2nd or 3rd generation used.. which to buy?

[kosmo101]

Ready to turn in sequoia as i cant afford payment anymore.. so looking at a 97-02 4runner. I know things changed in 99... but are these years (99-02) better than and worth the extra $$ than say a 97 or 98? I see some nice 97's and 98's for sale near me but want to do the right thing here. Would anyone hesitate to buy a 98 over a 99?

Thanks Kevin

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I've driven both extensively and the 3rd gen by far for power and comfort and just a big improvement in everyway over a 2nd gen.

I'd buy a '99+ (and did) since I sold my '97 after a year for specifically a '99 Highlander model and the upgrades are worth it. Cupholders placed off of the dash and down in the lower console was just about worth the upgrade alone.

Here's my thread of the mid gen upgrades

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44297

 

[leftyguns21]

i agree 99+ is better. cosmetically its far superior from the inside to the out.
if you can get an 01+ you get the better tails. of course this is an easy and cheap upgrade if you find a killer deal on an 00'. i had an 00 before and did the upgrade.

 

[kosmo101]

is there a way i can gauge if the deals I am seeing are good. I had a 99 back in the day.. but now i see such a range of prices. Of course i know theres no one answer depending on mileage, condition, model. I guess maybe if someone has seen what they feel is a good deal let me know.. northeast please.

Kevin

 

[004Gunner]

99-02 4Runners are the best. Use nada.com, kbb.com, and edmunds for price ranges, but make sure you look at trade-in, retail, and private party values.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

To each his own, but I like my '98 more than '01-'02. The fat lip bumper just isn't doing it for me.

Cup holders do blow though.

I would go up to a '99 mainly for the cup holders and taller coils, but definitely would not go to a '00-'02. If it's going to be offroad I believe those years have some systems in them like VSC that make it a little harder. I'm almost positive you can get around them though. If you want a rear locker or manual your going to gave to stick to the earlier years too.

 

[jlmilligan]

I would try to find a 99 or a 2000. That way you can find one with a rear locker. Thats just my opinion. It would be nice to have one in my 2003, not that I need it, just something I want.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The '99 upgrades that made me sway from my '97 were:

Cupholders
Better headlamps
Multi power outlets even one by the rear hatch
auto up/down front windows
Digital odo/2 tripometers

And I wanted a Highlander model just for the scoop.

There's just so many little things that added up in '99 but yes,the fatlip bumper is a love/hate thing but that bumper got the integrated fog lamp locations.

 

[trd_4runnin]

The '99 upgrades that made me sway from my '97 were:

Cupholders
Better headlamps
Multi power outlets even one by the rear hatch
auto up/down front windows
Digital odo/2 tripometers

And I wanted a Highlander model just for the scoop.

There's just so many little things that added up in '99 but yes,the fatlip bumper is a love/hate thing but that bumper got the integrated fog lamp locations.

Ron did your 97 have the power outlet back by the rear hatch or just the one up front. My 98 has one back by the rear hatch and one up front. It would be nice to have the 2 up front but its not a big issue for me.

My thoughts are that I don't really care much for the fat lip bumper either. The cupholders suck in the 96-98, but if you find a killer deal on a 96-98 you can get the 99+ center console in there with a little bit of work. The headlamps would be nice to have too but again not a huge deal to me.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

They did add the hatch outlet in '98 but most of the upgrades like headlamps and the cupholders can be swapped so it's just minor details.

I mostly swapped my '97 for the particular '99 I got because my '97 was sans sunroof and I really wanted a Highlander/Sport model and no chrome anywhere.

 

[trd_4runnin]

A sport model would be nice for sure, and I'm not a big fan of the chrome either. Luckily my Limited is chrome-free but I still have to deal with scoop-envy.