90!4Runner

Right now, I currently have a 1990 4Runner, 5spd, 4wd, 3.0, 211K miles I am selling. I have been looking into Dodge Durango's, Chevy Blazer and Tahoes's(2dr models) and Dodge Ram's. Now, I want to know what will be the very best in offroad performance. This is what I am looking for:

I want an awesome 4wheeling suv/truck, and I also want it to be fast. Doesn't have to be the fasest ever, but I don't want something that is anywhere near as slow as my 1990. Almost anything is faster than mine though, so I don't it will be too hard to accomplish. What I like about the Durango's is my mom has an 02, so I am use to driving it, and reall really like how it drives. Plus, the 4.7 V8 is one quick little devil. I was looking to get the 5.9 in a Durango, because that will be evn a little quicker than my mom's 4.7. I am pretty much lloking for the best of both world's into one car. Anyone with info/comments/experience that can benifit me would be appreicated. BTW, does anyone know what the 1/4 mile time for the 3rd gen 4Runner with a 3.4 man or auto and 4wd?

4Runner4Christ

My suggestion would be to go with a 99 or 00 4Runner with an elocker. You will have the "awesome 4wheeling suv" you are looking for and will have a considerable increase in the power you are currently lacking with a 3.slow, along with legendary Toyota reliability. If you need more power you can add the supercharger later. I'm not sure about the 1/4 mile time, although I am sure someone out there has done it.

bob200587

I bet the FJC isn't slow, if you can get your hands on one.

grimpy

if you want fast forget about the 3rd gen 4Runner... Its slow as crap... It will be better than your 3.0 though... This is the slowest vehicle I have ever owned! Supercharging it is another story... The Durango will smoke the daylights out of a 3.4... Hope this helps... Aside from speed and being a gas hog... The 3rd gen 4Runner is great!

paddlenbike

iTrader: (1)

A lot of people will doubt what I am saying here, but my company vehicle is a 2004 Durango with the 4.7 V8 and it's not as fast as it feels. I test all of my vehicles on this one particular steep on ramp and I note the speed once I pass a stripe across the road. My 3.4 5-speed 4Runner makes it to 43 mph, the Durango V8 makes it to 45 mph and my Supra is at about 70 mph. The Durango feels fast because of the sound, but it's not the night and day difference you might expect. You did mention speed, not towing ability, so I thought I would throw that out there.

The Durango is not a quality vehicle...I will leave it at that. The Durango is not offroad capable, the "skid plates" are a joke, it's super low to the ground and mine doesn't even have low range--just a knob that says 2WD and 4WD. 4-Low is an option.

A supercharged 3.4 would be much quicker, it will be considerably higher quality than the Durango and it will actually have a resale value. Just my 2 cents...

rimpainter.com

Actually, that's not totally true. I had a 98 Tacoma LTD (Auto) with the 3.4 and I had a chance to race a 4.7 Durango to about 70 MPH from a standstill. I had the deckplate mod, ISR mod, and a glasspack. Yes, the Durango beat me, but it did not "smoke the daylights" out of my 3.4 Taco. He had me by about 3 car lengths when we shut down. Faster, yes. Will it tear apart a 3.4? No.

grimpy

Sorry guys... wasn't more clear... he was considering the 5.9 Durango... I expected that one beat the living snot out of the 3.4L... Also note the xtra cab taco is almost 700lbs lighter than the 4Runner... Then again.... I think everything will beat the crap out of a 4Runner... I'm mainly referring to going up a little incline... The darn thing can't hold it's speed worth a darn... It's a slow vehicle guys... Sorry to say... I love it but I can't even keep up with a stock Dodge Neon with a grandma driving up a hill without mashing down on the pedal....

I mean 184hp on an almost 2 ton vehicle... Then again... I'm not regeared yet on 33's... Even when I purchased it... w/ 265/75/16's the thing was a toad...

rimpainter.com

By the way, here is a thread with a lot of 4Runner 1/4 mile times, etc.

It isn't that bad. But still slow by today's standards.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...highlight=0-60

alexander

totaly agree!!!!! 4runner is one of the best and also one of the slowest suv ever built

alexander

this link doesn't work

potsy

the resale value of a dodge or chevy truck is horrible compared to toyota. either is a bad investment IMHO. get a supercharged 3rd gen 4wd...

grimpy

yes american vehicle resale usually sucks a big..... Why not a 4th Gen V8??? It still has less horsepower than the v6 Rav4 but more torque and capable of wheeling...

rimpainter.com

Hmm...try this link:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...highlight=0-60

90!4Runner

Thanks for all of your input you guys. But I think there might be some confusion, so let me just say this. I can't spend more than $10000, but don't want to reach that high, want to stay as low as possible, looking for something with low miles, but I know Toyota's don't really have a low mileage range, since they will last forever.

To the guy with the 04 Durango, I would never in my life want to consider getting that body style, because it is by far the ugliest SUV I've ever seen. The 4.7 will be a lot faster with the 98-03 Durango, and it will look cooler too. Anyways, I really don't 4wheel that often, but it is nice to know that if you want to, you can. I also don't ever race my 4Runner, but it would be nice to know I can, and get better than a 19 seconds in the 1/4 mile.I don't think I will end up going with a Durango, since I have noticed a lot of them are getting newer transmission before the 100K mile mark.

I most likely will end up getting a Dodge Ram or a Chevy Blazer/Tahoe 2dr. Also, I found out that Jeep did put the 5.9 in the Grand Cherokkee, but it was only for one year, 1998, so it makes getting one hard, and expensive.

I acctually don't like the body style of the new 4Runner as much as the 2nd or 3rd gen, and it acctually has less space in the back then my 2nd gen. Even though I will end up leaving the Toyota circle for awhile, my experience with my 2nd gen has just been so awesome, that I plan on owning at least one again sometime down the road, and a 3rd gen. Gotta thank Toyota for making one fine SUV, and a great first car.

paddlenbike

iTrader: (1)

My mistake, it must not be an 04 because it is the older body style. It does have the 4.7 though, which is an improvement over the major fuel-sucking 5.2L.

Go drive the the vehicles you mentioned, then go drive a 3rd gen. I have a feeling I know which one you'll end up with.

Another thing to keep in mind; not only does the 3.4 make 34 hp and 40 ft lbs more torque than your 3.0, the 4Runner's curb weight went from 4080 pounds (1994 2nd gen) to 3,850 lbs (1998 3rd gen). Add in the fact that the 3.4s auto tranny is more efficient than the 3.0s, there is a bigger difference between the two than the numbers show.