Should I Buy a 4th Gen V8 LTD 4WD?

[Rock_Rat]

Honestly it all depends on what your needs are and how you plan to utilize it. Living in Alabama you don't need 4wd so a 2wd or a more luxurious SUV option such as a BMW X5, Volvo XC90 might be a nice addition.

Is it going to be DD for just you back and forth to work or a family vacation vehicle? Are looking to tow a trailer or a boat? Perhaps a double cab or crewmax Tundra would be a better option. Just a few thoughts before you pull the trigger.

I say keep your 3rd gen. You've put too much into it that you'll never get back out. You can't beat zero payments and a nice cash reserve.

 

[BlackCat914]

Ya'll are crazy. For "slightly" more money you can have a GX470, with the same capabilities and and interior that makes a 3rd gen 4Runner interior look like is straight out of the mid 60's. Just sayin. I paid $13.5k for my spotless one owner 03 with 9 pages of maintenance records.

 

[MTwEeZi]

Ya'll are crazy. For "slightly" more money you can have a GX470, with the same capabilities and and interior that makes a 3rd gen 4Runner interior look like is straight out of the mid 60's. Just sayin. I paid $13.5k for my spotless one owner 03 with 9 pages of maintenance records.

I looked at GXs before I bought my Runner. They are well-made, and VERY fairly priced (as far as Toyota trucks go), but more disconnected from the road and a bit gaudy. FWIW I haven't seen any issues with 3rd gen dashes cracking.

 

[BamaDrewski]

Honestly it all depends on what your needs are and how you plan to utilize it. Living in Alabama you don't need 4wd so a 2wd or a more luxurious SUV option such as a BMW X5, Volvo XC90 might be a nice addition.

Is it going to be DD for just you back and forth to work or a family vacation vehicle? Are looking to tow a trailer or a boat? Perhaps a double cab or crewmax Tundra would be a better option. Just a few thoughts before you pull the trigger.

I say keep your 3rd gen. You've put too much into it that you'll never get back out. You can't beat zero payments and a nice cash reserve.

Some good points. Living in Alabama though (a sportsman paradise) we have hunting, fishing, camping, etc. I have a 3rd gen 4WD and I would want the same capability on a 4th gen. I have hunting property and my 3rd gen has been awesome in 4WD when needed. (I even pulled a full size Chevy truck out of the mud with it)

I am definitely keeping my 3rd gen. With 257K+ miles, she runs like a top.

Now down to the comments on the Lexus GX470. Many people might not realize that what we call the Lexus GX470 is actually a "Toyota 4Runner" in Europe. This back when the GX470 was still made. (Wish I had taken a photo of the evidence to provide for everyone). The GX470 is an awesome vehicle but for me, they look a bit "top heavy" and I do not really need all that "luxury" in my life. I guess I am a "Joe the Plumber" kind of guy and sitting around an Alabama campfire drinking beer and telling lies with my buddies, I would feel just a little bit snobbish saying I drove a "Lexus 4x4." Don't get me wrong; I am not trying to keep up with the Jones' or impress the rednecks, I just like the durability and utility of Toyota. Down in these parts, Lexus just comes across as a "soccer mom" or "insurance salesman - aka 'golfpro' kind of ride". For my man LilCaesar, if I pick up this 4th Gen T4R LTD V8, I am going to rub Liquid Moly all over it and in it. She will smell like Liquid Moly and be so slick from it, there will be no wind resistance....LOL (Liquid Moly works like a champ no matter what emperor Caesar says)

 

[absalom]

Some good points. Living in Alabama though (a sportsman paradise) we have hunting, fishing, camping, etc. I have a 3rd gen 4WD and I would want the same capability on a 4th gen. I have hunting property and my 3rd gen has been awesome in 4WD when needed. (I even pulled a full size Chevy truck out of the mud with it)

I am definitely keeping my 3rd gen. With 257K+ miles, she runs like a top.

Now down to the comments on the Lexus GX470. Many people might not realize that what we call the Lexus GX470 is actually a "Toyota 4Runner" in Europe. This back when the GX470 was still made. (Wish I had taken a photo of the evidence to provide for everyone). The GX470 is an awesome vehicle but for me, they look a bit "top heavy" and I do not really need all that "luxury" in my life. I guess I am a "Joe the Plumber" kind of guy and sitting around an Alabama campfire drinking beer and telling lies with my buddies, I would feel just a little bit snobbish saying I drove a "Lexus 4x4." Don't get me wrong; I am not trying to keep up with the Jones' or impress the rednecks, I just like the durability and utility of Toyota. Down in these parts, Lexus just comes across as a "soccer mom" or "insurance salesman - aka 'golfpro' kind of ride". For my man LilCaesar, if I pick up this 4th Gen T4R LTD V8, I am going to rub Liquid Moly all over it and in it. She will smell like Liquid Moly and be so slick from it, there will be no wind resistance....LOL (Liquid Moly works like a champ no matter what emperor Caesar says)

That last paragraph. Bruhhh ... just how hi are you right now?

 

[BlackCat914]

I looked at GXs before I bought my Runner. They are well-made, and VERY fairly priced (as far as Toyota trucks go), but more disconnected from the road and a bit gaudy. FWIW I haven't seen any issues with 3rd gen dashes cracking.

Not sure how, it's the same platform. They've also issued a dash recall.

 

[Rock_Rat]

Some good points. Living in Alabama though (a sportsman paradise) we have hunting, fishing, camping, etc. I have a 3rd gen 4WD and I would want the same capability on a 4th gen. I have hunting property and my 3rd gen has been awesome in 4WD when needed. (I even pulled a full size Chevy truck out of the mud with it)

Sorry, hope I didn't offend you. We all "need" 4WD or else we wouldn't be on here!! That's our lifestyle. When I said "NEED" I meant folks living in the midwest, NE, Canada, CO, and even myself who has to get up at 4am to clear snow, chain up and get down my mountain to get my kids to school, wife to work, and self to work during those occasional weeks when we get blasted. I'm on the west side of the cascades but because of where I live I literally "need" a 4WD. I'm off the main highway 6miles up at 1000' on private un-plowed roads in the winter. Here's a picture of the road to my house. Without my 4Runner I'm screwed in the winter.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I still say buy it. There was a guy here in DC selling an 04 with 160,000 miles on it (4wd 2uz) for $7500 last year, it went for $6900. I hate that it got away from me. Don't worry about the weight.

LM products are great, no doubt about it.

 

[HiLife]

I personally like the 06 and above 4th gen V8's.
There is no replacement for displacement.

 

[BlackCat914]

Some good points. Living in Alabama though (a sportsman paradise) we have hunting, fishing, camping, etc. I have a 3rd gen 4WD and I would want the same capability on a 4th gen. I have hunting property and my 3rd gen has been awesome in 4WD when needed. (I even pulled a full size Chevy truck out of the mud with it)

I am definitely keeping my 3rd gen. With 257K+ miles, she runs like a top.

Now down to the comments on the Lexus GX470. Many people might not realize that what we call the Lexus GX470 is actually a "Toyota 4Runner" in Europe. This back when the GX470 was still made. (Wish I had taken a photo of the evidence to provide for everyone). The GX470 is an awesome vehicle but for me, they look a bit "top heavy" and I do not really need all that "luxury" in my life. I guess I am a "Joe the Plumber" kind of guy and sitting around an Alabama campfire drinking beer and telling lies with my buddies, I would feel just a little bit snobbish saying I drove a "Lexus 4x4." Don't get me wrong; I am not trying to keep up with the Jones' or impress the rednecks, I just like the durability and utility of Toyota. Down in these parts, Lexus just comes across as a "soccer mom" or "insurance salesman - aka 'golfpro' kind of ride". For my man LilCaesar, if I pick up this 4th Gen T4R LTD V8, I am going to rub Liquid Moly all over it and in it. She will smell like Liquid Moly and be so slick from it, there will be no wind resistance....LOL (Liquid Moly works like a champ no matter what emperor Caesar says)

I guess what I'm trying to say is you can get more truck in the GX for basically the same money. The durability and utility would be the same, as it's the same truck. With a nice set of off-road wheels and tires, they can look really awesome and not at all soccer momish. My GX has been off-road in 13 states, it's plenty capable for most anything you can throw at it. If you don't like the looks of them then that's one thing, but I've never bought a car because I was concerned what other people would think of me.
Shameless plug for my truck, haha

 

[T4R2014]

I guess I am a "Joe the Plumber" kind of guy and sitting around an Alabama campfire drinking beer and telling lies with my buddies, I would feel just a little bit snobbish saying I drove a "Lexus 4x4."

I am not trying to keep up with the Jones' or impress the rednecks,

You may have just contradicted yourself. Dude, it's a used Lexus that offers more value. I don't see any snobbishness in driving a 10 year old luxury vehicle that costs less than a new Silverado if you want to offer a logical comparison to any rednecks.

 

[Range]

FWIW I went from a 1st to a 3rd to my current 4th and I don't regret anything. I have a V8 limited that has been problem free for 11 years. The v8 is very nice to have towing snowmobiles, razors etc.. and the added low end torque is nice off the line. The v8 is also great to have when you add several hundred extra pounds of armor and tires. The early 4th generation V8's are so overbuilt that they are nearly bomb proof. I also have no signs of my dash cracking but my Runner has been garage kept from CA to NV to UT.

Both cycles of the 4th gen have amazing engines. The xreas system was great until I started adding weight. Otherwise when in its stock form the system gave a very comfortable smooth ride.

 

[BamaDrewski]

Sorry, hope I didn't offend you. We all "need" 4WD or else we wouldn't be on here!! That's our lifestyle. When I said "NEED" I meant folks living in the midwest, NE, Canada, CO, and even myself who has to get up at 4am to clear snow, chain up and get down my mountain to get my kids to school, wife to work, and self to work during those occasional weeks when we get blasted. I'm on the west side of the cascades but because of where I live I literally "need" a 4WD. I'm off the main highway 6miles up at 1000' on private un-plowed roads in the winter. Here's a picture of the road to my house. Without my 4Runner I'm screwed in the winter.

Not offended at all man. I agree with you. Having lived in Norway for several years with 4-6 feet of snow in the winter, I became a 4WD/AWD addict. You have a sharp looking rig there!!!

 

[BamaDrewski]

I guess what I'm trying to say is you can get more truck in the GX for basically the same money. The durability and utility would be the same, as it's the same truck. With a nice set of off-road wheels and tires, they can look really awesome and not at all soccer momish. My GX has been off-road in 13 states, it's plenty capable for most anything you can throw at it. If you don't like the looks of them then that's one thing, but I've never bought a car because I was concerned what other people would think of me.
Shameless plug for my truck, haha

I don't blame you for plugging that good looking ride. I guess I would be a little over-protective of such a nice ride as a Lexus GX470. They look awesome but they seem to stand much taller than the 4runner. I might be wrong about that but that is my impression. I don't buy cars base on what people think....I buy them for the overall utility and endurance they can provide. Reading about the dash recalls on the GX470 and seeing a guys post on having to take out his entire dash to fix a servo motor has me spooked....just saying.....Also, as I do all of the maintenance I can, I am assuming the parts from the Lexus side of the service/parts side of the desk might be pretty pricey....

 

[HOJeepster]

The one thing I would check on that V8 with 150k is for a manifold exhaust leak. If you hear a ticking sound upon start up and for the first 5 min or driving, it probably has a leak. That's the only thing with the V* I have noticed on mine that drives me crazy and is expensive to fix.

Otherwise, game on!

 

[BlackCat914]

I don't blame you for plugging that good looking ride. I guess I would be a little over-protective of such a nice ride as a Lexus GX470. They look awesome but they seem to stand much taller than the 4runner. I might be wrong about that but that is my impression. I don't buy cars base on what people think....I buy them for the overall utility and endurance they can provide. Reading about the dash recalls on the GX470 and seeing a guys post on having to take out his entire dash to fix a servo motor has me spooked....just saying.....Also, as I do all of the maintenance I can, I am assuming the parts from the Lexus side of the service/parts side of the desk might be pretty pricey....

Most parts are interchangeable. I have plenty of 4Runner and FJ Cruiser parts on my truck that I've replaced. I wouldn't be concerned with a dash recall as the replacement is FREE. I've been on the GX forums for a while and have never heard of a servo motor issue, but if there actually was one I'm sure it would also be present in the 4th gen 4Runners.

 

[white_n_slow]

Late to the party, but if you're keeping your 3rd gen as a wheeler, then by all means, get a 4th gen for a driver. They are very nice around town vehicles. You will find they lack in ground clearance compared to a 3rd gen (stock for stock, lifted for lifted) and are a little big for some of the tighter trails. But on the road, they are just like a nicely-powered mini van. If that's what you're going for.

FYI, the GX470 is actually known as the 120-series Land Cruiser in Europe and Asia. Or a Prado in Latin America, not a 4runner. Although the mechanicals are nearly identical

 

[nevada]

After driving this 4th gen (2005, V8, LTD, 4WD) I have to say I am impressed. I went through the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. No wrecks, no issues other than the X-REAS system and a few paint scratches. I even found the original invoice from Toyota at it sold for $41K in 2005. It has all the service records, manuals, etc. I am somewhat concerned by the sheer weight of this model T4R. It tops out at over 6000 lbs. You can "feel" the weight difference as compared to our 3rd Gens.

As I have put a lot into my 3rd gen and as I have been OCD on maintaining it (I keep track of every single thing I have done to it since I bought it along with receipts) I am reluctant to sell it. However, one poster suggested selling it and putting that $$$ towards the 4th gen. Hell, i just put four new Michelin ATX LT2 tires on my baby a few months ago and they still look like new. The last set I had, I got 80K miles out of them and the only reason I bought new ones was the dry-rot cracks. They had an easy 10-20K miles worth of tread still on them.

im curious, where did you get that number?

wiki shows it at 4280. and I think I had read it elsewhere at 4400.
either way, that is a long ways from 6k.

The one thing I would check on that V8 with 150k is for a manifold exhaust leak. If you hear a ticking sound upon start up and for the first 5 min or driving, it probably has a leak. That's the only thing with the V* I have noticed on mine that drives me crazy and is expensive to fix.

Otherwise, game on!

mine does this. has been for a while now. so far, im not concerned.

 

[JayRolla]

The one thing I would check on that V8 with 150k is for a manifold exhaust leak. If you hear a ticking sound upon start up and for the first 5 min or driving, it probably has a leak. That's the only thing with the V* I have noticed on mine that drives me crazy and is expensive to fix.

Otherwise, game on!

How is it expensive. Gaskets are cheap. Does the manifolds crack?

 

[nevada]

How is it expensive. Gaskets are cheap. Does the manifolds crack?

yes, its the manifold. which, is also the cat converter. so replacement gets expensive.
also, its a pretty tight fit, I imagine the labor wouldn't be cheap either.