13yrs, some serious frustrations with the new motor (the result of two different bad garages), lots of little adventures, and actually only about 135,000 miles...yeah, I'd do it again
I've tried to sell it twice since I've owned it and have never followed through. I just don't seem to be able to part with it. I'll probably shoot for a third time sometime soon once I decide if I am going to keep the motor and put it in my '93 or have a completely new one built for the '93. Maybe the third time is the charm.
I've owned it longer than I've known my wife and it may have even played a part in our having a son
I know I've said it before and I will certainly say it again, they're just trucks. No need to get so absurdly emotionally involved with them. But, WOW, 13yrs! Almost one third of my life has had that truck in it. Heck, maybe I'll even wash it this year in celebration.
Funny to see a post of mine from two years back about how I finally got to the point of hating my 4Runner after all the frustration. Turns out the first guy set up the TPS wrong and the second shop lied to me when they told me they checked it and everything else on the install (and still charged me). That made it run really rich and burn up the headgasket which in turn was repaired incorrectly by the same guy I had do the work the first time (not knowing he had screwed it up to begin with). It finally got fixed right and has been a kick in the pants to drive since then.
It's sitting in the garage now waiting for me to get off my butt and adjust/replace the TPS as it is out of whack again. I learned my lesson the hard way, but I learned it. When the TPS gets messed up, park it and fix it before something really goes bad!
I still prefer playing with it over my 2nd gen. Although, I confess the 2nd gen is starting to catch my eye and if I had the time and money to do a SAS on it, the learn to love it process would go much faster.
Anyway, just thought I'd take a moment to offer up a public "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" to the old dog. Sorry for the pointless post

 

Atta boy!

 

and you think you can sell it after all that history? three strikes and you keep it!!

lee

 

I second that

 

Just goes to show that if you want to do it right, do it yourself. But first get lots of advice from yotatechers.

Troy

 

My Runner and I celebrated 12 years together just last month! I hope I never have to sell or trade it despite the little things I keep having to do to it. Yesterday's fiasco was trying to lower the spare and taking off that pos crank system. Today was TLC day - wash & wax then sit back and admire.

 

The yoter and I will be celebrating 21 years in a month, bought her brand new in 84. Can't belive this much time has passed 21 years and 165,000 miles with the only non original part being the water pump and still not a drop of any fluid from those original gaskets. I couldn't bear to imagine myself without her. Mabey I'll get around to replacing the 2 decade old brake, clutch and power steering fluid this year......mabey