Why so affordable? Be honest....

[RonMAIDEN]

4th gens, the bastard child of the 4Runner line. Lol

Just more partial to the 3rd gen and now the 5th gen which seems to have returned the truck like heritage to the 4Runner and now offering a dedicated off road model (I know the 4th gen had one but it was a little late coming to the party) Quality in the 4th gens seemed a bit down vs the 3rd gens and the Darth Vader stying seems to really attract the soccer mom crowd more so than any other gen.
4th gens are still great trucks but did come across as a bit as a soft roader and more of a street friendly truck but if you need towing power the V8 is nice.

 

[H20skier70]

To add to that indecisiveness, Ive got my eye on a 4runner with 144k and some nice mods. It'll be an 8 hour drive to get to it though.....so I want to know what Im in for if I decide to take that adventure.

Wouldn't happen to be this one would it? I have a buddy going to look at it sat. This thing shouldn't last long. I wish this was up for sale when I was looking to buy.

http://detroit.en.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4544705309.html

I too came from a 1st gen taco in November. At first I hated the 4runner in comparison, but now I wouldn't trade it. They are great trucks! But then again, I doubt you'll find anyone HERE that will talk you out of buying one. Lol

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

The 4th gen guys are sensitive, so before they kill you and eat you lemme break it down.

4TH GEN GUYS CLOSE YOUR EYES

The 4th gen is cheaper because of the body style.

There, I said it. The appearance of the 4th gen is inferior to the appearance of the 3rd and 5th gen 4Runners, so they aren't selling as well. The damned things are just ugly. They're like the 2nd gen all over again, just with a bigger motor. It's pitiful.

(ok, 4th gen guys, you can look now)

Sorry, but this is only your opinion, you state it like it is some sort,of fact? I luv the look of,the 4th gen

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

4th gens, the bastard child of the 4Runner line. Lol

Just more partial to the 3rd gen and now the 5th gen which seems to have returned the truck like heritage to the 4Runner and now offering a dedicated off road model (I know the 4th gen had one but it was a little late coming to the party) Quality in the 4th gens seemed a bit down vs the 3rd gens and the Darth Vader stying seems to really attract the soccer mom crowd more so than any other gen.
4th gens are still great trucks but did come across as a bit as a soft roader and more of a street friendly truck but if you need towing power the V8 is nice.

How is the 4th gen less truck like and more road friendly?

 

[NJshadow93]

How is the 4th gen less truck like and more road friendly?

Maybe it's because the 4th gen has a stronger frame and bigger/stronger engines? Oh wait...

Maybe it's the stronger axles and ball joints? Hmm no that's not it either...

I'm stumped.

 

[H20skier70]

Maybe it's because the 4th gen has a stronger frame and bigger/stronger engines? Oh wait...

Maybe it's the stronger axles and ball joints? Hmm no that's not it either...

I'm stumped.

Lol.

 

[Slowgoat]

The 4th gen guys are sensitive, so before they kill you and eat you lemme break it down.

4TH GEN GUYS CLOSE YOUR EYES

The 4th gen is cheaper because of the body style.

There, I said it. The appearance of the 4th gen is inferior to the appearance of the 3rd and 5th gen 4Runners, so they aren't selling as well. The damned things are just ugly. They're like the 2nd gen all over again, just with a bigger motor. It's pitiful.

(ok, 4th gen guys, you can look now)

Sorry, but this is only your opinion, you state it like it is some sort,of fact? I luv the look of,the 4th gen

:lol: Hahaha! I like the 4th gen best hands down.

I used to own a 2nd gen, a 95.

When I used to go up Vail Pass or do the Eisenhower Tunnel going 45 mph uphill, it was a little frustrating. Empty 18 wheelers would pass me. But it would go up and over just about everything in 4x4!!!

Now I go as fast as I want in the left lane of the Interstate, up the steepest, longest grades in the mountains where I live now. And I "just" have the V6. The V8 must really motor. And that old 2nd gen got worse gas mileage with smaller tires than my 4th gen does.

I am constantly impressed with the little details of my 4th gen.

It is just night and day, how much better the 4th gen is.

The 5th gen 4runners look like toasters to me. Not really my cup of tea. The 2014 ones are looking a lot better, but I still like the 4th gen best.


It's all in the eye of the beholder, after all.


I second that the Taco's are super over priced due to high demand.

I never thought about the frame rusting issue. That is a great point!

A buddy of mine lost his that way. Took it in for a service and they told him he couldnt take it off the lot. He siad they were tearing out the frame by the handfull it was so soft and rusty. Scary as hell! He bought a new Taco, and a tree fell on it a few weeks later! Poor dude's cursed!

Damn that Runner in Detriot is priced cheap. That would go for a heck of a lot more around here. They vary across the country, so I've been told by the boys on here!

 

[shoeless]

Wouldn't happen to be this one would it? I have a buddy going to look at it sat. This thing shouldn't last long. I wish this was up for sale when I was looking to buy.

Lifted 2004 Toyota 4runner V8.

I too came from a 1st gen taco in November. At first I hated the 4runner in comparison, but now I wouldn't trade it. They are great trucks! But then again, I doubt you'll find anyone HERE that will talk you out of buying one. Lol

Guess the jig is up.:brick:
Yea, I was interested in that one...of course. Kind of skeptical though and with it being 8 hours away....I didn't expect to get it.

Honestly though, for what I would pay for the 4x4 Dbl Cab Taco, I could get a sub 150k mile 4th gen and have leftover cash for wheels/tires and the armor.

Sounds like Im talking myself into this.....

 

[NJshadow93]

Guess the jig is up.:brick:
Yea, I was interested in that one...of course. Kind of skeptical though and with it being 8 hours away....I didn't expect to get it.

Honestly though, for what I would pay for the 4x4 Dbl Cab Taco, I could get a sub 150k mile 4th gen and have leftover cash for wheels/tires and the armor.

Sounds like Im talking myself into this.....

Before I got my first 4Runner, I was in the same boat. I had my eye on a 2003 4x4 Xtracab Tacoma with the TRD off road package. It was listed for $14k. It was more than I wanted to spend so I looked into 4Runners. The V8 is what convinced me to go test drive one and I'm glad I did. The 2003 4Runner felt light years ahead of the Taco. Much more power, more comfortable, more features, etc. I had to take a step back and really look at the value of both, and you clearly get more value for the money with the 4Runner. Not to mention the 4Runner was $1000 cheaper with comparable miles. I didn't need a bed and passenger space is also more valuable to me as the cargo room of the 4Runner (especially with the back window that goes down and the roof rack) was sufficient.

 

[H20skier70]

Guess the jig is up.:brick:
Yea, I was interested in that one...of course. Kind of skeptical though and with it being 8 hours away....I didn't expect to get it.

Honestly though, for what I would pay for the 4x4 Dbl Cab Taco, I could get a sub 150k mile 4th gen and have leftover cash for wheels/tires and the armor.

Sounds like Im talking myself into this.....

Honestly, that's an awesome deal. Even more so if he has done the timing belt. I paid 10k OTD in Nov, same miles, from a dealer and they did the timing belt. I've got over $2500 in to mine and it still doesnt look as good as that one. Id jump on it if I was you. My two cents.

Ps- I'd be shocked if my buddy actually bought it. He is more of a window shopper.

 

[MikeInNH]

You don't compare the price of the 4runner to a pickup...you compare it to other SUV's in the same class. Pathfinder, Grand Cherokee, Explorer, XTera...to name a few. I think there are more mid-size SUV's of that era then there are mid-size pickups to choose from. So the more you have to choose the more competition....and thus the lower price.

As for styling of the 4th generation 4runner.....Personally I like. I like the styling in all the gens 4runners. And many people think the 4th gen 4runner is pretty stylish also by the sheer numbers that were sold. To each their own. The AMC Pacer was one UGLY car..but Motor Trend called it the "Future in American car design". OH well.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Did you miss the memo? God declared me the arbiter of all things attractive or not. This is no longer a matter of opinion - I declare your truck ugly and that's the end of it.

No, wait, it's not. I should mention at this point that I take Paypal.

Honestly, the 4th gen is very much the softer looking of the 4Runners, but when they're modded they tend to look pretty damn sexy. Stock, they're very much a soccer mom mobile at various angles.

Also, you crack me up sometimes man.

4th gens, the bastard child of the 4Runner line. Lol

Just more partial to the 3rd gen and now the 5th gen which seems to have returned the truck like heritage to the 4Runner and now offering a dedicated off road model (I know the 4th gen had one but it was a little late coming to the party) Quality in the 4th gens seemed a bit down vs the 3rd gens and the Darth Vader stying seems to really attract the soccer mom crowd more so than any other gen.
4th gens are still great trucks but did come across as a bit as a soft roader and more of a street friendly truck but if you need towing power the V8 is nice.

The funny thing is that while the 4th Gens appear to be softer, they have more features for off-road than the 5th gens do across the board. A big point that many weren't happy with, was Toyota's removal of the Torsen T3 Center Differential across all trim levels (a standard option with the 4WD package) as well as those ridiculously large wagon wheels that come on the 5th gens. While the 5th gen frame is supposedly stronger (being a 150 platform vs. the 120 that underpins 4th gen 4Runners and pre-2010 FJ Cruisers and Tacomas) it is as far as I can tell (based on body repair manuals and other data provided by Toyota), dimensionally identical to the 4th gen frame; to the point that a 4th gen cab should bolt onto a 5th gen frame and vice versa. The suspension has not significantly changed from the 4th gen to the 5th gen, save for the KDSS (which I'm not entirely sure I'm too happy with to be honest.) There were also many small features that were de-contented, yet the MSRP was raised as a result (i.e. the "hold-start" feature, roll down window button on the key fob, ect. being standard across all available trim levels of the 4th gens.) The addition of an updated 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 with Dual VVTi is a nice touch, but it was combined with a very awkward shift mapping for fuel savings that makes the 5th gens at times feel more sluggish than their lighter and slightly weaker 4th gen brethren.

The 5th Gen is both a step forward and a step back in terms of the 4Runner name, it has sacrificed some very nice premium features that many 4th gen owners enjoy off-road for more on-road appeal; while appearing more truck like. Now don't think I hate the 5th gen, I love the exterior styling, (except for the '14 models, the guys who designed the face lift need to be shot for ruining the flow of the design with those ugly front ends...), granted the interiors aren't that comfortable to me compared to the 4th gens; they're great vehicles and if Toyota had been smart enough to throw the 4.6L 1UR-FE drivetrain that underpins the GX460 in the 5th Gen, I probably would have bought one and forgiven some of the 5th gens transgressions.

Bottom line-

The 4th Gens are very much the "softer" looking 4Runners of the family; but they pack quite a bit of value for what they appear to be and even have a good amount of off-road capability to back it up. I'd even say out of the box most of the stock trim level 4th gens tend to beat out a 5th gen in terms of 4WD system flexibility simply based on the Torsen T3 Central Differential.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I actually like the whole 4Runner line but figured I'd rile some 4th gen owners up but while opinions on looks differ it appears the 2014 4Runner will be the best sales year yet for the 5th gen which is good news since the 4Runner was kinda being written off with dwindling sales of the 4th gen.

 

[Sporin]

I actually like the whole 4Runner line but figured I'd rile some 4th gen owners up but while opinions on looks differ it appears the 2014 4Runner will be the best sales year yet for the 5th gen which is good news since the 4Runner was kinda being written off with dwindling sales of the 4th gen.

I like the 5ths a lot, and I'm glad Toyota still gives us a capable, body-on-frame SUV.

 

[boondoggle]

It's funny you bring this up.

When I got my 2004 4Runner SE 2 years ago. I had a 15k budget. I really wanted a double cab Tacoma but couldn't find a good one in my price range. Ended up getting it with 100k miles for $14.5k

Last week, a co-worker who has a 2007 Double Cab TRD Sport (and now a 3 year old and 1 year old kid) said he'd happily trade it for my 4Runner. I told him the value of his truck is more than my 4Runner and I'd be stealing it from him. He said he didn't care. His wife wants an SUV (she drives their accord. If we traded he'd drive the accord and she'd drive the T4R).

But, after thinking long and hard about it. I really like the amenities, build quality and features of my 4Runner and couldn't bring myself to trade it. Yeah, his Taco has about 20k more miles than my T4R but still....

I don't need a bed all the time. His insn't a long bed anyhow.

RE: the 4th vs 5th. I like the looks of the 5th a lot. Especially the 2014 Trail. But I can't justify the expense of an upgrade (my wife and son keep expecting food on the table).

It's interesting how they stripped some of the nice features from the 4th Gen going into the 5th - like the crank hold starter.

 

[Sporin]

The torsen3 diff (fiull time 4WD capable) is a HUGE selling point for me, giving any 4th Gen 4Runner a huge edge over the majority of 5th gens and the Tacomas.

 

[shoeless]

Yup, leaning towards the T4R.
Just waiting on my insurance funds to hit the bank at this point.

Is there a build thread anywhere for the Shrockworks rig?
This one

Love to know the specs on it....especially what lift and tire size.
Also, I think Im looking more for a 05-06 V6. I don't plan on towing anything but will it handle front/side armor, 265/75s, etc without becoming a complete slug? I don't need a racer, just dont want to fight it uphill.

Thanks for the conversation y'all.