Trading up from 3rd gen!

[CanukRunner]

Greetings all!

I've been a 3rd gen owner for a while now, I have the basic 1998 sr5 v6 3.4 5spd 4x4. no vsc, full time, no gadgets and sadly no diff lock.

I know if I were to buy another 3rd gen it would be a 2001-2002 with the auto and full time 4 wheel drive (best for snow).

The weakness of the third gen was that the front calipers, rotors and lower ball joints were all made out of cheese. And the automatic transmissions turned them selves into pink milkshakes.

What are the 4th gen weaknesses??

Whats the best 4th gen to buy the v6 or the v8?

Would appreciate some quick help as i need to sell mine Sunday and buy something quick.

Thanks!!!

 

[nicolachel]

Greetings!

The front calipers could freeze thus ruin the rotors and pads.
Lower ball joints and transmissions don't seem to be common problems though.

btw.
If you want permanent 4 wheel drive then V8 is the only way to go. However the V6 ones are not part-time 4WD either, they also have center diffs and you can safely leave it in 4Hi during the winter (I know people do that, for snow).

 

[TRDCal]

weakness of the third gen was that the front calipers, rotors and lower ball joints were all made out of cheese.

What are the 4th gen weaknesses??

Whats the best 4th gen to buy the v6 or the v8?

.....made out of cheese hahahaha

As for which is best v6 or v8...that statement is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode into a flame war. It's all opinion based, in the end it depends on what your using it for and what you want out of your vehicle.

Major weaknesses/design flaws thats are fixable: driveshaft thump (grease it) and exhaust smell under hard accel with back window open (side exit exhaust)

Weaknesses/flaws that you have to live with: v8 manifolds ($2500 expense every ten years or so depending on environment etc), frozen calipers (not sure of replacement cost but my 03 has had 3 replaced over the years all before I owned it tho)

The V8 is great for me but if your 3.4 was suitable then I'm sure the V6 will be enough. If Clockwork was here he'd tell you the 1GRFE head gaskets are prone to failure but thats arguable (do a search and your find multiple "discussion")

Off topic, where are you from?

 

[Snesley Wipes]

4th Gen major weakness = V6!....J/K.

I see no weakness regardless. I upgraded from a 2002 limited and couldn't be happier. I LOVED my 2002 but can appreciate the performance and handling improvements in my 2007. I drove the V6 and that is still a big improvement from the 3rd gen.

I have not experienced "frozen caliper" issues or driveshaft issues...yet.

Snes

 

[Mark86]

No major weakness except the driveshaft clunk, seizing calipers, and HVAC climate control lights burning out. As for the V6 vs V8 debate, there are many threads on this topic. To summarize: the V8 is full time 4WD compared to part time with V6, V8 is better for towing, mpg difference is 1-2 less for V8. I opted for the V8 because I love the extra power and the idea of driving a V8 4Runner! Can't go wrong with either.

 

[CanukRunner]

Thanks guys, i also heard your VSC stuff goes on the fritz now and then is that true?

Also, can you run regular fuel as well as super?

I'm in the GTA and from Niagara.

Cheers!

 

[JohnsD90]

Just get an FJ, comes in stick!

 

[Nuke]

I went from a 2nd gen (sold at 205,000 miles to a friend who now has 425,000 on it) to a 3rd gen (sold to a friend at 152,000 miles for a killer deal on a 4th gen) and now a 4th gen with 64,000 miles and runs like new; ALL V6's. Each newer one was more powerful and more refined than the previous. Weakness? Beats me. I've owned 3 other Toyotas and about 8-10 domestics over the years and all were high milegae vehicles. NONE compare to the Toyotas.

If you don't haul, the V6 has more than enough power. I tow a fiberglass bass boat with my V6 regularly and she does great and there are days the V8 would help with hauling but I have no regrets.