My 3rd 4Runner!

[dano]

My history with Toyota trucks goes like this:

In 2002 I bought a 2000 Tundra Ltd. Access Cab. Loved the truck but hated the suicide doors.

In 2004 I traded it on a new Tundra Dbl. Cab Ltd. Absolutely loved the beast but my wife wouldn't drive it because it was so large. A year or so later she was begging me for an SUV along the lines of a Pilot or Highlander..... I wanted something more "manly".

In 2006 I traded the Tundra on a new 4Runner Ltd. 4X4 V6. Liked it alot but it was so nice I hated using it for any kind of "utility".

After a year of ownership we both got the urge for a sports car.

So in '07 we traded the '06 4Runner on a '06 Honda S2000 and bought a well used '99 4Runner SR5 4X4. We felt we needed a winter vehicle here in Ohio. The S2Ks don't go in snow.

Upon owning the '99 I became a 3rd gen fan immediately. Although it wasn't nearly as polished as the '06 there was an emotional attatchment between me and the '99 that I can't explain. I haven' felt that way about very many of the 30+ cars I have owned over the years. The last was probably the 1990 Nissan Maxima that I bought new and kept for 7 years because of the affection I had for it. It was the first new "made in Japan" car that I owned. I never once had it to the dealer for anything but maintenance items during the 120K miles I put on it. IMO the style of that car still looks good today.

My latest purchase:

While driving through a Toyota car lot last Saturday while my wife was shopping I spotted a pristine, 1 owner, 2002 4Runner Ltd. 4X4. The previous owner took impeccable care of this vehicle. Even though it had 89K miles on it, it looks virtually brand new inside and out. I immediately got the wife, went home and got my beloved '99 and 3 hours later I was the proud owner of the '02. I was sad to see the '99 go but the '02 had stolen my heart.

I have found it to be much closer to the '06 in terms of polish but it still has the more rugged character of the '99. I am amazed at how solid this vehicle is @ 6 years old and 89K miles.

I have owned both the Gen 4 and Gen 3 4Runners and I can honestly say that the Gen 3 has to be the best looking SUV ever made, IMO. There is just something timeless about the looks, much like the 1990 Maxima.

I plan on a few mods but nothing radical. Right now I am waiting on the dealership to send me any information they can get from the previous owner pertaining to maintenance records. I imagine the 90,000 mile service has not been done and I will be visiting the maintenance thread here with any questions I may have pertaining to that.

I have a feeling I will be keeping this 4Runner for a long time and want to carry on the previous owner's care of this beautiful vehicle.

 

[p nut]

Nice! I, too, had a choice between a new 4th Gen 4Runner and a 3rd Gen. I just couldn't get over the looks of the 4th Gen. And I agree that the 3rd Gen is the best looking 4Runner to date. This led me to buy a 2002 SE, the last year of the 3rd Gen.

BTW, I had a S2000, too, back in the day. It was one of my favorite cars (only second to the ITR). You need to take it out to an auto-x event. You will have a blast.

 

[shootmymime]

awww... this boy loves his toys!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Congrats on another 3rd gen.

 

[direwolf74]

I can relate, I went from a 95 gmc sierra z71, to a 04 subary wrx, to a 07 subary sti. Just traded in the sti for my fully loaded 01 sr5 4-runner with 76,000 miles on it and couldn't be happier. There is something timeless about 3rd gens, I dont know maybe between their looks, build quality, and fit and finish and offroad prowess, they just feel right. Hopefully the mod bug will stay away from me this time.

 

[trd_4runnin]

Welcome from Ohio!

I haven't had quite the car history that you have and am on my first Toyota but I can still understand where you are coming from. I had a 1999 Civic that I finally had the suspension and aesthetics done to my liking as well as a few other little things to make it my own. I was beginning to save to either turbo it, or swap in a b series motor when my fiance and I got the two lines on the Home Pregnancy test. We tried to keep the civic but being a 2 door the car seat just wouldn't fit in the back seat very good. I had always wanted a Toyota 4x4 so I seized the opportunity and bought a 1998 4Runner. It hurt to see the Civic go, and while I still miss it for what it was, I don't think I could have found another replacement that could win me over like the 4Runner did.

I want an s2000 in the worst way, and hopefully some day I will be able to get one. If not I would at least like to get another civic to daily drive, as a miss the manual tranny pretty badly.

 

[jdk]

Somewhat similar experience here. I bought a new limited 4runner in 1998 after loving the look of them for the 2 previous years. After 10 years it got totaled in January. I drove a lot of new cars- 4runner, pathfinder, FJ, even the lexus IS and Rx for kicks, but couldn't find anything I liked nearly as much as the 3rd gen. Ended up finding a used 02 limited with 67,000 miles and jumped on it. I love it and it cost so much less than anything else I was considering. There really were no other options.

 

[dano]

Welcome from Ohio!

I haven't had quite the car history that you have and am on my first Toyota but I can still understand where you are coming from. I had a 1999 Civic that I finally had the suspension and aesthetics done to my liking as well as a few other little things to make it my own. I was beginning to save to either turbo it, or swap in a b series motor when my fiance and I got the two lines on the Home Pregnancy test. We tried to keep the civic but being a 2 door the car seat just wouldn't fit in the back seat very good. I had always wanted a Toyota 4x4 so I seized the opportunity and bought a 1998 4Runner. It hurt to see the Civic go, and while I still miss it for what it was, I don't think I could have found another replacement that could win me over like the 4Runner did.

I want an s2000 in the worst way, and hopefully some day I will be able to get one. If not I would at least like to get another civic to daily drive, as a miss the manual tranny pretty badly.

The S2000 is a great car. I have owned many sports cars over the years (I'm 56) including a '70 Mustang, a '73 Corvette, an '87 Supra, a '90 300ZX, an '01 Miata, an '03, '04 and now an '06 S2000 (yes, Ive had 3 S2000s......it's a long story) and the S2000 is the best of all. Not the fastest car I have ever owned but the most fun to drive.

The handling is beyond comparison in it's price range. The solidity of its structure is the best among all convertibles regardless of cost, the shifter has been called the best in the world, described as tight as the bolt action of a rifle and of course the car is a prime example of Honda's legendary quality.

I hope you will own one some day. You'll love it.

 

[trd_4runnin]

The S2000 is a great car. I have owned many sports cars over the years (I'm 56) including a '70 Mustang, a '73 Corvette, an '87 Supra, a '90 300ZX, an '01 Miata, an '03, '04 and now an '06 S2000 (yes, Ive had 3 S2000s......it's a long story) and the S2000 is the best of all. Not the fastest car I have ever owned but the most fun to drive.

The handling is beyond comparison in it's price range. The solidity of its structure is the best among all convertibles regardless of cost, the shifter has been called the best in the world, described as tight as the bolt action of a rifle and of course the car is a prime example of Honda's legendary quality.

I hope you will own one some day. You'll love it.

I hope I get the chance as well. I worked at a Honda dealership so I have had a few chances to drive them. Before my toyota I was very loyal to Honda so the S2k was definately the ultimate goal. I actually planned to buy one with a couple years, but then i found out about the baby and that just won't work. Id love to see some pictures of yours!

 

[direwolf74]

I've driven a s2000, 350z, r32, prelude sh, and I can honestly say that my sti spanks them all as far as power, excelleration, handling, build quality, and bang for the buck, with the s2000 being a pretty close 2nd in the handling dept. But thats just my 2 cents.

 

[p nut]

I've driven a s2000, 350z, r32, prelude sh, and I can honestly say that my sti spanks them all as far as power, excelleration, handling, build quality, and bang for the buck, with the s2000 being a pretty close 2nd in the handling dept. But thats just my 2 cents.

STi does have more power, but that's about it.

- Bang for buck? Can't really compare the two, since you've got an AWD sedan and the S2000 is a roadster.

- Build quality? I'm sorry, but Honda's got Subaru beat in that department all day long.

- Handling? S2000 has won the A-Stock division (usually sweeps) for several years now. STi has not even come close. I have not driven an AWD car on the track, but the general consensus is, AWD cars cover up a LOT of the mistakes drivers make. When you make a mistake in a FWD or RWD car, you know it and pay for it. The S2000 is truly the more of a driver's car than the STi.

The STi is a more practical car, if it's your only car. But that's why we have our 4Runners.

I miss both of my Honda's pretty bad. I've got a Civic for now to tide me over until I decide to purchase another...

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Oh man,I hadn't miss my race car for a while and you guys triggered my longing for the road course and the drag strip;damn you!!! :

Here's the quickest car I've driven in the past year and it is fun but could use another 50hp but my mom thinks it's quick enough;she's 59.

 

[trd_4runnin]

While were showing off.... here is mine. Finally had it where I wanted it aesthetically and was saving for the Edelbrock turbo kit....

Then this happened....

..and I wouldn't change it for the world!

edit: Man, do we get off topic around here.. lol. Sorry dano! You need to post some pictures of your rides so it isn't a total hijack!

 

[direwolf74]

OK not only does the sti have more power, but it has way, way more torque (300 ft-lbs). Even though these cars are in different catagories, you can deffinately compare bang for the buck, sti wins hands down. There is nothing wrong with honda quality, anybody who knows anything about cars or motorcycles knows that, but for the money the sti is much more of a car quality wise. As far as awd vs rwd, awd all the way. You will always get a little understeer with awd, but the grip and corner exit speeds more then make up for that. A tuner s2ooo will almost always get spanked by a tuner evo or sti, I have the time attack dvds to prove it. Aftermaket tunablilty, sti again spanks the s2000. An ecu alone can easily yield 30+ hp. In my opinion, and again I have driven both an 06 s2000, and an 07 sti, the only department the honda is slightly better in is the gearbox. But then again I have spoken with a 06 s2000 owner who had to bring his car back to the dealer because his car would pop out of 2nd gear while he was driving. I love hondas don't get me wrong, but as far as chosing between these two cars, sti all the way.

 

[hkspwrsche]

Good taste. You should post a group shot of all the rides.

 

[hkspwrsche]

OK not only does the sti have more power, but it has way, way more torque (300 ft-lbs). Even though these cars are in different catagories, you can deffinately compare bang for the buck, sti wins hands down. .

I only agree with the turbo bang for the buck. Ive driven plenty of STIs. Three good friends of mine have STIs and will readily admit that the build quality of the S2k is higher by a mile. The sti is an awd econo box on steroids. It's a completely different kind of car.
IF you are buying a car to compensate for something and your under 40(corvette age) then the STI is for you. This is the new version of the old corvette versus porsche 911 argument. IF your not blinded by the bang for the buck horsepower one day you'll enjoy the precision of the 911. I'm a former(6 time) Porsche owner and went to the S2k this time. I'll never regret it.

 

[dano]

Good taste. You should post a group shot of all the rides.

How do I post pictures?

 

[trd_4runnin]

How do I post pictures?

You can post one picture at a time using the Attatch file: field located towards the bottom of the post screen.

Another way is to go to either imageshack.com or photobucket.com (I prefer photobucket for user-friendliness) and sign up for an account there. Once you upload your images you just copy and paste the Image tag (<IMG>........<IMG>) of the picture you want to post.

 

[hkspwrsche]

Image shack or attach to a reply with a pic less than 14000

 

[dano]

I don't know what the %#*& I'm doing when it comes to posting pictures but here is the best I could do. Double click on the picture to make it bigger.
Pics from last summer before I bought the 2002 Limited (my '99 SR5 is pictured)