chadbobb

Is there anyway by looking at two different 4runners i can tell what generation they are? I can tell the first generation and 4th generation fine.

But what is distinct about a 2nd generation and a 3rd generation that i can tell just by looking?

Thanks

BajaRunner

lol... ummmm... There are some big differences!! They look similar in ways, but, dude, its really easy to tell the difference.

97 BlueSR5V6

Tailgate on 3rd swings up, 2nd gen swings down.

irott

Hatchback and tailgates.

ChickenLover

2nd gens have chrome side mirrors.. 3rd gens have side mirrors that match the body's paint.

Avsfreak1234

2nd gens have that obtrusive rear bumper that hangs way out the back

RobT2k

Seriously the easiest way is by gastank.

2nd gen = Passenger side

3rd gen = Drivers side.

shazaam

3rd gen = will pass other cars and be seen in the left 3 lanes of the highway

2nd gen = will pass no one, and will merge over after a few minutes once it reaches 60 mph.

Tofer

start looking at pictures of different years. you will be able to tell the differences between the years not just the generations.

X-AWDriver

3rd gens are overall bigger plus wheels are a giveaway. Rear side windows also are a bit different.

Intrepid

Seriously, there are huge differences in the generations, look them up, it should be easy to tell.

Bob_98SR5

spend another week here..youll figure it out

MTL_4runner

Plenty of differences......read away!
http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist.html

.....3rd gens can be told from year to year if you know what to look for.

X-AWDriver

Biggest diff is the backup lights on the 2nd gens are on each side of the license plate.

jeremys73

wow, you haven't really looked at them I take it? Look at two of them, you'd have to be blind not to see the difference.

lllateralus

How about the shape of the sheet metal?
Its just... different!

headlights, grill, the list goes on.

vegaskurt

One thing I noticed a month ago:
96 and 97's have "4Runner" above the license plate. In 98 they stopped doing that.

chadbobb

Well for a while i thought i could tell them apart as i drove past them. But then last night i started pulling pictures up comparing the two, and it doesn't seem like they are much different. I think the pictures just suck for angles and stuff like that. I was pretty sure about the tailgate and hatchback, but in the pictures they look the same. The pictures i looked at probably just didn't have enough detail. Now that i know most of the stuff i was looking at was right, thats good.

Thanks a bunch

jeremys73

My 98 is above the license plate

rocket

iTrader: (1)

Thats usally the first thing i notice...that and the orange colored tail lights.

Really though, every single part, body style, shape, etc. is a dead giveaway at what generation it will be.