First Gen Purchased New

[thennen]

Hey, all.

I thought it would be interesting/fun to find out how many on here bought a first gen new off the lot, plus any stories around that. This will likely bring out, umm, more mature folks. Here's part of my story:

I traded my maroon/mahogany 1984 Supra 5-speed (135k miles, beautiful car) on my gray 1988 4Runner Dlx 5-speed in April of '88. 22R-E, A/C, AM/FM cassette, push-pull locks and roll-down windows. Very basic, and quite a jump in vehicle type. Due to import tarriffs at that time, Toyota was actually offering them without the rear seat for a little less, but mine did have one. I haggled until well after the dealership closed (9:30pm or so), and minus trade, I think I paid about $14k for it.

Perhaps the biggest reward from that truck over the years was that we took it from Ohio to Montana on vacations 7 or 8 times (had to install aftermarket cruise control for that). It allowed us to go places we never could have gone otherwise, including a 1-foot snowfall in Glacier Park on the last day of May! Drove around all day in that.

So, anyone else out there who bought one of these brand new?

 

[MBZ300CD]

So after totalling my Porsche, I bought a 78' Cadillac Seville I'd always wanted. Unfortunately that turned out to not fit our needs, skiing, mountain biking, camping etc. Ended up going to Longo Toyota and bought a new 86' 4Runner. White, auto (wife's preference), 22RE, locking hubs and just an AM/FM radio. It didn't come with rear seats, but at Longo you ordered them ala carte. Had them add the seats, A/C and cruise control.

Loved that truck. Not only fun off road, but could carry a load of stuff. We'd go to Mammoth once a month and Big Bear or the high desert on the other weekends, skiing, mountain biking, camping or whatever.

One day in 89' I drove by the local Toyota dealer and out in front was a new white T4R, SR5 with the V6. We always thought the 4 cylinder was a bit lacking so we traded the 86' in and drove the 89' home. We had a blast with that one too. Drove it to Aspen to go skiing over the Xmas holidays, of course Mammoth etc. Unfortunately in September 1990 it was stolen from the LA county fair and recovered, wrecked, about two months later. We let the insurance company keep it. My wife had a Mercedes wagon and I had just finished building one of those Porsche speedster kits, so we didnt replace theT4R.

We didn't get another 4Runner until we moved to Mammoth in 94'. We figured we needed a 4x4 so we drove up to Reno and purchased a new 95' second gen. In 2001 I traded it in and bought the wife the new Sequoia, also white. Just this year I bought an 87' T4R, 22RE, 5 spd, brown, and am currently making it road worthy.

Oh and I probably fit that mature demographic. (67)

 

[thennen]

So after totalling my Porsche, I bought a 78' Cadillac Seville I'd always wanted. Unfortunately that turned out to not fit our needs, skiing, mountain biking, camping etc. Ended up going to Longo Toyota and bought a new 86' 4Runner. White, auto (wife's preference), 22RE, locking hubs and just an AM/FM radio. It didn't come with rear seats, but at Longo you ordered them ala carte. Had them add the seats, A/C and cruise control.

Loved that truck. Not only fun off road, but could carry a load of stuff. We'd go to Mammoth once a month and Big Bear or the high desert on the other weekends, skiing, mountain biking, camping or whatever.

One day in 89' I drove by the local Toyota dealer and out in front was a new white T4R, SR5 with the V6. We always thought the 4 cylinder was a bit lacking so we traded the 86' in and drove the 89' home. We had a blast with that one too. Drove it to Aspen to go skiing over the Xmas holidays, of course Mammoth etc. Unfortunately in September 1990 it was stolen from the LA county fair and recovered, wrecked, about two months later. We let the insurance company keep it. My wife had a Mercedes wagon and I had just finished building one of those Porsche speedster kits, so we didnt replace theT4R.

We didn't get another 4Runner until we moved to Mammoth in 94'. We figured we needed a 4x4 so we drove up to Reno and purchased a new 95' second gen. In 2001 I traded it in and bought the wife the new Sequoia, also white. Just this year I bought an 87' T4R, 22RE, 5 spd, brown, and am currently making it road worthy.

Oh and I probably fit that mature demographic. (67)

Thanks for the story. I figured responses would be slow - I’m nearing 61, bought my ‘88 when I was 30 years old. Until this year, that was the last new vehicle I bought. That 22R-E was unbreakable, which meant more to me than power. Almost everything was original when I got rid of it at 305k miles.

 

[thennen]

Well, this thread is turning out to be a dud. At least there’s two of us older-ish guys on here ;-)

 

[Cali 4runner]

I bought mine, new to me, but it was 27 years old at the time. Does that count? hahah

Love to hear your stories! Wish more would post too.

 

[APhelps]

that's awesome. I've had my 98 for like 6 years now, so it pales in comparison.

 

[Kazzy4RNR]

Sorry, not a 1st gen, but I bought my 1995 2nd gen brand new off the lot with 35 miles on it. It was my first car purchase. And, my dream car at the time. It has so much sentimental value that I couldn’t get rid of it when I got my 2017 5th gen. At this point, I don’t think I can ever buy another car that is not a black 4Runner!

 

[thennen]

bump

 

[BackOff]

New 2nd gen T4R here too.
Was 1992 and 12 miles on the clock.
Had a missing driver side front sway bar link.
Still have it, sitting rotting away in the garage for 20 years.
My 4th gen got all the mods i wanted to do to the 3.slow so she just collects dust.

 

[thennen]

New 2nd gen T4R here too.
Was 1992 and 12 miles on the clock.
Had a missing driver side front sway bar link.
Still have it, sitting rotting away in the garage for 20 years.
My 4th gen got all the mods i wanted to do to the 3.slow so she just collects dust.

Missing front sway bar link when new?

So what's the mileage on it now?

 

[BackOff]

Missing front sway bar link when new?

So what's the mileage on it now?

Yup, missing front swaybar link at new, dealer slapped a new one on the next day.

Has 130,000 miles.
The fuel gelled in the gastank and turned into a nasty orange crud that gummed up the pump.

I started a thread on this 1992 a few years back... thinking it might motivate me to get her running, nope.
Needs a clutch too... thats been in the back seat for a really long time...

It would be a good candidate for a 3.4 motor swap.

 

[thennen]

Yup, missing front swaybar link at new, dealer slapped a new one on the next day.

Has 130,000 miles.
The fuel gelled in the gastank and turned into a nasty orange crud that gummed up the pump.

I started a thread on this 1992 a few years back... thinking it might motivate me to get her running, nope.
Needs a clutch too... thats been in the back seat for a really long time...

It would be a good candidate for a 3.4 motor swap.

Pretty young mileage-wise. Hopefully you can just tackle one item, then another, with no rush. Being in Oregon, I assume it's still clean at least?

I understand not getting to it. Life is wearying sometimes.

 

[BackOff]

Pretty young mileage-wise. Hopefully you can just tackle one item, then another, with no rush. Being in Oregon, I assume it's still clean at least?

I understand not getting to it. Life is wearying sometimes.

It seems like i just tear it apart more everytime fool with it.
Its in fairly decent condition considering its a 1992... but sitting since 2004 so who knows.
(I spouted off 20 years at some point, but it was only 16...lol.)

Just dust no rust. They used mainly red cinders on the roads back went i did drive it, none of that salt mixture. This 2004 t4r i drive probably has more rust.

I should sell the '92 to someone that might get some enjoyment out of it.
Just its not really worth enough for me to want to part with as-is.

I would like it see it move on its own again...
Some day!

 

[hntz4x4]

I know its not my story, but I wheel with a guy that's the OG owner of an 85 4runner. Ill have to ask him what the current mileage is on it. Drives it all over town too.

 

[alabamatoy]

1986, purchased new in spring of 86 in Bel Air Maryland when I was working there for US Army. Still have it, but its evolved quite a bit, with a 3.4L 5VZ-FE, solid axle swap, dual cases, e-locker and lotsa other stuff. Approx 275K miles. Pic here, leading the parade....

Hard to believe I have had this thing for 34+ years. Both of my Daughters learned to drive a stick in this truck, one of them came within a hair of rolling it over on the trails once.

 

[cabbymiami]

Subd

 

[thennen]

Subd

Subd?

 

[thunderdome87]

I bought my 87 off the original owner. He oiled the frame religiously but the whole body is rotting away!

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