I am a Canadian who has stumbled upon your wonderful site of information.

BruceTS your rear bumper is killer man keep it up and hopefully you will finish them.

So I'm looking at possibly getting a 96 4runner as they are the most asthetically please to me (not the only reason why) and seem to have lots of room (i have a dog) and have a few questions.

1) Motor and tranmission: How reliable? Whats the best motor? Are the v6s a typical gas eater?

2) Interior: Is it clunky or laid out well? How do the seats and carpet hold up?

3) I know they hold their value well but whats a reasonable price on this year? I've seen them go for $10-11,000 privately.

4) Rear Sag: happens to most SUVs it seems and are you able to use whatever spring you want to go with, or is there a general one that works the best?

5) Tire size: I notice a lot of people run tires like 31x10.5 but what is the largest you can run with having to think about going to a lift kit.

6) Lift kits: Aren't out of the question and thinking if I did do one I'd probably got 2-3". What are some of you guys running?

7) Fuel economy: I'd be coming from driving a civic but I am accustomed to driving a truck so gas prices isn't a worry for me, but is the mileage on them decent? I've heard people getting upwards of 500 kilometers or more.

Thanks for answering these as I know a search could have helped, but I figure its easy to just ask all at once since you guys know best!

 

welcome to yotatech

 

For lifts check out Sonoransteel.com
Toytec.com
Wheelersoffroad.com

most popular is the tundra front ~2 in/ ome rear ~2.5 in

very stout engines either 4cyl or 6 cyl

price- 6 - 8,000

fuel economy 18-22 mpg


lots of info, lots of searching

 

Welcome firebane - this place rocks, but I think you already know that...

 

Yah been cruisin behind the scenes for awhile and it seems pretty cool.

So for the 4runner what is considered the best motor for the buck? Or are they all generally pretty good. I'm a chevy/civic guy so I'm not upto date on the yota talk.

 

Well, long story short, the 18R, 20R, 22R, and 22R-E engines are known for going extreme miles in extreme conditions for years.

The 3VZE (~88-95) puts out about 150/180 horsepower and torque respectively and is generally well known for blowing headgaskets, though they are quite reliable if you take good care of 'em. You're probably looking at about 15-18 mpg with these.

The 5VZE (96-02) puts out 180, 220 and has been said to be a very reliable engine. A stock 5VZE (with nothing but bolt on mods) can make 300 horses and still get 20mpg.

The 1GR-FE (03-2007+) puts out about 235/(250 I believe) and is still a relatively new motor. They tend to get decent fuel efficiency (we get 25 in my moms 05 4Runner) and can leave quite a few cars in its dust.

That's Toyota's V6's for the past 18 years in a very broad nutshell. There are tons of people who know a crapload more than I do.