels like I'm driving an F150 (comparatively speaking).

Anyway, I say go for it. No regrets from this guy.

I currently have 2 5th gens, a 3rd gen and a first gen. I drive my 3rd gen every day to and from work, but on the weekends when i want to enjoy driving i always take a 5th gen. My 3rd has 202k on it now and I am considering selling it.

I still own one of each. I actually bought the 5th gen before I bought the 3rd gen. My wife and I both started liking 4runners when the 3rd gens came out but it was never the right vehicle for us at the time. By the time a 4Runner was right, the 5th gen had been introduced and we got one. My daughter was driving a rear wheel drive sports car when she decided to go to college in the mountains. So I sold the car and bought the 3rd gen limited for her to take to school. As someone else said - built like a tank and having the push button all wheel drive mode for her in cases of snow was perfect.

In my opinion - love both of them but 2 completely different vehicles as far as drive and feel.

My first car (that lasted more than a month) was a '97 SR5 and I absolutely loved it. Passed it on to my sister when i moved away from school and we both agree the worst mistake we made was trading it in when she picked up her new car. I had a sequoia in between my two 4runners and although its bigger, i still feel as though the 5th gen has the same feel as the 3rd gen. Plus it had a manual transmission, which was an absolute blast to drive. Im really wishing I still had it in the fleet.

I had a 1997 3rd Gen.. Mild lift, supercharged, lots of goodies.

Stock 3rd Gen vs. Stock 5th Gen, the 3rd lacked power. Overall, it felt "lighter" and easier to maneuver than my 2014 Trail. The interior of the 5th is a lot more comfortable and looks nicer.

I sold my 3rd Gen in 2006 and was 4Runner-less for 8 years. After I regrettably sold the '97, I made it a goal to once again own a 4Runner due to my experience.

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I had a 3rd Gen 1998 SR5 Sport, was very solid. I definitely miss the Manual Transmission. But with all the new tech in the 5th Gen like it has been stated, fits my life style better. Meaning my wife feels more safe it since she had a problem with driving my 3rd gen in the rain LOL (spin outs) 5th gen has traction aids and is heavier.

2 kids plus 2 dogs the added space it great too

I had a 99 SR5 desert dune and I loved it. I should have kept it to be honest, instead of letting it go for the pittance I got for it in ($4800) when I bought my 5th gen. Wifey would have none of me keeping it as I had just sold the 89 pickup two months before I bought the 5th gen.

The 3rd was definitely smaller, tighter, more compact but the engine was getting a bit tired, it was having a hard time keeping 65 up one of the main canyon roads here that I travel frequently. Being my first 4runner I didn't do too much to it, it did everything I wanted/asked it to do without issue. I do regret trading it in. If I could have kept it along with my new one I would have.

The 5th gen, I love it as much as the 3rd + a little more and LOL 10 fold more than my old 89 Std DLX 4x4. Roomy, pretty comfy, nice options, powertrain seems so far so good, did I say its bigger? Which came with what I like least about it, the much larger turn radius. That said, zero regrets.

I had a 3rd gen as well but i sold it to my friend and used the money as a down payment for my 5th gen. It was a reliable truck that never gave me any issues. The only reason I sold her was because I got a new job and needed a newer vehicle. I love my new 5th gen. It's spacious, has lots of power, and I love the blue gauges. Still getting used to the size of it tho lol

I also have both a 3rd and a 5th. The 3rd is a '97 with manual transmission and the 5th is a 2011 Trail. I pretty much agree with T4R_Finally - they are totally different cars. I miss not having manual trans in the 5th gen but overall, it is really far more comfortable (which explains why my wife has taken possession of it). I am slowly adding mods to the 5th and might actually get to drive it once she gets her BMW. Absolutely hate the idea of getting rid of the 3rd though. For what it is worth, my dogs highly approve of both - their favorite is which ever one they are in.