Looking to buy... what should I be looking for?

J

jrm27

New member
Hi all,

As you can tell by my post count I'm super new here. I'm getting rid of my 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and want to replace it with a 3rd Gen 4runner. Most of my internet research keeps pointing to this site, so I thought I would join up!

In th m ost general sense, I really dont know much about 4Runners... except that they seem to run forever and the people I've known who have them absolutely love them. I'm hoping that you all can help me determine what I should be looking for.. or point me in the direction of reosurces i might find helpful.

A little background, I live up in the Rockies in Colorado, so see a lot of snow, slush and the like. I don't do a lot of off-road driving or towing, but I do drive back and forth to Denver a lot (multiple mountain passes, lots of climbing, etc...) I know the v8 wasn't offered in this generation, so I'll most liekly be looking at a v6. My Jeep currently has all wheel drive, and 4 wheel drive is a must since it has saved my bacon a few times since i moved here. My wife likes the heated leather of the Jeep, but that's not a necessity.

I see so many different options (SR5, Limited, Highlander???) and really have no idea where to begin looking. I'd like to spend around 10k (maybe more). Can you help me decide what I should be looking for? Are there things on 4runners I should be looking at in specific when looking used?

Sorry for the broadness of the subject.. I'm just at a bit of a loss at where to begin! To make matters worse, there's really no used 4runners in my immediate are ato go check out... so everything fo rme is a exercise in theory when trying to read about these different options! Thanks for any direction you might be willing to offer.

-jon
 
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jrm27 said:
Hi all,

As you can tell by my post count I'm super new here. I'm getting rid of my 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and want to replace it with a 3rd Gen 4runner. Most of my internet research keeps pointing to this site, so I thought I would join up!

In th m ost general sense, I really dont know much about 4Runners... except that they seem to run forever and the people I've known who have them absolutely love them. I'm hoping that you all can help me determine what I should be looking for.. or point me in the direction of reosurces i might find helpful.

A little background, I live up in the Rockies in Colorado, so see a lot of snow, slush and the like. I don't do a lot of off-road driving or towing, but I do drive back and forth to Denver a lot (multiple mountain passes, lots of climbing, etc...) I know the v8 wasn't offered in this generation, so I'll most liekly be looking at a v6. My Jeep currently has all wheel drive, and 4 wheel drive is a must since it has saved my bacon a few times since i moved here. My wife likes the heated leather of the Jeep, but that's not a necessity.

I see so many different options (SR5, Limited, Highlander???) and really have no idea where to begin looking. I'd like to spend around 10k (maybe more). Can you help me decide what I should be looking for? Are there things on 4runners I should be looking at in specific when looking used?

Sorry for the broadness of the subject.. I'm just at a bit of a loss at where to begin! To make matters worse, there's really no used 4runners in my immediate are ato go check out... so everything fo rme is a exercise in theory when trying to read about these different options! Thanks for any direction you might be willing to offer.

-jon
Click to expand...

Considering your price range, first find all the features you want,

do you intend to offroad, then make sure you get one with an elocker,
maybe even look for a 99 which has the "highlander" model which also has 1" higher coil springs.

in 2000 they changed that model to the "sport".

mainly you are looking for no rust and one in good shape, thats a given for any vehicle purchase
 
Thanks for the insight! I didn't realize that is waht the highlander and sport models were about. Cool. Even though I dont plan to offroad much, that could be cool.

Are there modifactions that a lot of people have done to this generation that I should look for and/or avoid? Ways that people might have tried to beef up the v6?
 
jrm27 said:
Thanks for the insight! I didn't realize that is waht the highlander and sport models were about. Cool. Even though I dont plan to offroad much, that could be cool.

Are there modifactions that a lot of people have done to this generation that I should look for and/or avoid? Ways that people might have tried to beef up the v6?
Click to expand...

theres one... look for a trd with a supercharger!

If I was looking for one today, I would find a black trd with an elocker,

I used to like the highlander, but I dont like the fat lip bumper, not as hot on the forest green anymore and dont need an extra inch cuz I would immediately Solid Axle Swap it and put 35's on it.

but thats just me.

and I have owned my 4runner for 8 years now, It took me awhile of seeing other 4runners that I decided exactly what I wanted to do, just look at the 3rd gen gallery and pick out features you like, start a list, then go find it!

Happy Hunting!
 
jrm27 said:
Thanks again for the input and suggestions! Please excusde my daftness, but what does 4x2 mean?
Click to expand...

4x2 = 2 wheel drive (RWD) = garbage :)

That means it does not have 4wd.

Wikipedia: 4x2 means a four-wheel vehicle in which engine power is transmitted to only two axle-ends: the front two in front-wheel drive or the rear two in rear-wheel drive.

Go for a 4x4, even if you don't plan to offroad. For one, they have a higher resale value than a 4x2. Also, since you drive in slush and snow, you'll want the 4x4.

Good luck hunting!
 
Jon, you're making a great choice and potentially a nice upgrade. I bought my first 3rd gen 4Runner after my 99 Grand Cherokee was rear-ended and totalled. Could not have had a luckier thing happen. My Grand Cherokee was such a POS, and I was glad to be rid of it. Took insurance money and bought a 96 SR5, which was older and had a lot more miles. But it was 100x better of a vehicle than the Grand Cherokee. 10K will buy you a whole lotta 3rd gen 4R too.

Andy
 
AKAndy said:
Jon, you're making a great choice and potentially a nice upgrade. I bought my first 3rd gen 4Runner after my 99 Grand Cherokee was rear-ended and totalled. Could not have had a luckier thing happen. My Grand Cherokee was such a POS, and I was glad to be rid of it. Took insurance money and bought a 96 SR5, which was older and had a lot more miles. But it was 100x better of a vehicle than the Grand Cherokee. 10K will buy you a whole lotta 3rd gen 4R too.

Andy
Click to expand...


x100000

had a 5.9L zj (special edition only 14k made) before this it was a major pos compared to the yota, sure i'm slow now but it's just such a better machine all around.

i still got love for my old jeep though as it was pretty bad ass....

ZJ - Model range

bottom of page 5.9L zj
 
Wow, great info! For some reason I cant get multi-quote to work, so I apologize for the lame formatting

Re:4x2.. that is waht I thought. I'm sure the 2 wheel drive 4runners are very capable, I just think I'm going to wait it out for a 4 wheel drive. For where I live, it's just nice to have that available.

Toytech: I saw your add... man, what a great looking 4runner! I have no qualms about traveling to find the right one, but that 4runner actually seems to be a bit more than what I need. Great looking truck though, I'm definitely keeping it in my mind as I look around. I hope you sell it to someone who can fully appreciate all the good stuff you have done to that truck.

SlowYourRoll: Thanks for the links! I'll look those up!

AkAndy et. all: Yep, I'm just sick of fixing up my Jeep and waiting for the next thing to breakdown. The reliability of the 4runner is really attractive to me... sure, I may not be able to zip up the mountains at 80mph anymore, but maybe I shouldn't be driving that fast!

Another newbie question about 4 wheel drive. It seems that each year, the 4 wheel drive systems get a little more refined, with perhaps the 2000 model having one of the most intriguing of the 3 gen 4runners. Do any of the 4runners feature a full time all-wheel-drive? Is this something different from the standard 4 wheel drive options?

Thanks all! What a great and helpful community!
 
jrm27 said:
Another newbie question about 4 wheel drive. It seems that each year, the 4 wheel drive systems get a little more refined, with perhaps the 2000 model having one of the most intriguing of the 3 gen 4runners. Do any of the 4runners feature a full time all-wheel-drive? Is this something different from the standard 4 wheel drive options?

Thanks all! What a great and helpful community!
Click to expand...

None of the 3rd gens are full-time 4x4.

-'96-'98 - had 2HI, 4HI, and 4LO (Limiteds had push button 4WD but not multimode AWD)

-'99-'00 - option of multimode 4x4 system became available in the Limiteds (2HI, 4HI, 4LO, + a center diff locker which when unlocked becomes AWD and locked it is just normal 4x4). SR5 models kept the non-AWD/push-button system.

**Rear locking diffs were also an option for '96-'00, but were discontinued starting with the '01 model year.**

-'01-'02 - All 4x4 models came with the multimode AWD system.
 
Looking at the specs of a 2001 (though it says similar for earlier years too) from a page recommended earlier i see this:

Toyota's Multi-Mode 4WD system, introduced in 1999, is now standard on all four-wheel drive models. The Multi-Mode 4WD feature is actually an open center differential with locking capability that provides a full-time all-wheel-drive system with the ability to select 2WD mode. The all-wheel 4WD mode may be used in normal driving conditions on all types of roads from dry, hard surface roads, such as pavement, to wet or snow-covered roads. Driving with the Multi-Mode's all-wheel drive system engaged provides the driver with a more sure-footed feel because power is applied evenly to all four wheels which improves traction.

To switch from 2WD to the all-wheel 4WD mode, simply reduce the vehicle's speed to less than 62 mph and push in the One-Touch "4WD" button located on the front drive control lever knob (on the transfer case the all-wheel 4WD mode is indicated as "H4"). Returning to the 2WD mode is just as easy, depress the "4WD" button once more and the vehicle is again operating in 2WD.
Click to expand...

So, then, the "all wheel drive"/4WD can only be used upto speeds of 62 mph? Sorry for asking so many questions folks...
 
jrm27 said:
So, then, the "all wheel drive"/4WD can only be used upto speeds of 62 mph? Sorry for asking so many questions folks...
Click to expand...

I think it's saying don't engage the AWD over 62, but it would probably be a good idea to go slower than that anyways because if you need 4x4, you probably don't need to be driving that fast anyways.
 
jrm27 said:
Looking at the specs of a 2001 (though it says similar for earlier years too) from a page recommended earlier i see this:



So, then, the "all wheel drive"/4WD can only be used upto speeds of 62 mph? Sorry for asking so many questions folks...
Click to expand...

Brian had it right, just don't engage the push button AWD at over 60 MPH. Anywhere up until then is fine though. And I don't recommend going more than 70 with AWD enabled, or even 60. I went offroading at the Badlands 2 years ago and left AWD on on the drive back and, thanks to the 110k or so it had on the clock at that time, my truck threw up a CV while I was doing 75 MPH on I65. That wasn't pleasant.
 
Got it! That is exactly what I thought. I think it is just making that paradigm shift in my head from my current Jeep. Since it is full time AWD, I can cruise 70+ no problem... I'll just need to be aware of that with a 4runner and wanted to make sure I was being aware of the right thing. When I get up above 60 and such, it'll be best to throw it back into 2wd... cool. Man, you guys are great ghelp. Thanks.

I'm going to spend some time looking at the options out there and see which of the 3rd gens float my boat. Then I'm sure I'll have more questions ;) Can't get rid of this jeep soon enough...
 
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