Here I stand at the crossroads edge...

M

MunkeyTX

New member
…afraid to reach out to my next vehicle!

My ’98 4Runner is done; she’s been a faithful beast, but she’s old and tired. Pushing 300k miles on the original powertrain, interior is falling apart piece by piece, new squeaks and rattles appear every day, and the entire front suspension & steering is shot (ball joints, springs, shocks, steering rack, CV’s, etc etc). I had it in my mind to fix her up, but I can’t see myself dropping some serious coin into a 14 year old vehicle with such a high mileage and such high use.

The 3rd gen 4Runner has suited me well, and is a perfect fit for what my family needs (my daily driver, and a 4x4 to get us out on the beach/camping far away from the rest of the demon horde). I do miss the utility of having a bed and figured a DoubleCab Taco would be a good move, but I also like the fact that I can store things locked up inside the cargo area 4Runner and access them from the back seat (coolers, kids toys, etc). Now adding to this mess I am finding prices on early year (2003/2004) 4th Gen 4Runners to be almost the same, or cheaper than either 3rdGen 4Runner or a DC Taco!!

So, here is my conundrum:

Stick with a newer (99+), lower mileage 3rd Gen 4Runner (no surprises, already know models quirks/maintenance needs),
OR
Move to a DC Taco, but lose the usefulness of having covered storage, but gain a bed (while keeping most of the quirkiness/maintaince of the 3rd Gen 4Runner),
OR
Move to a 4th Gen 4Runner and see what it brings.

So far I’ve just been weighing my decisions on regular use of a stock vehicle, no offroading or other mods added into the equation. I’ve always wanted to spruce up my current 3rd Gen to make it more expo friendly, but the thought of putting high-zoot parts on such an old vehicle made me think otherwise….but now with a newer vehicle you can bet your butt I’ll be equipping it!

What would you do??
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Not sure it's quite what you're looking for but I like all of the options except for going with a gen 4 Runner. From a comparison perspective to the 3rd gen I feel like they're not as accommodating once you get off the pavement. I'm sure others will disagree but I would be inclined to find another 3rd gen as a first option or go with a double-cab SC'd taco as a secondary option.
 
I would go with a clean, lower mileage runner. There are still some out there with reasonable mileage. Once you get close to 300k and have known issues, it might become a money pit where you are just chasing one issue after the next and throwing money at it. I dont know enough about the 4th gens to say good or bad. For us, we liked the looks and track record of the 3rd gen better. Unless you are just convinced that you want/need a pickup, you will likely just end up missing the versatility of a runner.
 
Interesting perspective. My personal take would be a little different. When I think of the 3rd Gen, I think "been there done that" and you don't seem too sold on the Taco or a truck in general, so the 4th Gen is like a new horizon/adventure. As far as off road prowess, I don't think the differences between the 3rd & 4th are that great. But mine is no rock crawler and works perfectly for what I need it to do. You might have different needs, but it seems like our needs are fairly similar.
I think you'll be fine/happy with any of the 3 so it probably comes down to what you really need/want and how much you want to spend. Not to mention, when looking for used vehicles you're at the mercy of availability unless you're willing to drive any distance to buy what you want.
Good Luck,
 
F a 4th gen... this is the route you need to take!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3498ess.jpg
    IMG_3498ess.jpg
    146.7 KB · Views: 461
It sound as if you have made a good point for not having a Taco.

My direction would hinge upon whether this vehicle would be my DD; if not, then a low mileage 3rd is in order. If so, find a 4th gen v8 and call it finished.
 
I don't think you will be disappointed if you stick with any toyota! I would try a 4th gen esp with a family.
 
I actually like all the options. Just have to figure of if the Taco will be utilized enough to justify the bed or if having the cargo area is better suited for you.

As far as the low mileage 3rd Gen vs a 4th, I'm in the same boat. My '97 is sitting a little under 200K but I just addressed pretty much everything so it's not going anywhere. But, my wife has a '06 Pathfinder SE OffRoad that is a major piece of sh*t. She likes the 5th Gen 4Runners but I don't want to spend the money for one. She likes the 3rd Gens but thinks they're too old. The 4th Gen fits the budget just fine but she doesn't like them. If you wind up looking at and test driving a 4th Gen, please update this thread. I'm curious to see what you think of the 4th compared to the 3rd since you have so much time in a 3rd Gen already.
 
Let me throw something else into the mix; I use my 4Runner cargo area like a truck bed…literally.

I’ve had the entire area behind of the front seats, floor to ceiling, door to door, jam packed with brush from when we did the initial landscaping to our house; I drove up to the landfill and the guard asked, “Where’s the trash?” I rolled down my back window and he thought I was crazy! Same thing for when we built a retaining wall; two layers deep of cinder blocks. Muddy equipment, wood for bonfires, you name it, I’ll have no reservation of putting it in the back of the 4Runner. Why? Because it’s old as hell, and the cargo area was already 75% thrashed when I bought it. Rear seatbacks and cargo area is pretty nasty; even my 2 yo daughter knows not to play in the back of Daddy’s truck unless she wants to get grubby. When it’s not full of crap, it’s completely empty, which is 99% of the time.

Would I do this to a nicer, newer 4Runner? Hell-to-the-NOOO! That sucker would be as clean, or cleaner than the day I bought it. That is the reason the DC Taco is in the running. Same seating capacity as the 4Runner (although less rear leg room from the looks of it), same running gear (engine, trans, etc), no new maintenance surprises for me; just a 4Runner, with a smaller, open cargo area, but would retain full seating (something that is beginning to become very important; my Daughter is wanting to tag along with me on all my ‘chore’ runs and she currently cant because the rear seats are folded…and as she gets older I’ll have an extra set of hands for those chores!  )

So, the only decision between the DC Taco and 4Runner is that; cargo room and security. The more I think and look, the more I lean towards DC Taco. I already know the front half of the vehicle mechanically speaking, it’s dat’booty that I need to stare at. A topper on the bed would pretty much solve the security issue, but I’d still be left with a smaller cargo area for that 1%.

The 4th Gen is a whole different beast; I’ve got no idea if when I sit in it I’d make a naughty mess in my pants and drink the 4thGen Kool-Aid, OR, I sit in it and want to vomit through my nipples. I just…don’t…know. All the numbers on paper look great, but again….I….don’t….kn-…you get the picture.

But what about their ability to be modified? We’d like to…(ok…I’d like to…)…begin camping at more distant, and more remote locations with the wife and kid, which the latter might become plural. DC Taco and 3rd Gen 4Runner would be full, and I doubt we’d use the 3rd row in the 4th Gen since the amount of junk we’d have with possibly two kids would be astronomical. Aftermarket support seems to be very strong no matter which route I decide to go, but in general, I’ve got no idea which is more “family-wheeling friendly.”

Decisions…decisions…
 
Well, I think you're at a point where you need to decided what is most important and go with it. They're all good options but I went through the same turmoil DC Taco vs 4Runner (minus considering a 4th gen). Ultimately I decided not having to worry about what the weather could do to my cargo, along with the security of it (expensive hunting gear), won out.

Personally if you're even considering a bed cover/topper...etc then just go with a 4Runner. Yes you can take a truck topper off if/when needed but realistically that's a PITA to do so; would you actually remove it and have a place to put it?
 
Considering how you use your current 4Runner it sounds like the Taco would be the one to fit the picture best. Unless you had a utility trailer or something to throw all the dirty stuff into. A Taco/cap combination is a pretty good setup, I have one (an access cab though) and it works well. I do like the 4Runner better but I need a box here and there for carrying stuff, dirty loads etc. so as much as I'd like to have another 4Runner I had to have a pickup. And hey, at least this way it's pretty similar in vehicles and still a great Toyota truck!
 
Munkey, all the things you referenced would point to the Taco except, they're all pretty much one time things. You're probably not going to landscape again, you're not going to build the retaining wall again. Carrying a load of wood isn't a big deal in a 4Runner and worst case it could always be delivered.

Just something to think about.
 
When you say Double cab tacoma, I assume you are talking about the 1st gen tacomas..

Have you looked at the 2nd gen tacomas? They are way bigger inside, which a growing family like yours will need. I dont know how you could fit everyone inside one of those old 1st gen tacomas.


If I were in your situation, that is what I would go with.
 
Right, 1st Gen DC Taco.

2nd Gens are outside of my price range; we can afford it, but I just don't want to pay so damn much for a TOOL. I already paid my stupid tax in 2002 by buying a brand spanking new, factory ordered to my liking, Ford F-250. No more new vehicles for me, thankyouverymuch.

Are the 1st Gen DC Tacos the same width as a 4Runner, I always assumed so? Kids will still be in carseats / booster seats in the back for many years to come so no real 'space' issues with the DC being a little shorter in the rear seats. Off to do homework on interior space...

Oh, and carrying wood is for camp fires...I don't think I can get a delivery truck to drop a bed full of wood 40+ miles off the beaten path. :) Never landscape again?? You're obviously not married. :hatsoff: But I do get what you mean.
 
Ooops, I thought you were talking 2nd gen Taco. In a lot of ways I think 1st gens are better, all good as long as the one-size-fits-all bed is big enough for your needs (which, again by the way you used your 3rd gen should be plenty of space), and they're a bit harder to find too though.

Watch for prices on those. When I bought my 05 2nd gen, the dealer had a 1st gen double cab on the lot that I was drooling over, it was 2 years older and had 60K more kms (~40K miles) more on it than the 05 Access cab that I eventually took home but they were asking $3000 more, it just didn't make sense to go with the older one as much as I liked it. Prices could vary in areas but around here they're priced like gold.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 829 (members: 6, guests: 823)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,089
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top