Finally picked up my dad's '01 SR5 4x4 53k miles

[gzkrutoy]

The lease on my 2006 Audi A4 S-Line fimally ended on 11/16 and I couldn't wait to buy my father's 2001 4Runner. He is the original owner of this beast and it only has 53k miles on it. I work in the city and was sick and tires of getting my Audi's and previousely Lexus 330RX's bumpers being destroyed, so...4Runner it is, and I couldn't be happier.
Here are some pix:

Look at that face
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
my favorite angle
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Tinted the windows yesterday, factory 21% back and 25% front, matces pretty good IMHO
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Close-up of the tint
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Back and back side
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Custom made Sirius Radio cig. lighter mount:
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

 

[gzkrutoy]

more pix

Close-up of the Sirius mount
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Best part, crazy low miles, it still on the factory 7yr/100k miles warranty until Sept. of 2008
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Engine compartment
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Close up
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

The only other thing I did so far, is installed Toyota OEM rubber mats.

My only issue with the car is the disgusting left bumper corner piece which I can't wait to replace this spring. Whose dumb idea was using chrme for the bumpers anyway???
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n195/gzkrutoy/4Runner/Image008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

What do you guys think?

 

[p nut]

If you're worried about your bumper getting scuffed up, get some ARB or TJM bumpers. Guarantee you won't have any more people snugging up to your rig.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

very nice ride

good looking rig. We will have you in a real bumper in no time....

Meanwhile if you are looking to replace that hood prop rod- that is an option now available.

see Burtman or Redline Tuning websites....

Welcome to the forum!

 

[MillerPKA]

nice but watch out! i bought my baby last july and she looked like this

1.5 years of these damned people here and at yotatech turned my wallet inside out and my truck into this

let the games begin!


.....wait, the 01 4wd doesn't include 4hi? what teh huh?

 

[Fo_SheeZy]

Great looking 4Runner, so what are your plans for customizing it? You going for the offroad or street look..?

 

[gzkrutoy]

definitely street

I am extremely happy with the truck, even more happy with having no car payment.
I will def. get more aggressive looking and better overall tires and replace the rear bumper. May be replace the speakers...
The overall plan is to have a nice looking, clean, safe and reliable ride for the next 2-3 years. After that, sell it for the same money I paid for it 2 weeks ago. What other car can give you that kind of a deal???
Just out of curiousity, what do you suggest I do with it?

 

[Imola.ZHP]

Congrats on the purchase. Low mile/old man owned vehicles FTW!

No offense to that guy with the black Runner, but I think she looked beter before, well, except for the wheels, I hate those split-3 spoke's...

I would have kept her semi-stock and purchased something else to modify that heavily, but thats just me...

 

[Fo_SheeZy]

Re: definitely street

I am extremely happy with the truck, even more happy with having no car payment.
I will def. get more aggressive looking and better overall tires and replace the rear bumper. May be replace the speakers...
The overall plan is to have a nice looking, clean, safe and reliable ride for the next 2-3 years. After that, sell it for the same money I paid for it 2 weeks ago. What other car can give you that kind of a deal???
Just out of curiousity, what do you suggest I do with it?

Well since your going with the street look, start out with some clear corners & clear signal lens from burtmanindustries.com Then maybe some LED tail lights? Maybe some 20"s or 22"s in the future. It's whatever you decide. There's plenty of street 4runner's on cardomain you can get ideas from, here's a shot of mine.

When I first got it:

20"s, clear corners, custom grille etc.

Here's what it looks like now with 22"s

 

[RonMAIDEN]

How much snow driving will you see? Big rims and deep snow don't mix along with potholes so there's some things to consider.

I like retaining the 4Runners actual 4wd useage which is utility and function over form but a few nice add-ons do help. Clear corners and signals from ebay only ran me $50 shipped and do update the look a bit and now you can get the LED tails which are a solid upgrade. If you never plan on offroading it then get a set of appropriate tires and rims (I do like the OEM version the best) and enjoy yourself.

 

[gzkrutoy]

Unfortunately we get a lot of snow here in the NorthEast

so, big rims are not an option. I like the stock wheels and only want slightly bigger more off-road looking tires. I like the look of the clear corners and will investigate the rear LED's.
Thanks for the input.

BTW, I like your truck, very clean look.

 

[Fo_SheeZy]

Haha, I love driving in snowy parking lots with the 22"s. I'll have to make a video this winter, if we ever get any snow. But if we do have a bad winter, I just do a quick swap and put the 16"s back on which doesn't take long at all.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Most of the oversize wheel crowd around here fails to heed winter warnings and still wearing their summer time tires and pay the price with the first storm and that would've been today.

Definetly wise to have a spare set with at least all-seasons on 'em and the stock rims are perfect for that.

Our roads are in pretty sad shape in areas around here and big rims pay a big price when contacting a pot hole;just yesterday I saw a Denali wearing 24" and just shredded the tire right off the rim severely damaging the wheel and it was right after she hit a large rock in the road.

I prefer having some tire around my rim for such occasions.

 

[Sloan]

hey ron didnt you used to have taillight guards on your runner?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Yes,they go on and off depending on my mood and the need for the Runner to look a little different.

 

[obex26]

Most of the oversize wheel crowd around here fails to heed winter warnings and still wearing their summer time tires and pay the price with the first storm and that would've been today.

Definetly wise to have a spare set with at least all-seasons on 'em and the stock rims are perfect for that.

Our roads are in pretty sad shape in areas around here and big rims pay a big price when contacting a pot hole;just yesterday I saw a Denali wearing 24" and just shredded the tire right off the rim severely damaging the wheel and it was right after she hit a large rock in the road.

I prefer having some tire around my rim for such occasions.

So what you are saying is these are not all year round tires...

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Nope,those BFG mud tarrains are just so-so on paved roads and icy paved roads they aren't much better.

I would never have those on a daily driver that sees mostly pavement.

Plus i was referring to the 22" tires which you rarely see that size ready for winter.

 

[rxshu]

I agree with Ron, but I love the way those tires look. Toyo MT's get better ratings.

And I think thats the first time I've ever seen a lime green 4runner.

 

[obex26]

I have run BFG MT and AT for over 15 years as for my opinion I have never had another style of tire last 60K+ miles for a set. I even had the terra grapplers on my tacoma I find all season tires to be complete crap.

I am in s. florida where an avg day rainfal exceeds one inch and I am locked in the rear. I Have also driven this same truck with these same tires in the snow and moutians of nevada and utah.

I expect you will probably replace your nittos before I will replace my MT's they have been on this truck since 2000 And I have been known to take corners with a rear tire over a foot of the ground..

Even my pathfinder after putting a 7" lift I had a slight negative camber and I probably got 55K miles out of the AT that were on it and they still had about 40% tread when I sold the truck...