Do you remember the first time you ever saw your 4Runner?

[99problems]

I remember the day I accidentally stumbled across my 1999... it was three days after Christmas. I was carless at the time, having just totaled my Subaru two days before Christmas, and convinced my Dad to drive me across town to go look at an old used Jeep Wrangler that a Ford dealer had listed for sale on their website. As it turns out, the photographer was better than the Jeep itself, which was situated at the back of the lot against a minimum security chain link fence. Although I was a bit disappointed, the cart-ride through the used car lot provided plenty of variety to browse. As we rounded the corner back to the front of the dealership, I saw it: a silver Toyota 4Runner parked behind a dented 4x4 Tacoma which they clearly felt would be more likely to sell. "What's that?!", I quickly exclaimed, breaking my near silence of the last few minutes. The cart stopped and I jumped off to inspect it. It's just like the one I wanted when I turned 16, I thought to myself. "Oh, it's not a 4x4... I thought you were only interested in 4x4s" said the salesman.
During the test drive I sat in the backseat while my dad drove and the salesman sat in the passenger seat. I knew without even driving it that I was going to buy it; I had already started falling for it. That was just over 4 years ago, and I have no plans on ever selling it.

 

[Fl_tigers]

I remember the day I accidentally stumbled across my 1999... it was three days after Christmas. I was carless at the time, having just totaled my Subaru two days before Christmas, and convinced my Dad to drive me across town to go look at an old used Jeep Wrangler that a Ford dealer had listed for sale on their website. As it turns out, the photographer was better than the Jeep itself, which was situated at the back of the lot against a minimum security chain link fence. Although I was a bit disappointed, the cart-ride through the used car lot provided plenty of variety to browse. As we rounded the corner back to the front of the dealership, I saw it: a silver Toyota 4Runner parked behind a dented 4x4 Tacoma which they clearly felt would be more likely to sell. "What's that?!", I quickly exclaimed, breaking my near silence of the last few minutes. The cart stopped and I jumped off to inspect it. It's just like the one I wanted when I turned 16, I thought to myself. "Oh, it's not a 4x4... I thought you were only interested in 4x4s" said the salesman.
During the test drive I sat in the backseat while my dad drove and the salesman sat in the passenger seat. I knew without even driving it that I was going to buy it; I had already started falling for it. That was just over 4 years ago, and I have no plans on ever selling it.

Similarly, drove 20 minutes across town in my moms car to look at a 4Runner without knowing anything about it. Got on the sales mans golf cart and rode to the back lot. He didn't even know the car was back there. It was smushed between a Chevrolet Volt and a jacked up Silverado. It wasn't until we pulled it out that I saw the scratch on the back but still knew it'd be mine. Long story short I'm now with a V6 4x2 when I originally was looking for a V8 4x4 but I'm still in love with it.


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[houlds]

Buddy said he always wanted a 4R and I wasn't exactly looking for a new car at the time but did some research on them and what they offered kept getting my interest. I was always dead set on a Chevy 15 or 2500 once I could afford one. Decided one weekend to start looking at them with my GF test drove on by myself. Went to a local dealership close to me first looked at one a couple times and wrote it off. A week later I walked off the lot with a 2016 Trail on a whim for the most part. Always thought the Gen5 4R's looked slick but they were out of my price range, was able to get one well within my budget with extra to upgrade it.

 

[Desert Fox]

I totaled my 2003 4Runner and I needed another vehicle real bad. I was looking for a FJ Cruiser or 4Runner. I was at TSG Auto in Parker Colorado. They had a ton of vehicles, including 4Runners and FJs but they were either out of my budget or they had too many miles. I had been looking for a week by now and I was not finding what I wanted. As my granddaughter and I were leaving TSG Auto and I see this Salsa Red 2005 4Runner sitting outside the building. It was lifted with King suspension and TC UCA. So I went up to the sales person and asked who owned the sweet 4Runner outside. He said that it had just arrived and it was not in their system yet. That was it. I took it to a mechanic I trusted to take an un biased look, got the thumbs up and drove it home.

 

[car_designer]

The first time I saw it was an online add. A couple of months ago I was starting to think about my next vehicle purchase in a year or two. I love my Mustang but it really isn't the best choice for winter driving. I had just come to the conclusion I wanted an SUV next.

I was just window shopping when I found it listed at a local Toyota dealership. I know that manufacturer dealerships do not normally keep anything more than a couple of years old so was surprised they were selling a 10 year old 4runner. Decided to go check it out, was provided with the full service history from now back to just a few years from new. Decided I just couldn't pass it up.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

First time I ever saw my wife's new 4Runner was when she pulled up in the driveway with it.

"Hi sweetie...look what I just bought".

No problema. I am a Toyota fan.

 

[UnderFire]

Craigslist deal, didn't know anything about 3rd gens at the time, wasn't looking for a 3rd gen in particular, I literally type in "4x4" into the craigslist search. The turd came up, 100% stock, 2 crappy cell pics, and it was in my budget. Needed a car to replace my exploded Dakota. It was the first one I even called on. Showed up, paint was beat, interior was beat, but the engine bay was spotless. Had a couple issues, but went ahead and bought it anyway. Right place, right time.

 

[jrm]

All 48 hours of it

dealer said they had already sold the desert dune 97 i wanted but heres this this nice green sr5 for 10k more. After this crap i walked out of the dealership. Came back the next day and struck the deal. what pain in the ass.So that was my first ans now im on my 3rd...

 

[LandCruiser]

Now defunct St Augustine Toyota.

They threw in 2012 floor mats that didn't fit and a detailer was putting on pin stripes and a dealer logo on a truck that was already bought.

 

[96BladeRunner]

Yes, it was several days after I was born in 1996 and my dad drove me home from the hospital in the same 4Runner I drive today

 

[99problems]

Now defunct St Augustine Toyota.

They threw in 2012 floor mats that didn't fit and a detailer was putting on pin stripes and a dealer logo on a truck that was already bought.

I used to drive past that dealership all the time. In fact we used to drive down US1 and over the bridge of lions to the long closed Alica's restaurant... I remember seeing the 4Runners parked out front next to the Cadillac's next door.

 

[d_rosey44]

Went out car shopping with the parents 2 months ago. Went to a dealership to test drive a few trucks we saw online. Saw a weird colored 4runner being washed, so we asked the salesman for the story on it. He said it had just been brought in, so we walked over and just looked at it and we were like "cool, nice car, anyways." I mentioned to my dad that I loved the color, but that it was way out of our price range so no point in looking...

Well we went to another dealership, test drove more trucks. The whole jacked up truck idea got shot down by mom (of course). Dad went to sleep that night with no idea what car to even look at for me. Next thing you know it, 2 days later I come home from school to see a Quicksand TRD Pro sitting in the driveway...safe to say my jaw dropped.

 

[Ed_C]

:laugh:

Back to the topic...

First time I saw my 3rd-gen was at the dealership I worked for at the time. I just got to work when the senior lot guy/errand-runner was parking it at the employee lot, was just traded in the night before.

I first saw my 4th-gen was on eBay and I think Autotrader, I forget at which site I saw first, I like to browse through both for shits n giggles. The small used car dealership was along my commute and made the mistake of stopping by LOL

 

[montana4runner]

Yes sir, September of 2010. My daughter and son in law had just come back from Denver where they had purchased it. Told 'em if they sell it, I will buy it. It became mine as of Feb. 20th!

 

[JET4]

The 2007 I have had a warranty on it so I let the dealership change the oil. I took the 2007 to get the oil changed and they said I didn't have a appointment so it would be about a hour. I said no problem so I was walking around looking. Saw the 2011 Salsa Red 4Runner and was JUST looking. A salesman came up and ask if he could help me and I said no just getting my oil changed. He said okay and was walking away and I said bring me the keys to this 4Runner. I test drove it and called my wife and said bring your truck up to the dealership.She said your not buying another truck are you. I said yes. Now when every I get the oil changed she says please don't buy another truck. LOL

 

[Roody]

Oh yes. Pulled into an ice-covered parking lot in Ottawa after having stayed over in a hotel and driven 500 miles up there the day before. Was nice to see that the truck did in fact exist in real life (and not just in pictures) and that it looked awesome in person. Will never forget that.

 

[Liquidmantis]

Well, we're not quite to our one year anniversary so I hope I remember the first time I laid eyes on her. I was at the dealership finishing up paperwork when she sauntered onto the lot.

 

[Bluesky 07]

We had been looking for close to a year in Metro Atlanta with all of three must-haves on our list: a 2006-09 4th gen with 4WD and a sunroof. No luck.

We noticed there were more listings in the southeast outside Atlanta, so while driving home from vacation on North Carolina's Outer Banks, we called the Toyota dealer(s) in every town we passed through or near. One in Greenville, SC, said they had an '07 Sport in great condition. 4WD? Check. Sunroof? Check. It was a half-hour out of the way but we decided to stop and have a look. We were blown away - it was pristine. I drove it and wanted to buy it but were told another couple was in the process of doing the paperwork. Damn it!

But it turned out the deal fell through and we ended up buying it. After 2.5 years, 30K miles, and a Satoshi, we still love this truck. :cheers:

 

[FourEyedWilly]

Yes I do. It was like being in a bar and seeing a fine woman come in who was clearly out of my league. But that night was different. I thought, ahhh what the hell? Worst case she says no and I move on. So, I courted the hot chick and she went home with me. Now, she's expensive always wanting new jewelry. ...and put a few pounds on.

 

[Beaumont67]

Been driving close to 45 years, never owned a Toyota before.
And wife's Volvo v70 wagon (FWD) was a 2002 model,with 300,000 Km...time to upgrade.
- started looking for a 2008 FJ
- my garage owner & friend had a customer with a Trail Edition FJ
- he was hoping to get it in as a trade in & flip it over to me
- but original owner, traded up somewhere else

I put the FJ idea on hold / not many around here...wife didn't like the blind spot.
- several months later, we found a Doctors 2008 RAV4 Limited v6, 4x4 with 89,000 Km. in mint condition
- as a family vehicle, we loved the Gen3 RAV4, with 269 HP
- my garage friend with dealer licence, knew I was now even more sold on the Toyota line
- and without my knowledge, he started to search auctions for my Gen3 4Runner

I was at the garage, when he shared with me that he had just purchased a 2000 SR5 4x4, using a dealer-2-dealer online auction.
Turns out, I was at his place, the night he left for a 2 hour drive (one way), and bring the mint 4Runner back.
- so you might say, I had first dibs on this SR5 and bought it the very next day, complete with Govn. safety check & E-test.
- garage friend was keeping it, if I didn't close the deal
- as he had a brand new 2000 Limited, that he really liked

My SR5 sat on his used car lot for 5-6 weeks, and mechanical work scheduled, as a fill in job.
Fine with me, my '98 Silverado 4x4 & '05 Jimmy 4x4 were both good DD'er.
- every week, someone dropped in to buy the gem
- but it was already sold to me, pissed a few people off...big time

My 2000 4Runner SR5, auto, 4x4 was a one owner...gentleman was now 70 y/o.
- 129,6xx Km = 89,xxx miles
- dealer maintained since new at Lexus/Toyota dealership
- rust free exterior sheet metal & frame solid, original paint & mint interior...always garaged, in 9.5 out of 10 overall condition
- came with brand new tires, and timing belt & OEM radiator replaced...19,000 Km or 4.5 years ago / old guy never drove it much

Living in a rust belt, I couldn't be happier...one in a decade finds, up here.
- my garage friend, has been trying to buy it back from me recently / but he now knows "its never gonna happen"
- he once said: "I should keep it for my personal shop vehicle, but everything has a price"...LOL
His & Hers Toyota pics. below / 1st time we owned black vehicles to.