Favorite year for 3rd gens?

[ric]

IF your going to wheel it, then IMHO it doesnt matter if its the 99 or not, cause you will probley LIFT it anyways... :boink: just try to find one with the E-locker.. :guitar2:
If your NOT going to be wheeling, get what you can afford, yotas last forever, lol

 

[Pikeman]

I have a 98 with the Auto, it now has 195k on it with no issues other then the regular maintainance and whatever dumb stuff I do to it on the trails. Take care of it with regular maint. and it will last nearly forever. As far as learning to drive with your E-locker and off-road it seems the other Colorado guys are really cool and every time I turn around there is another thread about how they went wheeling, maybe link up with them and learn some more.

Cupholder, there is a thread or two about doing the 99 console change over to rememdy the cupholder issue with earlier 3rd Gens. One of my next mods actually once i find a decent one for a good price.

 

[Martinjmpr]

(Which I still need to learn to use, because my first attempt was unsuccessful, lol). I love it.

What happened? Didn't have it in 4lo? The locker only works in 4lo unless you've done the "gray wire" mod (sometimes called the "green wire" mod on 4runners, I believe.)

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Rear seat HVAC controls were an option but most SR5s have them but that's one feature,oddly enough,mine doesn't have.

 

[p nut]

Just to point out, 01-02's had TRAC (1 sensor per wheel). A-TRAC (2-sensors per wheel and different programming) came on 03+ 4Runners.

I prefer 01-02 interiors, but prefer the 96-98 front ends. Don't know why, I just like them better. I believe 99-00 SR5 climate control still had the sliding fan speed/vent controls? Not a huge deal, but wish they went with the 01-02 rotary dials on all of the controls.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Just to point out, 01-02's had TRAC (1 sensor per wheel). A-TRAC (2-sensors per wheel and different programming) came on 03+ 4Runners.

I prefer 01-02 interiors, but prefer the 96-98 front ends. Don't know why, I just like them better. I believe 99-00 SR5 climate control still had the sliding fan speed/vent controls? Not a huge deal, but wish they went with the 01-02 rotary dials on all of the controls.

Just curious, what are the major differences in the interiors?

The only three I can think of are: 1. The cup holders 2. Head rest holders 3. arm rest compartment.

 

[96743runner]

I like the 98's the best, since that was the last year before they upgraded to the fat lip bumper. I also like the newer steering wheel design introduced during 1998.

I must say though, that I really don't like the cupholders on the pre 99 models. It always gets in my way when trying to see the radio with a drink in it. I also wish the pre 99 models had the bigger rear storage compartment, overhead console, and digital climate control. I know that having more digital stuff is just more stuff that can break, but I really like the climate control in my friend's 99 limited.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I believe 99-00 SR5 climate control still had the sliding fan speed/vent controls? Not a huge deal, but wish they went with the 01-02 rotary dials on all of the controls.

My '99 has a sliding fan speed control and a rotary vent selection and temp control. I actually like it more than the setup on my '04 Tacoma (which of course had a very similar dashboard.) The recirculate/outside air switch is a mechanical slider.

The Taco had rotary dials temp control, vent selection and fan speed. The vent selection controls were actually electric switches, I could hear them operate when I turned the control. OTOH, the rotary switch on my 4runner is a manual control, I can feel the mechanical linkage working when I turn it. The recirculate/outside switch was also electric. On both the recirculate and the AC switch it was hard to tell whether the switch was on or off in the daytime because the indicator light was tiny and not very bright.

 

[drinknmolson]

I have a 98 w/2.5" OME, 99+ headlights, clear corners/turns, would like better cup holders and a locker but make it everywhere I want to go without.

buy this one it's nice!!
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1450113286.html