Advice on a 3rd gen

[BlackCat]

I am looking for a good 3rd gen 4Runner. I have been eagerly researching the SUV and the 3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide available here has been indispensable. I read all the PDF and info over on top4runners.com

It will be used for daily driving but on the weekends I plan to utilize its recreational sports abilities! I live in higher elevation Washington right now and we face allot of snow and ice in the winter, and I want to be able to hit the trails around here too. (no mudding or over the top abuse)
But soon I may be relocating to Colorado and will definitely want to be going off road a lot there.
So I believe what I am looking for is a 2002 Sport edition 4Runner.
since the sports package has bigger brakes, bigger tires, the skid plate, and I personally like the look of the hood scoop.

I plan to do a good deal of aftermarket upgrades and modding to it as a hobby.

my request for advice and questions are is 2002 a good year? its the last 3rd gen year so it has all the final upgrades and improvements. but no elocker, Can elockers be added after market?
from what i have read if the 2000 has an elocker (but the switch is in the place of the center locker switch) that means that to lock the center locker it is a shifting position correct?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Stockwell45]

They say 99-02 are the best 4runners, cosmetically and for interior upgrades.

Very easy to put a locker in aftermarket. ARB lockers and factory E-locker retrofit are popular modifications

 

[LittleCaesar]

2002 was the last year the 3rd gens were made. I like the Sport Edition.

The bigger brakes were not a factory option, but many here, including myself, have used either 199mm calipers or 231mm calipers from Tundras. I don't know if the 231mm calipers have clearance for those rims. BTW, they must be 16" rims, which I think all Sports are. Check the door jamb.

2000 was the last year for the factory elocker but many have chose to install aftermarket ones, including, but not limited to, ones from ARB that fit all 3rd gen years.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Actually ceasar, 99+ limiteds and sports had bigger brakes. Still not as good as tundra stuff, but better than the base and SR5 brakes.

And yes mr.cat, 99-00 limiteds used a separate shifting position to lock the center diff. Where all 01-02 had the button the dash instead, because they no longer had elocker buttons to use that space.

 

[BlackCat]

And yes mr.cat, 99-00 limiteds used a separate shifting position to lock the center diff. Where all 01-02 had the button the dash instead, because they no longer had elocker buttons to use that space.

Mr. Cat, I like it. . Ripcord It was your guide I believe that has helped me more then any other in learning about the 3rd gen, thanks much.

-snip-

2002 was the last year the 3rd gens were made. I like the Sport Edition.

Thank you all, now I know I don't have to look for an 00 with elock, can just get an after market, in that case I think it will definitely be best to go for a '02 then?

so what are the differences between the '01 and '02? Besides the fact that the 2002 are only offered in my ideal color, Thundercloud Metallic Grey, which makes Craigslist hunting a bit easier, according to top4runners.org, It seams a few exterior modification and possible some electronics systems where change?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Between 01 and 02, id pick 02. For many reasons.

1- much better color selection in the sport editions
2- many electrical modifications were perfected on the 02's, then made to work for the other years. ie fog lights mod, DRL mod, andymod. Also the ISR is much easier on the 02 than it is on the 01.
3- Any 02 you find will have better chance of having lower miles than any random 01.

 

[rjaudi]

The skid plate on the sport models is really just a cosmetic add on. All 4wd 4runners came with a factory skid plate just not the extra one. If I were you I would look for a 99-00 limited. You will get the AWD capability as well as a rear diff lock if you can find one with the option. You are much better off getting one factory installed then trying to retrofit one in. That will run about 1000 to do. All limiteds had the larger brakes, in fact any 4runner with 16 inch wheels had them. The "bigger" brakes will still need to be upgraded though.

 

[BlackCat]

The skid plate on the sport models is really just a cosmetic add on. All 4wd 4runners came with a factory skid plate just not the extra one. If I were you I would look for a 99-00 limited. You will get the AWD capability as well as a rear diff lock if you can find one with the option. You are much better off getting one factory installed then trying to retrofit one in. That will run about 1000 to do. All limiteds had the larger brakes, in fact any 4runner with 16 inch wheels had them. The "bigger" brakes will still need to be upgraded though.

A 2002 sport would not have this AWD? would a 2002 limited?
I am not worried about retrofitting a rear elocker, as long is it will function as good as or beter then A factory one. Because I actually look forward to working on modding this runner over the summer, it will be a fun project.

@4-ripcord, yes thanks, that's what I suspected.

 

[RunninInGA]

Nominated for best avatar.

 

[4-Ripcord]

A 2002 sport would not have this AWD? would a 2002 limited?
I am not worried about retrofitting a rear elocker, as long is it will function as good as or beter then A factory one. Because I actually look forward to working on modding this runner over the summer, it will be a fun project.

@4-ripcord, yes thanks, that's what I suspected.

No, 99-00 limiteds and all 01-02 have multi-mode. He's just saying with a 99-00 limited, you can also get an elocker.

 

[BlackCat]

No, 99-00 limiteds and all 01-02 have multi-mode. He's just saying with a 99-00 limited, you can also get an elocker.

perfect the clarification is appreciated, I believe now I will definitely be hunting for a 2002 now.
Maybe I should post to the classified here? I haven't been able to find to much on Craigslist. Missed out on a really good one awhile ago, $10k for a 77k miles down in California. Records looked good and it had many options.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Look from '99-'02 for the changes between years. Only the limiteds of the 99-00 models years had the multimode tranny (AWD) but became standard on the SR5s in '01. You will want to upgrade the coils since Toyota installed smaller coils on the later 3rd gens in reaction the the Ford rollover issues.

Toyota 4Runner History

 

[BlackCat]

Look from '99-'02 for the changes between years. Only the limiteds of the 99-00 models years had the multimode tranny (AWD) but became standard on the SR5s in '01. You will want to upgrade the coils since Toyota installed smaller coils on the later 3rd gens in reaction the the Ford rollover issues.

Toyota 4Runner History

Do you have any info about that? why would Toyota install smaller coils because of ford?

 

[HCurphy]

they installed coils that sit about an inch lower. There was lots of rollovers occuring at that time and they decided to lower the center of gravity. 99 highlanders sat the highest I believe.

 

[BlackCat]

they installed coils that sit about an inch lower. There was lots of rollovers occuring at that time and they decided to lower the center of gravity. 99 highlanders sat the highest I believe.

Then wouldn't replacing the coils with better/bigger ones reinstate that issue?

 

[HCurphy]

Then wouldn't replacing the coils with better/bigger ones reinstate that issue?

if you believe it's an issue then sure. If you plan to drive it like a sports car sure it's a bad idea to raise your COG. If you drive like a reasonable human being you won't have any issues, though. Most people here lift above even the tallest production models made and don't have issues unless they employ improper driving techniques.

(in case connotation was lost, I have no reason to believe you drive like a jackass and was not implying you do. I think Toyota's call to lower them probably didn't reduce rollovers to any great extent. It all goes back to driving habbits.)

 

[aeroneer1]

if you believe it's an issue then sure. If you plan to drive it like a sports car sure it's a bad idea to raise your COG. If you drive like a reasonable human being you won't have any issues, though. Most people here lift above even the tallest production models made and don't have issues unless they employ improper driving techniques.

(in case connotation was lost, I have no reason to believe you drive like a jackass and was not implying you do. I think Toyota's call to lower them probably didn't reduce rollovers to any great extent. It all goes back to driving habbits.)

+1. Toyota was just covering their asses just in case. Now they're dealing with the accelerator garbage from the hippies in their Priuses. Drive normally, and don't hit 20 mph corners at 80 and you'll be all good with a sweet lookin' lifted truck!

 

[BlackCat]

-snip-

perfect, thank for the info! Just good to make sure. And not to worry, my 4runner won't be getting any driving jackassery done while I'm around!

+1. Toyota was just covering their asses just in case. Now they're dealing with the accelerator garbage from the hippies in their Priuses. Drive normally, and don't hit 20 mph corners at 80 and you'll be all good with a sweet lookin' lifted truck!

Good to know, that's what I plan do do. thanks.

 

[xskydivingdudex]

WOw i did not know the 02 sports had better brakes the most other 3rd gens... no wonder i didnt notice that big of a difference between the stock ones and the 231mm tundras.

 

[BlackCat]

Neither did I, I thought the sports edition was mostly cosmetic such, but the larger brakes are a definite plus.