Talk me into a 4th gen

C

Clemson

New member
I'm new to 4runners. I have been crazy about the 3rd gens since I was a teenager. Between commutes and school, it never made sense to get out of a small sedan.

Now I need a new vehicle and fairly quick. I have been looking for a clean 3rd gen for a few months. They are HARD to find.

I know the 4th gen is probably better for me in every regard. I don't off-road. I will be pulling a small Jon boat (16 ft). The vehicle will be a daily driver. I don't work on my own vehicles beyond oil changes. My criteria seems to scream 4th gen.

Anybody else struggle to get over the allure of the 3rd gen, but ultimately make the switch?
 
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Good luck finding a good one used quickly. Took me almost 8 months. Got to plan for it or get extremely lucky.


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It took me almost a year to find my 2004 v8 limited. It wasn't even in the best condition but it was the best that I found. The toyota tax is strong with the 4th gens as well.

I think you will have better luck finding a GX470 but the word is out on those too. I have seen mallcrawled gx470s with full history advertised for over 20k CAD.

I wanted a 3rd gen at first but finding a cherry 99-00 limited was harder than finding Jimmy Hoffa's body. All I found was clapped out limiteds being advertised at a price that makes you want to slap the seller. So crappy availability, stupid high prices and being disappointed that the good ones sold under 24 hours steered me towards the 4th gen.

There is also things like somewhat underpowered engine, small gas tank, climate control failures, and lower ball joint failure is what made me consider the 4th gen.

Good luck on your search.
 
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"The Toyota Tax is Strong"
That is the best description I have ever heard.

Is rust as bad in the 4ths? That has been the deal breaker for me on multiple 3rd gens.
 
Clemson said:
"The Toyota Tax is Strong"
That is the best description I have ever heard.

Is rust as bad in the 4ths? That has been the deal breaker for me on multiple 3rd gens.
Click to expand...

No worse than any other vehicle in the East Coast... though there is a guy on the T120 forums trying to start a class action lawsuit because his 4th gen rusted up in NY of all places...
 
Clemson said:
"The Toyota Tax is Strong"
That is the best description I have ever heard.

Is rust as bad in the 4ths? That has been the deal breaker for me on multiple 3rd gens.
Click to expand...

The rust may no be as bad as the 3rd gens, but its more of a question of "how much rust are you willing to accept"

My truck came from the north-east. It was sprayed by Ziebart, but the PO stopped doing it a few years before I bought the truck. It had some surface rust but the frame was solid. So i took it to zeibart, had them do a rust conversion and then they sprayed it again.

It should last me for the amount of time I plan to own the truck, which is 4 years. After that I should be in a position to buy a LX570, or perhaps a 5th gen.
 
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I think for your use you'll be very happy with a 4th gen. Other than the classic looks of the 3rd, and the slightly smaller size and better ground clearance for off-roading, the 4th is pretty much superior to the 3rd in every other way as a DD and people hauler. More room, better performance, more comfortable, more amenitities.

Finding a good one at a reasonable price is another matter. Keep your eye peeled every day and be ready to move fast. Around here the good ones last about 3 days on the dealer lots.
 
I have a 3rd and 4th gen and really like them both. I really like my 4th gen, but my wife has pretty much claimed that one so I found a 96 5spd 3rd gen and the more I drive it the more I like it. The 4th gen is more comfortable and has more room plus more power and a V8 option. Still the 3rd gens are awesome
 
I have or have had 2-2nd Gens, 1 3rd Gen, 1 5th Gen. Get a 3rd gen...4th is when all the BS Bling Bling electronic more to go wrong worthless junk started to get piled on. Good ones of any generation are not easy to find, but they are available.
 
The 4th Gen feels more "grown up" than the 3rd gen, with it's larger and more economically managed interior volume [compared to the 3rd gen]. The seats are significantly nicer (atleast for me), and the fact you can get a V8 is like Christmas every day.

I would not want to go back to a 3rd gen, especially not an auto-box 3rd gen.

Downsides to a 4th gen is that it is slightly bigger dimensionally, more complex sub-systems on board (to go wrong, yes, but rarely do), and I've found its sophistication means I feel a certain responsibility to ensure it stays "nice"; no dents/scratches, etc.
 
Eventually, I think I will have one of each. I'm young and have a few speeding tickets, so insurance is TERRIBLE.

I think a 4th gen makes the most sense for me. I work at an office and I think the 4th would be nicer for the days I drive the group out for lunch. I feel like everyday there are less 3rd gens...I just want to grab one before they become impossible to find...

What is a realistic budget for a clean 4th? What years would you suggest? I would like to avoid the XREAS system.
 
i would personally look for 06-09 and would probably expect to spend 17,500 for one with reasonable miles, maybe a little more.
 
Clemson said:
Eventually, I think I will have one of each. I'm young and have a few speeding tickets, so insurance is TERRIBLE.

I think a 4th gen makes the most sense for me. I work at an office and I think the 4th would be nicer for the days I drive the group out for lunch. I feel like everyday there are less 3rd gens...I just want to grab one before they become impossible to find...

What is a realistic budget for a clean 4th? What years would you suggest? I would like to avoid the XREAS system.
Click to expand...

What is your budget?
Where are you located?
Do you have a preference between v6 and v8?
sr5 or limited?

My budget was 10k CAD, I paid 11k CAD out the door. I factored 5K for maintenance and upgrades. I always do this with used vehicles. set aside a budget of half of what you paid to put into a used vehicles.

I didnt mind XREAS because you can just rip it out and go conventional shocks. You can use that as a bargaining chip because most high mileage 4th gens with original XREAS means that its most likely shot. Alot of people sell their 4runners when XREAS go and they get sticker shock from the dealership to fix.

I changed out XREAS with bilsteins 5100 front/4600 rear (wanted to keep RAS) for 800 CAD all in.

If you get airbags you can convert them to coils. Some people will sell their 4runners with non-functioning airbags. You can use that to negotiate the price down a bit, then convert to coils. RAS is a nice feature and I plan to keep mine since I don't intend to do a lift.

I got the V8 because its fun as hell and they don't make v8 4runners anymore. factor in timing belt change as well.

I think its worth it to get the limited. its a nice trim.

Also consider the GX470, most will be better maintained and mall crawled. Avoid the ones with navi and if you can get over the back door, its a fine vehicle.
 
I too was into the 3rd gen for quite some time. After test driving one I wasn't impressed. The seller was a private seller. Yea it had the mileage and the price was up there too and would not negotiate the price down because of "bath mat floor mats, great in snow". Long story short I disliked the 4th gen at first then I came around and test drove 2 of the 4th gens. One was a SR5 V6 part time 4WD and the other was a Sport Edition(SR5) V8 full time 4WD. Bought the V8 Sport edition with XREAS suspension. Mileage was 96k sticker price from CarMax $18,999, paid 22k out the door which included extended warranty. So far I've had it for 8months and here are my issues: original battery died, rear window shattered due to the faulty connectors and too much current at one time and just recently the alternator went out. With the extended warranty and my auto insurance I have only have paid $50 to get the alternator replaced, $50 for the window replacement, CarMax replaced the rear deforest wiring harness for free. The battery was a new extra battery laying around in the garage so idk how much it was lol
Phew... long story short huh? lol
Overall though great truck.

T4R SE V8 4WD SM


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I would just keep a lookout for both generations. It is easy since all you have to do is type '4runner' in the CL search. That is what i was doing while looking for another 3rd gen 4runner. This way you can get which ever rig you think feels right for the price and condition. When i found my 4th gen on facebook marketplace i was not really looking for a 4th gen but the price seemed right. Ended up picking up mine for 5600 as she had a little bit of rust on it. That was cheaper then other 3rd gens i was looking at. Just wait for the right deal and the rig you feel good about.

As others have said the 3rd gen is amazing expecally with the 5speed (details about mine in sig) but the 4th gen has the edge on comfort and space. Perfect second rig for my family as we have a one year old and the extra space and 'luxury' is welcomed. The v8 power is also faster then my charged 3rd gen or atleast feels so. I actually like the 4th gen for the wider stance as it makes it a more stable platform for a higher speed forest road runs. Best of luxk on your hunt .
 
Test drive them both, see what you like. I test drove a 3rd gen and the interior seemed cramped and outdated compared to what I was used to. I drove a 4th gen, and the interior and V8 had me hooked. The 3rd gens are like half the cost, but you can get a 4th gen with lower miles.
 
Inv4drZm said:
Test drive them both, see what you like. I test drove a 3rd gen and the interior seemed cramped and outdated compared to what I was used to. I drove a 4th gen, and the interior and V8 had me hooked. The 3rd gens are like half the cost, but you can get a 4th gen with lower miles.
Click to expand...

^^^ Totally agree
 
Inv4drZm said:
Test drive them both, see what you like. I test drove a 3rd gen and the interior seemed cramped and outdated compared to what I was used to. I drove a 4th gen, and the interior and V8 had me hooked. The 3rd gens are like half the cost, but you can get a 4th gen with lower miles.
Click to expand...

I too will quote this and comment that that's your best bet to decide.

I drove my 3rd gen for years and years and years... then drove a 4th gen... and it felt like a very planted 3rd gen that had a boatload more power. The response from the chassis, the steering feel, the handling, all felt very much the same. However, she's a smidge bigger and certainly feels it. That and a herd of horses under the hood ready to stampede when you push the pedal. Quite a change from the relaxed V6 5VZ

The ergonomics of the driver's layout is still similar to the 3rd gen with all the controls in the same spot moreless.

I would say the 3rd gen is classic Toyota tough: hardy, rugged, simple, effective, and gorgeous. She's all you need in a truck, and few things you don't. The 5VZ-FE is a wonderful motor, lots of torque and decent enough power to get around. They're not overly expensive to own or fix, and not too much to go wrong... plenty of aftermarket parts made by reputable shops for upgrades, and everything else is still available at Toyota.

the 4th gen is most of the above but more pricey to fix (generally speaking), a smidge bit bigger... but a tad more sophisticated, so much so it's hard to see one banged up and not feel bad.

The 3rd gen trucks wear dents like a badge of honour... a reminder that they've been down the trail and around life. We all have scars to show we lived a little.
 
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