Need some advice!

S

SV_Dude

Moderator
For starters, I love my 4runner and am torn on this decision. But lately (the lsat few months) I keep thinking about selling my runner. I want to get something a little more plush, comfortable and something with more power (supercharged 3.4). Other than a beefed up engine, I don't have too much invested in my 4runner. I have a good front and rear lift that performs well off road and the re-geared diffs help out a lot with the 35's but it still doesn't give me the power that I really want. For what it would cost me to put a bigger badder engine in my 4runner and completely re-do the interior to make it comfortable like I want it, I would be better off selling my runner and buying a 3rd gen.

Here is where you guys chime in:
I love the fact that my 4runner has a soft top, other than that I'm not partial to any specific 4runner.

What would you guys do in my case?

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Also, I hate seeing "How much is my 4runner worth" but it's hard to put a price on something that you have so much time and money sunk into. I have a rust free 4runner with a bad @$$ engine (for what it is anyways), cool suspension, cool soft top, brand new KM2's and 4.88's in the front and rear diffs. Off the top of my head I would guess I have between $9,000-$10,000 invested in my 4runner so far. I know that you never get what you put into a vehicle, but I would like to think that I can get $4,500 for it (keep in mind the location too). Does this price tag seem fairly accurate?
 
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Its always nice to have something newer. But with all stuff you have on your first gen starting from scratch will kind of suck. But supercharged 3.4 would be legit.

Just post it on craigslist for 4500 and see where it goes. You are not in a hurry for a quick sale so test the waters.
 
This is crazy talk. Are you off your meds? Have you gone completely out of your cotton-pickin' mind?

Sell that 4Runner and you'll regret it for the rest of your life. By the time you buy a 3rd or 4th gen and make it as capable as what you've got, you'll have spent three times as much as if you just replaced all the bushings, slapped some new seats and carpet in there, and invested in a little soundproofing on the floors and firewall. And it still won't be a convertible.

And a 3rz or 7M swap is cheap, if you must have more power. Dirt cheap. You have a CLASSIC, you numbskull, and the best version of the best SUV ever made. Now give FoG the crackpipe and come down out of that tree.
 
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KidVermicious said:
This is crazy talk. Are you off your meds? Have you gone completely out of your cotton-pickin' mind?

Sell that 4Runner and you'll regret it for the rest of your life. By the time you buy a 3rd or 4th gen and make it as capable as what you've got, you'll have spent three times as much as if you just replaced all the bushings, slapped some new seats and carpet in there, and invested in a little soundproofing on the floors and firewall. And it still won't be a convertible.

And a 3rz or 7M swap is cheap, if you must have more power. Dirt cheap. You have a CLASSIC, you numbskull, and the best version of the best SUV ever made. Now give FoG the crackpipe and come down out of that tree.
Click to expand...

You bring up some good points! I think once I get a 3rd gen to do what my 1st gen can do, the regret will be over. It's just the fact that I can get my wife to comfortably to wheeling with me is a big selling point. The luxury of a 3rd gen on the trails is very appealing as well. a 3rd gen is a LOT more secure than a 1st gen in terms of being able to lock it up (to an extent of course).

There are huge pros and cons of each. If I bang up a body panel in my 1st gen, it won't bother me and I can replace fenders for cheap. If I bang one up on a 3rd gen it would bother me a bit because it's a lot bigger of an investment and things will be more expensive to replace.

I think the biggest factor that is steering me to a 3rd gen is the comfort to and from the trails and as a daily driver as well.

Besides, how can you not like this:
DSCN1390.jpg~original


That runner belongs to Dirtco. He's a lot more active on yotatech. Here's his build thread:
Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build-Up Thread - Page 25 - YotaTech Forums
 
SV_Dude said:
It's just the fact that I can get my wife to comfortably to wheeling with me is a big selling point.

I think the biggest factor that is steering me to a 3rd gen is the comfort to and from the trails and as a daily driver as well.
Click to expand...

Those two things right there are what strike me as your bullet points.

I'm not married yet, so what do I know? But any activity you and your wife can both participate in can only be a good thing right?

And 3rd gens are the best compromise of DD and wheeler, mine does both beautifully! 4th are more comfortable DD but not as good to wheel and 5th gen even more so. (some will debate that, its my opinion)

Only thing I have to say is that Supercharged 3.4's are still 3.4's There is only so much they can give you. The 4.0 or the v8 are a lot stronger. With my S/C'd and fuel modded 3.4, I'm about sitting even with stock 4.0's.. its depressing. But granted, its still a fast little truck!
 
SV_Dude said:
You bring up some good points! I think once I get a 3rd gen to do what my 1st gen can do, the regret will be over. It's just the fact that I can get my wife to comfortably to wheeling with me is a big selling point. The luxury of a 3rd gen on the trails is very appealing as well. a 3rd gen is a LOT more secure than a 1st gen in terms of being able to lock it up (to an extent of course).

There are huge pros and cons of each. If I bang up a body panel in my 1st gen, it won't bother me and I can replace fenders for cheap. If I bang one up on a 3rd gen it would bother me a bit because it's a lot bigger of an investment and things will be more expensive to replace.

I think the biggest factor that is steering me to a 3rd gen is the comfort to and from the trails and as a daily driver as well.

Besides, how can you not like this:
DSCN1390.jpg~original


That runner belongs to Dirtco. He's a lot more active on yotatech. Here's his build thread:
Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build-Up Thread - Page 25 - YotaTech Forums
Click to expand...
I dont know your financial situation but I agree with not selling what you have now. If you can afford it keep the one you have and continue to build it for trails. Buy a different vehicle for your daily driver. It is nice to have a more comfortable vehicle but I am more careful on trails then I would like to be just because it is my daily driver and I cant afford to be without it.
 
4Running Daily said:
How could you not want this?
Click to expand...

Heavier, less clearance, harder to work on, top doesn't come off. It's all a matter of personal taste of course, but I'd never willingly give up my 1st gen for any other Runner. I might get a later model to go with it, but I'll own Stumpy until one of us dies.
 
KidVermicious said:
Heavier, less clearance, harder to work on, top doesn't come off. It's all a matter of personal taste of course, but I'd never willingly give up my 1st gen for any other Runner. I might get a later model to go with it, but I'll own Stumpy until one of us dies.
Click to expand...

Comfort has it's price.

That said, I don't care about comfort. If someone offered to trade me a clean first gen, I'd take it. Hahaha
 
I'm in the same boat SV, but hear me out on this. I keep thinking I would love to have a 3rd or 4th Gen cause I could not only DD it, but I could load up all my crap and drive to Moab for a week in comfort, hit some trails and drive home. So far with my 3.0 I haven't had any issues but I know they will come and I don't need it to be on the side of the highway on a road trip.

However, I tell everyone that I talk to about making the change from my 1st gen to a 3rd or 4th with that there is no way I would sell my 1st Gen if I lived a hour or so away from some great wheeling spots. You and FOG have it made. You guys are obviously able to load up and hit the trails with little to no effort. In all honesty, I am super jealous. If I were you I would by a bone stock 4 Gen V8 and set it up to tow. Wheel the crap out of your 1st Gen. If I understand the only thing you really don't like is the overall power of your 22RE. But a supercharger off road ain't going to do you that much good anyway. Wheel that 22RE till it explodes and then look at swapping in a 4.0. During the down time on the 1st Gen, you could still use the 4th Gen to do a little overlanding/camping.

As it is now you have a 9-10k dollar, super capable off road vehicle that you don't mind trying new obstacles and lines in. Like you said, if you bang it up, it's not a big deal. If you bang up a 3rd or 4th Gen it is going to hurt.
 
Considering what we like to do with things, you are on crack! Once you buy a pretty 3rd gen, our days of doing crazy Sh%t are over.

I have an idea. I know a guy with a fairly well built 2nd gen that lives very close to you. He'd probably trade you as long as he can keep his locker. Think about it. 4 doors, V6 and all the comfort in the world.

Buy a Supra for your DD is you want to have some power. Put some 5.29's and a locker in your runner. Don't sell it.

Although, my daughter will need a vehicle next year, you could just give it to her.
 
Keep your first for offroading and buy a 3rd for your dd street queen. If i had the money i would buy a v8 fourth
 
Grass is always greener.

:)

That said, I have a 4th Gen V8 and love it. :)

I often pass a little 3.0 up a hill and smile. Been there...
 
DC runner said:
Grass is always greener.
Click to expand...

I know better than that. The grass is never greener. It will just be a different type of grass.

FoG: The days of crazy stuff is far from over. I will always wheel my toys, that is why I build them.

I guess I can't have the best of both worlds can I?

I have tossed this idea around more than once. Every time I go wheeling I kick myself for ever thinking of trading or selling my runner for a newer runner. I know it would be a while before I have a 3rd gen that can do what my 1st gen can do. But, that's all the fun of building these rigs. They are always a project, regardless of their year or capability.
 
I have a cure for your problem. We're wheeling that thing TODAY! I'll pick you up at 1pm. Gonna find some stupid obstacles to climb so you can see why you love your 1st gen.
 
haha... I never said I didn't love my 1st gen. IF I got rid of my 1st gen and got a 3rd gen, I would build that one to do the same stuff that my 1st gen can do.

But wheeling today does sound like a great idea! This is my last weekend to go wheeling till almost the end of October.
 
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