viggen337
New member
Hey, everyone! My name is Dave, and I live near Westminster, MD between Baltimore and Frederick. I just joined the site today, but I have been lurking quite often ever since I became dead set on finally getting a 4Runner a few months ago.
Here's the details: 2003 Sport Edition 4WD V8. Titanium Metallic w/Stone Cloth interior. Has a few of the usual options, including the sunroof, spoiler, JBL 10-speaker audio, and the auto-dimming mirror with the compass. I included a few pics that I saved before the dealer pulled the online listing.
I was glad to find an early '03 Sport with the unpainted cladding because less paint = less worries on the gravel roads that are all over the place where I live. It is a little faded from UV exposure, but I will be addressing that during some detailing sessions this spring.
This is not my primary vehicle, as it is a third car for our family, which currently includes myself, my wife, and our 2-year old German Shepherd. It's replacing our previous '00 F-150 4.6L, so it will mainly be used for family recreation including cycling/kayaking trips, and weekend towing duties for a utility trailer that I will be buying soon. In the future, we may even buy a pop-up camper or a boat, so at least I know I am prepared with the V8, especially if I upgrade my hitch (I have the early 5,000 lb V6 hitch.)
It will also serve as my commuter vehicle in particularly harsh winter weather. My daily driver is a 2002 Jetta wagon, but with the very rare VR6 5-speed manual. I'm also on VwVortex if anyone reading this is interested (same username.)
We live in a historic home built in 1809 that is currently going through a rather slow restoration. I'm sure the 4Runner and a trailer will be even more useful than the bed of our previous F-150. We will be demolishing our 40-foot front porch this summer, as it is not original to the house and is in horrible shape. I see lots of towing trips to the landfill and the lumber yard in its future. I will also be towing a 50' JLG lift home in a few weeks so that we can put flue caps on the 4 chimneys that were recently rebuilt.
Thanks to everyone here for the valuable advice I have read so far. I have already been doing my research here while deciding which T4R to look for. The vast amount of information here proved invaluable, including the V6 vs. V8 debate, gas mileage, the differences between the two 4WD systems, towing capacity (especially the early V8 hitch limitations), differences between '03-'09 models, etc.
Now, does anyone have any advice on how to stop driving it so much? My "daily driver" hasn't moved since I brought the 4Runner home, which says a lot, because the exhaust note on that car is addictive. :doh:
Here are a few I took today, next to my daily driver. I picked up a hitch ball yesterday (3.25" drop) so it is officially tow-ready:
Here's the rest of the pics from the dealer:
Here's the details: 2003 Sport Edition 4WD V8. Titanium Metallic w/Stone Cloth interior. Has a few of the usual options, including the sunroof, spoiler, JBL 10-speaker audio, and the auto-dimming mirror with the compass. I included a few pics that I saved before the dealer pulled the online listing.
I was glad to find an early '03 Sport with the unpainted cladding because less paint = less worries on the gravel roads that are all over the place where I live. It is a little faded from UV exposure, but I will be addressing that during some detailing sessions this spring.
This is not my primary vehicle, as it is a third car for our family, which currently includes myself, my wife, and our 2-year old German Shepherd. It's replacing our previous '00 F-150 4.6L, so it will mainly be used for family recreation including cycling/kayaking trips, and weekend towing duties for a utility trailer that I will be buying soon. In the future, we may even buy a pop-up camper or a boat, so at least I know I am prepared with the V8, especially if I upgrade my hitch (I have the early 5,000 lb V6 hitch.)
It will also serve as my commuter vehicle in particularly harsh winter weather. My daily driver is a 2002 Jetta wagon, but with the very rare VR6 5-speed manual. I'm also on VwVortex if anyone reading this is interested (same username.)
We live in a historic home built in 1809 that is currently going through a rather slow restoration. I'm sure the 4Runner and a trailer will be even more useful than the bed of our previous F-150. We will be demolishing our 40-foot front porch this summer, as it is not original to the house and is in horrible shape. I see lots of towing trips to the landfill and the lumber yard in its future. I will also be towing a 50' JLG lift home in a few weeks so that we can put flue caps on the 4 chimneys that were recently rebuilt.
Thanks to everyone here for the valuable advice I have read so far. I have already been doing my research here while deciding which T4R to look for. The vast amount of information here proved invaluable, including the V6 vs. V8 debate, gas mileage, the differences between the two 4WD systems, towing capacity (especially the early V8 hitch limitations), differences between '03-'09 models, etc.
Now, does anyone have any advice on how to stop driving it so much? My "daily driver" hasn't moved since I brought the 4Runner home, which says a lot, because the exhaust note on that car is addictive. :doh:
Here are a few I took today, next to my daily driver. I picked up a hitch ball yesterday (3.25" drop) so it is officially tow-ready:
Here's the rest of the pics from the dealer:
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