Which Generation is Better

[creativeman313]

Which generation 4runner do you think is the best, 3rd or 4th? I like the 3rd gen better- they look better and don't seem to have as much plastic. They also seem more rugged than the 4th gen ones. The 4th almost seem more family and street suv/van to me. Are the 4th gen ones still as good off road and in performance? I haven't driven either one..

 

[Thai]

Which generation 4runner do you think is the best, 3rd or 4th? I like the 3rd gen better- they look better and don't seem to have as much plastic. They also seem more rugged than the 4th gen ones. The 4th almost seem more family and street suv/van to me. Are the 4th gen ones still as good off road and in performance? I haven't driven either one..

You need to drive a 4th gen to make a fair comparison.

BTW, i am moving this thread to GENERAL because your question crosses generations.

 

[3rdgengrog]

i agree with you creativeman313, they do have a 'Soccer Mom' quality to them, except fosheezys, but, im jealous that the 4th gens have a V8 and some other cool options. . i like that the 1st gens have the removeable roof and the R-22 engine(undestructable). they all have great features, just depends on what you like.

 

[Matt Starr]

Which generation 4runner do you think is the best, 3rd or 4th? I like the 3rd gen better- they look better and don't seem to have as much plastic. They also seem more rugged than the 4th gen ones. The 4th almost seem more family and street suv/van to me. Are the 4th gen ones still as good off road and in performance? I haven't driven either one..

I completely agree with the 4th gens have "more plastic" statement. The 4th gens just look poorly put together on the exterior compared to the 3rd gens. But when it come to performance id have to say 4th gen all the way. That 3.4L is a beefy engine but it doesnt even compare to the 4.7L V8 or even the 4.0L V6. I would say the 3.4 has more potential but in its stock form its no competition. The 4th gens deffinately dont feel like a soccermobile when youre behind the wheel of it. But all in all I deffinately would have to say I like the 3rd gens better. IMO the difference between 4th gens and 3rd gens is like the difference between an early 90's Ford and an early 90's Lexus. Like I said the 4th gens dont look very well put together.

 

[K.C.]

I have a 4th Generation...so I can give you unbias opinion.

I too think the 3rd Generation is more rugged & more off-road worthy.

Just like in the motorcycle forums where they say Suzuki(s) are for guys that like to ride & Yamaha(s) are for pretty boys.

I kinda think the same for 4Runners too...because more people mod their 3rd Generation compare to 4th Generation owners.

Josh, ... you're the exception, because you have an addiction for modding & off-roading. :awais:

 

[spongerx]

:iagree:

My roommate had a 4th gen and she would let me drive it a lot. Those things have some serious power for an SUV. I remember coming upon a light turning yellow and thinking that I'd just put my foot down and see what happens.... craziness. The engine is a real beast and I would love that kind of power in my 3rd gen. But they are a little... dare I say... unattractive. I'll put it that way. IMO the 3rd gens just look better. I love toyotas and hope that the 5th gen is a totally different looking than the 4th gen cause I want to keep owning one. But honestly, I wouldn't get a 4th gen just based on looks... but thats just me: I have seen some pretty cool looking 4th gens on this forum though :bigok:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Power is the biggie that I give the nod to the 4th gens but that's really the only thing missing from my 3rd gen.

The traction control systems added in '01 seem to draw alot of people's ire so I don't think I'm missing anything there.

I bought my 4Runner specifically as a DD that I could take pretty far off road with minimal mods but if I had to do alot of driving on the street or long distance trips I'd prefer the power and cushy interior and ride of the 4th gen but the 3rd gen IMO still seems to have a little more personality in it's design and it's smaller size makes it easier to take on rugged trails in stock trim.

 

[cdoyle]

I've had a 91 and now an 04.

I do like the looks of the 3rd gen exteriors, they do have a more rugged looks to them.

But ioverall I would say the 4th Gens are better.

Not sure why people are complaining about the interior on the 4th Gens. I think my Limited's interior is way nicer looking then the 3rd gen I had.

There are things I wish I could change in the 4th gen (HVAC system just doesn't work right), but overall that V8 just makes it so much better.

 

[EH007]

I always liked the look of the 3rd gen 4Runner, but after owning the 4th gen, I could never even consider a 3rd gen. Besides the obvious lack of power in the 3rd gen (relative to the 4th gen), the things just don't have anywhere near the same ride quality as the 4th gen. They just feel old to me. I like the refinement of the 4th gen which feels as solid as a vault, yet smooth as glass. But hey, that's just me. Someone with an old Jeep Wrangler would probably feel the same way when he gets behind the wheel of a 3rd gen for the first time.

 

[trey99ek]

I have a 4th gen, my buddy has a 3rd gen. We both agree on the 4th gen. He has offered to trade several times. Ride is better and it has more power. Both v6 sport models.

 

[Thai]

Besides the above point, if you have a family, then the 4th gen is definitely better in terms of room and safety. 4th gens are significantly safer...better crash testing scores, more airbags, and a stronger frame.

Now, if you are talking about a 2009 4runner Trail Edition, then i would give the edge to the 4th gen over any 3rd gen off-road. The Trail Edition is better on-road and off-road. The only edge that the 3rd gen has over the TE is size. But, then again, the 4th gen 4runner is not all that big either when you compare to other SUVs...it is just that the 3rd gen was so damn narrow (for good or bad)! The combination of the super A-TRAC (not avail on regular 4th gens) and rear locker is pretty nice.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I don't have any personal experience with ATRAC but alot of 3rd and 4th gen owners complain about it than brag about it.

Why? Are there issues with it interfering too much with a driver who knows what they are doing? Is Super ATRAC better and maybe a tad less instrusive?

The TE 4th gen finally gives the off road crowd something to really use and was something Toyota should've done a long time ago but I have a feeling the 4th gens might be the last of the off-the-showroom off roaders since I think the 5th gens will be a soft-roader class truck.

 

[Trdsupranick]

For those that think 4 gens are not as rugged as 3rd gens I disagree!!!

You need to browse this forum a bit. 3rd gens are cool but......look up promed, brett682 and a bunch more!

 

[Thai]

I don't have any personal experience with ATRAC but alot of 3rd and 4th gen owners complain about it than brag about it.

Why? Are there issues with it interfering too much with a driver who knows what they are doing? Is Super ATRAC better and maybe a tad less instrusive?

Like lockers, super A-TRAC does something that no driver can do on his own. How can you pulsate the brakes on the front axle alone if you did not have A-TRAC??? In the rear, you can semi do this by slowly engaging your handbrake (old style "LSD")...but the front?? I can't see it happening.

Super ATRAC is very aggressive off-road...it will pulsate the brakes aggressive enough to halt a spinning wheel...to allow transfer of power to the other wheel on the same axle. Is it as good as a locker? No, but it sure beats an open diff. It is an off-road tool...thus, can only be turned on in 4-LO. On the FJ forum, many people love super A-TRAC. Unlike a locker, super ATRAC allows you to turn your steering wheel.

So, the '09 4runner TE has your rear locker that you love so much, RonM...AND it has super ATRAC controlling the front axle. They work together to provide traction near the level of a fully-locked vehicle. This combination is superior to your '99 4runner setup in almost any off-road condition you can imagine. And the nice thing is that you CAN turn OFF super A-TRAC if you don't want it. BTW, in the '09 4runner TE, you can also turn ON super ATRAC and leave your rear locker OFF and have super A-TRAC control ALL 4 wheels (aka less stress on axles)...they work independently of each other also.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I think most mean in simple stock trim the 3rd gens are a little more rugged and trail friendly especially when they still had unpainted flares and front lower valences. 4th gens do have less of an approach angle and departure angles than a 3rd gen but that can be remedied with a slight lift.

4th gens became more street friendly (lower height,XREAS) to reflect the majority of buyers and lost a little bit of the off road traits til Toyota finally added a diff lock (but not as a real option unfortunatly) which is a very useful tool when off road.

I've been off roading with my 3rd gen for over 4 years and I've still yet to see any 4th gens on the trails so they are still a rare sight off road but I know they are out there.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Good info Thai but why do alot of drivers with regular ATRAC seem to dislike the system so much?

Super ATRAC seems like a alot different system but is only available in one model of 4Runner which kinda sucks.

Of course the 4th gens should have much better power and comfort since I don't think Toyota is going backwards in thinking and the overall 3rd gen design is over 13 years old which still does speak well for 3rd gens compared to their competition in the '90s and even into the new millenium.

 

[Thai]

Good info Thai but why do alot of drivers with regular ATRAC seem to dislike the system so much?

I liked it when i had it on my '02 4runner, but it is not as good as a locker. It can impede you in sand and mud where you need momentum. Otherwise, it is better than open diffs.

Super A-TRAC is a more effective off-road implementation of the idea...but because it is super aggressive, it cannot be used on dry land. This is why the regular ATRAC has to be a system for all conditions, not just off-road. As with anything, when you try to be all that you can be, there is some compromises to be made...i think that this was what the engineers faced while designing the system.

 

[Thai]

I've been off roading with my 3rd gen for over 4 years and I've still yet to see any 4th gens on the trails so they are still a rare sight off road but I know they are out there.

Well, i am not sure that you can use this thinking...for example, have you ever seen a G-wagen off-road?? Does that mean that it is not trail worthy?? I have never seen an H1 off-road, but i certainly don't think that it sucks off-road.

I have been off-road and i have never seen a 3rd gen 4runner...what does that mean?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Actually I've seen 3 G-wagens in the same time period.
I guess geographically it also means something since in Colorado you're likely to see Jeeps and Toyotas (mostly 1st gen Runners and trucks) than any other brand of vehicle.


I don't mean it to reflect off road worthiness but it is a fact that 4th gen owners are the least likely group to go off roading but as the 4th gens get a little older I think you'll see more heading off the paved roads.

3rd gens are a little easier to mod and with an available locker in 4 of the 6 years of the generation it's more likely to see the 3rd gens off road. Obviously with the FJ it's aimed at people who will likely take it off road and in the last two years I've seen over 15 FJs share a trail with me.

 

[EH007]

Good info Thai but why do alot of drivers with regular ATRAC seem to dislike the system so much?

.

I love ATRAC. If someone dislikes ATRAC, it's most likely because he really doesn't understand how the system operates and gets frustrated because it isn't working as he thinks it should. But when someone really understand how to drive with ATRAC, it's actually a very good system.