Upgrade from 3rd gen to 4th?

[CZ Eddie]

I've got a '99 2WD Limited 4Runner and have had it for ~100k miles and closing in on ten years. It has 150K miles on it now. I absolutely still love it, but a detailer killed the paint job which is now all sun scorched/faded though. Yeah, he power buffed the clear coat right off I guess.

I'm thinking of selling it and buying a 4th gen sometime this year.
Have any of you done this upgrade?
What did you like or not like about the upgrade?

Should I just try to find another 3rd gen with super low miles and in mint condition? Or is the 4th gen an exceptional upgrade?

 

[JB40]

I've got a '99 2WD Limited 4Runner and have had it for ~100k miles and closing in on ten years. It has 150K miles on it now. I absolutely still love it, but a detailer killed the paint job which is now all sun scorched/faded though. Yeah, he power buffed the clear coat right off I guess.

I'm thinking of selling it and buying a 4th gen sometime this year.
Have any of you done this upgrade?
What did you like or not like about the upgrade?

Should I just try to find another 3rd gen with super low miles and in mint condition? Or is the 4th gen an exceptional upgrade?

If you love it, keep it and paint it? I've never owned a 3rd Gen, but I worked at Toyota and loved them, and have driven one lately and liked it a bunch too. If it were 4WD I would definitely say keep it and paint it.

Let me ask you, do you have kids or plan to have them? If the answer is yes, get a 4th gen. The safety improvements should be worth the "upgrade". :thumb:

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

I've got a '99 2WD Limited 4Runner and have had it for ~100k miles and closing in on ten years. It has 150K miles on it now. I absolutely still love it, but a detailer killed the paint job which is now all sun scorched/faded though. Yeah, he power buffed the clear coat right off I guess.

I'm thinking of selling it and buying a 4th gen sometime this year.
Have any of you done this upgrade?
What did you like or not like about the upgrade?

Should I just try to find another 3rd gen with super low miles and in mint condition? Or is the 4th gen an exceptional upgrade?

I would go back to your detailed and show him what happened. Those guys have insurance for things like that. May be able to get a new paint job.
I love my 4th gen and think it's a great truck

 

[CZ Eddie]

Thanks, guys.
No kids. Just a 60+lbs dog and a Mother with Parkinsons who I take care of.
If it weren't for my dog, I'd actually consider a smaller vehicle.
But he likes roaming the back cabin area and poking his head out the rear hatch window that rolls down. And he gets to do that despite a subwoofer out back, because the hatch is so large.

Is it true then, that all 4th gen 4Runners have the electric sliding rear hatch window? Can't live without that! My dog would be really upset. hahah

Btw, holy moly the 4th gen's are holding some $$$ value. They're all kind of expensive.
Hope that means good things for getting a return on my 3rd gen that is long since paid off.

 

[CZ Eddie]

Btw, what's the largest size tablet that will fit in the stock car stereo area?
Anything larger than a 7" Google Nexus I hope?

 

[JLRSR5]

I had a 99' 4wd 4runner. My first vehicle. I owned it for 8 yrs. Absolutely loved it and currently miss it. I sold it in Oct. and bought a 07' 4wd Sport 4runner V6. Here are my thoughts:

I wanted a 3rd gen again. I tried looking and just couldn't find one to suit my tastes close enough so ended up getting a 4th gen. My 4th gen is great. The positives of the 4th gen from my experience are the power upgrade. The v6 in the 4th gen is a lot better than my 99'. The handling is better, and I like the interior a lot more, but do miss the simplicity of the 3rd gen. The things about the 3rd gen I miss is the larger ground clearance stock to stock, the seats. For some reason I think the seats in my 3rd gen were 10x more comfortable than the ones in my 4th gen. I also miss the looks of the 3rd gen. I like the looks of the 4th gen, but like I said earlier the 3rd gen IMO looks more rugged and just better.

So I guess I didn't help your decision But I would just look for whichever fits your budget and comes available. There are great advantages to owning either one.

 

[preacher35]

My older sister had a '99 which I drove several times. I currently own a 2005 and here are my thoughts:

- Both vehicles are insanely reliable
- the 3rd gen's stock ground clearance beats the piss out of the 4th gens
- the 4th gen's power and handling beat the piss out of the 3rd gen's
- 3rd gen's interior looks dated whereas, the 4rth gens, IMHO, still looks
contemporary (especially when compared to the 5th gen)
- the seats, I felt, were comparable... almost identical in comfort.
- as far as safety is concerned, the 4th gen beats the 3rd.
- 4th gen V6 has a timing chain vs. belt on 3rd gen.
- aftermarket support seems to be pretty even on both gens.

Still, I know what it's like to favor a particular "gen". I can't stand the look of the 5th gen, whereas, I know several "5th geners" that despise the 4th.

 

[JB40]

Thanks, guys.
No kids. Just a 60+lbs dog and a Mother with Parkinsons who I take care of.
If it weren't for my dog, I'd actually consider a smaller vehicle.
But he likes roaming the back cabin area and poking his head out the rear hatch window that rolls down. And he gets to do that despite a subwoofer out back, because the hatch is so large.

Is it true then, that all 4th gen 4Runners have the electric sliding rear hatch window? Can't live without that! My dog would be really upset. hahah

Btw, holy moly the 4th gen's are holding some $$$ value. They're all kind of expensive.
Hope that means good things for getting a return on my 3rd gen that is long since paid off.

It is true that they have the roll down back window.

And it is also true they are holding their value. I've seen 3rd gens locally for $5500. You can barely find a 4th gen within 7 grand of that, so you will definitely be better off painting yours.