That would be so helpful! I'd hate to drive 7 hours round trip just to crawl underneath and find a rusted out frame. I'll PM you. Thanks so much!
3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide
- Thread starter 4-Ripcord
- Start date
That would be so helpful! I'd hate to drive 7 hours round trip just to crawl underneath and find a rusted out frame. I'll PM you. Thanks so much!
TrexRunnerGirl
New member
Did you get a chance to go look at this Runner? I had looked at a 4Runner at Schaumburg Honda a month or so back but when I drove it there was a 4x4 issue and they had to take it in to fix it. Might not be the same one, but it was a limited 2001 and silver. Maybe they got it fixed.
I'm was looking at a 2001 red one in Frankfort, IL but it also came up with 4x4 issues. Some frame rust but never able to test drive it. so still on the lookout for one. Going to NM in a few weeks so maybe I'll come back with one.
Keep looking, you'll find one.
Did you get a chance to go look at this Runner? I had looked at a 4Runner at Schaumburg Honda a month or so back but when I drove it there was a 4x4 issue and they had to take it in to fix it. Might not be the same one, but it was a limited 2001 and silver. Maybe they got it fixed.
I'm was looking at a 2001 red one in Frankfort, IL but it also came up with 4x4 issues. Some frame rust but never able to test drive it. so still on the lookout for one. Going to NM in a few weeks so maybe I'll come back with one.
Keep looking, you'll find one.
Not yet, probably today or tomorrow.
Did you get a chance to go look at this Runner? I had looked at a 4Runner at Schaumburg Honda a month or so back but when I drove it there was a 4x4 issue and they had to take it in to fix it. Might not be the same one, but it was a limited 2001 and silver. Maybe they got it fixed.
I'm was looking at a 2001 red one in Frankfort, IL but it also came up with 4x4 issues. Some frame rust but never able to test drive it. so still on the lookout for one. Going to NM in a few weeks so maybe I'll come back with one.
Keep looking, you'll find one.
I'm almost certain it's the same one. They've had this 4Runner on their lot since November. Maybe they fixed the 4x4 issue...
Novashards
Member
This is a great thread and helped me decide on buying my new to me 2000 limited 4x4 w/e-locker.
Jidaran
New member
First off - thanks for this super informative thread! I'm in the process of reading through the whole thing. It's really helpful to see other people's buying experiences.
I'm looking into getting a 3rd Gen at the moment to replace my '91 Volvo 740 station wagon. Still narrowing down the preferred year, trim, etc. I thought I'd start off with a real basic question - what's the consensus on buying a car with >150K mi? My budget is under 5K, but really I'd like to keep it around 3K. It seem like at that price point, I'm looking at a car with a lot of miles.
My better half is pushing me to get another 740 (or 240) because she likes the retro style. I'd prefer something a little newer and more reliable. (Don't get me wrong, the Volvos are tanks, but they require a fair amount of work.)
If I'm trying to get away from the annoyances of constantly working on my car, is buying a truck with those sort of miles a bad idea?
I'm looking into getting a 3rd Gen at the moment to replace my '91 Volvo 740 station wagon. Still narrowing down the preferred year, trim, etc. I thought I'd start off with a real basic question - what's the consensus on buying a car with >150K mi? My budget is under 5K, but really I'd like to keep it around 3K. It seem like at that price point, I'm looking at a car with a lot of miles.
My better half is pushing me to get another 740 (or 240) because she likes the retro style. I'd prefer something a little newer and more reliable. (Don't get me wrong, the Volvos are tanks, but they require a fair amount of work.)
If I'm trying to get away from the annoyances of constantly working on my car, is buying a truck with those sort of miles a bad idea?
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
To be fair, the cheapest vehicle you're going to buy is probably going to require the most amount of work, meaning additional investment. While there are circumstances of people having bought perfectly maintained and updated vehicles the greater majority have had to do lots of scheduled and deferred maintenance on these vehicles which adds expense to the purchase price. For example, a $3,000 99 4Runner with a hundred fifty to two hundred thousand miles on it will probably need $2,000 worth of updates, everything listed in section 7 of this post.
That being said, once the safety and mileage based updates are done and the vehicle is current and roadworthy it cost as much to maintain as any other vehicle, maybe even less from my experience, but that also depends on the individual vehicle that you buy.
Do your research, see what you can find out on your own before asking a slew of questions, and consider this forum a good resource and community. Welcome aboard.
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phattyduck
Elite Member
If you are going 2WD, it should be easy to get a good one for under $5k. A 4WD under $5k will require some work, most likely...
-Charlie
Jidaran
New member
When you say $2000 of updates, are you talking about dropping it off at the shop? Or DIY?
With the used Volvo's I bought, I never spent more than a few hundred bucks getting them fixed up (making the most of parts pulled from the junkyard). Should I expect more expense with a 4Runner because of the greater complexity?
One of the things that appealed to me about the 4runners is that this forum has so much good information on maintenance and repairs. I'm not the most experienced mechanic (a lot of the work on the Volvos was done with my Dad - who is) but I figured the how to guides would make getting stuff fixed for cheap a whole lot easier.
I've seen some of the cheap 2WD, but I'm set on 4WD. If you have an SUV it might as well be off road capable, no? I guess they're cheap for a reason.
With the used Volvo's I bought, I never spent more than a few hundred bucks getting them fixed up (making the most of parts pulled from the junkyard). Should I expect more expense with a 4Runner because of the greater complexity?
One of the things that appealed to me about the 4runners is that this forum has so much good information on maintenance and repairs. I'm not the most experienced mechanic (a lot of the work on the Volvos was done with my Dad - who is) but I figured the how to guides would make getting stuff fixed for cheap a whole lot easier.
I've seen some of the cheap 2WD, but I'm set on 4WD. If you have an SUV it might as well be off road capable, no? I guess they're cheap for a reason.
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
Most folks here DIY and will swear by OEM parts, and for critical parts, new and not used. Body panels from the junkyard all day long, tie rod ends, new. Just as an example, Lower Ball Joints are about $100 each, inner and outer tie rod ends about $200 a side, radiator $120, hoses $20 each - assuming Toyota parts. Some folks do use aftermarket parts, they cost much less but usually are lower quality as well. The Toyota quality standard is what has these vehicles still on the road today.
On the other hand, when you buy a 20 year old vehicle, assume a bunch of updates (suspension, brakes, etc) along with basic maintenance (brakes, plugs, wires, belts) and possibly tires. Unless you get lucky buying a super well maintained vehicle, I would plan on a maintenance budget post purchase. Then there are mods lol
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
The guys here that wheel these things hard replace lower ball joint every hundred thousand miles, many people are on original ball joints still. Unlike other vehicles the ball joint is an entire assembly hence the cost but it really is the Achilles heel of this vehicle as it can fail without warning even after many have tested there's per FSM and found no discernible play.
If people want to go Bargain Basement and use aftermarket parts and don't mind the fix or repair daily mentality, you can apply it towards any vehicle. The beauty of the Toyota parts is that they last and that makes them worth the price when you don't have to do the job every year, but all parts eventually do need to be replaced and you're talking about a 17 to 22 year old vehicle
I hope you make the best decision for you and your family
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phattyduck
Elite Member
If you aren't going to use 4WD, don't get a 4WD. Lower MPG, higher insurance, more maintenance, more expensive, slower, etc. 2WD will get you down anything reasonable (mine was 2WD originally and had probably 10k miles offroad before the 4WD swap).
If you ARE going to use it, of course get a 4WD.
-Charlie
Jidaran
New member
Posting here because I can't post my own threads yet.
Based on what I've seen online, it seems like the 4Runner bumper got updated in 1999. Prior to 1999, it looks like this:
1999 - 2002, it looked like this:
Does anyone know the purpose of the change? Is there a functionality there, or is it just aesthetics? I'm currently looking at buying a 3rd gen, and while I like a lot of the improvements in the later model years (multi-mode in particular) I hate how the bumper looks. Is it possible to install a pre-99 bumper on a 99 - 02 4Runner?
Based on what I've seen online, it seems like the 4Runner bumper got updated in 1999. Prior to 1999, it looks like this:
1999 - 2002, it looked like this:
Does anyone know the purpose of the change? Is there a functionality there, or is it just aesthetics? I'm currently looking at buying a 3rd gen, and while I like a lot of the improvements in the later model years (multi-mode in particular) I hate how the bumper looks. Is it possible to install a pre-99 bumper on a 99 - 02 4Runner?
octanejunkie
Elite Member
The fat lip bumper design introduced in 99 has more Crush can and safety improvements over earlier years not to mention styling and internal updates as well. In my opinion 99 and 2000 are the golden years of 3rd gen design but I'm a little biased.
If you had access to a 98 donor vehicle you could probably transfer the front bumper Etc, but you would be compromising safety in the same way that you would installing an aftermarket bumper that requires cutting off the crush cans and mounting pads.
That being said, and aftermarket bumper on a 98 versus a 99 wouldn't look any different from the front, but from the back, the 98 8 1/8 liter license plate bezel gives away the age of the vehicle.
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If you had access to a 98 donor vehicle you could probably transfer the front bumper Etc, but you would be compromising safety in the same way that you would installing an aftermarket bumper that requires cutting off the crush cans and mounting pads.
That being said, and aftermarket bumper on a 98 versus a 99 wouldn't look any different from the front, but from the back, the 98 8 1/8 liter license plate bezel gives away the age of the vehicle.
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