Hi I am interested in getting a 4 runner manual, my questions are

what are the best years? id want a 2nd or 3rd gen.
engine?4x4 and v6 or the 4cyl and if so will mpg or power sway me from one to the other? not looking for a sports car or rock crawler, just something to have a bit of fun offroading and take my kids etc.

what are options or things that are nice to have that I should look for ? and stuff to watch off for and consider it to walk away or lower price etc?

Thank you, hope to be here with you guys soon,

 

3rd gens have more rear passenger space and more powerfull engines with alright mpg. 2nd gens arent so good with rear passenger space and the v6's they made for those are practilly worthless, and if its a 2nd gen with an auto its gutless. the third gens with the v6 get around 18-20mpg and the 4cyl gets around 20-25mpg, my runner gets 19mpg but it has 10 ply 32's and its gutless. my moms runner gets around 25mpg with the same 4cyl 5 speed as mine but hers has stock 31's on it.

 

hmm ok, so I would probably want to go 3rd gen then? so deff no on a 2nd gen v6 4x4 manual right? are those numbers for 2wd or 4x4 models?

 

4x4 and the 2nd gen 5 speed v6 isnt terrible but my dads a toyota master tech and im only 19 and since i was like 14 i have helped him replace head gaskets on those engine atleast 6 times they are not fun to work on atleast in my exerience.

 

I have a 94 22re/5speed/4wd that probably averages just over 18 mpg with a mix of both city and highway. I've had a high of 21 mpg and a low of 16 mpg. The 22re is slow and steady but wins the race. Warpigg definitely knows his stuff. If I had to do it again, I'd go with a 3rd gen and the 2.7 L4 which gets better mileage than the 2.4 AND has more power. If I couldn't find a 2.7 3rd gen, I'd do the 3.4 V6 which gets decent mileage and is a better motor than the 3.0 V6 from the 2nd gens. I'd also love to find a 3rd gen with a super charged 3.4 5 speed. That would be my ultimate find. Hope this helps.

 

I have a 2002 3.4L Tacoma and a 1986 22RE 4Runner. Both get about the same gas mileage, Tacoma 21mpg stock and 4Runner 20 or so on 31's loaded down. Both are 5 speed 4x4.

The 3.0L V6 is nothing but problems, i'd seriously avoid it like the plague.

Look for the most rust-free rig you can find!

For what it's worth I LOVE my first gen 4Runner with the soft top!

 

Love my 3rd gens (96, 99, manual, 3.4) other than only 4 shoulder belts. Can't turn off the passenger airbag so no kids up front, either. The mostly stock 99 has some nicer inside stuff, better cupholders, nicer seats, heated side mirrors. It does happen to be a highlander edition so the taller springs and locker are nice off-roady things and the snort-hood is cute too.

Check this out if you're interested in the 3rd gen...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ers-guide.html

 

honestly.. the 2nd gen's arent bad... I've got nothing but goodness and love to say about them...

But... If you are not mechanically inclined, and dont work on ur own rigs, I'd def go with the 3rd gen, v-6, with under 200k miles