Thoughts on getting a second 4runner

[repo]

Well the stars aligned and I got a high miles 2011 SR5 4x4 White... exactly the same as my 99. Got it for $13,700 from a Toyota dealer. Just got traded-in and the sales manager let slip it was his first day at this place so I guess he wanted his first sale because I worked them down to basically wholesale. Still not sure how I feel on the 5th gen yet.

The good:

• I got a pretty nice 5th gen for 13,7 with what I pray is a good motor.
• Has a history of regular synthetic oil changes.

The bad:

• They had covered a huge rock chip in the windshield with a sticker which I ddidn't notice. And I thought the windshield was just dirty but it is completely sandblasted with tiny rock chips. It's the original Toyota window, the Chinese replacement one on my 99 held up way better than this?? Went through 2 cracked Toyota windshields on the 99.
• It has a timing cover leak and valve cover leak I can live with for a while. When I the have time I'll dig in and do all those together with some PM. Valve covers, PCV, spark plugs, timing chain, pulleys, water pump, etc.
• I noticed an annoying whine that sounds like it's a hybrid or something, like an electric motor. Didn't notice on the test drive but they changed the oil before I picked it up and I read the oil filter can cause this on the 4.0. I've heard it before on other Toyotas and will hopefully go away when I do timing chain and all that.
• Someone used power steering fluid instead of dexron.

The ugly:

• Once I got underneath it at home it has more rust than I thought but not too bad for this area. But need to take care of it.
• The radiator was replaced when someone did an overhaul at 100k but it's not OEM, the cap says "TVS". Dunno if it matters.
• It's really quite sluggish.
• It drives like a refrigerator and looks like a minivan on its first steroids cycle.

 

[brillo_76]

Well the stars aligned and I got a high miles 2011 SR5 4x4 White... exactly the same as my 99. Got it for $13,700 from a Toyota dealer. Just got traded-in and the sales manager let slip it was his first day at this place so I guess he wanted his first sale because I worked them down to basically wholesale. Still not sure how I feel on the 5th gen yet.



The good:

• I got a pretty nice 5th gen for 13,7 with what I pray is a good motor.
  
• Has a history of regular synthetic oil changes.
  

The bad:

• They had covered a huge rock chip in the windshield with a sticker which I ddidn't notice. And I thought the windshield was just dirty but it is completely sandblasted with tiny rock chips. It's the original Toyota window, the Chinese replacement one on my 99 held up way better than this?? Went through 2 cracked Toyota windshields on the 99.
  
• It has a timing cover leak and valve cover leak I can live with for a while. When I the have time I'll dig in and do all those together with some PM. Valve covers, PCV, spark plugs, timing chain, pulleys, water pump, etc.
  
• I noticed an annoying whine that sounds like it's a hybrid or something, like an electric motor. Didn't notice on the test drive but they changed the oil before I picked it up and I read the oil filter can cause this on the 4.0. I've heard it before on other Toyotas and will hopefully go away when I do timing chain and all that.
  
• Someone used power steering fluid instead of dexron.
  

The ugly:

• Once I got underneath it at home it has more rust than I thought but not too bad for this area. But need to take care of it.
  
• The radiator was replaced when someone did an overhaul at 100k but it's not OEM, the cap says "TVS". Dunno if it matters.
  
• It's really quite sluggish.
  
• It drives like a refrigerator and looks like a minivan on its first steroids cycle.
  

Nice addition to your fleet. I hope its exactly what you were after. :] Once you get some TLC in, hopefully all will go smooth with it

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

 

[suncoug]

Sounds like a great deal. Congrats!

 

[repo]

Just an update after having this for a bit. I'm quite impressed with how solid these are and how well it has held up because it wasn't babied from the looks of things, pulled about 20 lbs of soil, rocks, twigs and stuff from the undercarriage. I'm having a hard time to find stuff to work on. Oil changes at 10k, spark plugs at 120,000... not that much to do. The interior has held up extremely well too, much better than a 4th gen, dare I say better than a 3rd gen with as many miles. Sounds like a fan behind the radio is making a noise, that's about it. It's also really easy to work on, everything is bigger and better thought out... Japanese kaizen at work.

The valve covers "seep" and something happened at some point around the timing chain inspection cover, but it's not dripping, another "seep". Hopefully it's just the inspection cover and not the timing cover although it would be kind of fun digging that far in are learning this vehicle.

The outer tie rods and lower ball joints look original and are another thing seeping. The LBJ are pressed in to the LCA but you can buy a boot kit so I'll do that soon.

Starting to appreciate how quiet it is to drive, feels like driving a tank. I'd say it's a worthy successor and it will be a lot of fun in a few more years when 5th gen prices get to quasi beater status especially with all these TRDs. These really do seem to hold up well.

 

[repo]

Yep I'm familiar with Toyotechs :thumb: we are super lucky to have such a place. The owner drives a 4th gen and graciously humors my fanboy ramblings about 3rd gens and I always see 2 or 3 4runners being worked on when I'm there. Gonna have them weld up the eimkeith PCK bracket at some point.

I keep an eye on craigslist and stuff and 3rd gens seem to come in bursts, I'll see 3 or 4 really nice sport editions or 2000s with the e-locker, then nothing months. Spring time is probably better.

Actually I totally forgot about this while I was looking but Adventure Motors down in KC always has some good ones All vehicles for sale in Lee's Summit, Missouri | all

Aloha from sunny Omaha as well - I've had two 3rd gens for quite a few years now. I haven't looked for one for a while but can usually find one when I do. I'll keep an eye out for ya. There's certainly still a lot of them driving around here. My favorite part about the 3rd gens is having no car payments! Also, if you don't know, there's an awesome Toyota specialist shop called Toyotechs, Inc. over on 102nd and J street that we use for bigger maintainence issues. Just in case you can find one that needs a little love that you don't want to deal with. I'm willing to bet you can track one down around here if you keep at it.

 

[wcjeep]

Did your 2011 come with a manual transfer case? Not sure about 2011, on our 5th gens I programmed the computer with Carista. Turned off seat belt buzzer. Changed a few other odds and ends. I bought the one week license. Used it on various friends and family Toyotas.