new or old body?

[jay4]

I plan on buying a 4runner in the very near future, but cant decide If I want to get the newer body or the pre 2003 body, my budget is about $16,000 and in dallas that can either buy me a 2003 or so with about 75-80k miles on it or a 2002 with about 30k fewer miles, which would be the better buy. and, on another note, which body style you guy all think looks better? I think if I got a newer 4runner it would have to be in black, they look kinda girly in silver and white

 

[sharp4runr]

I've always been partial to the body style of the 3rd gens, but you can't beat the engines in the 4th gen. The 4.0 V6 is more powerful than the 3rd gen 3.4L V6. The 4.7l V8 is even better.

If you're into offroading, the 3rd gens factory stock are better at it than the 4th gens.

I'd wager to say the safety features in the 4th gens are better too. Crash testing has shown that the 4th gen 4runner is at the top of the list in mid size suv class.

 

[jay4]

also, is the gas mileage really better in the 4th generations?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Yes,the gas mileage is probably slightly better on a consistent basis in the 4th gens since with another 50 ponies and a much more efficient automatic tranny the 4th gens don't have to work as hard pulling a hill like the 183hp 3rd gen V6 have to.