Martinjmpr
New member
Hey, what's up, 4th gen peeps?
I've been hanging out over in the 3rd gen area for a while, got a 99 SR5 that I've loved since I got it.
However, all good things must come to an end and I'm thinking that I will be putting the 99 up for sale soon.
There are a number of reasons for this.
On a practical level, the wife and I got a nice little teardrop trailer in January and we love it. We have gone on a couple of camping trips with it (pulled by my '99) and it's done fine, but the last one, over several high passes, was something of an eye opener. The teardrop is a little bit heavy (over 1,000lbs) and the little 3.4 really struggled pulling it over the hills.
There is also the issue of selling the 4runner while it's still a hot commodity. It's been paid for for months and while it's nice not having a car payment, I'm starting to think that some of the features of the 4th gen are looking pretty good to me. 3rd gens seem to be fetching a high price locally, at least if the CL ads are any indication, and mine is not only a '99 "tall coil" model, it also has the locking rear diff. So, I'm anticipating a fairly quick sale.
On a superficial level, I get tired of vehicles after a few years. I've had the 99 for almost 3 years now, and it's running fine but I'm looking for something a little more modern with more updated features.
After flirting with the idea of an Xterra (SOLELY for it's manual tranny) and an 05-up Pathfinder (LOVE the look of that vehicle!) I have come to the conclusion that the only thing I'd be happy with is - another 4runner!
Seriously, I came this close ------> <------- to getting an Xterra, but after thinking about it, I realized that the things I would miss - multi-mode T-case, roll down rear window, full instrumentation, rear heater, etc - would outweigh the one thing I would gain (manual tranny.) I also realize that as much as I dislike slush boxes, most modern autos are actually more efficient than manuals anyway.
The 5th gen is out of my price range (and IMO is not as good looking as the 1st - 4th gens) so the 4th is what I am looking at.
So with all that preamble, here is my list of questions for you 4th gen owners out there:
1. I am only interested in a V6 4runner because I don't really need the V8 and don't want full time 4wd. When did the V6's get the 5 speed auto? Was it 2005 or 2006? And was that the same year they got the LED taillights? I guess what I'm asking here is if I see a 4th g with LED taillights and it doesn't have the V8 emblem, can I assume it also has the 5 speed?
2. What kind of MPG are the 4th gen V6 4x4's getting, city and highway? I pretty much drive like a granny so I'm used to ~18 in the city and as high as 21 - 22 on the highway, even fully loaded. I've heard the 4.0/5 speed combo in the 4th gen is even better, is that true?
3. Regarding the above, Edmunds says the 4th gen has a 23 gallon gas tank. Is that correct (I know Edmund's doesn't always get it right?) My biggest gripe with the 3rd gen was the small gas tank, at 18.5 gallons my low fuel light typically came on around 250 miles, which I regard as inadequate for off-road travels. What kind of range are you guys getting to the low fuel light?
4. Any known "issues?" For example, the 3rd gens have the integrated tranny cooler next to the radiator, and any mixing of coolant can result in the dreaded "pink milkshake" and a destroyed transmission. Am I right in thinking the 4th gen is also susceptible to this? And am I right that the fix is the same, i.e. get an aftermarket tranny cooler that bypasses the radiator?
5. Based on my price range and the fact that I want <100k miles, I'm looking primarily at 2005 - 2007 models. Any reason to prefer any one of those to others?
6. For those who off-road, especially in Colorado, what kind of trails can you do in a stock 4th gen? Do you take the running boards off like we do in the 3rd gens to keep from trashing them on the rocks?
Thanks in advance for any anwers. I realize that some of these answers are probably in the depths of the forum but if you 4th gen guys are anything like those of us on the 3rd gen boards, you like to talk about your trucks anyway!
I've been hanging out over in the 3rd gen area for a while, got a 99 SR5 that I've loved since I got it.
However, all good things must come to an end and I'm thinking that I will be putting the 99 up for sale soon.
There are a number of reasons for this.
On a practical level, the wife and I got a nice little teardrop trailer in January and we love it. We have gone on a couple of camping trips with it (pulled by my '99) and it's done fine, but the last one, over several high passes, was something of an eye opener. The teardrop is a little bit heavy (over 1,000lbs) and the little 3.4 really struggled pulling it over the hills.
There is also the issue of selling the 4runner while it's still a hot commodity. It's been paid for for months and while it's nice not having a car payment, I'm starting to think that some of the features of the 4th gen are looking pretty good to me. 3rd gens seem to be fetching a high price locally, at least if the CL ads are any indication, and mine is not only a '99 "tall coil" model, it also has the locking rear diff. So, I'm anticipating a fairly quick sale.
On a superficial level, I get tired of vehicles after a few years. I've had the 99 for almost 3 years now, and it's running fine but I'm looking for something a little more modern with more updated features.
After flirting with the idea of an Xterra (SOLELY for it's manual tranny) and an 05-up Pathfinder (LOVE the look of that vehicle!) I have come to the conclusion that the only thing I'd be happy with is - another 4runner!
Seriously, I came this close ------> <------- to getting an Xterra, but after thinking about it, I realized that the things I would miss - multi-mode T-case, roll down rear window, full instrumentation, rear heater, etc - would outweigh the one thing I would gain (manual tranny.) I also realize that as much as I dislike slush boxes, most modern autos are actually more efficient than manuals anyway.
The 5th gen is out of my price range (and IMO is not as good looking as the 1st - 4th gens) so the 4th is what I am looking at.
So with all that preamble, here is my list of questions for you 4th gen owners out there:
1. I am only interested in a V6 4runner because I don't really need the V8 and don't want full time 4wd. When did the V6's get the 5 speed auto? Was it 2005 or 2006? And was that the same year they got the LED taillights? I guess what I'm asking here is if I see a 4th g with LED taillights and it doesn't have the V8 emblem, can I assume it also has the 5 speed?
2. What kind of MPG are the 4th gen V6 4x4's getting, city and highway? I pretty much drive like a granny so I'm used to ~18 in the city and as high as 21 - 22 on the highway, even fully loaded. I've heard the 4.0/5 speed combo in the 4th gen is even better, is that true?
3. Regarding the above, Edmunds says the 4th gen has a 23 gallon gas tank. Is that correct (I know Edmund's doesn't always get it right?) My biggest gripe with the 3rd gen was the small gas tank, at 18.5 gallons my low fuel light typically came on around 250 miles, which I regard as inadequate for off-road travels. What kind of range are you guys getting to the low fuel light?
4. Any known "issues?" For example, the 3rd gens have the integrated tranny cooler next to the radiator, and any mixing of coolant can result in the dreaded "pink milkshake" and a destroyed transmission. Am I right in thinking the 4th gen is also susceptible to this? And am I right that the fix is the same, i.e. get an aftermarket tranny cooler that bypasses the radiator?
5. Based on my price range and the fact that I want <100k miles, I'm looking primarily at 2005 - 2007 models. Any reason to prefer any one of those to others?
6. For those who off-road, especially in Colorado, what kind of trails can you do in a stock 4th gen? Do you take the running boards off like we do in the 3rd gens to keep from trashing them on the rocks?
Thanks in advance for any anwers. I realize that some of these answers are probably in the depths of the forum but if you 4th gen guys are anything like those of us on the 3rd gen boards, you like to talk about your trucks anyway!
