I have a 95 4runner with suggested price from edmunds.com of 10,000. After taking my truck on a little road trip (about 250 miles) I got tired of keep needing to fill up, not knowing if i would make the next leg of my trip. Also it made me mad that my truck could barely keep up at 65 going up a slight grade. I am looking for a third gen 4runner. How are the 96s? Are there any major problems that arent recalls?

Any info on a 96 4runner, or a 97? something around $10k

 

Hmm, maybe you should just service your 95, my 95 with the added weight of 4wd made a 400 mile (one way) trip to southern California with only one stop at a gas station along the way, and one on the way back (after filling up in California of course).

 

Also, how is the 2.7l 4 banger?

 

My opinions (take them for what they're worth):
I have a '96 and I love it. I had a 92 and experienced the same problems as you, no gas mileage, no power. I test-drove a 2.7L in a 4Runner with a manual transmission. I was disappointed. It felt as underpowered as the 3.0. At the time, I was looking for more power than fuel economy.

If you are looking for fuel economy, get the 2.7L. If you are looking for power and upgradability, get the 3.4L.

 

96 and 97's are ok. Recalls to look for:

Headgasket Recall (external leak, not internal like the older 3.0's)
This can be a good or bad thing, depending on who did the fix. I bought my 4Runner with 66K miles on it in Feb of '03, and it was eligible for the recall. This enabled me to get the timing belt done for cheap at the same time. The drawback is that some monkey may have done (or will do) the recall install and screw it up. Not likely, but possible. I made very sure that the shop foreman at Toyota was doing my trucks HG's.

Rear Coil Recall there is a thread going right now about this, both good and bad. In my case, it didnt change a thing (it wasnt sagging in the first place). I just got new springs and bumpstops. Cool.

A few other quirks can be found at Alldata.com under the TSB's. The fuel gauge is a little screwy, but not too bad. I would suggest a 5-speed. Be warned, they are hard to find. Also, the 3rd gens in good condition in 4WD get a pretty penny unless the owner is crazy. I paid $16K for mine in Feb. Ouch.

 

There's a headgasket recall also for the 96-02 4Runners?

 

Yes. I think it went from 96 to late 97 on the 3rd gen 3.4.

Toyota will verify if you give them your VIN.

 

What kind of gas milage am i looking at for a 2.7?

I dont mind the fact that it doesnt have much power... as long as it doesnt get ungodly gas milage like my 3.slow

also i'm only getting an automatic. I can drive a stick, kinda, but i just dont want to with so. cali traffic

 

I am right around 18 MPG on the 3.4. So you have something to compare to. Oh yeah, I have a leadfoot.

 

I checked my milage and got 18.5 mpg a couple of weeks ago and that was going up hill to Flagstaff. Not bad with a s/c.

 

2.7 or 3.4?

 

Read it again... 3.4

I actually considered the 2.7, but I need to smoke ricers every now and then, so I went with the highly modifyable (sp?) 3.4.

The 2.7 is slow in my opinion, unless you get the SC for it. But even then it compares to a stock 3.4.

Depends on your needs really. Smoking Ricers are one of my top priorities while driving, that and getting around snowbirds in the winter.

 

:pat:

casey has the 2.7, i'll ask him

I really want a 96, but the 3.4s are up there. did they make a 2.7 4x4?

 

Yep. I could have got a 2000 2.7 for the same price as my 96 3.4 if that tells you anything. Maybe it tells you I am lame - lol, not sure though.

Are you looking for a 5 speed?

 

auto only

dont know if they made a 2.7 4x4?

edit: looked it up, they did. but i want the nice rims

 

They did make a 2.7 4x4. And, I bet you could find an Auto 3.4 for a good deal. There were so many Auto's when I was looking, it was almost riduculous.

It might be hard to pull off $10K for an Auto 3.4, but stranger things have happened.

 

I'm finding a couple for 10.5k i could talk them down, especially with a tradein. they are pretty good with giving me what i want with a tradein

would i be better off taking all stereo stuff (worth about 700-1000) out of my truck before selling it to a dealer? or should i leave it as is?

 

You would be better off taking all your stereo stuff out, and selling the truck private party. The dealer will never give you what its worth on trade. And if they do, they will nail you on the vehicle you are buying.

Check out this site if you get a chance. Everything you would ever want to know about dealers and their sneaky ways.

 

This should give you an idea how much the 1996-1997 4Runners are. These prices are in CDN

http://search.trader.ca/Results.asp?...=4RUNNER&CAT=2

 

any more replies/info?