I've got a '98 Limited, I bought in '98 .... its got less than 70,000 original miles on it. Thinking about selling it, obviously I just don't drive it much.
@@danielfair4675 Sell it now, before the 6th gen comes out. There will be an influx of used 4Runners hitting the market in 25'-26', and you won't get as much for yours.
@@danielfair4675just sold my 98 limited today ): . 308,000 miles . Rebuilt engine was at 22,000 miles. Was good to me for 4 1/2 years . Wanted something new now. Eventually in the future I’ll get myself a 4x4 4Runner and build it once again.
Very nice review. I am a 30 year Toyota technician and a owner of a black 1999 4Runner highlander edition (sport edition in later years) with a manual trans, manual t-case, and locking diff. I admit this is one of the very few places I get to brag about my 4runner that the rest of the world does not care about lol..... Anyway, the reason I posted was If you are buying 2001-2002 with the electronic brake booster (ones with VSC). Take a look at the brake fluid, if it is very dark, you may want to shy away. The brake master cylinder is a 2000$-3000$ job at the dealer. You can get aftermarket/used ones for 1000$ or so plus labor. We have been replacing quite a few of these lately in AZ. Even the cheapest option is still 10%-20% of the purchase price of the car. OH, and a tip for all you owners out there... Clean you MAF sensor. It makes a HUGE difference. 3 10mm bolts to remove cruise control module, then 2 screws (need a stubby), and spray it out with MAF sensor cleaner (I use brake clean) and reassemble. Enjoy 30 more HP and no more pinging.
I recently test drove an 01 Limited. The brakes were extremely "grabby"... like barely press the pedal and you get thrown forward in you seat. Any idea what that's all about?
Most likely the rear axle seals are leaking and causing the rear brakes to be super grabby (coated in gear oil). Very common issue and easy repair, but figure 500-1000 if you are going to have a shop do it. On a side note I was in a accident in my 99 highlander edition 4runner 2 weeks ago, Somebody made a left in front of me and I hit them at about 45-50mph. We are ok (me and my 7 year old), but the other drivers are pretty banged up (please give a thought for them if possible). my 4runner is no more, but I am looking at replacements and possibly swapping the drivetrain into another one. @@phiksit
My daily driver a 2000 4Runner that has been in our family for 24 years. My ex bought it new and I bought it from her when she got a 2021 4Runner. It had 193K miles on it and she had perfectly maintained it over the years. I put a Bilstein/OME 2" lift, 285/70/17 Falken Wildpeaks, 17x 8.5 MK6 Level 8 wheels, SPC adjustable upper control arms and a front diff drop. Took it out to CO from KY with my daughter 3 yrs ago and climbed all over the Alpine loop. We had a blast and this thing crawled over everything in it's path. I'm getting ready to turn over 250K miles and plan on driving it until either I die or it dies...I'd put my money on the 4Runner.
Excellent machines. I've owned two of them. My '97 V6 towed a 2500 lb travel trailer with no problem starting at 6000' and everything was uphill from there. I averaged 18 mpg in town and over 20 on the highway consistently. One of the best off-road machines I have ever owned. even without the locker it is very capable and with the locker it is just an animal.
Love third gens. My 2002 has over 400,000 miles and its been beat up offroad, its towed heavy and its had crappy maintenance but it still doesn't care and it keeps on truckin. Love it way more than my FJ.
We got a 3rd gen 2002 4x4 from some old guy who worked with my dad and passed so we got the truck, we’ve had it for about 18 years and it has 181k miles on it and my dad wanted me to sell to some kid for $1k and I was going to do it. Then I stared to a little research on what kind of car I’m selling and little to be said I bought off my dad for $1k and will be keeping it until I die or it dies. Seeing things like this makes me happy that your has 400k and you’ve been beating it up
Took a '99 4runner up to 280k sold it with no running issues. I had the 5-speed 4WD with diff lock and averaged 19mpg, but could easily hit 22 on the highway. Clock can be fixed by taking apart and re-soldering the big surface mount resistors on the back of the pcb. Rust around the windshield was fatal though. Had water coming in next to the windshield and a bodyshop wouldn't touch it for less than $10k, and even then they really really didn't want the work. The '99 had 11in of ground clearance and was one of the most capable stock vehicles around. I kept mine stock because it drove great on the road and took me everywhere I wanted to go off-road.
Thank you Tommy. Always loved the 4Runner, but never owned one. A buddy in high school drove an older one (mid-80s) more truck with a topper. it was the only thing that moved on Minnesota's snowiest days. 4Runner, the comfortable, reliable version of the Jeep Wrangler
I’ve owned 2 manual transmission 4Runners (1998 and 2000, currently own the 00) and I will say they’re awesome cars. I love how they look and how they feel inside. However, they are getting up there in age. Buyers should be expecting to replace a lot of stuff. Granted, parts are cheap and plentiful, but it still takes time. I look at it like an adult Lego set to be honest which I why I love working on it. As long as you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you’ll love these old trucks. Oozing with character. Also keep in mind that you’ll get like max 19 mpg highway, which isn’t great.
I bought my 97 4Runner brand new when I got married. Fast forward, my son who is a junior college at this moment still using it since high school. I told him when gets tired of it that he will give it back to me😀.
I adored my 1997. It had the rear E Locker and would go anywhere. I donated it to family on the east side of LA and they sent me a photo within the past year of it rolling over 300,000 miles.
I daily my 2000 limited 4x4 with 275k and love it. I'm squarely middle-aged and could buy something newer, but I don't want to. It's just a sweetheart. Plus it is easy to wrench on and mod.
I have a 2000 limited 4Runner with the rear locker and 4wd. I am the 6th owner! The car is the same age as me! Got mine for 6k last year here in SoCal. Everything mechanically sound and needs some interior work. 290k miles and going strong. It is my daily driver and I am always impressed by its age and how it handles. Very happy with my purchase.
I got the exact same model 00 limited 4wd with locker mines is black and it’s also the same age as me I was born in 2000. My dad sold his Camry and bought a sr5 3rd gen. We had it for 19 years and eventually I got the limited I have now
A few months ago I bought a 2001 Limited 4WD 4Runner (my 2nd 3rd gen 4runner) and I absolutely LOVE it! Got it from the original owner, and it was in great condition, low miles for the age and other than worn out suspension, didn’t need any major work. I knew I’d love this truck as my daily driver & off-road capable vehicle, but it’s kinda weird how obsessed I am with this truck. Highly recommend paying the premium for one, especially if you’ve checked out all of the points mentioned in this video.
I currently have a '98 4Runner with the 3RZ-FE 2.7L and automatic transmission RWD. It has been extremely reliable, albeit gutless. Even here in Denver, which I attribute to our over 300 days of sunshine annually. There have only been 2-3 times where I have gotten stuck, only once getting help from AAA. There was one day we had -0°F temps and I had to pick up my coworker because his Jeep wouldn't start in the cold, so much for his 4WD!
I have a 2018 with the 4.0L V6, it's lifted and armored for offroading. It's not fast, just adequate. These and the Tacomas have gotten larger without their engines keeping up. Kudos to you for rocking a 2WD in Denver, I'm in Arvada and mine (4x4) goes everywhere. But if you're mostly staying in town the 2WD is just fine.
Excellent and on point review Tommy. One of the best ever from Toyota! Not mentioned was how great the axle gearing was in the Limited as well, both 4.10:1 and 4.30:1 options. I wish my 5th Gen had 4.10:1 axles!
Bought my 1997 in 2001 and have owned her every since. 100% stock and thanks to AZ 0 rust. Not my daily anymore but I can’t imagine getting rid of her.
Very nice. My uncle drove one these up to 415 or 450k miles before the sterring knuckle came off. He did minimal maintenance. He literally drove the wheel off. Personally, I pulled more toward the 4th gen pr 1st gen Sequoia as far as TOYOTA suvs go.
We bought a 5th gen 4Runner Trail. It had 113,000 miles on it. Was more miles and expensive than we wanted. Almost 3 years later and at 148,000 miles we are very happy with our vehicle. With some suspension and tire mods it gets 15MPG. Looking forward to a 2024 or 2025 Land Cruiser or 4Runner hybrid.
I love my 02 with the multimode transfer case. Having AWD as an option is super nice when the weather gets sketchy. Almost makes up for the lack of available rear locker in the last 2 years.
I bought my 97 2WD manual transmission 4 cylinder base model. It was my first car and didn’t know much about 3gen options. Still we have a great relationship but I retired it as my DD two years ago at 450,000 miles. I’m slowly restoring the essentials. Things get old and fragile with the elements.
Strawberry Milkshake additional info: The radiator is designed to double as a cooler/heater for the transmission fluid. If the radiator fails, the engine coolant and trans fluid mixes....Milkshake time! If you see this on the trans dipstick, the damage is already done. Couple of ways to avoid this. Replace the radiator before it's too late with an OEM style, or you can put in a separate trans fluid cooler and bypass the radiator altogether and never worry about this again. One other tidbit. If the auto climate control panel goes haywire, they can be sent in to various "cottage industry" vendors for core exchange/repair.
@@SoulVision1111 Sorry I missed this, did you buy it? Just to answer, you pull the trans fluid dipstick and it will be obvious. Instead of clear or dirty red fluid, it will be a frothy pink mix of the trans and coolant which is also normally red in Toyotas.
Got a 4th gen (2003) and it just went over 300k. Seems to still be going strong and outside of basic maintenance has not even been in the shop in the last 150k or so. More than I could have ever asked for in a car (except gas mileage of course but think not being in the shop in over a decade might make up for that in a big way).
Tommy, your professionalism is jam up and jelly tight. Great job. It's cool to see how you've got better over the years. I have a 2006 (4th gen) 4Runner and it's one of my favorite vehicles I've ever had. And that's been a lot lol. At 200k miles, they drive like brand new.
Awesome truck. Have 02 limited. The one to get is the limited 2001, 2002 in 4x4 or the sport edition 4x4. (With the useless hood ventl) but any of them will get you about 350k. Have 155k on mine and a friend of mine has about 325k on his. Expensive but well worth it and as long as you do oil changes, it will not let you down.
In my 2 years of ownership and 14,500 miles on my 2002 Limited I bought with 302k on the clock, the only surprises were a failing battery and the original radiator finally gave up at 311k. Got it from the original owner just outside of Atlanta. The thing has absolutely no rust. Only downside, some could say, is the fact that it's 2WD. Doesn't bother me because I'm never in a situation where I need it. The 4Runner's in beautiful condition inside and out in the one year only "Golden Pearl White" paint.
@benchattin nice! I always liked the white ones. And the red ones. My truck is thundercloud color. And it is in very nice shape. I did the waterpump and timing belt along with the some suspension work ball joints. Put a toytec lift kit and some k02 tires and looks great. Will keep it until it falls apart.
My 98 4x4 SR5 automatic with 32" tires and a mild 1.5" lift averaged around 18.5 mpgs consistently over the course of years. That was with mixed driving. It would average between 20-22 on the highway, depending on elevaton and speed. And in town I drove it with a feather foot to try to maximize mpgs. But they will definitely beat the advertised 16 mpgs.
Very helpful; very few vehicle cut across continents. No disappointments with the vehicle. 1. Understand your vehicle 2. Do your background research 3. Understand the limitations of your vehicle 4. Understand the weaknesses & work on them if possible 5. Love your vehicle it will love you back if you treat it right. 6. It's not about Myles or gallon it's smiles per gallon 7. Become an overlander & enjoy the unpaved ,corrugated & muddy roads in the Congo. Works like magic...
Terrific video. My 2000 4runner is an all around satisfying car. It's not 4WD, but it handles well in rain and even snow. It's reliable, looks great, and runs well. I love driving this car!
Just in 5 months, I've looked at 16 3rd gen 4runners. 12 out of 16 were all rust buckets, looked so good on pictures but as soon as you get there and start poking the frame 😁. The other 4 were good but selling for $8K to 10K and are about 300K+ kilometers. I know 300K is like break in period for 4runners but I' not gonna pay 10K for that much kilometers.
Just purchased a 2024 Toyota 4Runner (5th gen), she is thirsty but I love it. It has always been my dream truck as a Toyota fan boy. Came from a 06 Toyota Sienna, so it was a weird transition for me. Coming from a the Caribbean Islands where I was surround by Toyotas Land cruisier, Prado, Hilux, and much more. Sadly, I can get any of those here in the states, so I bought a 4Runner.
These toyotas are the last 90s vehicles still on the road I’m noticing. I dont think ive seen many 90s vehicles like the 4runners still rolling around today like its new😂
Help advice please... I'm about to go look at private party selling 1999 limited 4x4 automatic tomorrow asking price 3,000 firm with 290,000 miles Any advice helpful They say everything works perfectly
You guys should do another video on the 1st gen sequoia. Only video I’ve seen was the one Andre did a while ago, but it deserves more and is severely underrated. Even better would be to see a modified one tackle the course!
Ha! I have a beautiful 98 Limited, from Cali. Rust free, perfect chrome bumpers, but I also fixed the antennae and the digital clock!! 318k and I'm planning to keep her spiffy. Daily driver, very comfortable, and I'm 6"2
@@steveL.. took it out and had to resolder the connections. It gets brittle with age. I thought it would be hard but actually it was easy and it was very satisfying when it came together!! Fixing the antenna was more of a nightmare
My grandpa had a 1998 version of that with the 5 speed manual 4x4 he said it was one of the best vehicles he bought and got him to 576,000 miles before he finally decided it was time to get rid of it
Have you replaced the transmission fluid filter? The metal mesh one I believe. I have about 190,000 miles and that’s pretty much the only thing I haven’t done to my ‘02 4Runner. Any info is appreciated, thanks.
I have 2wd I just use it to put my surf boards on top great lil suv horrible mpg’s it was one owner seats are in perfect condition no tears all leather electric everything paint is immaculate. I hear they make great four-wheel-drive, vehicles, very reliable. Nonetheless, I’m happy with it and when I say, four-wheel-drive vehicles I mean as in other ones that are four-wheel-drive, not this one.
Back when I used to live in Ohio we had one (and only one)that would come into the dealership and everybody would laugh and yell "2Runner". Now I live in AZ and 2Runners are all over the place.
Being new to Toyotas, I was shocked to discover that they even made 2wd "4runners".. When I bought my 2001 4x4 3rd gen a few months, I bypassed alot of 2wds that had less miles and were much cleaner ... But I figured what's the point of a 4runner that isn't 4x4 ? 7 months in, so far I don't regret it, 240,000 miles on the 3.4...
picked one up with 265000kms about 160000miles been great so far only problem is my difcover has rust and weaps abit but other than that its great 5speed 4x4 all i can say is toyota built them so well made in japan yes im a toyota fan boy but i love ford chev too but i daily drive a toyota. its sad how alot of the newer vehicles feel so plastic and cheap gonna drive this until it rust in half
4th Gen is generally much more capable and typically doesn't cost much much than a 3rd Gen in decent shape. Engines are much more powerful and just as efficient, and possibly more. I typically average 17-19mpg in my V6. They have more room and towing capacity as well. Biggest thing to look for on them (besides frame/rust of course) are stuck brake calipers, power steering line and rack leaks (my rack had failed internally and was leaking), and radiator.
I'm a big TFL fan and proud to share this state we call home together. You should have probably mentioned the tendency for the 3rd gen to have bad lower ball joint failures if not maintained and the location to look for where the frame rusts. You stated the horsepower multiple times on vehicle that is so slow it doesn't matter and had weird points where the camera zoomed in on the leather seat and rusted trailer hitch.
In #6 he said its a 5 seater but he fails to mention some came with rear facing back rows that made it a 7 seater. Not that I would suggest using them but they didmake it
I have owned multiple 3rd gen 4Runners. Currently own both a 3rd & 5th gen 4Runner and cannot imagine selling either one. You cannot find a more reliable, capable, and fun suv to own!
My family has been driving a 2000 limited 4runner for the last 18 years. In the first 17 years the repair costs were less than $500. Total ownership cost was 32 cents a mile. That was with my wife driving!!! Now my oldest daughter is driving it the repair cost in the last year is approaching $2000. Granted she has put 40k miles on in the last year but kids are hard on stuff. For this reason I would add to the buyers guide to find one that was owned and driven by old people, not kids!!!
I had a 3rd gen 4Runner limited with 269,000 I hated to get rid of it but the brake system failed on me and it would have been 2500 to repair at Toyota
Big fan of Toyota, my first car was a Celica and I have 3 Toyotas ('06, '18, '21) in the garage right now. In most cases I think the older Tacomas, 4Runners etc are better than the new ones. Our '99 Tacoma was a fast little truck, where a '15 Tacoma isn't. We have an '06 Tundra, the new ones have plenty of power but are just too big. We'll most likely buy a new base Tacoma to keep for the rest of our lives, but that all depends on how the turbo holds up.
My son’s going be taking my old daily driver compact car to learn to drive on. Really really love these older model 4Runners. Thinking about getting a used one for myself. Does it matter how many miles it has on it if I buy it used, as long as the carfax looks good and all regular maintenance was done it?
The reason I like the 3rd gen 4Runner is you could get a 5 speed manual transmission. That was the last generation 4Runner you could get with a manual. The greatness of this vehicle is it will easily go past 200k miles and can handle inclement weather like Colorado mountain snow. The flaw is 4Runners get poor gas mileage, around 17-18 mpg. When it was sold gas wasn't as much so that was Ok. But today you can still use a 3rd gen 4Runner to rack up a lot of miles, but it is going to cost a lot. At today's prices it will cost $25k in gas to go 100k miles.
And with the price you'll pay for it, and the lackluster power it makes... literally zero reason to get one of these. Slow + poor mpg + no real power is EMBARRASSING
@@bldontmatter5319 If a 4WD one shows up with less than 150k miles, a manual transmission, and no serious rust, I would consider buying it. We live in the Colorado mountains and it would be a good supplemental vehicle for bad Winter weather. But I have a 97 T100 which is a similar vehicle but slightly larger and a pickup. I use it when I need to carry stuff or we get deep snow, so my T100 is more practical than a 4Runner.
The 3.4l felt like a rocketship compared to the 3.slow v6😂 3.4l 1 of the best /most reliable engines ever made. 3rd gen 4runner/ 1st gen tacoma are bulletproof , decent on gas , and good-looking vehicles
Then you’ll never get behind the wheel either. The mileage doesn’t matter. It’s how well it was maintained, and I’d find one that has been well maintained, I suggest you buy it immediately.
I cant even remember the last time I've seen one of these old 4Runners. They have long since returned to the Earth from whence they came. 0 attention paid by Toyota to quality metal. Lots of Fords and Chevys from this era still seen daily, they're not pretty but they're not completely iron oxide either.
I still see a few of them around New England, but they're in rough shape. I was trying to buy one a few years ago, I gave up because they were all way too rusty. About 5 years ago I had a co-worker that had one, it looked like new up top but the frame was swiss cheese.
@@Queensizemusic California is a magical place for vehicles, they just don't rust. The weather there is perfect for preserving vehicles, what with the low humidity, infrequent rain, and lack of road salt. I was out there in May and was constantly amazed at how nice the older cars were.
We love ours its is a 2wd but I picked it up two years ago for 3k Thought I got a toy for me I was wrong my wife daily drives it I only get it if it needs to be washed or long trips.
Hi all, guys i need your help about 2 options to buy, first 84 Cruiser with engine 15bft 4.100cc turbo diésel and 5° manual and the second option another cruiser i dont know the year between 1984-86 but with F2 engine, what option it is better? the 15bft engine its good too? or bad option. please help.
My 3rd gen 4Runner has over 322k and still going strong... Engine is real quite after it warms up. No vibrations. Love this thing.
I’m trying to get a 4 runner hopefully a 3rd gen 😊
I've got a '98 Limited, I bought in '98 .... its got less than 70,000 original miles on it.
Thinking about selling it, obviously I just don't drive it much.
@@danielfair4675 Sell it now, before the 6th gen comes out. There will be an influx of used 4Runners hitting the market in 25'-26', and you won't get as much for yours.
@@danielfair4675what are you asking and where are you located
@@danielfair4675just sold my 98 limited today ): . 308,000 miles . Rebuilt engine was at 22,000 miles. Was good to me for 4 1/2 years . Wanted something new now. Eventually in the future I’ll get myself a 4x4 4Runner and build it once again.
Very nice review. I am a 30 year Toyota technician and a owner of a black 1999 4Runner highlander edition (sport edition in later years) with a manual trans, manual t-case, and locking diff. I admit this is one of the very few places I get to brag about my 4runner that the rest of the world does not care about lol.....
Anyway, the reason I posted was If you are buying 2001-2002 with the electronic brake booster (ones with VSC). Take a look at the brake fluid, if it is very dark, you may want to shy away. The brake master cylinder is a 2000$-3000$ job at the dealer. You can get aftermarket/used ones for 1000$ or so plus labor. We have been replacing quite a few of these lately in AZ. Even the cheapest option is still 10%-20% of the purchase price of the car.
OH, and a tip for all you owners out there... Clean you MAF sensor. It makes a HUGE difference. 3 10mm bolts to remove cruise control module, then 2 screws (need a stubby), and spray it out with MAF sensor cleaner (I use brake clean) and reassemble. Enjoy 30 more HP and no more pinging.
Thanks for the info, how often do you clean your MAF sensor? Thank you!
@@Gretzky2857 honestly I do it every oil change, or any other time I'm under the hood.
I recently test drove an 01 Limited. The brakes were extremely "grabby"... like barely press the pedal and you get thrown forward in you seat. Any idea what that's all about?
Most likely the rear axle seals are leaking and causing the rear brakes to be super grabby (coated in gear oil). Very common issue and easy repair, but figure 500-1000 if you are going to have a shop do it.
On a side note I was in a accident in my 99 highlander edition 4runner 2 weeks ago, Somebody made a left in front of me and I hit them at about 45-50mph. We are ok (me and my 7 year old), but the other drivers are pretty banged up (please give a thought for them if possible). my 4runner is no more, but I am looking at replacements and possibly swapping the drivetrain into another one. @@phiksit
@@catapltso sad :(
My daily driver a 2000 4Runner that has been in our family for 24 years. My ex bought it new and I bought it from her when she got a 2021 4Runner. It had 193K miles on it and she had perfectly maintained it over the years. I put a Bilstein/OME 2" lift, 285/70/17 Falken Wildpeaks, 17x 8.5 MK6 Level 8 wheels, SPC adjustable upper control arms and a front diff drop. Took it out to CO from KY with my daughter 3 yrs ago and climbed all over the Alpine loop. We had a blast and this thing crawled over everything in it's path. I'm getting ready to turn over 250K miles and plan on driving it until either I die or it dies...I'd put my money on the 4Runner.
Excellent machines. I've owned two of them. My '97 V6 towed a 2500 lb travel trailer with no problem starting at 6000' and everything was uphill from there. I averaged 18 mpg in town and over 20 on the highway consistently. One of the best off-road machines I have ever owned. even without the locker it is very capable and with the locker it is just an animal.
Love third gens. My 2002 has over 400,000 miles and its been beat up offroad, its towed heavy and its had crappy maintenance but it still doesn't care and it keeps on truckin. Love it way more than my FJ.
We got a 3rd gen 2002 4x4 from some old guy who worked with my dad and passed so we got the truck, we’ve had it for about 18 years and it has 181k miles on it and my dad wanted me to sell to some kid for $1k and I was going to do it. Then I stared to a little research on what kind of car I’m selling and little to be said I bought off my dad for $1k and will be keeping it until I die or it dies. Seeing things like this makes me happy that your has 400k and you’ve been beating it up
Took a '99 4runner up to 280k sold it with no running issues. I had the 5-speed 4WD with diff lock and averaged 19mpg, but could easily hit 22 on the highway. Clock can be fixed by taking apart and re-soldering the big surface mount resistors on the back of the pcb. Rust around the windshield was fatal though. Had water coming in next to the windshield and a bodyshop wouldn't touch it for less than $10k, and even then they really really didn't want the work. The '99 had 11in of ground clearance and was one of the most capable stock vehicles around. I kept mine stock because it drove great on the road and took me everywhere I wanted to go off-road.
I have a 2000 4runner with 110k. Will never sell, best vehicle ever made. Still looks brand new inside and out.
Thank you Tommy. Always loved the 4Runner, but never owned one. A buddy in high school drove an older one (mid-80s) more truck with a topper. it was the only thing that moved on Minnesota's snowiest days. 4Runner, the comfortable, reliable version of the Jeep Wrangler
I’ve owned 2 manual transmission 4Runners (1998 and 2000, currently own the 00) and I will say they’re awesome cars. I love how they look and how they feel inside. However, they are getting up there in age. Buyers should be expecting to replace a lot of stuff. Granted, parts are cheap and plentiful, but it still takes time. I look at it like an adult Lego set to be honest which I why I love working on it. As long as you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you’ll love these old trucks. Oozing with character. Also keep in mind that you’ll get like max 19 mpg highway, which isn’t great.
Agree I think the 4th Gen is a good daily/weekend warrior - basically same truck as a 5th Gen with different sheet metal
I bought my 97 4Runner brand new when I got married. Fast forward, my son who is a junior college at this moment still using it since high school. I told him when gets tired of it that he will give it back to me😀.
I adored my 1997. It had the rear E Locker and would go anywhere. I donated it to family on the east side of LA and they sent me a photo within the past year of it rolling over 300,000 miles.
I daily my 2000 limited 4x4 with 275k and love it. I'm squarely middle-aged and could buy something newer, but I don't want to. It's just a sweetheart. Plus it is easy to wrench on and mod.
I have a 2000 limited 4Runner with the rear locker and 4wd. I am the 6th owner! The car is the same age as me! Got mine for 6k last year here in SoCal. Everything mechanically sound and needs some interior work. 290k miles and going strong. It is my daily driver and I am always impressed by its age and how it handles. Very happy with my purchase.
I got the exact same model 00 limited 4wd with locker mines is black and it’s also the same age as me I was born in 2000. My dad sold his Camry and bought a sr5 3rd gen. We had it for 19 years and eventually I got the limited I have now
A few months ago I bought a 2001 Limited 4WD 4Runner (my 2nd 3rd gen 4runner) and I absolutely LOVE it! Got it from the original owner, and it was in great condition, low miles for the age and other than worn out suspension, didn’t need any major work. I knew I’d love this truck as my daily driver & off-road capable vehicle, but it’s kinda weird how obsessed I am with this truck. Highly recommend paying the premium for one, especially if you’ve checked out all of the points mentioned in this video.
I have a 1996 3400 V6 4wd 5-speed manual.
With spare out, driven responsibly I get 20.2 mpg combined.
530K on my 98 LTD , all original drivetrain still . Maintenance is key !
Good video.
I currently have a '98 4Runner with the 3RZ-FE 2.7L and automatic transmission RWD. It has been extremely reliable, albeit gutless. Even here in Denver, which I attribute to our over 300 days of sunshine annually.
There have only been 2-3 times where I have gotten stuck, only once getting help from AAA.
There was one day we had -0°F temps and I had to pick up my coworker because his Jeep wouldn't start in the cold, so much for his 4WD!
I have a 2018 with the 4.0L V6, it's lifted and armored for offroading. It's not fast, just adequate. These and the Tacomas have gotten larger without their engines keeping up.
Kudos to you for rocking a 2WD in Denver, I'm in Arvada and mine (4x4) goes everywhere. But if you're mostly staying in town the 2WD is just fine.
Nice video! The 3rd gen 4runners are great! I currently have a 98 and a 99 limited. Both 4x4 with rear diff locker. Both have well over 200,00 miles.
Excellent and on point review Tommy. One of the best ever from Toyota! Not mentioned was how great the axle gearing was in the Limited as well, both 4.10:1 and 4.30:1 options. I wish my 5th Gen had 4.10:1 axles!
Bought my 1997 in 2001 and have owned her every since. 100% stock and thanks to AZ 0 rust. Not my daily anymore but I can’t imagine getting rid of her.
1998 Limited, 428,614 Miles. Daily driven, everything works, great review!
Also, our 06 Highlander limited has 347k and 07 Tundra SR5 has 295k. Both daily drivers. Money well spent!
Almost went 4Runner but needed more room so I went sequoia. Almost at 200k miles and 291k on my 03 Tacoma, very similar to this 4 runner 🤙🏽
Very nice. My uncle drove one these up to 415 or 450k miles before the sterring knuckle came off. He did minimal maintenance. He literally drove the wheel off. Personally, I pulled more toward the 4th gen pr 1st gen Sequoia as far as TOYOTA suvs go.
If you can get your hands on a 4.7L V8 4Runner you will have the greatest 4Runner ever made.
Just came here to say that😊
nah, I prefer my V6. V8 is too complicated to work on.
Just came up on 97 4Runner limited leather seats 224k maintained perfectly by my grandma 😭 rest in peace thank you
Best comment on this channel ever!
Sold it. Strong, but gas guzzler.
We bought a 5th gen 4Runner Trail. It had 113,000 miles on it. Was more miles and expensive than we wanted. Almost 3 years later and at 148,000 miles we are very happy with our vehicle. With some suspension and tire mods it gets 15MPG. Looking forward to a 2024 or 2025 Land Cruiser or 4Runner hybrid.
15mpg??? my 98 on 33s gets 18.5 driving colorado mountain passes
97 4Runner sr5 4x4 with manual transmission owner. Bought it in 2000. 170k no problems what’s so ever. Still drives the same as when I got it
I love my 02 with the multimode transfer case. Having AWD as an option is super nice when the weather gets sketchy. Almost makes up for the lack of available rear locker in the last 2 years.
I bought my 97 2WD manual transmission 4 cylinder base model. It was my first car and didn’t know much about 3gen options. Still we have a great relationship but I retired it as my DD two years ago at 450,000 miles. I’m slowly restoring the essentials. Things get old and fragile with the elements.
Strawberry Milkshake additional info: The radiator is designed to double as a cooler/heater for the transmission fluid. If the radiator fails, the engine coolant and trans fluid mixes....Milkshake time! If you see this on the trans dipstick, the damage is already done. Couple of ways to avoid this. Replace the radiator before it's too late with an OEM style, or you can put in a separate trans fluid cooler and bypass the radiator altogether and never worry about this again.
One other tidbit. If the auto climate control panel goes haywire, they can be sent in to various "cottage industry" vendors for core exchange/repair.
Im going to look at one tomorrow
How do i tell from looking if Strawberry milkshake issue is present ?
@@SoulVision1111 Sorry I missed this, did you buy it? Just to answer, you pull the trans fluid dipstick and it will be obvious. Instead of clear or dirty red fluid, it will be a frothy pink mix of the trans and coolant which is also normally red in Toyotas.
Got a 4th gen (2003) and it just went over 300k. Seems to still be going strong and outside of basic maintenance has not even been in the shop in the last 150k or so. More than I could have ever asked for in a car (except gas mileage of course but think not being in the shop in over a decade might make up for that in a big way).
Tommy, your professionalism is jam up and jelly tight. Great job. It's cool to see how you've got better over the years. I have a 2006 (4th gen) 4Runner and it's one of my favorite vehicles I've ever had. And that's been a lot lol. At 200k miles, they drive like brand new.
Not many of them on polish market, they're really in demand. Thanks for the video 👍
Awesome truck. Have 02 limited. The one to get is the limited 2001, 2002 in 4x4 or the sport edition 4x4. (With the useless hood ventl) but any of them will get you about 350k. Have 155k on mine and a friend of mine has about 325k on his. Expensive but well worth it and as long as you do oil changes, it will not let you down.
In my 2 years of ownership and 14,500 miles on my 2002 Limited I bought with 302k on the clock, the only surprises were a failing battery and the original radiator finally gave up at 311k. Got it from the original owner just outside of Atlanta. The thing has absolutely no rust. Only downside, some could say, is the fact that it's 2WD. Doesn't bother me because I'm never in a situation where I need it. The 4Runner's in beautiful condition inside and out in the one year only "Golden Pearl White" paint.
@benchattin nice! I always liked the white ones. And the red ones. My truck is thundercloud color. And it is in very nice shape. I did the waterpump and timing belt along with the some suspension work ball joints. Put a toytec lift kit and some k02 tires and looks great. Will keep it until it falls apart.
On my 4th 4runner. 3 3rd gens, now a 5th gen. Still love the 3rd gen
I'm proud to daily my 2000 Limited with the center AND factory rear locker 💪
I have a 2001 limited with 418k on original engine. Had frame rot at the rear, front is coated in oil from main seal so it’s ok.
My 98 4x4 SR5 automatic with 32" tires and a mild 1.5" lift averaged around 18.5 mpgs consistently over the course of years. That was with mixed driving. It would average between 20-22 on the highway, depending on elevaton and speed. And in town I drove it with a feather foot to try to maximize mpgs. But they will definitely beat the advertised 16 mpgs.
Very helpful; very few vehicle cut across continents.
No disappointments with the vehicle.
1. Understand your vehicle
2. Do your background research
3. Understand the limitations of your vehicle
4. Understand the weaknesses & work on them if possible
5. Love your vehicle it will love you back if you treat it right.
6. It's not about Myles or gallon it's smiles per gallon
7. Become an overlander & enjoy the unpaved ,corrugated & muddy roads in the Congo.
Works like magic...
My FAVORITE vehicle I’ve ever owned, but Tommy, you forgot to mention the 5 speed manual. Mine was a 1996 SR5 4WD 5 Speed! 2:42
He accidentally said it came with either a 5-speed auto or 4 speed ECT auto.. I think he meant to say 5 speed manual
Terrific video. My 2000 4runner is an all around satisfying car. It's not 4WD, but it handles well in rain and even snow. It's reliable, looks great, and runs well. I love driving this car!
These 3.4l just keep going and going. Just hit 300k last month. Absolute tanks
Seen a lot of 4 runner videos and not one of them covered the coolant problem, thank you I’ll be sure to look for that on my up coming trade
I had a ‘93 4Runner as my first car. I loved it, but it was sloooooow and thirsty.
Tommy ! Spectacular 4Runner review ! One of the best vehicles then and now !
Just in 5 months, I've looked at 16 3rd gen 4runners. 12 out of 16 were all rust buckets, looked so good on pictures but as soon as you get there and start poking the frame 😁. The other 4 were good but selling for $8K to 10K and are about 300K+ kilometers. I know 300K is like break in period for 4runners but I' not gonna pay 10K for that much kilometers.
my dad got one for 3000 a 1996 sr5 limited, and its really one of the best deals he found
Isn't that Martin Sheen narrating the opening 4Runner advertisement👏👍
Just purchased a 2024 Toyota 4Runner (5th gen), she is thirsty but I love it. It has always been my dream truck as a Toyota fan boy. Came from a 06 Toyota Sienna, so it was a weird transition for me. Coming from a the Caribbean Islands where I was surround by Toyotas Land cruisier, Prado, Hilux, and much more. Sadly, I can get any of those here in the states, so I bought a 4Runner.
Technically you bought a Prado
I have a 2004 Sequoia Limited and simply love it.
These toyotas are the last 90s vehicles still on the road I’m noticing. I dont think ive seen many 90s vehicles like the 4runners still rolling around today like its new😂
My 01 4Runner has 321,000 miles and still going strong. Very dependable
Tough to find one in good shape in the north east that isn’t a rust bucket which they were known to have issues with.
Help advice please...
I'm about to go look at private party selling 1999 limited 4x4 automatic tomorrow asking price 3,000 firm with 290,000 miles
Any advice helpful
They say everything works perfectly
You guys should do another video on the 1st gen sequoia. Only video I’ve seen was the one Andre did a while ago, but it deserves more and is severely underrated. Even better would be to see a modified one tackle the course!
Ha! I have a beautiful 98 Limited, from Cali. Rust free, perfect chrome bumpers, but I also fixed the antennae and the digital clock!! 318k and I'm planning to keep her spiffy. Daily driver, very comfortable, and I'm 6"2
I have the same truck How did you fix the clock?
@@steveL.. took it out and had to resolder the connections. It gets brittle with age. I thought it would be hard but actually it was easy and it was very satisfying when it came together!!
Fixing the antenna was more of a nightmare
Oddly, now a couple years later and it's jinky again.
But I've done other things to the T4R, going strong at 325
My grandpa had a 1998 version of that with the 5 speed manual 4x4 he said it was one of the best vehicles he bought and got him to 576,000 miles before he finally decided it was time to get rid of it
Love the buyer's guide!
I have one with 420k miles and another one with 230k miles. Love me a 3rd Gen 4Runner
Have you replaced the transmission fluid filter? The metal mesh one I believe. I have about 190,000 miles and that’s pretty much the only thing I haven’t done to my ‘02 4Runner. Any info is appreciated, thanks.
I still have my 3rd gen 4Runner going strong. Just passed 325K a few weeks ago.
I think at 2:40 you meant "5spd manual transmission" rather than automatic. Yeah gotta love those old runners - they last forever!
I have 2wd I just use it to put my surf boards on top great lil suv horrible mpg’s it was one owner seats are in perfect condition no tears all leather electric everything paint is immaculate. I hear they make great four-wheel-drive, vehicles, very reliable. Nonetheless, I’m happy with it and when I say, four-wheel-drive vehicles I mean as in other ones that are four-wheel-drive, not this one.
They are TANKS!! I have had 4, 2 4th gen, and now drive a 5 th gen.
The 4x4 4Runner is a great vehicle, but if it's a 2WD then it's not a 4Runner. It's a 2Runner!
Back when I used to live in Ohio we had one (and only one)that would come into the dealership and everybody would laugh and yell "2Runner". Now I live in AZ and 2Runners are all over the place.
Being new to Toyotas, I was shocked to discover that they even made 2wd "4runners".. When I bought my 2001 4x4 3rd gen a few months, I bypassed alot of 2wds that had less miles and were much cleaner ... But I figured what's the point of a 4runner that isn't 4x4 ? 7 months in, so far I don't regret it, 240,000 miles on the 3.4...
Those are handsome rigs, I miss that era of toyota trucks.
Nice there some in Oregon selling a Toyota forerunner 2000 V6 150,000 miles five speed four-wheel-drive 15,000
Love this style of video. Keep
Em coming Tommy
picked one up with 265000kms about 160000miles been great so far only problem is my difcover has rust and weaps abit but other than that its great 5speed 4x4 all i can say is toyota built them so well made in japan yes im a toyota fan boy but i love ford chev too but i daily drive a toyota. its sad how alot of the newer vehicles feel so plastic and cheap gonna drive this until it rust in half
Nice! Can’t wait for the Toyota series
I just picked up a 2002, no locking diffs but hey still a 3rd gen
7:34 that's the only time I've heard the term strawberry milkshake in not a gross way
Any love for the 4th gen? How about making a video about it?
4th Gen is generally much more capable and typically doesn't cost much much than a 3rd Gen in decent shape. Engines are much more powerful and just as efficient, and possibly more. I typically average 17-19mpg in my V6. They have more room and towing capacity as well.
Biggest thing to look for on them (besides frame/rust of course) are stuck brake calipers, power steering line and rack leaks (my rack had failed internally and was leaking), and radiator.
4th gen with the 4.7L V8 are the best. You’re getting the same V8 that was in a Landcrusier with out all the luxury stuff, lighter too.
I'm a big TFL fan and proud to share this state we call home together. You should have probably mentioned the tendency for the 3rd gen to have bad lower ball joint failures if not maintained and the location to look for where the frame rusts. You stated the horsepower multiple times on vehicle that is so slow it doesn't matter and had weird points where the camera zoomed in on the leather seat and rusted trailer hitch.
He did point out the lower ball joint issue.
@@Queensizemusic Thanks! I totally missed it!
@@hansdavis2348 no worries! 🤘🏼⚡️🤘🏼
In #6 he said its a 5 seater but he fails to mention some came with rear facing back rows that made it a 7 seater. Not that I would suggest using them but they didmake it
It would be great if the next generation would return to this size. But I doubt it
This gen 4runner will outlast cockroaches.
I love my 1999 4runner sr5 rwd. She has 275k. In my opinion 3rd gen is the most sexy generation of 4runner
I have owned multiple 3rd gen 4Runners. Currently own both a 3rd & 5th gen 4Runner and cannot imagine selling either one. You cannot find a more reliable, capable, and fun suv to own!
Great on trails due to it's size!
Right?
I have a dealer installed TRD Supercharger on my '98 Limited.
the only thing better than a new toyota truck, is an older one.
My family has been driving a 2000 limited 4runner for the last 18 years. In the first 17 years the repair costs were less than $500. Total ownership cost was 32 cents a mile. That was with my wife driving!!!
Now my oldest daughter is driving it the repair cost in the last year is approaching $2000. Granted she has put 40k miles on in the last year but kids are hard on stuff. For this reason I would add to the buyers guide to find one that was owned and driven by old people, not kids!!!
C’mon, it’s 23 years old and probably not your daughter’s fault.
Hey Tommy, if you don't drive your daily driver every single day, is it still a daily driver? Great video, love your work!
I had a 3rd gen 4Runner limited with 269,000 I hated to get rid of it but the brake system failed on me and it would have been 2500 to repair at Toyota
Big fan of Toyota, my first car was a Celica and I have 3 Toyotas ('06, '18, '21) in the garage right now. In most cases I think the older Tacomas, 4Runners etc are better than the new ones. Our '99 Tacoma was a fast little truck, where a '15 Tacoma isn't. We have an '06 Tundra, the new ones have plenty of power but are just too big.
We'll most likely buy a new base Tacoma to keep for the rest of our lives, but that all depends on how the turbo holds up.
My son’s going be taking my old daily driver compact car to learn to drive on. Really really love these older model 4Runners. Thinking about getting a used one for myself. Does it matter how many miles it has on it if I buy it used, as long as the carfax looks good and all regular maintenance was done it?
The reason I like the 3rd gen 4Runner is you could get a 5 speed manual transmission. That was the last generation 4Runner you could get with a manual. The greatness of this vehicle is it will easily go past 200k miles and can handle inclement weather like Colorado mountain snow. The flaw is 4Runners get poor gas mileage, around 17-18 mpg. When it was sold gas wasn't as much so that was Ok. But today you can still use a 3rd gen 4Runner to rack up a lot of miles, but it is going to cost a lot. At today's prices it will cost $25k in gas to go 100k miles.
And with the price you'll pay for it, and the lackluster power it makes... literally zero reason to get one of these. Slow + poor mpg + no real power is EMBARRASSING
@@bldontmatter5319 If a 4WD one shows up with less than 150k miles, a manual transmission, and no serious rust, I would consider buying it. We live in the Colorado mountains and it would be a good supplemental vehicle for bad Winter weather. But I have a 97 T100 which is a similar vehicle but slightly larger and a pickup. I use it when I need to carry stuff or we get deep snow, so my T100 is more practical than a 4Runner.
Not everyone needs a race car…
@@bldontmatter5319 Afraid the other kids will laugh at you on the highway?
@@653j521 no, it's a combination of everything bad here, that makes these sub-par.
The 3.4l felt like a rocketship compared to the 3.slow v6😂
3.4l 1 of the best /most reliable engines ever made. 3rd gen 4runner/ 1st gen tacoma are bulletproof , decent on gas , and good-looking vehicles
Ah yes paying like $10k for a vehicle with close to 300k miles makes so much sense. I just cant get behind them with the current pricing.
Then you’ll never get behind the wheel either. The mileage doesn’t matter. It’s how well it was maintained, and I’d find one that has been well maintained, I suggest you buy it immediately.
There’s plenty of good examples in Colorado where prices are high for these kinds of vehicles for 6-8k
I cant even remember the last time I've seen one of these old 4Runners. They have long since returned to the Earth from whence they came. 0 attention paid by Toyota to quality metal. Lots of Fords and Chevys from this era still seen daily, they're not pretty but they're not completely iron oxide either.
I still see a few of them around New England, but they're in rough shape. I was trying to buy one a few years ago, I gave up because they were all way too rusty. About 5 years ago I had a co-worker that had one, it looked like new up top but the frame was swiss cheese.
Weird. I see them EVERYWHERE here in California.
@@Queensizemusic California is a magical place for vehicles, they just don't rust. The weather there is perfect for preserving vehicles, what with the low humidity, infrequent rain, and lack of road salt. I was out there in May and was constantly amazed at how nice the older cars were.
@@trailrunnah8886 that’s the absolute truth. This Mediterranean climate is very kind to cars (and to us people!). ;-)
@@trailrunnah8886 I also hope you had a great trip and enjoyed being out here. I’ve traveled all over the world, but this is still my favorite place.
I have a 2000 sr5 and I average 22 mph with a manual 5 speed 😎
I was hoping you'd do a slip test to showcase 4x4 capability..
Also i hpe you do a review on 4th gen v8 in the near future 😊
I daily drive and wheel mine,and i love it,i own and wheel ah lot of deferent rigs but love there 3rd gen the most
Are these vehicles prone to head gasket failure?
What year is actually the best in 3rd generation 4runner?.
I think if somebody is looking for a used 4Runner today, the 4th Gen with the 4.0 V6 would be the best choice.
Ugly
We love ours its is a 2wd but I picked it up two years ago for 3k Thought I got a toy for me I was wrong my wife daily drives it I only get it if it needs to be washed or long trips.
I’m hoping to get a 3rd gen 4Runner soon 😊
Hi all, guys i need your help about 2 options to buy, first 84 Cruiser with engine 15bft 4.100cc turbo diésel and 5° manual and the second option another cruiser i dont know the year between 1984-86 but with F2 engine, what option it is better? the 15bft engine its good too? or bad option. please help.