The 2nd Gen's 3.0 "demons" are basically two things: head gasket failure from the factory exhaust crossover pipe, which can be fixed with headers or possibly a serious heat wrap, and it's rather underpowered for the weight of the 4Runner. I drove mine all the time, with no worries, both on road and off, and they gave many years of loyal service. My third one blew the gasket, which I used as an excuse to do an engine swap that I was thinking about doing anyway! As for the truck itself, the rear window regulators tend to rust out and affect the window movement, the rear coils are too soft and tend to sag over time, and the auto tranny may have issues with solenoids going bad, which can be replaced. If you see a nice one, take it for a long drive, look it over very carefully for visual condition (as you should for ANY used vehicle), and if it checks out, make an offer. Research the going rates, don't get emotional until AFTER you buy, and don't be afraid to walk away if it doesn't feel right.
