3rd Gens Too Old Now?

I started looking for an 'SUV' to add to my fleet of German cars. I looked at the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLK, a Cayenne and a lot of others. I was considering spending north of $50k and was going to have to trade in one of my existing cars...none of which I really wanted to get rid of.

My friend, a 'truck' guy, got me to start researching Japanese SUV's and the 4Runner really appealed to me. The price and reliability of the 3rd generation was quite attractive. I searched for about a month locally and then found a gem of a '97 4Runner Limited that was in incredible shape. It was the first one I drove, ever, and I bought it on the spot.

I couldn't be happier with my choice. It's fun to drive, ridiculously cheap to work on and all I need. I call it my beater but my wife knows better. It's been pimped. It's been coddled. It's been detailed like all my other rides. It lives in the garage next to it's garage mates from Stuttgart, Ingolstadt and Bavaria. :) And I feel good with that extra $45k still in the bank.

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I own a 5th gen, but I think the 3rd gen is still my favorite in terms of looks by far. Whenever I see one on the road I say "oh look!"

I wanted a 3rd gen originally and it would have been my first choice. Unfortunately a lot of the ones in Michigan have rust and I am totally mechanically incompetent, plus the wife liked the creature comforts of the new Limited. I also think older cars often look better than new ones. Older BMWs and Mercedes in pristine condition look far better than the newer styles... an older Porsche 911 also has a timeless look.
 
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I still love the 3rd gen styling. Yes I love the 4th gen more, but not having a car payment is great.

Plus this thing runs so good :thumb3:
 
3rd gens rule, the styling is timeless. My favorite design aspect is the ridges that run above the wheel wells. Not sure why....

I think the 4th gen's looks like a whale and the 5th gens are nice but still just don't remind me of "the good ol' Toyota's, the ones that last 1000000000 miles. (not saying the new ones aren't great, but...) IMO the 1st gen Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runner were the last of the dying breed. Ill still be a Yota guy for life but my 3rd gen is my favorite I've owned so far, and I've had 6. The only thing that will maybe replace my 3rd Gen. or sit along side it one day is a 80 series Landcruiser.

Sorry, Im a picture whore. Fightman just had to get it going.... sure doesnt look 13 years old!

20110804-IMG_0024 by RickaShay24, on Flickr
 
Still considering what I am going to do for a replacement rig - and I keep coming back to a 3rd Gen.

Just frustrating I'll have to start over to build pretty much the identical rig. Might go black on white this time though...
 
Sure they look old, but in a good way. The bodies aren't covered in a ton of plastic crap and they have good clean lines. Something of a rarity in designs these days (at least in my opinion). I don't have any doubt that I'll continue to love the designs of these rigs for many years to come.

I loved the 1st gen 4Runner when I first laid eyes on one back in middle school. Still love the looks of them today.
 
Nice start to the thread, and great stories followed on. I'm with the folks who talked about the classic exterior design of the 3rd Gen. Somebody mentioned the indent lines over the wheel wells -- totally agree, it muscles out the truck just right. I tried a 4th Gen, but it felt more like a family wagon. Also liked the tighter cabin and small truck feel of the 3G. I don't mind the Acura MDXs and new Ford Explorer, but they look more like spaceships where the windows don't roll down and the doors open with beeps. By comparison, the 3rd Gen is the real deal.
 
sawtooth3 said:
Also liked the tighter cabin and small truck feel of the 3G.
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It's definitely a pleasant feel. Especially after driving a Ford Focus for a day.



I have no reason to give up the Runner unless it's for a classic LC. I mean, I can't imagine the repair bill ever competing with a new vehicle's price, plus a new vehicle isn't a 3G.
 
well 3rd gens go back to the '96's. But I agree. the 3rd gens do still look very stylish for its age and probably look better than half the midsize SUV out there on the road.

and old pic of my rig

<a href="http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/tran61021/4runner/?action=view&current=IMAG0006-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/tran61021/4runner/IMAG0006-1.jpg" border="0" alt="4runner"></a>

<a href="http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/tran61021/4runner/?action=view&current=IMG_0638.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/tran61021/4runner/IMG_0638.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
bak3rme said:
lets see..the 4th gen ended in 2009..lets see how it lives up to itself in 10 years.
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My brother had to get rid of his '03 Sport V8 when it started getting rust in the wheel wells about a year ago now, but it was otherwise a great truck and a big reason I started looking and found mine. He replaced with an '05 Tundra after a brief time with a newer Nitro R/T, but he still misses the 4runner.

When I found that I could get a 3rd gen with a turbo diesel, I was hooked! To import into Canada they need to be 15 years old, so I was able to get a Feb build '96, bought it just before Christmas, and picked it up at the end of Feb. this year. I've put 23,000kms on it in the short time I've owned it, and I LOVE it. I even sold my car as I quickly realized I wouldn't have time for it anymore, and that car was previously my pride and joy. This truck will be with me till it dies, or I find a way to afford an turbo diesel 80 series LC.
 
Phooey

As long as toyota supports them and the aftermarket continues manufacturing i think were Ok.

Also take into consideration that not many people can take on new car payments and choose cheaper used vehicles.

PS: Have you noticed how many more of these there are the road now a days? stinking **** ton.
 
I see a lot of Third Gens runing around here. There's about three or four in our little company parking lot at any given time. I have been using my wive's old '97 as a daily for seven years now and don't have any intention of replacing it any time soon. As long as I can still get parts, I plan on keeping it on the road.
 
I agree with everyone else on here, the 3G 4Runner is just a classic that will never get old. I don't know what I'll do if my '97 dies!
 

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I'm pretty good at keeping old machines going, as long as I can get parts. Since the '80's, I have found that the killer is when the electronic modules start to go. My 1985 BMW 735i was driving me crazy finding used ABS, SRS, ECU, Climate-control, etc. New thingys would cost up to and over $1000. Problem was the used thingys didn't always last very long. A '94 Saab with 280k was having the same problems. And when these things involve warning lights, you have to stop driving the car, even if it works fine because of inspection (here in NJ).

Fortunately, our Asian electronics show little sign of going bad, so far. My 12-year old 135K 4Runner is rock solid and I fully expect it to go twice as far as it has gone, little electronic boxes permitting. On the European cars, the crap zone started at about 17 years. I hope ours do better.

Thank goodness, my 1966 IH 140 tractor has no electronics except the aftermarket ignition (points are a pain). That will run forever.
 
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My favorite part on the 4 runner is bumper (steel), headlights (glass), and I think the rearview mirrors sit perfectly on it.
 
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