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

[96RedRunner]

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

I know the system design, I owned it for 18 yr no shoddy work done. But, I did add a hidden winch mount behind bumper between frame rails, that's where the concern came from mostly and the age.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I know some people mentioned safety, and from what I've learned from this forum the past few years, the 3rd gen actually seems to have a pretty good crash rating, even compared to newer cars.

No side airbags, etc, but the body crumples less overall (even when flipped) and I don't think I've seen ANYONE post about being severely hurt even when in what I'd consider to be a major accident.



There's also the fact that there's metal bumpers on the front and rear, which do a whole lot more damage to the person hitting you then they do to you (if it's not a completely horrible straight on wreck)

Example: A few months back, I was exiting the freeway and slowing down for traffic and the guy behind me in an newer Civic didn't slow down fast enough. I saw him coming and swerved left, and he swerved right. He clipped my right rear bumper with his left front bumper. I barely felt a thing.
We got out to look, and I barely had a scratch on my paint (and to be honest, the paint was already pretty crappy). By contrast, however, his bumper, whole fender and part of the door was bashed in.
He asked to not involve insurance, (probably due to a lack of it) which was fine with me. I just took a picture of his damage and license plate and pulled the footage from that time on my traffic cam, just in case.
So I got off scot-free, while his newer car was probably totaled. All due to the metal bumper.

Point being: most newer cares and trucks, even the newer 4Runners, don't have full metal bumpers, just metal plating underneath a fiberglass mold. If I were driving a 'better' car, I'd have been pissed. But this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

 

[cblock406]

I had a 99 Miata for a few years and it’s about the only non-Toyota car I’d drive again. Those cars are freakin blast to drive, and serve an entirely different purpose from the T4R... maybe I’ll pick up another and drive it on the weekends. Those NB Miatas are fun to turbo too.

The world is full of better cars than a NB Miata, but anyway, smart move keeping the 3rd gen.

 

[T4R_Fanatic]

id just buy another one

 

[Quantumkiwi]

If I had enough money, I wouldn't need to worry about keeping it.
But if you said I had to buy another car, I would probably go with a 6BT, manual, linked, coilovered 80-series. Would be an awesome project, and is actually something I plan to do in the future when I get a real job after school.

 

[gamefreakgc]

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...

Ha, I feel ya there! I cringe whenever a friend tells me they "invested" in a new car, in which I normally respond with letting them know it lost several thousand in value once they left the parking lot of the dealer.

It's awesome having an inexpensive daily driver and take what we'd normally be paying on a car payment and putting it towards something more useful.

 

[tcbaklash]

I feel like I'm the only one here that would get rid of my 4Runner if I wanted to budget-in something else. If I could get a good '78/'79 Bronco with little financial loss in exchange for my 4Runner I'd do it :shrug:

 

[jkeith.w]

I honestly wouldn't.

 

[Joelzy]

I feel like I'm the only one here that would get rid of my 4Runner if I wanted to budget-in something else. If I could get a good '78/'79 Bronco with little financial loss in exchange for my 4Runner I'd do it :shrug:

I will definitely be getting another long term project in lieu of the 4R, I just wouldnt sell the 96 no matter unless the absolute perfect LC came along. I've had people make offers at gas stations for thousands over what i have in it but nah, i have more time and effort in than the cash they offer. I hate saying it but i'll probably sell my e39 540 for another project long before the 4runner and thats because i dont have room for 3 cars to myself. Also, UT roads make Texas roads seem amazing so that car would suffer here.

 

[307Vintage]

I plan on keeping mine for ever. I have a 2015 Ram crew cab long bed 3/4 ton with the 6.4L that I bought new, its paid for and it sits and waits its turn to go on long family trips. My 98 is my daily driver and my wife has a 97 that is her daily driver. We love the 4Runners!

 

[UnderFire]

Well, if I sold all of my runners, and both of my Tacos, I could easily clear just enough money to buy a brand new rig in cash. I won't though. These old trucks have one major thing that all newer vehicles lack. They are to the point of being depreciation proof. I have zero dollars tied up in assets that are losing value until I hit the point where modifications and repairs outweigh the value of each.

Oh, and I think I must really like em since I have so many, either that or there's something wrong with me...

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

 

[patkelly4370]

I don't buy anything with the intention of reselling.
That's why I'm still happy with my 68 F100 and still drive it regularly.
The recent, well researched, purchase of the 4runner was to fill a niche in our motor pool.
If I had more vehicle money I would buy a few more ATVs for family and guests.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[St Runner]

Are we talking Jay Leno kind of money? Cause I envy his car collection more than his money. All said the only way I am giving up my toyotas is if there is no fuel to run them. Anything I buy in the future will be electric and toyota is a little late to that party so we will see what happens

 

[T4R2014]

I know some people mentioned safety, and from what I've learned from this forum the past few years, the 3rd gen actually seems to have a pretty good crash rating, even compared to newer cars.

No side airbags, etc, but the body crumples less overall (even when flipped) and I don't think I've seen ANYONE post about being severely hurt even when in what I'd consider to be a major accident..

Are you so sure about that? Maybe compared to a new Prius C then sure. But an average new sedan? Idk. The small overlap crash test already devours the 5th gen. If the body doesn't crumple then it is you that is taking the shock.

 

[Bumbo]

I don’t drive these things because I can’t afford something else… I drive them because I like them.

That said, I am not opposed to owning multiple vehicles if they serve a purpose.

 

[brillo_76]

I have newer Toyotas. Along with my fleet of 3rd gen 4runners. I wanted to save a few and I actually use one as a DD. They suit my needs quite perfectly. However, I don't want brand new ones. For me that depreciation curve is just not worth it for the brand new rigs. As I bought my 2009 brand new in 09. Buying a well maintained one that's 5 to 10 years old can save you a pile of money. Yet at the same time five you a reliable car at a lot less of the cost. We bought the wife's van when it was 10 years old. It was well maintained and paid 1/4 the cost of a new one. It's her DD and is doing just fine. It's really up to the vehicles owner what works best for them.

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[spartacus]

I bought my 3rd Gen brand new and have had other cars, suvs motorcycles come and go. It's a very practical vehicle with regular maintenance its bullet proof. Its a jack of all trades and master of non which is its strength. During the two decades it transformed into an object worth more to me then its monetary value. Will I keep it? If money was no option I will indeed.

 

[O2RunnerSR5]

Invest that extra money. Don’t spend it on a depreciating asset.


2001 SR5 4x4 Premium
2017 SR5 4x4 Premium

 

[Dieselchessy]

It’s not a money thing to me. I always own at least 3 rigs. A diesel tow rig, my wife’s daily, and my daily.
I’ve owned Toyota’s since 2000. Prior to that it was Jeep wranglers.
I shopped over a year to find my current 3rd gen. During that I looked at several fourth gen’s. But just can’t like them.

The third gen is the pinnacle to me. It’s the Intersection of comfort, reliability, utility, maintainability, and size.
2nd gen had a poor 3L motor and too utilitarian. 4th gen is too plush and minivan-ish, and approaching too big.
5th gen is to big, too high tech.

3rd gen 4 runners are like Jeep TJ’s and 03-07 5.9L Dodge diesels. It’s the point just before creature comforts and technology overtook utility.

It’s not an accident my diesel is a 2006 Ram.

 

[G_Raw]

I love my 3rd gen but sometimes I wonder if air bags will still function/deploy on a 20 year old rig. Nevertheless, I drive it 100 miles per day, Mon thru Friday.

I'm currently chasing an error in my airbag system on my 99 ( lights flashing) so I can confirm the self test on the system is still working.

For OP I'm with the majority here... if it ain't broke don't ditch it. Keep the runner you got, save the cash, invest, adulting and what not...:jump: