Repair is not an option ? I think its 30-50 bucks to repair a stone chip.

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Hi Benztech,

I called around and spoke with a few shops... Was able to get it fixed for $60. They did a great job but I can still see remnants of the chip. Currently doing my research on replacement. Dealer wants around $800+ tax.


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Wow, 800 + tax seems too much.
Call these guys.
Serving Toronto / North York
Adress:4267 Weston Road, North York, On, M9L 1W8
Phone: 866-912-2700
Phone: 416-744-2700
Email: [email protected]

Hi,
This is my first post here.

After a few months' research, I have decided to buy a 4th. Gen. - for city and highway use (not for off-road use}.

Basically, I want a Toyota which will last me a long time, and one which has a good amount of storage / cargo space.

From doing my research (talking to one person I know who has a 5th. Gen., reading articles and watching informational and review videos), I believe that a V6 2WDs would best suit my needs, and I would be grateful if I could pick individual and/or collective brains of people here.

Many thanks.

I've had my 4th gen for many years. If you live in Canada, you will be happier with the 4WD version. Don't over look the V8's. The difference in gas mileage is very small and the v8's have more power and towing capability. They also have full time 4WD so this acts like AWD when not locked. When I chose mine, I only wanted the V8 for these reasons plus I wanted 2005 or newer because of VVT. The truck has been fantastic and I am at 300k now. I have towed cars, boats, trailers. It's just tough. On the down side, the V8's Achilles heel is the OEM exhaust manifolds. They are subject to cracking. I have replaced mine with DOug Thornley headers and the problem is solved. The LTD also comes with air bag and XREAS. Both of these are great if they are working, but very expensive to replace if they fail. I ended up replacing the air bag with coil springs and XREAS with Bilstein shocks and saved a bundle but the vehicle now rides like a truck and not the soft cruising suspension that it used to have. Still, I wouldnt trade it for anything. I will milk this truck for many years to come.

Good choice. I have 4th Gen and 5th Gen.

I would recommend to get 4x4 Rrunner, I think you'll regret buying 2WD one even if you could find it : ) As far as I remember you can run 4th gen in 2WD if you want to. But I'm sure you'll really appreciate 4x4 in winter and heavy rain even if you never drive off the pavement.

Yes, 4th Gen V6 4Runners are able to be in 2WD mode as Front has vacuum disconnect.
I'd advocate for 4WD version, makes life much easier in the winter, especially out of the city. If you travel gravel roads or using it to tow a boat, 4WD is beneficial as well.

Thanks, AlexJet.

I am sure I will be asking you, and the others here, a lot of questions.

Thanks for the reply and information, scanny.

I will check to see if the 4x4 has a 2WD mode - actually, I see that AlexJet has confirmed that this is the case.

I watched a YT video earlier which reinforced that driving in 4x4 mode in 'normal' conditions (i.e., on a clear road surface) can be very damaging for the car, and obviously, I very much want to avoid that.

I also know someone who lives in a different city, quite a ways from where I live, who has a 4Runner, and he emphasized this point.

N.B. I just want to re-iterate that I will not be doing any off-roading, and that I am buying the 4Runner purely for its hardiness, longevity, and storage space capacity.

Thanks for confirming that, AlexJet.

As I said elsewhere here to scanny, I am buying the 4Runner purely for its hardiness, longevity and storage capacity.

I am sure that the 4Runner will be useful in the winter, even in the city, but that is worst weather I am likely to drive it in (well, I am sure that once or twice in 5 years I will head out to the country in winter, although I have no reason to do that that I can think of at the moment).

I *might* conceivably do some highway driving 3 - 4 times a year, but will never be towing a boat, or anything like that.

So, being able to use 2WD 99% of the time is going to be best for my uses.

QUESTION - out of interest, is there any 4th. Gen. that is exclusively 4WD, i.e., that does not have 2WD?

Angstrom,
Thanks very much for your reply, and for the very useful information.

People seem to be making some assumptions about why I want the 4Runner, and how I will be using it, so I wanted to clarify that having a vehicle with a lot of storage space, and - most important - having something that will last are my prime considerations.

Highway driving is the only driving I will be doing outside the city with the 4Runner, and even then, I live in the city, and can only see driving on the highway a few times a year.

Off-roading is something that I do not see myself doing at all, although you never know; it certainly holds no interest for me at present.

Because this will be the second (and final) car that I buy, and because I have do not have the interest (at the moment), or the money to indulge anything that would involve me wanting or needing to tow a boat, or trailer or anything similar, I see the 4Runner's purpose as mainly for hauling (interior) the occasional heavy load.

I have 5th gen 4Runner, but I think that 4th gen have center differential and you can drive in 4x4 all year long. 4th gen owners can tell you for sure. For 5th gen only Limited trim has center differential and uses 4x4 all the time, SR5 and Trail got transfer case (part time 4x4) and for them 4x4 shouldn't be used on dry pavement. That probably what they were saying in video. In city 4x4 is useful when you need to park on last available space on snowbank, drive through flooded area, during show storms especially when you need to climb a hill or a bridge and 4WD gives you more stability in slippery conditions in general. Unless you of course like how RWD drives when it's slippery.
Sometimes you might go to your/friends cottage, you might need to avoid traffic taking shortcut on not paved road or hit some other situation like this - in other words I expect you'll regret not having 4x4 for more than one occasion : )
Also never say never - when you drive 4Runner for a while you might start intentionally driving over snowbanks or big puddles, enjoy driving through construction sites when they took off the pavement, then you might find yourself in country side driving on dirt road...

Hey scanny,
Sorry for not responding sooner.

And thank you for the continued dialogue.

This is very useful info. for me.

And I am sure you are right; having a 4 X 4 sounds really useful, even in the city (God knows, I slid around enough in the snow with the two cars I used to drive, years ago).

And I am sure that you are right that I will probably develop a taste to deliberately take the 4Runner through a snow bank, or take the 'rougher' back road (damn you for putting the thought in my head, because I have just thought of two of those, and it already feels like fun!).

As you say, never say never. That is one thing I have learned in life, and I thought of putting that in my previous post, but did not want to make things more expensive for myself.

Talking of expense, and sticking with 4th. gen (since there is absolutely no way that I will be able to afford 5th. gen - unfortunately, that is a definite "never"), what kind of budget are we talking about?

Here in the Toronto area, I reckon about CAN $16,000 is about the average.

What are your thoughts on that?

A couple of quick questions for you all:

1. What would your guesses be about why I am not seeing any (well I have seen 2) 4th. Gen. 4Runners on the streets of Toronto?

I have been looking for just over a month, and they are conspicuous by their absence (this puzzles me somewhat).

I see some (although not a lot) of older model Highlanders, but almost no 4Runners.

2. Are there any garages/mechanics whom you would recommend in Toronto as being specialists, or really good with 4Runners?

My preference is within a couple of miles of Yonge and St. Clair.