Buying a 4runner

Orion427

Orion427

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Lately I've been looking to buy a used 4runner but have not been able to decide to buy a 2wd or 4x4. With a $5k budget limit I've been noticing I can buy an older (90-95) 4x4 with around 140-175k miles on it or buy a newer (97-2001) 2wd with around 100k miles on it. I would really like to get a 4x4 but I also need something that is going to be reliable as a daily commuter during my college days. My thinking is this (however flawed it may be) is that the 4x4 will have the beefier suspension parts and drivetrain and will thus last longer. Does the 2wd have all the same parts (minus the front drive) as the 4x4 version? Is the transmission the same as the 2wd versus the 4x4? Is there a 'sweet' year I should be looking for when buying a 4runner? Any suggestions would be most helpful, Thanks!
 
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I would reccommend a 3rd gen over a 2nd any day of the week, but with 5K it's gonna be a little harder to find a 3rd gen.

I would say keep looking, check the newspaper, craigslist, eBay all while saving a little more. You can get a 96-98 easily for $6500
 
This is just kind of my opinion and those who live in southern climates likely disagree but I would never consider a vehicle like a 4Runner without 4WD. The vehicle is built for it and why Toyota offered it as 2WD is beyond me. What is odd is I see plenty of 2WD 4Runners for sale even here in the Pacific Northwest. They must be southern transplants since I never remember seeing a 3rd Gen 2WD for sale on dealer lots here back when I was dreaming in 97-99 time frame.

The nice thing about 4WD is its available when you need it. My brother when living in Texas but a 2WD Durango because he thought he would never need 4WD living in Texas. A year later he got sent to Germany and needed it desperately every winter. Got more then a few comments from Germans saying "American SUV...whats the matter 4WD don't work?" as we struggled in the snow on our way up the German Alps.

You can find good deals on 3rd Gen 4Runner's but it will take time and if you have a bit of time you might score better. At the moment we have a few good blips on the radar screen regarding the economy so used cars shot way up in value. Also a story about how the cash for clunkers program depleted inventory so prices went up as well. Of coarse the use market always gets a bit to excited and the reality is cash for clunkers did not deplete that much inventory and the economy is not really improving much. So prices will likely stabilize after the 1st of the year and be more reasonable.

As mentioned above I would stay away from Autotrader. They attract mostly dealers and prices are above fair market most of the time. Craigslist is where its at when it comes to deals. Just have to be a bit more careful. Responded to an add for a Subaru Outback one time and they guy said he really did not have a car to sell but he wanted to invite me to an investment seminar. A lot of that garbage to weave through but a lot of honest sellers as well.
 
if you can, don't get in a rush. i shopped for over a year looking for a 3rd gen 4cyl 4wd manual trans and finally found it. a local dealer took it in on trade and was gonna send it to the auction. i bought it with 160k on it for 6k. maybe a little more than i should have but the truck is super nice, exactly what i wanted and the dealership put a new manifold battery and tuned it up before i bought it. good luck with your search, i hope you find what you want. hold out for a 4wd if you can. it's nice to know you have it if you ever need it.
 
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