3rd Gen vs. 4th Gen

domstriker

domstriker

New member
I'm new here but not new to internet forums. I've done a search and have been looking at a lot of amazing rigs that you guys have.

I'm looking to get a T4R here soon. I like the narrower body width of the 3rd gen but found a decent deal on a 4th Gen SR5 ('03/95k miles/$10k.) Only downside is that it's an auto. Seems hard to find a 5 speed in both 3rd and 4th gen.

I probably only hit jeep trails 20 times a year and the trails I hit are not nearly as gnarly as some of the ones that many of you drive on. Just Jeep trail networks to get to certain backpacking/fishing spots.

I know this place is overrun by 4th gen T4R owners and I'll get some biased answers but why is your 4th gen operationally better than a 3rd gen?
 
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This has been talked about so much. Do a search.

4th Gens didn't come in manual. Only the earlier years of the 3rd Gen have manuals.
 
Clemsonfan15 said:
This has been talked about so much. Do a search.

4th Gens didn't come in manual. Only the earlier years of the 3rd Gen have manuals.
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Got it....I guess my search wasn't good enough.

Any real advantage in the 4.0 L over the 3.4 L other than HP? I didn't know the 4th gen wasn't offered in a manual transmission. Weak sauce.

Also, is the 2" less ground clearance on the 4th gen significant?
 
Yep, no manual in the 4th Gen. The 4.0 v6 is a very impressive motor. Biggest difference other than power is that it uses a timing chain instead of a belt. I'd venture to say the 3rd gen is a tad better off road, but the 4th gen kills it on the road. I had a 97 2wd 4runner and it was ok. My biggest complaint was power, passing another vehicle was nearly impossible with the short stretches we have. Handling was so so. I now have a 03 4x4, and wow, what a difference. I really started to go with the cheaper 3rd gen, but in the end I'm very glad I didn't. The 4th gen is still very capable off road (just add a lift/tires and you'll be set), and is very smooth on road. I love the handling/ride of the 4th gen. Also, I think your gas mileage will be better with the 4th gen v6, not 100% sure on that. You've got a good deal on that 4runner, as long as it's mechanically sound it'd be hard to beat!
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
Yep, no manual in the 4th Gen. The 4.0 v6 is a very impressive motor. Biggest difference other than power is that it uses a timing chain instead of a belt. I'd venture to say the 3rd gen is a tad better off road, but the 4th gen kills it on the road. I had a 97 2wd 4runner and it was ok. My biggest complaint was power, passing another vehicle was nearly impossible with the short stretches we have. Handling was so so. I now have a 03 4x4, and wow, what a difference. I really started to go with the cheaper 3rd gen, but in the end I'm very glad I didn't. The 4th gen is still very capable off road (just add a lift/tires and you'll be set), and is very smooth on road. I love the handling/ride of the 4th gen. Also, I think your gas mileage will be better with the 4th gen v6, not 100% sure on that. You've got a good deal on that 4runner, as long as it's mechanically sound it'd be hard to beat!
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Thanks man. Very good info on passing. I didn't think about that...
 
Hey, if you're staying on the highway go with the 4th gen...the 4.0 is great. If you're doing any trail rides, get the 3rg gen and keep the extra money for off road mods...just one man's humble opinion of course!:cowboy:
 
The 4th Gen is going to have more power and will handle better on road. It's just simply progression. It wouldn't make sense for a new generation to handle worse. Not saying that the 3rd Gen is weak on road. It just fine.

Like FoneRunner said, if you are staying on road I would probably go with the 4th Gen.
 
4th gen looks better. if u have a spoiler even nicer. if u have aftermarket exhaust even louder. if u have full tank of gas you can pave the road and leave rotten eggs behind you. grab a 06 or up. they have 5spd or is it 05?

3rd gen has awee bit more after market stuff.


i drive my runner liek a car. (xreas!)
 
liqourish said:
4th gen looks better. if u have a spoiler even nicer. if u have aftermarket exhaust even louder. if u have full tank of gas you can pave the road and leave rotten eggs behind you. grab a 06 or up. they have 5spd or is it 05?

3rd gen has awee bit more after market stuff.


i drive my runner liek a car. (xreas!)
Click to expand...

I think a lot of people would disagree with your first statement.
 
Wife sold her 97 4runner w/97000 miles and got a 05 w/30000 miles about 4 wks ago. We just went on a 1000 mile round trip and the 05 has more power, more room, better ride, and better mileage. 19mpg vs 22.5mpg. I hope the 05 is as great a truck as the 97 was.
 
I switched from a 98 sr5 to an 06 limited and love it. it feels more luxurious and roomy, and there are so many little details that make it much cleaner and nicer.

In terms of driving, the 4th gen definitely has more power and more car-like handling than the 3rd gen and gets a little better mileage. The MPG computer always seems to give a reading of +2/3mpg in my experience but the actual mpg still slightly better than the 3rd gen.

That said, it may be because my gas pedal was so heavy on my 3rd gen but it definitely felt like more of a tank. I liked having the 4wd shifter in the 3rd gen because it would kick in a lot quicker, more on demand. With the 4th gen's electronic switch, sometimes I find it taking a while to engage the 4wd and I miss the 3rd gen's shifter.

Although the 3rd gen felt more like a tank to me, the 4th gen definitely handled it's own so far, it's just not as rugged of a ride so it doesn't feel as strong to me. If my tranny didn't start going in my 98, i would have loved to keep it, just took advantage of the opportunity to trade in with 150k miles. (if I hadn't done so much towing with it, it would have lasted much longer. my tranny started slipping last year 4th of July weekend when I was putting my boat back in storage)

Before I started having problems with the 3rd gen, I was a 4th gen hater. To me, the 3rd gen is more of a truck in the old fashion sense while the 4th gen is more modern and sleek. now I'm more of a 5th gen hater!
 
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I had to make the same decision around Christmas 08. I ended up with an 03 SR5 4WD V8. Couldn't have made a better decision at the time. I absolutely love it!
 
I guess it's subjective which is better:
I've had both 2000 V6 SR5 4wd 5-speed manual and 2004 V6 SR5 4-speed auto

In my opinion there is really only a couple of advantages that lead me to the 4th gen - full-time four wheel drive and stability control etc for winter driving.

The 3rd gen with a manual trans is way more fun to drive - the manual allows you to better control the engines power band than a crappy auto-box. It also allows for gear braking which the 4th gen trans has no idea how to do, it would go 200 km/hour down a steep grade if you let it.

For off road - In stock form a 3rd gen is higher, narrower and has way better visability. 3rd gen seemed much more solid to me and was more reliable over the time I had it (4 years).

In short the 4th gen is a better family rig, but I really miss my 3rd gen and stick shift.
 
I dont own a 4runner..... yet.
BUT IMO I think the 3rd gen looks better and has more character.

I feel when you look at a really nice black 4th gen runner, they look nice But because of 2 reasons:

1. they are new
2. the prestige of a 4runner was earned by the 3rd gen, IMO. So all 4runners after 3rd gen will have the aura of legacy that 3rd gen established.

Thats just my opinion....
 
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