I wast thinking of getting a 4Runner for the daily commute.

Will the engines go 300,00 miles?

Are repair parts expensive?

Which generations are the best?

Which ones, if any, are lemons?

 

I have 1999 4runner 2wd v6 with 180,000 miles on them. just regular maintenance (oil, filter changes Toyota filters with mobile 1 oil). Make sure it has a service history. I get about 20mpg.

 

You don't mention if you want something beyond going home and back....what sort of mpgs you're hoping for, whether you live in a rust-prone area, if you want to go beyond pavement, what your tolerance/ capability for repairs and maintenance are, or?

I am fond of the 3rd gens personally (96-02) and 96-00 particularly. That's just me, of course. Maybe because I drive a 96 with a 3.4 daily with 281,000 miles on it. It gets the groceries, the kid from school, me to work and us over the mountain passes in Colorado and home again. I have never been stranded by it, but I do take the best care I can of it. It's 20 years old so I expect things to need repairing and replacing but to me that's generally an enjoyable task. There are a few things to think about watch out for. It'd be a good idea to do your research as there are many threads on this, but I'm guessing this post is a beginning to that.

I like my manual transmissions so don't have any pink milkshake worries. I have found the truck to be fairly easy to work on and the parts not to be ridiculously priced for the most part. Since I do my own work I don't have to factor in labor and list prices and I have found many of the small things can be repaired rather than replaced. There is a great deal of 3rd gen support and how-tos, a good community.

Research frame rust, lower ball joints, pink milkshake, starter contacts, power antenna, lower control arm bushings, steering rack bushings and steering rack guide.

Or maybe it'd be better to start here if you want to know more on 3rd gens:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ers-guide.html

 

Looks like it's been mentioned. But just to STRONGLY reiterate...the ones with the messed up lower ball joint design...don't buy one of those. Good way to get yourself killed...along with your passengers...and any unfortunate passers by.

 

Well, I just purchased a 1998 SR5 4x4, 3.4L. It has 169,252 miles on it. Did my research before buying one and test drove it and looked for any red flags. They are known to go long with regular maintenance. I replaced the radiator (Denso), timing belt, water pump, spark plugs (Toyota OEM), COP boots and wire set, fuel filter, air filter, front and rear diff fluid, transfer case fluid, and motor oil right off the get go. You can save a tone of money if you can do most of the work yourself. I replaced the radiator from all the "Pink Milkshake" horror stories, I'm sure there's a thread on that out there already. Just do your research. OH!!!...and don't skimp out on parts. Buy quality stuff,