Looking for a first gen, advice wanted.

V

veryexcellent

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Hey everybody, looking to pick up a first gen 4runner to use as a daily beater/work truck. I plan to use the truck for hauling photographic equipment and also towing my car to the track, so reliability is key. I don't mind wrenching, as I own a 97 M3 that is currently a street/track build, but for the time being I need something that will get me from point A to point B without any real issues. My budget is around 1500. I found this example pretty local to me, let me know what you guys think.

1995 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 Auto Clean Title Ice Cold Ac Brand New All Terrain Tires
 
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1) A 1st gen is gonna be expensive.
2) If you are on a tight budget and don't want any "real issues" then I would advise staying away from a 2nd gen... lol.
3) If you want to tow a car, I would go with at least a 3rd gen with a 3.4 engine.
 
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Run from that one. He says he's got nowhere to park it and can't afford insurance, but he'll trade for a Tacoma or pickup?

22re or 3vze motors in the 1st and 2nd gens, both have their pluses and minuses, but my advice would be to stay away from the automatics.
 
2ndGen4runner4x4 said:
1) A 1st gen is gonna be expensive.
2) If you are on a tight budget and don't want any "real issues" then I would advise staying away from a 2nd gen... lol.
3) If you want to tow a car, I would go with at least a 3rd gen with a 3.4 engine.
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Thanks for the input. My main focus isn't towing a car, I just need a car that I can throw a bunch of equipment into and beat on without too much concern. I also want to take the M3 off the streets and start building it so I need a car to drive around in. What are you referring to when you say "real issues"? My budget isn't too tight and I'm willing and able to wrench.
 
KidVermicious said:
Run from that one. He says he's got nowhere to park it and can't afford insurance, but he'll trade for a Tacoma or pickup?

22re or 3vze motors in the 1st and 2nd gens, both have their pluses and minuses, but my advice would be to stay away from the automatics.
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Yeah, this one isn't shaping out to be to promising so I'm going to pass. Any particular reason I should leave the automatics alone?
 
Avoid the automatic because it soaks up a lot of horsepower. And these engines don't have any to spare. It's not that they're weak, they just sap usable power. The 5-spd. is a thousand times better.
 
If you google the ads phone number, an older ad pops up from about a month ago. So this guys been trying to sell this truck for a month and with no takers. I'd ask a bunch of questions.
 
Looks like you're scraping the bottom of the barrel. That's fine for a beater, but it's gonna take some patience to avoid a money pit. You're going to encounter a lot of turds and shady people.

I'd stay on the forums and look for someone jumping ship on the hobby who at least has some history/records behind their POS. Either that or pony up a little more cash to get into a better segment in the market.

Best of luck in your search.
 
veryexcellent said:
Yeah, this one isn't shaping out to be to promising so I'm going to pass. Any particular reason I should leave the automatics alone?
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Autos are ok but the 3.0 has a reputation for not having a good power to gpm ratio plus the auto saps more power. The 3.0L also does not have a good head gasket system and they fail way too often. The 2.4L is almost indestructible but still does not have a good power to GPM ratio. I have a first gen 2-door 2.4L, 5speed and find it difficult to get to equipment out of the back with the top on (my only complaint except for gpm). I have been trying to find a 2nd gen 4-door with 2.4L and 5-speed and they are very rare and sometimes are 2wd. If you are ok with 2wd a 2.4 5-speed mite be a good choice. Both 1st and second gens are going to need some rear suspension help.
I have heard great thing about the 3.4L.
 
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veryexcellent said:
What are you referring to when you say "real issues"?
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It's a slippery slope... When I purchased my 2nd gen in January 2012, I thought "it's a Toyota and I'll never have to work on it". Boy was I wrong... I have well over $10k in it now.

I have since...
- Installed a junkyard rear 3rd member
- Gone through and installed all new brakes
- Installed a big new heavy duty metal / brass radiator
- Replaced the engine with a remanufactured one
- Replaced the tranny/t-case with a low mileage unit not long after engine was done
- Lift, tires and wheels
- Had new hi-flow exhaust done
- All the little things, like roof rack, grill guard, etc...

...and the guy I bought it from told me that it was in "perfect condition" lol.
 
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If you want reliable and easy to work on. 4x4 manual 22RE first-gen.
If you want reliable and power, 3rd Gen 3.4. Too bad they stopped making manuals after a certain year.

There are always risks with used trucks so, among other things, know the history, test drive with someone who knows how that particular year-model runs, looks, sounds, feels, smells- yes; smell coolant from exhaust? smell exhaust in coolant? See bubbles come out of coolant reserve tank? See milkshake? See rust?
Hear it crank? Feel if running smoothly?

Sorry, no known taste-test :)

See carfax. Had mileage per period of time looked consistent?
 
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