Buying 1st Generation

[indieangler]

Buying 2nd Generation

I'm absolutely in love with the body styles of the 1990-1994 4Runners and I've started looking for one to buy. However, I don't know much about cars/trucks and I'm trying to determine the major areas on an older 4Runner like this that I should look out for. I'm mainly concerned with rust but is there any way to actually help protect an older 4Runner from rust if it doesn't have it already? Additionally, other than super high miles, what else would you look out for? I'm hoping to get a sweet 92-94 4Runner that will look beautiful and stay mechnically clean for years to come, I'm just a little worried about such an older vehicle. Thanks for input!

 

[fourwd1]

FWIW, the 90-95 4Runners are 2nd gen, 1st gen is 84-89.

The only way to prevent rust is to keep it indoors and never drive it

 

[indieangler]

Whoops, I meant 2nd Generation. =) Thanks for correcting me. So it sounds like rust is just always there to contend with?

 

[sixonthefloor]

the best way to prevent rust is to clean your 4runner after wheelin by getting the caked on mud and dirt off and protecting bare/nicked/scratched metal. It's a never ending battle