Thinking of getting a 4runner. few questions

[jmichael99]

the 03/04 years are in my price range (under 9k)

The sr5 seems to have a lot of plastic on the outside, which I'm not a fan of. Is this removable?

v6 vs v8. which is more reliable? and realistic mpg for each? ill be mostly on interstates

is cruise control standard?

anything i need to check out thats out of the ordinary when looking at these trucks?

 

[philskeeter]

the 03/04 years are in my price range (under 9k)

The sr5 seems to have a lot of plastic on the outside, which I'm not a fan of. Is this removable?

v6 vs v8. which is more reliable? and realistic mpg for each? ill be mostly on interstates

is cruise control standard?

anything i need to check out thats out of the ordinary when looking at these trucks?

The plastic you speak of is referred to as cladding and that was an option for the 03' body style. between the v6 and v8 they are both great motors but the v6 has a known possible head gasket problem in those early years. So if you get one and the head gasket never messes up on you then they are equally reliable. I have an 06 v6 and average around 19-20 through the city and some highway. Pretty sure cruise control is standard. The 03/04 also are known for the material covering the dash the crack a lot. not sure if the cladding is replaceable but I know it's removable. I don't know how the cladding shapes up next to painted fenders.

 

[jmichael99]

The plastic you speak of is referred to as cladding and that was an option for the 03' body style. between the v6 and v8 they are both great motors but the v6 has a known possible head gasket problem in those early years. So if you get one and the head gasket never messes up on you then they are equally reliable. I have an 06 v6 and average around 19-20 through the city and some highway. Pretty sure cruise control is standard. The 03/04 also are known for the material covering the dash the crack a lot. not sure if the cladding is replaceable but I know it's removable. I don't know how the cladding shapes up next to painted fenders.

if the cladding is removable does it leave any holes? I know the paint will be slightly mismatched but a detail shop could probably fix that easily

 

[philskeeter]

if the cladding is removable does it leave any holes? I know the paint will be slightly mismatched but a detail shop could probably fix that easily

I've seen pictures of other members that have lost a fender and there were some holes leftover. I guess you could get a quote to see what it would cost but I think it would make the 4r width look very odd.

 

[MarkinWMich]

The fact that there is this very active forum specific to not only 4Runners, but different generations of 4Runners, should say something about the vehicles, themselves. If they were pieces of #%^* then neither of us would be here in the forum.

I bought my '06 back in '08 with 40K on it. It has 130K on it and still drives like new. I live in the "rust belt" where most vehicles get eaten up. I literally have "0" body rust...in part, thanks to all that plastic. It is my daily driver, it has been in the deserts of Arizona, in dry river beds in Utah, on the sand dunes in Westerm Michigan, and in Winter, it often is the only vehicle that can get in and out of the neighborhood when "Mother Nature" dumps and drifts 3ft of snow on the road.

Look around, I think you'll routinely find 20+ year old Toyota 4Runners, FJ-series, trucks, etc. still going strong. Mine still looks new, drives new, has long been paid for, and I have no intention of letting it go anytime soon. From what myself and others have seen, the 1st 100K is just the "break in" period.