Looking at 2nd Gen

[voldosm]

Hey everyone!

I have an active thread in the new member area (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/new-members/173072-new-member-looking-4runners.html#post1744480), but I'm hoping to get many opinions on the 2nd gens I've found in my area. I am looking to buy a 4Runner, and anything in the 1992 to 2000 range is game. (2nd gen might get me more bang for the buck?)
My budget is pretty much what you see in the posts below (less than 4k). This will not be a daily driver, but a mountain machine to take us to the summer trailheads/winter skiing in the Rockies. I read the excellent buyers guide sticky and I'm looking for what you guys think.

3rd gen I think I would like to stay away from Automatics, unless the service history is well documented (want to avoid the milkshake). Is there a similar concern with the second gen?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

'93 Auto 4wd 180k
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4530995162.html

'93 Man. 4wd 173k
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4556111809.html

'94 Man. 4wd 214k
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4531544448.html

'94 Auto 4wd 136k
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4557857011.html

I appreciate your expertise, thanks in advance!

 

[slowpoke99]

I'm a big fan of the second gen. I'm actually shopping for one for my son and I to build together for his first rig when he gets his drivers license next year but he's actually leaning towards a 1st gen to avoid dealing with the 3.0 which is all we've been able to find around here. He's been wrenching on my '88/22re pickup since he was 11 so he's familiar with that motor and has already rebuild an '85 front axle for his axle swap. Is the "pink milkshake" the only reason why you're avoiding a 3rd gen/auto cuz it can easily be avoided with and external tranny cooler. Much cheaper than dealing with head gasket issues should they occur in a 2nd gen/3.0. Many of the guys on here have done some amazing things with their 3.0's so I'm not gonna say not to get one. I say do your research. Especially if you're on a budget. Good luck:cheers:!

 

[voldosm]

I'm a big fan of the second gen. I'm actually shopping for one for my son and I to build together for his first rig when he gets his drivers license next year but he's actually leaning towards a 1st gen to avoid dealing with the 3.0 which is all we've been able to find around here. He's been wrenching on my '88/22re pickup since he was 11 so he's familiar with that motor and has already rebuild an '85 front axle for his axle swap. Is the "pink milkshake" the only reason why you're avoiding a 3rd gen/auto cuz it can easily be avoided with and external tranny cooler. Much cheaper than dealing with head gasket issues should they occur in a 2nd gen/3.0. Many of the guys on here have done some amazing things with their 3.0's so I'm not gonna say not to get one. I say do your research. Especially if you're on a budget. Good luck:cheers:!

Thanks for the response [MENTION=97005]slowpoke99[/MENTION]. I'm just leary of high mileage autos anyway, been a manual guy for my whole life. But that's not to say they aren't rock solid. If the external tranny cooler isn't too much of a hassle that might be the way to go. Does the second gen not have that particular issue with the transmission? Blown head doesn't sound like much fun either, and 100% of the second gens I've found are the 3.0

The other reason I'm leaning towards second gen is price. Seems like i'm $1600 to $1800 cheaper for a similar milage second gen.

My third gen finds if you wouldn't mind weighing in sir :cheers:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/173076-looking-3rd-gen.html#post1744554

 

[92-SR5]

I'd hold out and keep looking for a 2nd gen 22re. They are out there but kinda rare considering 95% of the 2nd gens had a 3.0 haha

 

[slowpoke99]

I like the '99. The '97's are nice too but a little high in the mileage area for my taste. As ARC stated in your 3rd gen post, I'd find out what going on with it maintenance wise and negotiate on the price. I couldn't agree with you more when it comes to saving a good chunk of change on an older rig with similar mileage. Ultimately it's gonna be your decision to purchase a vehicle that you feel comfortable with because there are gonna be pros and cons no matter which road you choose. Some guys are comfortable putting in their own wrench time and some aren't. But trust me when I say that there's and endless supply of knowledgeable members here to help you through whatever problems you might run in to.

 

[MacGyver1979]

iv got a 95 for sale just had head gaskets put on, sunroof leather, cold air 140k miles..... $2k

 

[voldosm]

I like the '99. The '97's are nice too but a little high in the mileage area for my taste. As ARC stated in your 3rd gen post, I'd find out what going on with it maintenance wise and negotiate on the price. I couldn't agree with you more when it comes to saving a good chunk of change on an older rig with similar mileage. Ultimately it's gonna be your decision to purchase a vehicle that you feel comfortable with because there are gonna be pros and cons no matter which road you choose. Some guys are comfortable putting in their own wrench time and some aren't. But trust me when I say that there's and endless supply of knowledgeable members here to help you through whatever problems you might run in to.

Thanks again for the responses guys! I'm hearing that the '99 might be a good route to pursue now, both on this thread and the 3rd gen posting. I'll email the seller today and see if it's even still available (Posted 30 days ago with no updates... I can see an inattentive seller in the works). Hopefully they have some maintenance records, or else I probably shouldn't pull the trigger (right?).

I also seem to be hearing that the 3.0L on the 2nd gens could be an issue with the mileage I'm looking at?

 

[voldosm]

iv got a 95 for sale just had head gaskets put on, sunroof leather, cold air 140k miles..... $2k

Hey Mac, unfortunately it says your location is North Carolina,

 

[cdthiker]

I don't think that there is anything wrong with a second gen as long as you know what you are getting into.
What it comes down to is that as long as you take care of it they will last.

Regardless of what you look at make sure to spend the money and take it to some one that knows these trucks and have them do a pre purchase inspection. I took mine to the dealer and they printed out two pages of things that needed to me taken care of on ours.
Most of it was stuff I did not care about some of it was bigger things that I did not know about some of it was big stuff that I did know about.

I bought the truck in the parking lot of the dealer for 2k cash I tossed in another 300 bucks to get two more sets of tires and rims from the kid.
it had new headgaskets, timing belt and water pump etc

we took it right to a local import shop and put them to work things like the rear main seal bearings valve cover gasket etc. The truck also ended up with new rubber.

we spent roughly 5 k for a 95 with 170k on the clock. its not super pretty but its rust free and is a monster in the snow. I feel good about the money spent since out here in the mountains of idaho if it runs stops and has 4x4 your going to spend at least 1500 no matter how old or the miles. we have had the truck for about a year now and but 12 k on it. It still needs some things fixed but it is my Wife's DD. She could care less about how slow it is all that matters is that it works.

It could use a tune up and I still need to replace the pittman arm in the steering and most likely rebuild the steering pump over all its a solid little rig. We sold her civic and my bike and Basically broke even.

Its slow as hell and gets crap mpg's but it starts every day and stays on the road in a part of the world that gets around 300 inches of snow a year.

a second gen would be a great first car since it most likely is not going to rack up a lot of miles. grab one for 2 k, you have another 2 in your budget for work to be done on the truck .

 

[voldosm]

So now that I've been looking for a little bit, I'm seeing a lot of the same ones being updated to lower prices. Mostly just the second gen runners that seemed interesting. Lot's of "MOTIVATED SELLERS" lol.

($2400) 94 Auto 175k mi - Been up for a few weeks now. First time I saw the price was $2900. Seller seems to be aggressive because every couple of days he seems to post a new listing, rather than updating the one. Either he's an idiot, or there is something wrong with the truck, lol.
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4574140131.html

($1500) '95 Auto 210k mi - seems way too low?
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4572190231.html

($3500) '95 Manual 200k mi. Price is too high
https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/4545660777.html

($1800) '94 V6 Manual 214k mi. Claims some issues cataloged by shop.
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4531544448.html