What to look for when buying a 3rd Gen??

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cymeryss

New member
Hi everybody,

I am new to the board, and I am here since I have finally decided to purchase a 4runner. It might take a while, since I am looking for a 96-00 model with 5 speed, V6, under 70K combo (preferably with a diff-locker).

What I need is advice on what to look for when buying a 3rd gen 4runner. I have never owned a 4WD vehicle so also any tips on checking this capability, and any other tips that can show any problems during a test run.

There seems to be lots of good technical discussion on this board so I am hoping for some knowlegable advice.....THANKS.
 
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cymeryss said:
Hi everybody,

I am new to the board, and I am here since I have finally decided to purchase a 4runner. It might take a while, since I am looking for a 96-00 model with 5 speed, V6, under 70K combo (preferably with a diff-locker).

What I need is advice on what to look for when buying a 3rd gen 4runner. I have never owned a 4WD vehicle so also any tips on checking this capability, and any other tips that can show any problems during a test run.

There seems to be lots of good technical discussion on this board so I am hoping for some knowlegable advice.....THANKS.
Click to expand...

It seems like you already know the goodies you want, including the e-locker. From what I've read, get the model you really want so you don't have to add/change items in the future.

Make sure that you get good maintenance records. If you can find what you're looking for, it won't be cheap. 70k is pretty low, especially when you get down to 96 models but is doable.

Others that did not buy the limited or sport versions regret it and end up making their truck look like a limited or sport. This is what I've been doing.

Understand the changes made between the '96 - '98 models and then from '99 to '02. A newer model has all the goodies that people swap for such as new headlights (99+), new tail lights (01+), new front bumper (99+), sport limited flares are bigger on 01+, cladding comes on all limiteds, some like the star-style wheels that came on some SR5 models but mostly on sports, and last but not least, the "ricer" sport hood that everyone seems to want.
 
Good luck on the search... I took me quite a long time to find mine, I set out with the same criteria you have. They are rare but they are out there.

I think you have the two main things to look for when buying a 3rd Gen... the 5-Speed and the Rear Locker :D

Shameless plug for my rig:
Interior.jpg~original

blacktuskad.jpg~original


Let us know how your hunt turns out :D
 
Thanks for all the input

Thank you for great input and links which were very helpfull. As I am looking around, it seems like this will not be an easy find, especially if I don't want to drive/fly across U.S. to pick up the car.

I have gathered bunch of sites with classifieds (cars.com, autotrader.com, autoweb.com, craigslist.com) but it looks like I am in waiting mode until something pops up.

Again, thanks for the info, and I will update you all on how things are going.
 
Got it!!!

Man, I am so happy, and it its only been a coule of weeks since I have started my seach. So here is the info (pics yet to come)

1999 4x4,manual, V6, with locker, 63000 miles !!!

It'sexactly what I wanted. Don't know if I paid too much or what but without taxes and registration I paid $14300. The only negative is that is that I had to fly 850 miles to pick it up and then drive back.

Car seems to be driving well, got home. The cluch seems failry hard, is that fairly normal, and also to start it really has to be depressed all the way down.

Again, thank you for all the input.
 
congrats man, youll be that much happier that you waited it out to get what you wanted, me, i wish i had done black on leather :bash: anyways, get some pics up
 
With under 70k on it you got a deal. I paid just under $14k for mine 14 months ago and it had 95k on it but it did have new bigger tires,a Yakima rack and prewired for a nice system plus the previous owner retinted all the windows.
 
Wow that is a great find, i bought my 4runner about 4 months ago, black 99 4x4, and paid about the same price with 87k miles.

and i love it!
i get through things with ease, that my friends in their tahoes have trouble with
 
I purchased my 4Runner not knowing what options it had. All I knew was that it was a Limited and it had leather. After test driving it and doingmore research, found out my 4Runner Limited was fully loaded with the rear lockers, which also I had no idea about.
 
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