We are looking for info on forerunners. We want to guy a used one and not real new. What is the best year and what does the mileage run? We have a tacoma and love it, but need something a little bigger also with decent mileage to commute a mountain pass 140 miles a day.

 

hi cory,

welcome to the forum! and its 4runner, not forerunner

ok, you'll have to narrow things down a bit. two questions:

1) whats your budget?
2) what % of the time will you use it for wheeling vs on-road (daily commuter driving)?

given your long commute, have you considered a toyota prius? seriously!

bob

 

Welcome to the board, "cory", lot's of info here and the "Search" feature is invaluable, which is why I suggest that you use it now as there was a big write-up on here about which was the best one.
So try typing that in the "Search" window and see what you come up with.

 

Commute a mountain pass daily? Then definetly a 3rd gen since they won't break the bank and you actually have power and a little more reliability than the previous gens and you're already used to the 3.4L.

 

if you want to narrow down the 3rd gens, then i'd suggest a 99 or 00 Limited as the "best" year/model.

newer headlights, auto climate control, and if you get a 4wd, then you'll get the All-Wheel-Drive Multimode Feature and you can also still get the rear diff locker as an option on them. Pre-99 had manual-only HVAC, older style lights/grill, and multimode was a rare option. newer than 00, and you loose the option of the rear locker, but in return, you gain electronic traction control...

 

Also in '99 you got the two extra power outlets up front and one by the tailgate plus auto up/down front windows with safety catch on the windows plus the cup holders don't hang off the dash.
I wish the AWD mode tranny was offered in the SR5 models but no luck and that AWD mode is awesome in the snow and slick/sandy hard pack conditions in general.

 

About 3 weeks ago, my buddy and I took a jaunt through western New Mexico. Up Monticello Canyon, washboard dirt roads to Datil Wells, more dirt up to El Morro then county roads and state highways home. I love my 2nd gen, but that 3rd gen has really been earning my respect. It's comfortable at interstate speeds, it felt GREAT on washboard roads, and walked over obstacles on trails that I thought might give it a hard time. And it still got 22 mpg.

Get a 3rd gen.