I have been looking for quite a while for the right 4Runner - I wanted one with a V6, manual tranny, 4WD, and very preferably a factory locker and a moonroof.

It took many nights of searching AutoTrader, Craigslist and Ebay, as well as gathering lots of info from all of the helpful members on this forum - but finally I found it...

... a '99 Highlander!

It was leased from new in Arizona, and turned back into the dealership in late '02, where it was bought by the second owner who later took it to San Diego, where I found it for sale. It has plenty of records, and has been well looked after by the lady who owned it. It's Imperial Jade Mica with Oak cloth interior, 5-speed manual, 4WD with Rear Diff Lock, moonroof, no running boards, and un-painted flares - exactly the way I wanted it. I couldn't believe my luck - and the price was very reasonable, so I was able to afford to have it transported all the way to me in NY.

So, just last night, my "new" 4Runner arrived!

I love it already - here it is, dirty, fresh off the transport:



And here it is after its first wash:



My plans:

- Go through it doing all of the basic maintenance stuff - oil change, plugs, etc
- Remove the bug deflector - I don't like these things
- Keep it basically, stock, except for a few items - Airaid Intake, and maybe some new factory '99 (tall ride height) springs with Bilstein 5125's from Sonoran Steel.
- Get it off-road!!!

Thanks for all of the help here - you guys provided me lots of good info which helped me find the right 4Runner!

 

Oh wow, You did find one of the "perfect" 4runners...

Looks nice, Congrats on finally picking one up!!

 

if i could have found a gen2 that nice i may not have went turbo diesel!

 

Congrats on the nice looking 4 runner!

 

Thanks for all the good words!

I'm really glad to have found one, finally, and was lucky to get all of the options I wanted, and none that I didn't.

Looking forward to meeting up w/ the Yotatech community!

 

Nice and Clean.....

 

looks good yea those bug guards are too big i like mine alot its enough to change the front end a little but not gaint

 

Nice!! That is exactly what my wife and I want..

 

Congrats to you, hard work finally paid off. love the 5 speed.

 

Looks like mine the day I brought mine home.

How many miles? Doesn't look like your current coils have succumbed to sag yet.

I like my bug guard as in Colorado they sand our roads and hood lips bear the brunt of the damage so I'm happy with mine.

This is day two of ownership just after the clear corners and Tacoma plate were swapped over from my '97.

 

its too clean it wont run right whitout mud and dirt on it lol

 

Thanks everyone!


It has 100,782 miles on it, exactly. I can't drive it yet --- I need to go and get it registered. GRRRRRRRRR

I was actually kind of hoping it would be sagging at the back... so I could justify some new '99 springs + Sonoran Steel's special Bilstein's...

... but it's solid, no visible sag.

Oh, and good point on the bug deflector. Hrmm. Maybe I should leave mine - they sand the roads here too.



Haha - I know - I'll get it dirty right away!

 

Very nice looking 4Runner!

 

Nice 4Runner the Imperial Jade "Green" is a nice color I really need to get a 01-02 sport hood.... :Sigh:

 

Nice! That's a pretty rare rig (5-sp w/ locker). I'd also leave the bug shield up front. And your springs look fine. Just get some either 265/75/16's or 235/85/16 A/T tires on there (I prefer BFG KO's), and you're set for right now. The thing looks MINT.

 

Thanks for all the good words! I did a good amount of reading and asking questions on this site, which really paid off when I was looking for a truck --- you guys helped me find a good one, so thanks!

Actually, it already has 265/75/16's on it. They're BFGoodrich Long Trail's --- not bad, but not great either. Definitely more of a highway tire. I have a feeling that these were probably readily available to the previous owner at Costco or BJ's or something, and the person selling the tires probably said "Yeah, they're 75's instead of 70's, but they'll be fine!".

I do like the look with the 265/75's --- but I wish it had 265/70's on it, so I could experience the difference as I moved up to 265/75's. I don't know if I should now buy a set of 265/70's so I can decide what I prefer... or if I should just stay w/ 265/75. Decisions, decisions. More reading to do here on the forum

 

You guys that have the 99 Highlander Edition....do the five spoke LTD rims come stock on your 4Runner's ? Lucky...I would kill for some of those!

 

They were an option on the 99-00 SR5's, standard on the Highlander and Limiteds of the same year. They also came on some 01-02 SR5's.

 

That's crazy, I had my Runner shipped to CO from NY.

Great looking truck man. I hope you enjoy!

 

sweet ride-that is gorgeous

and now you are selling?

say it ain't so