Scuba Steve
New member
Hello everyone,
I have never owned a Toyota, never wanted to and never thought I would. Last week my Volvo blew up on the freeway, I could have fixed it, but it wasn't worth wasting money and more importantly time.
Whoever said Volvo is a great/reliable car, clearly doesn't understand the funds required to regularly maintain one, let alone fund catastrophic failures (which I've had happen twice).
Was looking for a cheap, used, easy to maintain little zoom zoom car that could take me to work and have decent gas millage with fairly low maintenance costs. I never intended on purchasing a Toyota or an SUV, let alone a Toyota 4Runner. However, I noticed that every time we walked on a lot, my wife would always wander over to the 4Runners...
Granted, her parents have had an '02 since inception, and they have well over 260,000 miles on it, the thing looks brand new. So, at the last place we were looking I decided to test drive the 4Runner the lot was offering...
I liked it, drove well, had 147,000 miles on it, but rode much better than my dead Volvo. I was in a bind, my wife adored it and I need something to get me to work on Monday morning.
They had a sticker price of $5,495, I payed $3,200 everything included, out the door.
I purchased a 1998 base model 2WD 2.7L 3ZR-FE 4 Cyl automatic, with a factory tow package. I probably paid too much, but I needed something fast and at face value, I liked the vehicle.
I have since driven the 4Runner to and from work all week, I like the vehicle more and more each day. Have scheduled an appointment this Saturday to replace two tires and get a four point alignment. Next month I will work on brake replacement, month after will be general engine maintenance and the following month will be suspension checks/replacements.
I never wanted one, but now I like it. Before having two midsize sedans, we used to do a ton of camping in the Arizona Rim Country (locals know it as the Mogollon Rim/Forest Road 300. I know a ton of undeveloped camping spots) area. Now I can tool around, back and forth to work during the week and still have the ability to take the 4Runner up north when it hits 100 degrees here.
The only thing that aggravates me is the position I was in when purchasing the vehicle. If I had of known I would like it this much, I would searched longer for one with a V6 and a manual transmission. The four cylinder auto seems a bit sluggish and underpowered. I assume I will be rewarded with better fuel economy throughout the week during my back and forth work trips, but towing something to go camping or wanting to do some decent off road trips may be flirting with dreams of grandeur.
First priority is to improve/replace worn parts so the vehicle is safe, if and when my wife steals the 4Runner from me. Afterwards, I would like to attach addons that would improve off road capabilities, but being a 4 cyl 2WD, I don't know if it would be worth the effort? Plus I don't want to look like "that guy," you know, the guy who has a 2WD 4 cyl auto, but tries to make it look like an off road beast...
I would also like to mention the reason for becoming a member on this site. While doing research after purchasing the vehicle (I know, I should have done my homework before the transaction), this site has been a godsend. Most every question I google'd, led me to this site. This site has been a wealth of information and has helped me out greatly. I figured that since I now own one, the least I could do is accept it, pinch my nose, tilt my head back, and slug down the Kool-Aid...
I have never owned a Toyota, never wanted to and never thought I would. Last week my Volvo blew up on the freeway, I could have fixed it, but it wasn't worth wasting money and more importantly time.
Whoever said Volvo is a great/reliable car, clearly doesn't understand the funds required to regularly maintain one, let alone fund catastrophic failures (which I've had happen twice).
Was looking for a cheap, used, easy to maintain little zoom zoom car that could take me to work and have decent gas millage with fairly low maintenance costs. I never intended on purchasing a Toyota or an SUV, let alone a Toyota 4Runner. However, I noticed that every time we walked on a lot, my wife would always wander over to the 4Runners...
Granted, her parents have had an '02 since inception, and they have well over 260,000 miles on it, the thing looks brand new. So, at the last place we were looking I decided to test drive the 4Runner the lot was offering...
I liked it, drove well, had 147,000 miles on it, but rode much better than my dead Volvo. I was in a bind, my wife adored it and I need something to get me to work on Monday morning.
They had a sticker price of $5,495, I payed $3,200 everything included, out the door.
I purchased a 1998 base model 2WD 2.7L 3ZR-FE 4 Cyl automatic, with a factory tow package. I probably paid too much, but I needed something fast and at face value, I liked the vehicle.
I have since driven the 4Runner to and from work all week, I like the vehicle more and more each day. Have scheduled an appointment this Saturday to replace two tires and get a four point alignment. Next month I will work on brake replacement, month after will be general engine maintenance and the following month will be suspension checks/replacements.
I never wanted one, but now I like it. Before having two midsize sedans, we used to do a ton of camping in the Arizona Rim Country (locals know it as the Mogollon Rim/Forest Road 300. I know a ton of undeveloped camping spots) area. Now I can tool around, back and forth to work during the week and still have the ability to take the 4Runner up north when it hits 100 degrees here.
The only thing that aggravates me is the position I was in when purchasing the vehicle. If I had of known I would like it this much, I would searched longer for one with a V6 and a manual transmission. The four cylinder auto seems a bit sluggish and underpowered. I assume I will be rewarded with better fuel economy throughout the week during my back and forth work trips, but towing something to go camping or wanting to do some decent off road trips may be flirting with dreams of grandeur.
First priority is to improve/replace worn parts so the vehicle is safe, if and when my wife steals the 4Runner from me. Afterwards, I would like to attach addons that would improve off road capabilities, but being a 4 cyl 2WD, I don't know if it would be worth the effort? Plus I don't want to look like "that guy," you know, the guy who has a 2WD 4 cyl auto, but tries to make it look like an off road beast...
I would also like to mention the reason for becoming a member on this site. While doing research after purchasing the vehicle (I know, I should have done my homework before the transaction), this site has been a godsend. Most every question I google'd, led me to this site. This site has been a wealth of information and has helped me out greatly. I figured that since I now own one, the least I could do is accept it, pinch my nose, tilt my head back, and slug down the Kool-Aid...
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