I've finally come to the conclusion that having your only vehicle be a lowered Miata is not very practical, especially in Colorado. So I am doing a bit of research and probably will buy a 4 door SUV in the next few months. I am wanting a small to medium sized SUV so that I can haul people and loads, have an easier time getting through deep snow, perhaps be able to trailer the 2k pound Miata to and from race days, and do a bit of moderate off roading (i.e. not a tube frame rock crawler, but plan on doing the basic mods and then seeing what it and I are capable of).

When doing some research on what has a good overall reputation, I think I am mostly cross shopping between the 90s 4Runner, FJ60 (or maybe FJ55 if I find a good rust free one) Landcruiser, and 90s Pathfinder. The XTerra and new FJ look cool, but I doubt I would feel comfortable pushing something that new and expensive on rough terrain. Anybody mind giving some input on what the relative strengths and weaknesses of these are? Since this is a Toyota board, overall are you happy with your 4Runner or Landcruiser? When shopping are there any specific problem areas that I should check on Toyotas of that era?

thanks,
Matt

 

Don't plan on hauling anything heavier than a house pet with a 2nd gen 4Runner or 3rd gen pickup...

 

oh Con trare mon frar
I would say that it would not be the best for long hauls but you can do short hauls I did a 99 jetta on a 21 ft open trailer about 200 miles but would never go beyond that.(3.0 no power no good mph but I have 231,000 and relible as hell)
That said a first or second gen with a 3.4 would be cool but it seems the 3rd gens are quite at home on or off road dont know for sure never been in one but have read lots about them being a pretty good all around daily work trucks/off roaders and towing is not too bad as long as your not towing a 3/4 ton dulley.

 

If you want to haul, go with the landcruiser. All the listed options will be slow with a trailer, without a trailer, and in general.

The landcruiser is heavier duty than the pickup/4runner class

 

I would say a 3rd gen 4Runner or late 90's LC

 

definitely the cruiser...you couldnt tow a whole lot with the 4runner or the pathfinder...xterras are the most easily flipped SUV just FYI

 

why not an 89fj60 landcrusier

 

Thanks for all the responses everybody. I personally can't stand automatic transmissions so that's why the FJ60 sounds better then the FJ62 or FJ80. (Those only had autos, right?)

I don't know if I will ever end up towing the Miata around. Currently and for a while now it autocrosses in a street tire class so I can just drive there, race, and drive back. If I give into the temptation to supercharge it and move to a race tire class I might want to start towing it to events so I don't have to try to carry race tires, tools, gear etc inside the Miata. I mostly wanted to find out if it was reasonable to even try to tow with any of them since I have only seen full size trucks towing cars.

I don't think the lack of power in any of the 4x4s will bother me, considering that my "fast" car has a whopping 116 hp and would take that instead of a 4x4 any time I was in the mood for faster driving.

 

The 4 cylinder 1990-1995 4Runner has a 116hp motor as well and it weighs twice as much. The 1990-1995 V6 4Runner only has a little more and doesn't have quite the same reputation for reliability. They're not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but if you stick with tires in the 28-31" width, they will keep up with traffic just fine.

Sounds to me like the best option for you would be a 1996-2002 V6 4Runner as it is plenty powerful and would tow your Miata just fine. Find one with the rear locker and you probably the most offroad-capable and comfortable vehicle made.

 

Thats what I was going to say. A 2nd gen is cheaper and will tow 2500lbs loads fine down in the delta region of arkansas but your going to kinda be out of luck with a 2nd gen trying to tow in the mountains of Colorado. I think a 3rd gen 4runner is going to be the cheapest, most reliable and over all best route.

 

not true... the early isuzu troopers are the most easily flipped SUV... lol. all i know is my 2nd gen truck (88 p/u) feels more at home in the dirt, trails, and rocks, than it does on the street... lol.

 

Well they don't make those early troopers anymore do they??? Xterras lean a lot when you drive them...I would never Mod one unless i had a death wish

 

& the magazine that started that got sued & had to pay damages to Isuzu. I say go with the LandCruiser personally or one of the V-8 4Runners.

 

Yeah, the more I look into them the cooler a FJ60 sounds. There have been a handful of really low mileage ones around, so I probably will grab one of those after I finish grad school in a month or two unless I find a great deal on a 3rd gen V6 with a manual.

Regarding the Xterra, there were a disturbing number of videos on youtube of them rolling on fairly mild offroad situations, so even if I was shopping for a new truck I doubt I would consider them anymore.