Differences between 1st and 2nd Gen why/what made you choose it?

[RiFF RaFF]

I bought my 2nd Gen for two reasons:

1. Couldn't find a 1st Gen in my area that wasn't beat to hell.

2. Got a really great deal on my 2nd Gen, and the Honey Badger was born!

:banana:

 

[Night_Wolf84]

I've always liked the look of the '84-'88 body design ever since I saw the black Toyota truck in Back to the Future. So, as a high school graduation present, my parents bought me an '87 Toyota Xtra-cab 4x4 for $3500. I owned it for 4 years and sold it (regreting it) cause it could only carry one other person with me...legally.

About a few months after I sold the truck, I bought myself my current '87 4Runner. I love taking the hard top off and slapping the soft top on during the hotter months.

 

[vampar77]

Low miles, excellent condition inside and out, good price. I looked at a lot of 3rd gen's. This was the only 2nd gen I found whilst 4runner hunting. All the 3rd gens in the price I was willing to spend were beat to hell and going for 2-3 grand more than this one so I bought it. I had no idea about the 3.0 engine at the time, until I got it home and came on here and saw all the bashing. Come to find out it had a new block put in it in Dec of '11. It runs great, looks great, drives great and passed the smog test like a champ. Gas milage sucks and I couldn't pull a tri-cycle with it but oh well, I dig it.

 

[jes3se]

Just bought my second gen2. Love these trucks and everything about them, except I really want to do the 3.4 swap someday. The only reason i might move to a gen3 some day is that the tailgate moves without playing with the window, and the 3.4. But I can put a 3.4 in my truck.

 

[Surf89]

1. Removable top

2. 80s decals

 

[fourwd1]

Hahah seriously? Thats the number one and only reason?


Though.....its looking really attractive this summer.

That's all the reason I needed

 

[foxtrot]

I had a 1st and 2nd gen at the same time. 1st gen was 22re 5spd, 2nd gen was 3.0 auto. I like the 1st gen a lot better because of looks, and the fact that the 2nd gen is WAY more top heavy (higher center of gravity). I used mine for rock crawling, so that one may not apply to you, but that was a big one for me. the 1st gen is also a lot more narrow so it was easier to get through trails.

 

[KidVermicious]

the 1st gen is also a lot more narrow so it was easier to get through trails.

I've seen this claim a couple times, and I don't understand where it comes from. 1st and 2nd gen 4Runners are identical in height, width, and track width. The body of the 2nd gen is just a touch longer, but the wheelbase is the same. They're practically the same truck, with the exception of the body style and the rear suspension.

I think the boxier lines make the 1st gen look narrower, maybe? It isn't.

 

[BucknutBob]

I've seen this claim a couple times, and I don't understand where it comes from. 1st and 2nd gen 4Runners are identical in height, width, and track width. The body of the 2nd gen is just a touch longer, but the wheelbase is the same. They're practically the same truck, with the exception of the body style and the rear suspension.

I think the boxier lines make the 1st gen look narrower, maybe? It isn't.

I was about to jump on that, too--thanks for clearing that up first! The 2nd Gen is carrying more weight, but it's not larger, and can go down the same trails as a 1st. I actually had a 1st Gen bumper on my 2nd Gen because of the similar dimensions.

 

[nevada]

i already had an 85 truck. i just neeed more leg room. i intended on an extra cab, but came across the 85 runner instead.
solid axle was my main reason.
removable top, and EFI were a bonus.:bounce:

Bought a first gen because:

1. Like Kid said, my damn roof comes off. Several people have thought that was a custom job.

ive had people tell me that before too.

 

[YotaLac]

I had an 85 K5 Blazer before the Runner. After having one vehicle with a removable top, it was no longer an option to have a vehicle without. Luckily I came upon mine for $800. It was beat to hell, but ran and drove good. Love it. 2 Doors, Removable Top, Rollbar, its hard to beat the cool factor of the first gen. Like someone already said, the sweet ass 80's graphics dont hurt either.