A question for some of you.

thatoneguy

thatoneguy

New member
A question for some of you.

If you've owned an older 4runner, and traded up to a 3rd gen at some point, how did that go for you? Do you miss your old runner? Does the third gen do everything better than your older one?

Currently driving a 1st gen, I see that this time next year ill likely be driving a third gen. They're great vehicles, and the 3.4 has proven itself to me.

Discuss!
 
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I had 3 2nd gens with the 3.0 (and this is my 3rd 3rd gen). I like being able to climb long hills without turning off the overdrive, the A/C, and holding my foot to the floor, and still losing speed. The 3rd gen 3.4 is no race car but it seems like it compared to a 2nd gen.

The 2nd gen was more 'trucky' - it bounced the ____ out of me on trails. The 3rd gen is much more manageable on the trails and handles better on the road.
 
I haven't personally owned a 1st or 2nd gen, but I've driven quite a few of each over the years in a few different environments. The first gen ones with the top off weren't any different than my '84 or '86, and when I had my fiberglass caps on the pickups, they were pretty similar to the 1st gens with their tops. Which makes sense with them having so much in common. The things I miss about the old trucks comes down to a lack of concern on body damage. I miss the '84 because of the solid axle, and the '86 because it was just the last truck I owned. It's pretty handy having a truck bed for the nasty jobs, and hooking up a trailer just isn't as quick or easy. For ride quality, casual wheeling, power, comfort, there's really no looking back as far as I'm concerned. Although I am eyeballing first gen Tundras just to have the bed again.
 
I had an '87 5-Speed with a 22RE. After my motor seemed to be on it's way out, I upgraded to a Sunwest Performance long block, re-geared to 4.56's and breathed a whole new life into that thing. I loved it dearly.

When I totaled it I parted it out for a hefty chunk of change and bought my 3rd gen.

Quite simply, I will never own a 1st Gen as a daily driver again. I do miss the removable top a few times a year, but that's literally the only thing.



Edit** And I think my 0-60 is a bit quicker than that ;-)
 
farmerjon said:
Really? or are you being sarcastic? I've always wondered what the 0 to 60 speed was...
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I'm dead serious. I put my Dad's Drift Box (Uses GPS to give you 0-60, 0-100-0, and such times.) from his Porsche in my 4Runner and then went for a drive.

With a better launch, and if I would stop granny shifting, I'd probably be in the mid-8 seconds.
 
originally i had a 96 then ended up pickin up a 88 then ended up pickin up a 99 after. I miss the 88 in the way of not to worried about body damage on the trails and just if someone hit it or i hit them it would just be another scratch only thing i didnt like was how much issues it was starting to give me and after i blew it up for the 2nd time then i new had to go for another 3rd gen.
 
my 1st gen was fun, but it got to be too old and had typical old truck problems. electrical stuff started failing and was getting hard to find replacement parts. off road, the ifs wasnt as good as my 3rd gen i feel like. they're two completely different rigs imo. the 1st gen is more bare and basic, the 3rd gen rides great, has more power and much nicer interior wise. i miss my 1st gen but i like the 3rd gen more. in a perfect world i'd have a nice restored 1st gen and a 3rd gen
 
A.Wilson013 said:
Edit** And I think my 0-60 is a bit quicker than that ;-)
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well no chit! *in my best DS Hartman voice*


to the OP;

i have never owned a 1st gen 4runner, but i have owned 2 85 4x4 extra cabs) and barrowed a friends 85 4runner for about a month when i rebuilt the motor in one of my 85 pickups. the 85-89 and the 96-02 are totally different vehicles. that being said i think i like my 3rd gen runner better, but i will always own one of those older trucks(the truck and the 4runner are all the same from the cab and forward), their is something "old school" about them that brings a smile to my face every time i get in it and drive it. i love the feeling of "im actually driving this" and the feeling of this truck is a going to do anything and everything i ask it to, and go anywhere i tell it. i do not have that same feeling in my 3rd gen 4runner. no some of that could be im more worried about body damage on my 3rd gen, but i dont think thats the case, as my 97 runner is armored and my 85 truck isnt. it just has a more rugged feel to it. when you get in it and drive you know its a truck, it does not let you forget that. you have to pay attention to it when driving, there is now just sitting back and cruising. with that being said i have done several multi state road trips in the older trucks and always been happy to do so. they are not tiring or uncomfortable to drive, they just do not have the creature comforts that the newer vehicles have.

if it came down to a choice of one or the other, for me i would have to say my 97 4runner. only because i have two kids and the 4runner can haul the family. and its more user friendly and has more power, but they are both cool and fun vehicles imo
 
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I liked my '85 solid-axle 4Runner, 2.5" OME lift, 32s, ARB rear air locker and OBA (front TruTrac), Marlin Crawler 4:88 gears and transfer case, rebuilt 22RE, CB, etc., but my wife didn't like it, so we "upgraded" now to a smoother riding and more comfortable '96 4Runner V6 5-speed with SS 1.2, 33s, factory E-locker (soon with ARB bumper for my Warn M8000, either roof rack or swing-out spare tire carrier, CB, sleep deck, etc.)
 
I didn't go straight from an older 4Runner to a 3rd gen, but I did previously own a '91. To me the 3rd gen is a perfect upgrade to the 2nd gen. All the same body lines (but slightly tweaked for the better) as the 2nd and in addition a much better power plant and a more refined interior.
 
A.Wilson013 said:
You had a second gen?

*unfriends on Facebook and blocks phone number*
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Lol. Sure did. And proud of it. My folks got it brand new when I was 15. Before they got it, they were in the market for another vehicle and said their next one would be what I drove when I turned 16. You should have seen my face when they picked me up from school in it. They quickly (and smartly) decided that it was too much of a car for a 16yo and I ended up buying my own car. I was pretty sad, but it was most definitely the right move. No way I should have had that at 16. I bought it off them several years later.

It was a trooper up until it's dying day. Of course it was the standard gutless 3.0 with all the head gasket issues, but I still loved it none the less. Not to mention it saved both my friend and myself from at minimum very serious injuries when we were in a 40mph (both vehicles, total 80) head on accident.

P1010026.jpg~original


P1010061.jpg~original
 
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