Just changed from Cherokee to 4Runner

Snwwlkr7

Snwwlkr7

New member
I've been looking for a few months thinking about buying a used cheap 4Runner and also lurking around this site gathering info. I've owned many Jeep Cherokees mostly 1989-1995 and loved them very much. They are affordable, parts are cheap and plentiful, after market stuff is everywhere. My current 1990 4x4 has 256,000, has been a great vehicle for the last 8 yrs but sadly its pretty much worn out.

So....... Today I bought a 1997 4Runner Limited 4x4 with 185K on it.. $4200.00... Leather, e locker, sunroof, automatic, V-6, silver, completely stock, rust free, etc.... It needs seat covers and a massive clean up but... WOW!!! ... I absolutely can't believe how great it drives and feels for the miles and age.. It feels as tight and strong as you would expect from a vehicle with easily less than 100K miles.. The motor feels so much stronger and smoother than any Cherokee I've ever owned. Except for a few minor things like the power antenna everything still works and works great.... I'm am totally hooked on 4Runners now..

I do have future upgrade plans such as..
1-Just ordered Husky front floor liners
2-Ordering Wet Okole seat covers (First thing Monday morning)
3-The Sonoran Steel 7.2 lift.
 
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Welcome, good sir!

Seems you've done your homework, sounds like a good top 3.

I'm now gonna do what I usually do to the new members...


POST UP SOME PICS!!!




(10 bucks on yet another Silver one, any takers?)
 
Congrats! I'm cleaning out my '01 4Runner as I get set to trade it in on a 2010 SR5. I just got in from the garage working on my 88XJ (again). She's running like a top now. The question is; for how long? With 220K miles on the clock, I need to sell her. I just can't seem to part with her for some reason.
 
Parts HAD to be cheap for the Cherokee since they break down so frequently. I'm on Toyota #6 (3 4Runners) and I get pissed if I have to replace an accessory, brakes or much anything else before 150,000 miles. Not including my fairly new '08 4Runner, my other 5 Toyotas have totaled nearly 1,000,000 near-flawless miles in my posession. And 2 (maybe 3; I lost touch with one of the subsequent owners) of those 5 are also still on the road.
 
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Another former XJ owner here. This was an '89 - had it for a few years in college. Pretty fun little truck, but nowhere near as nice or comfortable as the 4R. I always wanted a 4R, just couldn't afford one back then.

That picture was from 8 years ago, so it was a long wait until I finally joined the 4R club!

 
Snwwlkr7 said:
I've been looking for a few months thinking about buying a used cheap 4Runner and also lurking around this site gathering info. I've owned many Jeep Cherokees mostly 1989-1995 and loved them very much. They are affordable, parts are cheap and plentiful, after market stuff is everywhere. My current 1990 4x4 has 256,000, has been a great vehicle for the last 8 yrs but sadly its pretty much worn out.

So....... Today I bought a 1997 4Runner Limited 4x4 with 185K on it.. $4200.00... Leather, e locker, sunroof, automatic, V-6, silver, completely stock, rust free, etc.... It needs seat covers and a massive clean up but... WOW!!! ... I absolutely can't believe how great it drives and feels for the miles and age.. It feels as tight and strong as you would expect from a vehicle with easily less than 100K miles.. The motor feels so much stronger and smoother than any Cherokee I've ever owned. Except for a few minor things like the power antenna everything still works and works great.... I'm am totally hooked on 4Runners now..

I do have future upgrade plans such as..
1-Just ordered Husky front floor liners
2-Ordering Wet Okole seat covers (First thing Monday morning)
3-The Sonoran Steel 7.2 lift.
Click to expand...


Man with the plan! you must have been lurking around here before your purchase, either that or did your research somewhere, thats for sure!

Welcome to the boards!

you got an E-locker and Sunroof! Nice man, Nice!
 
desertred said:
Congrats! I'm cleaning out my '01 4Runner as I get set to trade it in on a 2010 SR5. I just got in from the garage working on my 88XJ (again). She's running like a top now. The question is; for how long? With 220K miles on the clock, I need to sell her. I just can't seem to part with her for some reason.
Click to expand...

With 220K on it, you'll probably get no more than $1500 on a trade in. That's what Toyota offered me when I was in a moment of delusion and going to trade my '97 in for a new Taco. I could part out my bumper and lift and get that much!! Selling it private party will get you a lot more $$.

As for me, I'm keeping the runner for good and if I get a new truck the '97 is going to eventually be SAS'd w/ 35s, 5.29s, armored and turned into a full-time trail beast.
 
Sorry for the confusion; my XJ has 220K miles. My '01 4Runner has 96K, so has fairly decent trade in value. However, once the odo hits 100K, a lot of dealers start dropping the trade in value fast.

Fireball, looking at your photo album, it appears that you might have a nice NA Miata that you autoX. Is that yours?
 
Former XJ owner here too. Had a white 91 Cherokee Limited in high school. Was a very fun suv that got me to the snow and back many times. Pretty crappy on gas... you could actually see the gas needle creap down when you stomped on the gas, very odd. My 4runner is much more comfortable and looks much better IMO. Welcome to the club.
 
Logged about 110 miles since I started driving it yesterday and still I'm almost tripping over how tight this 4Runner feels... Especially compared to the Cherokees I've had and a few of the Cherokees were low miles like 70-80K.... I live just west of Nashville TN yet we have had a few weeks of very cold weather for our area. Even a little snow and ice a few days ago so I got to test the 4x4 in the snow last night also.. Awesome!!!

I will post a few pics tomorrow of the Runner and the Cherokee...
 
desertred said:
Sorry for the confusion; my XJ has 220K miles. My '01 4Runner has 96K, so has fairly decent trade in value. However, once the odo hits 100K, a lot of dealers start dropping the trade in value fast.

Fireball, looking at your photo album, it appears that you might have a nice NA Miata that you autoX. Is that yours?
Click to expand...

That was mine - I've had 3 different Miatas over the last 14 years, and currently have a 93LE (the black one with the red leather interior). Started out in autoX, then track days, then full on Spec Miata racing for about 2 years, now just back to a street car. Fun little cars!
 
Fireball said:
Another former XJ owner here. This was an '89 - had it for a few years in college. Pretty fun little truck, but nowhere near as nice or comfortable as the 4R. I always wanted a 4R, just couldn't afford one back then.

That picture was from 8 years ago, so it was a long wait until I finally joined the 4R club!
Click to expand...

Hey, i see you had a 5 speed cherokee, my friend try's to tell me they only had like 100 or so 2d 5speeds, and he has a 90 2d 5 speed. Is this true?
 
Fireball said:
That was mine - I've had 3 different Miatas over the last 14 years, and currently have a 93LE (the black one with the red leather interior). Started out in autoX, then track days, then full on Spec Miata racing for about 2 years, now just back to a street car. Fun little cars!
Click to expand...

I've got a 99 Touring "upgraded" with a set of black upholstered 95M seats and BBS wheels. I agree great little cars. :)
 
JohnsD90 said:
Hey, i see you had a 5 speed cherokee, my friend try's to tell me they only had like 100 or so 2d 5speeds, and he has a 90 2d 5 speed. Is this true?
Click to expand...

I think your friend may have underestimated the 2dr manual tranny XJ's. I've got one as well ('88 with the BA10). 2 doors w/manual trannys were probably the rarest combo as both 2 doors and manual transmissions were less popular than either the 4 door or auto versions. However, I'd venture to guess that the U.S. Forest Service would probably have/had 100 2dr manual versions by themselves. I see quite a few of them riding around (following disposition through auction) 'round these parts.
 
Ok..Pics...

My new 1997 4Runner that I just got a few days ago. Pic was taken today. Totally stock.

1990 Jeep Cherokee, 256K, 2" lift, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Wheels, Yakima Rack, General Grabber AT2 Tires..And Yes!! That is a painted 2x6 front bumper. I just sold a 1989 Cherokee I had with 80K miles and had to steal the bumper off of the 1990 to put on it..
 

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