what do you think about a 93 4runner, 3.0 auto, perfect condition, 115k, $4500 OBO? i was kinda hoping for a 3rd gen, but i realized with student loans, i can't afford one yet. i was hoping to get the 3.4L in the 3rd gen. i know this has been beat to death, but is the 3.4L really worth (in this case) approximately twice the cost over the 3.0?

 

Naw, find a stick shift,

Lamm

 

i have a stick shift. i'm not selling my 1st gen and replacing it with this. i'm looking for more of a daily driver, and would prefer an auto cuz i live in detroit and frequently encounter heavy traffic. i plan on building up my first gen when i have another daily driver.

 

I own a 92 3.0 auto tranny -- 4.56 factory gears. I paid $4,000 for it about 2 1/2 yrs ago. At that time, it had 145,000 miles on it. I thot it was a reasonable price. It 'did' need some work. I put about $1,300 in it to get it back in shape -- tune up, timing belt, fuel filter and pump, brakes, fuel puslator, muffler /tailpipe and a radiator. Now it runs great, and gets decent mileage -- 14 city, 21 highway. I LOVE to drive it.

Mike in AR

 

check with the dealer and make sure the headgasket was replaced

 

I snagged a 97 4WD V6 5-speed with high miles and all dealer records for $6K. So it can be done. But I commend you for being smart with your money and not getting in too far over your head. So, my advice is to take the path that keeps debt where it is now, even if that means driving a cheap beater for a while. There is plenty of time to get the vehicle you want, trust me.

 

well if you cant affored what you want dont get anything. dont settle for something you dont really want. i dont know about a 3.0 auto for a DD. i dont know if its just me. (actually i know its not just me) you MPG will suck. esspecially if you are going to do alot of trafic driving. im getting a lil over 11 and my truck barley sees trafic. so you might want to think about that a lil too. but i still love my truck and you would probably love yours. but if you want just a DD maybe get a crappy car with good MPG and save money and build the other runner like you said you wanted to.

Just my thoughts.

 

I agree with curly c. Maybe even get a bike and ride it around. Although, I would sell the 1st gen and get a 2nd gen, only because I don't like how the 1st gens look.

 

how can you not like the first gens? i think they are the best. i wished to hell i could have found a nice one. i looked forever. and ended up with a 2nd. though i like that too. but the first gens are the best in my eyes. 86 been in the family since dec of 85 so ive grow up with one. older than me.... so maybe thats why i like them the best.

 

I just like how it looks. maybe it's because they are 4 door, but I don't know. the 2nd gen's are just more pleasing to my eyes than a 1st gen.

 

that's a nice price... it'd go for 6k+ in oregon... private seller too.. a dealership would want 7k+... I'd get it. As for 2nd gen auto's I'm not sure.. I like my manual but auto's are nice for traffic...

 

ive had my 93 v6 auto for 2 yrs now, it sees daily driving and all sorts of trails. its had its share of repairs from wheeling but thats to be expected. it gets pretty much the same economy as my 86 runner did (22re 5 spd) which was rusting out to the point of costing more to fix than buying the 93.

in retrospect, i should have kept the 86 and worked on it for a dedicated trail rig. oh well, i have a project cruiser to work on in the fall which will take some off road duties away from the runner. i have a spare v6 & auto trans if the current motor gives me any trouble.

the price is pretty attractive, if it looks half way decent, i say grab it. any work that it needs can be searched out on here and im pretty sure that any members close by would offer to help wrench on it with you.

good luck, keep us posted.

lee

 

ha, already got a bike. i'm looking to upgrade on that as well! however, when i get my newer bike, i'll be getting rid of the current yamaha, so it won't be that big of a funds drainer like the truck will be (cuz i don't want to get rid of my 1st gen, if i don't have to. i love it too much!)

 

The 3.0 isnt really a good engine, technically its a ticking time bomb. The heads were designed wrong, so people blow headgaskets a lot, specially if driven hard, and the recall doesnt really fix the problem, they just give you new headgaskets, and the problem is the head and the deck. I would maybe find a 22re.