ABQ checking in

[vanion2]

Howdy all.

I found this site a few months back when I was day dreaming about buying a 4Runner and needed to do some research. I quickly found this site chock full of information over load which I love since it gives me lots of ammunition when I walk up to a potential candidate to see if it is up to snuff.

I'm your basic Toyota fan. I have a 2012 Rav4 V6 for the wife and a 93 MR2 for my DD. I am looking for the hat trick by adding a V6 4x4 4Runner to the stable so both my wife and I will have peace of mind when I am picking my 2 year old up from day care. That and I have always wanted one so I can do some occasional 4 wheeling when no one is looking.

Thanks to what I have read at this point I am looking for a solid 3rd Gen for several reasons. It's in the price range I want to spend and because I just love the way they look. Add to that they have a rock solid reputation and plenty of good reviews from both owners and paid opinionaters gives me peace of mind that beauty and function can be accomplished simultaneously. Don't take this to mean that the other gens are any less good but one 20+ year old car in the stable is enough for now and paying the premium for a newer one is just not something I am willing to do. I haven't paid more than $5500 for any vehicle I currently drive (wife's Rav4 doesn't count) and would like to carry on that trend. Toyota makes it easy to do so.

Well thanks for reading and hope to have the 4Runner issue resolved soon.

 

[buchaja]

Welcome, Shawn. Let us know when you find "the one".

 

[vanion2]

Well I did just drop off an 01 for a prepurchase inspection 2 hours ago....(fingers crossed).

 

[vanion2]

Well the deal was done and I took it home. Here are the gratuitous photos of it in my driveway (unwashed):

Cleanest one I test drove and everything works as it should. Odometer is at 161400 miles and it needs the usual "I just bought a used car" maintenance routine (all fluids changed, new tires, new timing belt, plugs, filters, etc) just so I can have peace of mind. Checked out clean with the prepurchase inspection from a trusted mechanic and I even already "fixed" something on it already. The negative battery terminal was loose so I had to tighten it down (yeah, I know, a real test of my abilities).

On a more serious note I see it came with the Toyota alarm system but the T4R didn't come with the alarm FOB's. I have seen the keyless entry posts but haven't found much on the alarm system. I would like to make use of it again so I don't have to shell out $400 on having an aftermarket alarm system put it so if anyone can point me in the right direction I would be most appreciative. Thanks!

 

[buchaja]

Very nice! It looks really clean. I'm going to PM you about that mechanic. I need someone to do a timing belt on my Avalon.

Congrats on the runner.

 

[Big Murth]

3rd Gen 4Runner

It's a great pick on your part, and I can say that from personal experience having owned three...the first one a '91.....the second one a 2001 Limited that my daughter inherited, and while in Santa Fe, got clipped by an old man in the rear quarter, started skidding sideways and flipped on it's lid, right through the Zia/St. Francis intersection. She didn't get hit by anyone else, turned off the ignition and climbed out, unscathed. With the insurance money, found her a very clean 2000 SR5 (5 speed!), which is a great vehicle---runs like a top (paid $9K, had 165,000 miles).

The heart of the 3rd Gen is the 3.4L V-6. Todd at Toyomasters here in Albuquerque says that the only one he's ever seen come apart, is when someone brought their 4Runner or Tacoma, into a quick-Lube place for an oil change and they forgot to tighten a drain plug or filter and it lost all the oil. That being said, it's no BS that if cared for properly, it's a 350K mile engine----but expect to pay between $7K-$10K for a clean well-cared-for example with less than 200K on the clock (they are highly sought after in northern NM and Colorado). The good thing about if you find a Limited, is that is has the true mechanical 2-speed transfer case, and will likely have extra locking vs. the full-time 4WD found on the newest Limiteds.

If I didn't have to haul customers around once in awhile and had to keep something newer and shinier---I'd definitely opt for 3rd Gen. 3 weeks ago I replaced my Infiniti G35 sedan, with a 2014 4Runner Trail, and although it has the stupid hood scoop, it's the only model with the "lever-activated/mechanical transfer case shifter", plus some extra though thin skid-plating, and a locking rear diff.



Good luck in your quest,
Big Murth:fish::cheers:

 

[Speedy Gomez]

:welcome: to T4R.ORG