Help me decide! 4th Gen or 5th Gen

ddicosmo

ddicosmo

New member
I'm looking to jump on the 4runner bandwagon and pick up either a 4th gen or 5th gen T4R. My options are as follows:

2005 SR5 V8 grey 98,000 miles $14,900
2009 SR5 V6 silver 28,500 miles $25,000
or
2010 SR5 V6 silver 39,000 miles $28,000

I can't decide which to go with. I like the 2005 V8 as it is a lot less money but the high miles scares me a bit.

A little about each:

2005: The dealer says for that price that he will replace the timing belt and water pump. He's resurfaced all 4 rotors, replaced the rear-pads and the fronts he claims are ok. Original calipers but they don't seem to stick. Has sunroof.

2009: Comes with sunroof and has the lowest miles at 28,500. However, for $3k more, is it worth getting the 2010 5th Gen?

2010: Comes with backup camera, sliding rear holder, sunroof and bluetooth. Has 39,000 miles. The dealer has discounted it quite a bit because there are some surface scratches on the top between the roof racks, the passenger mirror casing (black plastic piece under the mirror) is cracked and partially missing. Some minor little chips in the front on the plastic grille. In the rear compartment, the door holding the jack and tools is missing. A small surface scratch on the hood. Other than that, it is like new. The only thing I noticed is that the brakes feel a bit soft on the 5th gen compared to the 4th gen. Is this normal?

Anyway, I would like to purchase one of these soon. Which do you feel is the best option for me or the best bang for the buck? Did they have any issues with the new 2010 being the first year for the new style?

Thanks,

Dave.
 
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Get the V8 4th Gen. I'm bias I know but I've never driven a smoother running V8. Mines got about 90k and it runs like a dream.
 
Is 14,900 a good price for an 05 V8 with almost 100k? Should I be able to get them down more? They are telling me that they can't go any lower. Also, what should I be prepared for (maintenance wise) at 100k if I do get the truck? Any problem areas I should be prepared for? I'm just a bit worried about paying almost 15k for a vehicle with 100k miles.
 
Where are you located? Some areas of the country the resale on used Toyotas is a lot higher. If they are doing the TB and WP with OEM parts the car is good for another 90k before it needs another TB and WP. You should have the transmission serviced, however.

The V8 is one of, if not, the most over-engineered, robust, bulletproof, and reliable engines ever conceived. They will easily go 300-400k with proper maintenance.

I may be very biased but having owned two Cruisers and a 4Runner with a combined mileage of 400k without so much as a check engine light I have a right to be. Additionally, after reading the technical papers about the manufacturing and internals of them their proven track record is easily understood. (cast iron block, forged connecting rods etc etc) My 4R has 75k and my 04 100 has 125k and they both run like new. You cannot hear or feel them stopped at a light.

To put it in perspective, there are about 10 reported HG failures on the V6 which debuted in 2003 and numerous issues around cylinder #6. The 2UZ-FE was introduced in 1998 and I have not read of one failure other than someone who had an issue when they switched to propane. I've lurked hear and a Cruiser forum for years.
 
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I say get the 05, you'll love the v8 but thats not why I think you should buy it...98,000 isn't bad, I bought mine a 120,000 and haven't looked back. The reason I wouldnt get the 09 is because you could get more options in the newer 2010 for just a bit more money. But on that note, I wouldnt get the 2010 either because buy the sounds of it, the previous owners were rough on it, it's one year old and it sounds like its in worse shape than my 8 year old 03.

If your really worried about the 05's mileage, then wait, you'll find the perfect one eventually.
 
You are forgetting a major key...

Are any of these 4wd? If so which ones are? any with the 3rd row option? leather?

I would go for the 2010. I know I'm in the 4th gen forum....

But around my area, they're still hovering around the 30k mark for a 4wd. So 28k sounds like a good deal.

2009 compared to a 2010 for 3k more... hmmmm

also what are you going to use it for? Camping, mall crawling, towing, kids taxi cab, ect.

For the space, acually the pre 2009's have more rear leg room in the 3rd row option, the 2010 3rd row are like transformer seats and are really tight. I dunno about the other seats, but my 2006 fits me well.
 
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I bought my 03 V8 with 55k miles on it for 15,748. I would look at CarMax, where I bought mine. Excellent cars on the lot, and the whole process was amazing & so easy, no hassles. I'm never going to another dealer again, I'm with CarMax now.
 
I would get the 05.

I have an 04 with 109k miles on it, and it's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. I love the V8 it's such a smooth running motor, and has the umph to get up and go when needed. Plus it gets about the same gas mileage as the V6's

I don't care for the 5th Gens much, plus an SR5 5th gen isn't the 4WD system different. Where they don't have the torsen dif anymore, so to me that is a big step down from the 4th Gens that had it in every model.
 
V8 or V6 wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. Both are EXCELLENT engines and either should last well past the 300k mile mark.

05 with only 98k is good if it's the actual mileage. That seems awfully low to me. I have double that on my 05.

Maintenance records is going to be the key...and get an independent inspection.
 
I would also go with the 2005. It has the V8 and I like the grey color better than the silver.

I bought mine in June of this year for $10,500. It’s an 03 Limited V8 and had 94K on it when I bought it. Already had the TB and WB done at the dealer, but I didn’t know that until after I bought it. Look at Autotrader.com and see how many of these vehicles are going for good money with well over 250K on them.
 
if you have the money, why not spend it? I'd buy the mid rage one in your budget and then spend the rest on mods.
 
Get 05 with the V8 save the money and go on a nice vacation or blow it on mods. A V8 with almost 100k mile is still a baby. If you get a V6 you are going to miss all the fun you get with the V8.

If you have the money why spend it on something that depreciates so fast (vehicles).
 
09

Buy the '09 and drive it forever. I have only had the V6, so I can't speak for the V8, but I have always had plenty of power with the V6. The only time I wished for the V8 was when I towed my 21' boat up to NH once per year.
Bottom line is, all of the 4Runners are great.
 
MikeInNH said:
05 with only 98k is good if it's the actual mileage. That seems awfully low to me. I have double that on my 05.
Click to expand...

Depends on the owner, my dad has a 1999 Mazda B4000 with 40,000miles on it. He only uses it when required and doesn't drive it in the winter. My sisters 95 Corolla has 100,000miles on it, its was in the city it's whole life before she bought it so it didn't get driven much. Don't get me wrong, you still can't trust the odometer all the time but I don't think its necessarily a deal breaker.
 
Id get the 05 V8 (AS LONG AS ITS HAD THE TIMING BELT & WATER PUMP REPLACED AT 90k!).

If not, the 2009 V6 is a close-2nd-place.

I wouldnt touch the 5th gen 2010. Aint worth the coin.

Id mod the hell outtah the 05. The V8's are amazing engines, period. I got 2 of em! :)
 
its just me but if they are all 2wd i wouldnt get any of them. But if i had to choose i would go with the 09 just cause its less miles and sounds like its in better shape, the 5th gen sounds like someone had it that didnt care about what happened to it. I would personally keep looking cause you have a gap around 4 years so you could probably find a 07 or 08 limited edition for 18-20k with good miles on it. Good luck
 
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