3rd gen vrs 4th gen buying help

M

MDJR

New member
Hi all. Need some input. There are 2 local 4runners for sale by me and I'd like to know which would be the best bet if you will. 1st is a 2000 V6 SR5 4x4 and the second is a 2004 V6 Sport. Both black, both about 80,000 miles. The 2000 is a 2 owner, clean car fax, looks very clean inside/out for $10K. The 04' doesn't have a carfax listed (both at dealers) but it looks pretty good and I would get one before buying. The 04 is $13K asking price. My concern is with the 2000's lower safety rating the applies to the roll over ratings. I like the body style better and the price of course but I want something stable enough that I don't have to worry about my wife driving it periodically. I have a newborn and safety is priority. I would like to know how anyone with a 3rd gen feels about it's stability on the road. My dad has an 07, so i know how those drive, but if I can go with the cheaper 2000 then I would prefer. I feel that both are a good value regardless. Any thoughts or info would be appreciated. I've owned a lot of cars over the years but never a T4R. I miss having an SUV and I'd like to get one again. I've read nothing but good things about them and I really like this forum and the people on here. It makes me want to be part of by actually owning a 4runner!

Thanks.
 
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If you plan on keeping it stock, they are plenty stable. My mom has an 04 limited and, of course being a larger and wider vehicle, it does feel much more stable and at ease on the highway. It really all depends on what you plan to use it for. As a stock family hauler, I may actually recommend the 4th gen. more space, smoother, quieter ride and have actually found her 4.0 v6 limited to get better mpg's than my 3.4 (both when it was n/a and now with the supercharger)
 
As a family we own both a 3rd gen and a 4th Gen and we love both. I drive the 3rd and my wife the 4th. We would not hesitate to jump in either and drive across the country. The 4th is a little bigger but honestly not that much, I IIRC the 4th is only 3inches longer and an a little wider. I say have your wife drive both and then get the one she likes the best.:) can't go wrong then. Good luck
 
Will they let you drive them both and see which one feels more comfortable to you? I was worried about road stability with my 3rd gen because I bought it for my daughter who was coming from a road-hugging Mazda RX-8 and that's all she had ever driven regularly. The T4R doesn't drive like the 8, by any stretch, but feels surprisingly stable to me, even in some fairly sharp turns, and she seems to have adjusted to it quickly and very well. I've never driven a 4th gen but I do own a 5th gen and, from a driving perspective, they are simply 2 completely different vehicles - so it's hard to compare one to the other. No offense to anyone, but cosmetically, I've just never warmed up to the 4th gens at all.
 
You cannot go wrong with either one.

The 4th is a little more stable on the highway IMHO if that helps.

My friends went from a 3rd to a 4th in the last month, and with a small child, they will tell you it is easier getting her in and out of the 4th than the 3rd, not to mention the car seat.
 
I chose a 3rd gen over a 4th for a few different reasons. #1 was styling. Love it. Clean lines all around. The other was size. The 4th gens were just too big. 3rd gens are a perfect size for both on and off road. 4th gens got to be too soccer mommy-ish in my opinion.

As far as highway stability. I've never felt it was unstable on the highway.
 
Ok here is my input on stability. I am running a 3" lift and 33" tires with armor(bumpers and sliders), roof rack about 1000lbs over stock and only a front sway bar. I can take some curly q off ramps that are posted at 35mph @ 45-50 and feel stable. If you are looking to keep it stock there is no stability issue at all IMHO with the 3rd gen.

Drive both and see what you like the feel of best, @ 3k price difference it is a toss up since both have some pros over the other.
 
Neither of them are going to be unstable, you have to try to roll an SUV it's not something you need to worry about, I mean I have had the 97 up to around 80-95 and found myself taking curves on the highway, and I could have went a bit quicker.

$10k is expensive for a 3rd gen, you can get a great truck for $6-$8k.
 
JohnsD90 said:
$10k is expensive for a 3rd gen, you can get a great truck for $6-$8k.
Click to expand...

This is true. Also, at 80k, work that will soon need to be done, may not have been done yet, such as timing belt, water pump, etc. Maybe not such a bad starting price (assuming some negotiation is possible with a dealer) if all work has already been done and it is just cherry clean, with that low mileage.

I searched exclusively to deal with individual owners because I would rather deal directly with the owner of something of that age so I know exactly what I'm buying and what has been done and will need to be done. I narrowed my search to the 2000 limited (that I ended up buying) with 125k on it, but already had most major work done to it (only thing I'm doing in addition is replace radiator), and a 2002 SR5 with around 80k on it. I would have loved to have one with less than 100k on it but they guy wanted 3 grand more for it than the limited and it was in great shape but I would have been right around the corner from spending 1 to 2 grand more to get those other things done. I'd rather buy one with a few more miles that already has the work done than to buy one purely for the low miles, pay more, and have to put even more into it.
 
Thanks for all the input. Seems I waited too long since both are gone! I'll keep looking though and I'll let you know if I get anything.
 
New for "sale"

2 new trucks popped up recently.

both 2006, both sport models with clean carfax. both about $19,500

One is a v8 with 49K the other a v6 with 58K... Any ideas on the price? Seems reasonable considering what else is out there in my area, maybe a little high?
 
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