If you had some more money would you still keep your 3rd gen?

[S1996R]

My job is changing as well, work want's to pay me more money. I am going to sit on my T4R and pass it down to my daughter when she can start driving, she is going to be 12 next month. Going to use the extra to pay off others stuff and enjoy maintaining my T4R for a few more years. I do plan on buying a used full size pick up to haul my tent trailer, as the T4R does ok with it, but i do plan on upgrading. I do like the looks of the GX470. Do what makes you happy.

 

[2ndhandyotaman]

I like my 3rd gen 4runner, it's one of the few vehicles that I've owned that actually makes me smile while I'm driving it. Mine was never meant to be a DD although it has filled that role since last July. I just recently got an '05 Outback wagon to use as a DD/ parts hauler. I couldhave gone into debt and got a new/ 2-3 year old Accord but honestly I don't NEED a brand new car, so why piss away money? I'd like to keep my runner for a while, maybe another 5 years. After that, maybe I'll look at a used Tacoma for a single vehicle to fill all of the needs.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Buy a daily driver to compliment it. I bought my 4Runner in 2001 with ~65k miles on odo. Now I'm at 260k but I've got a DD. My truck is for camping, wheeling and rolling around town in after a car wash.

You can buy a DD pretty cheap and your truck will last decade longer because of it.
.

 

[ToyotaBrah]

Staying. Have had multiple opportunities to upgrade to a GX and 4th gen V8, but just can't bring myself to sell it.

In a few years or so, I'll add a 1st gen Tundra, at which point the 'Runner will be relegated to ice cream duty runs.

 

[Mr. Goodkat]

I'd say keep it. The 3rd Gen is a unique vehicle in that it might be older but it's a great vehicle that IMO has a certain amount of respect. It's not the best but it's better than some of the newest. My first brand new vehicle was a 14 FJ Cruiser that I loved and craved for a while but the novelty wore off and the debt got old. Not worth it. I'm just as happy with my 00 Ltd.

I say keep it and save the money. Or enjoy other hobbies, or enjoy less stress with less debt.

If it were me and money really want an issue I'd be adding an old Landcruiser or another motorcycle to the stable

 

[gknuck]

2000 4Runner 113,000 miles

Keeping mine, had it since 2001. Had 19,000 miles when I bought it, has 113,000 now. Spent $1500 last month on new power steering pump and parts, and new alternator, valve covers & gaskets and repainting front valance, etc.

I work at a college and about once a month someone asks if we want to sell it.

Spent that much again the past two weeks on lift and new GY Ultra terrain ATs so it's pretty much in good shape now.

Already did timing belt, water pump and brakes.

I keep telling the wife I want a jeep but even a good used one will be much more than what I've recently spent on our 4R. Plus it has sentimental value and once I get it beefed up some more it will have it's own personality. Plan on passing down to the son in law when I'm gone. I'm 68 so hopefully not within the next 10-15 years.

 

[Hepar]

Count me in the category of the not wealthy by any means, but wealthy enough to be able to afford a newer rig. I've thought about selling mine for something newer several times, but I always come to my senses. There is just nothing else on the market that fits all of the boxes for me.

I will say that the closest I came to selling it was the time just before I supercharged it. It was extremely frustrating as it was to drive it up and over any pass. Adding the sc made it a whole new vehicle.

 

[turbo8]

What can the newer ones do that a 3rd gen can't? The only thing I wish mine had is a multimode transfercase for AWD.

 

[96RedRunner]

but sometimes I wonder if air bags will still function/deploy on a 20 year old rig..

Was wondering the same thing with my 96 @ 374k mi 2017. 2-7-18 Son was driving it another driver caused accident
he hit concrete divider @70 mph flipped onto roof, bags deployed like they should.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

When I was looking for a 4x4 vehicle a couple of years ago (primarily to get across a washed out dirt road and avoid legal fights with the road owner), we first looked at a brand new Trailhawk and 4Runner. I didn't like how either of them drove. Then I saw a "beater" 3rd gen at a local dealer, and said to my wife - "this would be way cheaper than a lawyer", so we grabbed it.

I've never enjoyed a vehicle as much as I have this 3rd Gen, and it's a bonus to drive a truck that does not depreciate from year to year .

 

[gamefreakgc]

If money were not an object, I'd have a Westfalia Camper as the family fun car. My daily driver would be either a Porsche 911 Turbo, or a Lotus Elise.

I do like my 4Runner though.

 

[Rancho5]

If money were not an object, I'd have a Westfalia Camper as the family fun car.

I owned an '86 Toyota Van back when we had little kids. I loved that rig. I've been looking for the 4x4 version for the last several years. For some reason I just love 4x4 vans. Westfalia Syncro would fit the bill nicely as well.

 

[gknuck]

Buying somethin newer?

Count me in the category of the not wealthy by any means, but wealthy enough to be able to afford a newer rig. I've thought about selling mine for something newer several times, but I always come to my senses. There is just nothing else on the market that fits all of the boxes for me.

I will say that the closest I came to selling it was the time just before I supercharged it. It was extremely frustrating as it was to drive it up and over any pass. Adding the sc made it a whole new vehicle.

I'm with you on that, several times I have considered selling ours but always think whose problems would I be buying with a newer "used" one. I know what I got with the one I have and that it's been well kept.

Every time I used to see an FJ Cruiser I would tell the wife lets sell ours and buy one of those. But glad I kept mine and added the tires and lift and now feel much more satisfied with the 3rd gen 4R. More mods to come in the future. I'm torn with removing the running boards on mine or keeping them.

Love the look of your rig. Great job and a lot of work you have put in it!!

 

[Hepar]

I'm torn with removing the running boards on mine or keeping them.

Take them off. Unless they're super rusty, you can get them off pretty quick. If you like them better on, easy enough to put them back.

 

[Outrider]

I wouldn't. I will keep mine either until it gets too expensive or too much of a pain to maintain, or until I die. I am 53, so the latter could happen at any time.

I bought mine 10 years ago, with 106k on the clock, for either $9k or $9.9K. Paid it off in 3 years. 195.6k on it now. It is still worth between $4k - $5k (can't beat that value!). I would like to keep it another 10 years. I imagine at that point, it will be completely ragged out and un-driveable.

My goal, when I get some spending money, is to buy a daily driver car, and retire my T4R to only utility usage. I imagine it likely would last me another 10 years, in that role.

I love the vehicle. It has cost me some very major headaches with some weird problems (driveshaft u-joints, apparent blown head gasket, which was really a failed injector, starter contacts, etc.), but I got those solved. She suits my needs very well (hauling a bike, kayak, dogs and camping gear, pulling a trailer, and is unbelievably capable offroad for a 2WD vehicle). And it would cost a fortune to buy another more modern vehicle that could do everything she does.

 

[4Rubber]

I love my 3rd gen but if I had more money I’d probably build out a 2nd gen Tacoma.

 

[repo]

Was wondering the same thing with my 96 @ 374k mi 2017. 2-7-18 Son was driving it another driver caused accident
he hit concrete divider @70 mph flipped onto roof, bags deployed like they should.

I researched it a while ago and they have gold electrical contacts so corrosion shouldn't be a problem, and the warning light should go off if there is an electrical prob (assuming your dash bulb still works). They are explosively powered like a bullet so that should last for ages too. The seatbelts have a similar explosive system to tension them in an accident.

The only concern would be if they had previously deployed and an unethical bodyshop didn't replace them to save cash.

 

[gknuck]

Running boards

Take them off. Unless they're super rusty, you can get them off pretty quick. If you like them better on, easy enough to put them back.

Yeah I think I'll give it a try. I would like to find something to replace them that is lower than the boards for my wife to step on to get in the 4R.

She's on the shorter side and the running boards help in that respect but still a little high for her. Not sure how some nerf bars would look or fit in relation to her height. Will be researching on that much more now since it's lifted.
:- )

 

[runnersT4R]

spend the $$ on preventative maintenance instead

I'd recommend (if you've not already) go out and get ALL the fluids flushed, especially the brake fluid & PS fluid. Those two often get overlooked & can cause expensive problems down the road. At 160k, if they've never been done, it's time. Brake fluid in particular will absorb water from the air over time, even in dry NM. Then it corrodes the brake lines slowly over 10-20 years and it can corrode all the way through without detection until the brakes fail. It happened to mine about 2 yrs ago, all of a sudden a soft brake pedal. (Luckily there was no collision & I got it safely to the garage right away.)

Another item, if you want to keep it long term, get the injectors professionally cleaned. Also would consider replacing every single piece of rubber under the hood, and have a good close look at the motor mounts too. Rubber parts get cracked in any hot climate.

If y'all really want a truck, why not get a Tacoma. If I ever replace my 4runner, that's the truck I'd get. There's my $.02

 

[Ryance39]

I think about this a lot. I could definitely afford to go get a new 4Runner or Tacoma and my 99 is the cheapest, highest mileage, most problem ridden vehicle of my 4 but it serves a very specific purpose for me.

It basically sits in the garage, sits at the airport parking lot, or is getting dirty camping/hiking/whatever.

Because I work from home I don’t need a vehicle to commute in and when I do travel on business I wouldn’t want to be parking something nice at the airport.

With my first child on the way the wife and I have considered a 100 or 200 series land cruiser, a new 4Runner, a new Tacoma, and a few other things but at the end of the day, why would I spend the money when my wife drives a very safe car for her and baby and if need be I can take the baby in the M5 which is also a safe car.

At the end of day I’d rather have the money invested than in a vehicle... unless I found another W111...