Paid 5500 for a ‘99 4Runner with 240k miles last year. Loaded it up with 1200lbs of production equipment and drove it from Seattle to Las Vegas in one straight shot in July with zero issues. Then let it sit for two months and did the opposite route. Love that car
i had a 2003 4.7 SR5 edition.........the cold intake wasnt working,the hot intake wasnt working,the suspension was on its last breath...........but still it ran like a champ,to this day i regret selling it
@@benchattin I've got 408k miles on mines. It is by far the most reliable car I've ever had. I've taken it all around the Western Region of the US over the years. It uses about a 1/4 inch of oil now based on measuring the dipstick. Oil change is at 5000k. It used to now using any. Although I have a slight leak from the passenger side valve cover so that may be the source of my oil drop. I've replaced the starter twice. The last time was earlier this year. The factory one lasted over 250k miles. It was the same with the factory alternator. It lasted to about 260k miles.
Proud owner of a 2007 4Runner, purchased brand new with 3 miles on the odometer, currently at 330,000 miles and zero mechanical issues on nothing but routine maintenance.
Anyone else notice how more relaxed and playful Wizard is when Hoovie's around? That's when you know they're friends in real life and not put upon like other partnerships.
What I like is that together, they have that silly, high school, sexual innuendoes going on between them, and you can just tell they never grew up, just like me…
I remember when the fluid mix up with Hoovie's SLS happened like a year ago and everybody thought Hoovie and Wizard's relationship was ruined forever. LOL, yeah right.
I daily drove a 1989 4Runner that I ran up to 470,000 miles. I kept it stock and it was ultra reliable. Daily driven for 30 years. I sold it to some guy who wanted to make an off roader out of it, but man do I miss it. It had the inclinometer package, too. 3VZE V6 with a manual transmission. What an amazingly over-engineered machine that was. Miss it everyday.
I just had my 3VZE rebuilt in my 1990...Manual tranny, it was tough finding an engine builder that knew what they were doing, but fortunately, I did find. It took 13 months, it passes emissions. I have the tailgate, roomy inside and tire rack on back. I just hauled 10 boxes of 24x12 tile & a bath vanity in one trip to the flooring store. The drive train and u-joints and diffs all original..except a right side axle bearing and CV joints. Mine 305,000 after head gasket repair & machine shop work. I felt the vehicle was worthy of this expense, to get my 4Runner back on the road. I am 2nd owner, I paid it off (it was coming from a lease) in 1998
@wheezin_mtnbkr3576 my brother's 94 can attest to it but being figured out in 89. I think the auto trans was a big contributor to it. It sounds like if you avoid overheating it their fine but as soon as you do...
I have a 1990 4runner. Living in Saskatchewan after a certain point in winter it becomes the only vehicles that is reliable enough to leave the house with
I paid $1000 for my '97 SR5 with 270k on it. All I've done is maintenance services after purchase, new valve cover gaskets and tube seals, and a new alternator. Haven't had a single issue. Best vehicle I've ever owned
Reliability beats everything to me. Gas mileage, comfort, performance, all of it. Reliability is the most important thing. That’s why I drive a Tacoma.
you don't realize how important that is until you don't have it. I drove Toyota for 7 years then went to Tesla for 6 years. Blew a gasket at how many times the mechanic had to fix it in a year so now have a Toyota and Lexus in the garage. Life is better now....
The buttons on the back are for opening and closing the rear window. Only models with smart key have the buttons. Models with a physical key can open and close the window turning the key in the keyhole. No 4runner to date has had a power liftgate.
All 4Runners are made at the Tahara plant in Japan. One of their best factories. Body on frame. Don't forget to periodically wash off the salt on the frame in the Midwest during the winter.
There is rumor that the next one will be built in the Texas factories. Will be interesting to see how it affects quality. Although, I own a Tundra that I'm at 100k miles with, and so far its been a very similar experience as my last two 4runners which both made it to 200k before I just got bored with them and upgraded.
@@saywhatnow57 I have liked all my 4 runners as they are built in Japan, the Taco's ive had the material quality and build dont seem up to par with Japan build vehicles. The oil filter on these new ones are terrible my 07 4.0 is on top and i run a tundra filter on it for more capacity, unable to do with these new ones
All Toyota factories have the same cutting-edge manufacturing standard. If a certain vehicle has a lower quality, it's because that's just the way they engineered it.
Love how the wizard always talks about Toyota quality. After owning clunkers and other used cars all my life I decided to save up a big down payment to be able to get something brand new for a change. By the time I had over $10k put aside I decided it would be a Tacoma. I brought it home in July 2020 and it's been so perfect. Nothing but maintenance and state inspection done to it.
@@vw5056 yeah except the Sion. But really I think that's because he buys whatever cars that come by him for a good price. A lot of mechanics tend to by fixer upper cars because they have the skills to fix them at cost unlike use that often have to pay for labor. Not paying for your own labor puts many more project cars in to the realms of being reasonable to get for a good mechanic.
@@MrMikey1273 that Scion was not bought at a good price but at the current highly inflated bs numbers. $9k for a nearly ten year old Toyota with 140k miles that was possibly wrecked given the junkyard trans? It is a $4k car on a good day. I am still trying to figure out why he bought it when he said in the past that he prefers big floaters and to not operate a manual trans after a day's work. A Landcruiser would have made far more sense.
Tacomas aren’t powerhouse’s, but it’ll run forever. We farm in southeast iowa with lots of rock road and those little trucks are beasts! Happy motoring.
you forgot transmission service every 40 to 60 thousand miles if you want it to truly last a ton of miles with all other normal services most people don't do it they just sell it and leave it for the unsuspecting buyer. Check car fax it usually shows fluid changes.
Yes I venture to say this is probably the best V-6 they ever made next to the 2GRFE and from what I understand this V6 4.0 is basically the 4.7 V8 with two less cylindersI'm not 100% sure but it's derivative was explained to me a while ago I just forgot some of the details
Toyotas are very awesome cars for sure, but their dealers have become rude and snobby! I was in the market for a new car because my old one just gave out on me despite taking very good car of it from day one ( 2014 Kia Soul) . I was at Universal Toyota ( in San Antonio) looking at a Corolla, they were very rude to us!
I'm the original owner of a 2001 4Runner SR5 4WD with 283k miles. Still has the original engine and transmission. These SUVs are bullet proof by just doing regular preventative maintenance. It's really great not having a monthly car payment since 2005.
I will never understand people that lease and have a permanent car payment. Pay off a car and see how long you can go without a payment. I went 6 years without a payment on my focus. Just got tired of it and traded for a new ranger. Gonna pay it off and see how long it lasts
@@lesterparker1594 it is usually women who know nothing about cars that have a perpetual car payment. They want something reliable and don't want to deal with mechanics so they lease a new car every 3 yrs. No car payment since 2008 here.
@@vw5056 I can’t disagree more. Sure women lease, but I don’t think they do so more than men. There are millions of men in this world that couldn’t turn a wrench if you held a gun to their head
The 4Runner and the Toyotas I have owned (a few Corollas) really start to shine when they go past 50,000 miles. You slowly realize how well built everything is because almost nothing breaks or wears out.
I own a 2016 4Runner. I bought it to be the family car. It’s a great car. Quiet, confortable, and everything works as intended. I went camping into the bush with some friends. We ended up leaving their cars parked at the campsite and went exploring in my car. Seated 7 people comfortably. Everyone had a great time in our excursion and actually fell sleep on the way back 😂
I have a 03 4Runner with the V8 4.7. My dad bought it brand new, sold it to me then went on to buy another 4Runner. Not one thing has ever broken on our 4Runners, nadda, zip, ziltch. Love the thing. When the world ends it'll be cockroaches and 4Runners.
I have an 03 V8 as well. Has never spent a single night in a garage. Drives like a brand new car. Only thing unlovable is the gas mileage, especially in the winter
Owned this generation for 11 years. It never had one issue except chipped paint, which was due to a paint defect that didn't appear for 8 YEARS. And Toyota repainted the front of our car for FREE. And I'd argue that they are not boring.
Actually they drive like brick with wheels, people like them because they are rock solid, safe, and last forever. Good aftermarket if you want to buy an older example and set it up for overlanding/off-roading.
I have a 2014... no major problems but I did have to replace all 4 door lock actuators within the last year. I have since reprogrammed it so that it doesnt just automatically lock/unlock when shifting in and out of park.
Got a 2020 4Runner and it is easily the best vehicle I have ever had. Just the right amount of new tech with lots of old school parts that are easily replaced and worked on.
Good to know. I have a 3rd gen and to me the new ones just look gigantic. Like if I wanted a Sequoia I'd buy a Sequoia, I like being able to fit into tight parking spots and I don't have 5 kids that play hockey or something.
I have a 2020 as well. Just turned only 17k miles on it, and its going to be a "family heirloom". I got the TRD Off-Road version with the XP package. So many good things to say about it.
I have a 2020 SR5 as well. I want to keep this for 10 or more years. I have about 9k miles on it now. My dad is trading in his '17 Tundra for a '23 4Runner Pro when the new ones arrive.
Thank you Dave “the car wizard “ for being honest and truthful about the Toyota 4Runners, I really enjoyed the video. Coming from a Master Tech like yourself (that’s worked on pretty much everything) Means a lot. I’ve been promoting this on my channel and I feel that people don’t believe me when I tell them that the 4runner is one of the best SUV’s money can buy. Keep up the good work!
My 2014 has had nothing happen in the 8 years I've had it. My dad's 1999 has had nothing break in 22 years he's had it. These are incredibly reliable, cannot even compare with anything else.
12:07 - Earlier Toyotas with filters like this were metal from the factory, but people would complain about burning thier hand when taking it off, so they switched to plastic, which would expand and contract with engine temperatures not only weakening it, but also making it very tight. In my experience the matco style cup is the the go to tool to avoid breaking them.
The suspension system in that Limited is called XREAS. Its an option and it's for road stabilization. The red shocks and the fluid lines tells you it has XREAS.
These guys deal with so many unreliable cars being that they deal with shops, that they don't even recognize the basics of a reliable one, I love the irony
I have an 18’ 4runner and my wife has an 18’ Highlander. Best of both worlds. When we go on basic road trips to tourist destinations, we take her Highlander. When we drive to the mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina to go mountain biking, hiking and kayaking, we take the 4R. I payed $33.5k + tax tag title for my 18’ TRD off-road non premium brand new in 2018. We got my wife’s 18’ Highlander XLE CPO in early 2021 for $29k + tax tag title. I’m pretty sure prices are outrageous now and to be honest, we probably wouldn’t be able to afford these vehicles in today’s market, so I feel truly blessed to have these two vehicles. I do the maintenance on both vehicles, and I have just been following the maintenance guide in the manual. The only thing I needed to replacing was both batteries about a year ago. I will be totally honest, I get so used to driving these vehicles and not ever having issues with them. I sort of forget that I’m actually driving them if that makes sense. But when I watch videos like this, it makes me truly appreciate again having these vehicles, and how easy it is to own them.
Had a 2007 4Runner for 10 years ! Only thing that broke was a cv boot.Traded it in after putting 80 thousand miles on it ! Not a rattle in it and still ran as new! There's a reason for the great reputation they have!
The brake booster on my much older GX470 went out. It is expensive...about $1200 parts and labor. But the GX, like it Toyota counterpart, will run forever
I own a 2011 4Runner Limited and have had to replace the hydraulic suspension with a full Bilstein damper and upgrade set. Messed up one day and had to have the front steering parts replaced at the dealer, but otherwise this vehicle is AWESOME! Plus, if you spring for a few bucks and a few hours, you can add wood trim parts that make it look like the Lexus inside. Still getting 23-24 mpg at 80k miles.
Don't have a 4runner, but have a 2016 Scion iM, 55k miles, still looks like a brand new car inside and out. The quality is there for sure. Have had it close to 2 years and 0 issues.
I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded with my wife to buy a Toyota 4 Runner. 3 years of pleading as her current vehicle had 360,000 kilometers, and nearing the end of its life. She settled for a Nissan Murano...a used one at that...oh brother. I drive a 2011 Tacoma with very few problems.
Limited has X-REAS suspension. The extra hoses on the shock connect to the other shock on the opposite corner (driver front to passenger rear). When the shocks are unloaded while in a corner for example, they pressurize the opposite shock to prevent body roll and enhance dampening on the loaded side.
I think its called KDSS in the 5th gens (and it makes a huge difference in eliminating body roll over an XR5/Sport whatever), regarding XREAS I had mine ripped out and replaced with Bilstein 5100's
@@MaliciousSRT kdss is a different system that adjusts the swaybar, including disconnecting them all together. As mentioned, they were available on the off road models, but not the Limited
I have a 2008 FJ. Just replaced a power steering line and now working on a roof leak. Otherwise runs and drives great. Only 82000 miles. Hopefully it's got another 10-15+ years left.
The 4.0 liter engine in the 4Runner is not used in the Tacoma trucks and never was. I WISH it was. It is so much better than the 3.4L in my 2021 Tacoma. I had a ‘15 4Runner with the 4.0L and it was a great truck, tight up until it was totaled😢 the 4Runners are ONLY built in Japan. Quality is top notch!
Glad Hoovie is supporting The Wizard. They're the classic straight man/funny man combo! I just sold an ultra-reliable Honda Element (175,000 miles, very few repairs) for a 2023 4 Runner. I'll miss the more nimble Honda, but am loving the 4 Runner during a wintery, snow-storm filled Colorado winter. It feels rock solid in the worst snow conditions. I hope it will go 300,000 miles.
I'm on my second 4runner. A 5th gen 2011 4runner 4wd limited with 135k miles. No problems. Comfortable. Very reliable. It is my favorite vehicle ever. We drive it for small 500 mile road trips at least once a month. I would never own a Land Rover even if it was gifted to me.
@@vw5056 The few Rover-powered Discoveries I've driven were nice. That doesn't excuse the fact that they become endless money-pits as they age. Especially since they began stuffing in BMW engines! To be fair, not all 4-Runners were bullet-proof. Up to '95, the 3.0 V6 ate head-gaskets, and the automatics were marginal. But these problems were fixed by '96.
I drive a 2002 4Runner that I bought for $2500 a couple years ago. Besides replacing the AC compressor (and some minor cosmetic work), I have zero complaints. I actually sold my newer BMW 3 series to get this one, and I consider the 4Runner to be an upgrade.
Nothing beats a Toyota truck. Nothing. Safe, reliable and fun to take on long trips. I have a 2021Toyota 4Runner and a 2010 Sequoia. Both are beautiful machines. Zero issues. We load them up with kids, dogs and a ton of stuff and off we go !
I have a 2016 4Runner. Best car I’ve ever owned. Got it brand new, just turned 70k in it. I can’t recommend then enough. They are a little old school, but will outlast anything being built today.
I've owned my 2015 4Runner SR5 for about 6 months now. It is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. I lucked out and bought one with only 51000 kilometers on it (32000 miles) so it has a lot of life left in it.
Oh, the horror stories I could tell you about GM products. Years ago I worked for a business that had a fleet of GM passenger cars, everything from Malibus, Cruzes, Colorados, Traverses, etc. I really wanted to like some of those cars (the Cruze was actually pretty fun to drive with that turbo!), but as a Toyota owner, I was continually surprised at how often even low-mileage GM products had stuff break requiring expensive repairs. The older they got, the more terrible they became, and by the time ~60,000 miles came around, well, it was a relief to get rid of it. Sure, part of it may have been that they were fleet cars, but they were also maintained and inspected on a _very_ strict and zealous schedule. Stuff just seemed to break on them anyway. We probably would have purchased something else, but a bunch of our clients were retired from the Detroit auto industry, so we had to maintain the right image by driving the pieces of trash that they had likely designed years earlier.
Nothing to do with them being fleet vehicles. That is the perk of GM ownership. Can't say their cars are boring when every week brings a new repair surprise. Been there, done that.
Sad what GM has become bc I have an ‘02 tahoe 5.3L with 300k miles and it’s the most incredibly reliable vehicle I could ask for. Such a shame bc the new trucks and Tahoes/Yukons look amazing but they’re garbage.
$100 to change a headlight bulb on a 2010 Malibu because it takes an hour to disassemble the entire front grill made me want to puke. They're designed to fail expensively with non-user-repairable problems to make the dealership money with constant repair bills. Complete garbage. Would rather drive a 20-year-old 200k mile Toyota than a 60k 5 year old GM car.
@@gorkyd7912 Hyundai is the same way. My grandmother has a 2013 Elantra and you have to take the front bumper off to change the headlights/turn signals on the drivers side because the fuse box is directly behind the headlight assembly and there is zero room to get your hand behind it to pull the bulb out like on the passenger side. So you have to take the bumper off to get access to all the screws to take the headlight completely out of the car to get access to the back of it. Plus Hyundai/KIA's are infamous for burning out bulbs frequently. I had my previous Camry for 5 years and only had to replace one turn signal bulb, unknown of even when the last time any of the bulbs were replaced before I bought it. She had to replace the same lights two times in a year and then one more time the following year.
I've got 3 Toyotas, the youngest is my Sienna with 118,000, then the RAV with 145,000 and finally my daily driver a first gen XB with 230,000. Between the three I've changed an alternator and normal wear items like brake pads, rotors, batteries and front end bushing/ball joints on the XB. I will say my '17 Kia Forte with 55,000 that my son drives to college has also been trouble free, so far. Before switching to mostly Toyota I had Dodge, Fords and GM products and always felt like I was behind on repairs.
I purchased my first new car ever, a 4Runner SR5 Premium, in July 2020. Owned it now for under 18 months and it has 3,844 miles on it. I'm hoping it lasts for the next 20 years. Yeah, I listened to Scotty :) and the Wizard, and numerous others on RUclips. I saved up for my first vehicle, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
I actually bought a 2000 4runner recently with 320,400 miles and I love it. Sure it's been spending some time at the mechanic, but with that milage I'm surprised it's actually just minor stuff like hoses and oil leaks. Definitely worth the money for the fun I've had with it so far.
Buddy of mine bought a totaled 1997 4-Runner back in, oh, I think '98 or '99. It wasn't an old vehicle when he bought it, but it had been totaled in a wreck. So he fixed it up, got it re-inspected, and a salvage title for it. Then drove it for 20 years and put 315,000 miles on it before he sold it to a friend of his who modified it and still uses it as an off-roader for trail-riding and rock-crawling. Just can't kill 'em.
By watching so many Scottie videos, RUclips turned me on to both you and Hoovies channel. They’re all awesome. Unlike so many television and new shows, you gents don’t raise my blood pressure. So thanks for that. Keep up the fine work men! 👍
You give great advice! I've been a Ford owner for over 50 years and finally ditched it and took the plunge buying my very first Toyota! I got a 2017 4Runner limited and absolutely LOVE it! It had 94K miles so I took it to my local Toyota dealer and had a once over & oil change 100% synthetic. I put new wheels & tires on it (Raceline Bronze Ryno Cast beadlock wheels and KO2s with a +15 offset); I had the X-Reas & automatic foot rails removed and had Ironman 4x4 install their Pro Foam suspension with lift and I will be adding rock sliders in the near future. I bought an AFN laser cut/welded front bumper from Portugal & will be installing with my husband next month. I couldn't be happier than I am right now and know that I made the right decision to go with the Toyota 4Runner, made in the best auto plant in the world!
And when you sell your Toyota that has depreciated less than everything else you get your Toyota tax refund. I bought an '03 Tundra for $5700 from a dealer once and resold it a few months later for $7000. Could've asked more but didn't want to be greedy.
I own a ‘98 4Runner with a little over 330k miles. Lots of minor issues that come with a HIGH mileage vehicle, but she still runs like a top. My daily driver.
After putting mountains of miles onto 4.0 Jeeps and a small block Ford for years, I took up doing drugs and bought a 6.0 diesel Ford. Now that I'm in recovery, I got clean and got back to my roots and bought something that doesn't like to break down: a super sweet 2010 4Runner Trail. The crazy thing is that it's already creeping up on 170,000 without a single leak or rattle literally anywhere. I LOVE THIS THING!! Y'all listen up here.. Their build quality is mind blowing. Seriously, it's freakin crazy how well built they are, and I agree with The Wizard 100%. My only regret is not buying one sooner, and since the previous owner replaced a lot of wearable items on it before trading it in, I basically have a brand new one anyway 😂 10/10 would totally recommend a 4Runner.
We have 2019 4Runner TRD Off Road. Doesn’t do anything the best. But does everything very well. We love it. So did a deer. Waiting to get front corner fixed do to parts availability. Only thing you have to watch on these if you have the hydraulic suspension option. We don’t so I don’t remember option name.
Bought an '06 Sequoia last August. Original frame, very little rust, all surface. Caught up some deferred maintenance and it runs like new. About to cross 215k miles.
Perhaps this owner has two sets of wheels and tires - one for winter and one for summer. That might explain the low wear on the OEM tires and the lack of corrosion on those alloy wheels.
I was wondering that too. I full time drive mine with A/T tires here in Northern Nevada. On and off road, year round and only pull maybe 45k miles out of them. 75k miles on those yoko's is great but I would assume with that mileage, they are rocking some winter tires too.
Out here in Pittsburgh we see a lot of seized transmission range selectors, and front diff actuators... these are usually the parking lot queens that never get driven. Other than that pretty solid. I've seen one transmission fail on a 4runner in the 15 years I've been with Toyota.
One of our customers had steering failed after warranty, they said 4k repair, was 18 or up model... one of bad apples i guess... i just rented 21 sr5 model, got in use to twitchy breaks in lo lo speeds, got in use to different steering and i actually liked the soft body rolly suspension, it behaved much better then 2000 Tacoma i had
I've seen the dreaded "pink milkshake" in a 4runner (they were trying to sell me) but granted it had like 340k miles and looked like it had been through hell several times. For 3rd gens people should replace radiator or bypass their radiator's transmission coolant when it gets high in miles.
KDSS suspension system. Front right and rear left and FL and RR are connected via oil to help cornering. I owned THREE 4 runners and loved them all to 200k miles with ZERO issues. I now own a Tundra but my heart is still with 4Runners.
2016 4Runner 120,000 miles no issues. Just drove through a monsoon flood last week in Phoenix. Many flooded out car and vehicles in the road. 4runner cruised through it all no problem, very confident, actually enjoyed the ride.
For me, it was the 3-6 month wait to get a 4Runner. Ended up with a Highlander. My mother had an ‘88 4Runner, she kept it for 23 years and 386,000 miles. Still ran fine.
~160K on my '12 Tacoma with only minor, forgivable, age-related issues -- a bearing here, a clock spring there, etc. Otherwise, trouble free. It is happy to climb and tow, too.
165K on my '11 4Runner. Upgraded suspension, got rid of the XREAS, replaced with OME springs and shocks, upgraded brakes with slotted and drilled rotors and HP pads, upgraded upper and lower control arms, tie rods with greaseable. Tow a 4K Airstream regularly. Love it. No problems.
Awesome video Car Wizard! Very rare to see a Toyota vehicle in your shop especially a 4Runner and a Tacoma. That gets to show the reliability of those vehicles. I have a 97’ 4Runner limited with 269k miles and still going strong. Couple timing belts changes, Oil changes, brakes and tune up that’s all I ever did to my truck. Of course the shocks needs to be changed, but my truck still runs strong. Long live the 4Runner!😀
My 2006 4Runner has 225K miles, still runs like new, does not burn or leak a drop of oil. Only thing I have done to it over its life.......brakes, shocks, sway bar bushings, oil/filter always Mobile One and tires. That is it, totally dependable and bullet proof. Has always done very well off road and in the snow......never stuck.
My moms has had a Avalon for a few years now. Its been nothing but reliable and fun to drive. Toyota really knows what their doing. Thanks for the video Wizard! I see that Chevelle again... Is that a Malibu?? Looks beautiful!!
I have a 2014 Avalon Hybrid with 95K. It has never needed major repairs. It’s been like a rock in terms of reliability yet oh-so-fun to drive on mountain roads or hills. Best of all, while I won’t win any drag races with the 4-cyl engine, the electric motors launch me from a standing stop and help me win a 100-yard dash from a stop light over most vehicles with gas engines only.
I drive a 2011 Toyota 4 runner 4wd here in Alaska. When temperature drops to -30 degrees Farenheit at longest I plug the battery and engine, transmission pan heater this beast starts all the time. It doesn't make any knocking noise. It still drives smooth. I purchased my 4 runner in 2019 with 109k miles for $21,000. Now it has 128k miles and it's worth $23,000. Can't beat that
What could a four year old Toyota possibly need from the Wizard?? Thanks again Mr. Wizard! Merry Christmas to you, Mrs. Wizard and all of your loved ones.
My husband bought me a 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD off road earlier this year. It had 48890 when we bought it. Currently has 53500. It is a GREAT vehicle. This is our second Tacoma. We love it. It really makes me feel good to hear you say how good these vehicles are. I just finished nursing school and I will be buying a new car and give the Taco to my husband. Do you like the Camry or Corolla? We really like watching your You Tube channel.
@@thetechlibrarian Yeah, I'm picky about that. When I'm buying a vehicle, especially a new one, I want it made in its country's namesake. If I ever buy a German car like a BMW or Mercedes, I sure as hell don't want one made in Mexico, Indonesia, wherever. It has to be made in Germany. Same goes for a Japanese brand like Toyota. I don't want one made in Canada or even the US because our workers just don't have the same attention to detail. I'm very familiar with Japanese culture as I was stationed there for years in the Navy and their work ethic is unmatched. They get a bad performance review at work, they might go home and commit seppuku. They work like their family's reputation depends on it...and it does... Joe Sixpack here? He doesn't give a crap. He goes home, gets drunk, kicks the dog, beats the wife, etc. LOL
Bought a 96 4Runner new and it’s still my daily driver. Best vehicle I’ve owned. I did all the maintenance myself. I’m starting to believe I can’t wear it out
I took the wizard's advice and got a 2013 Lexus GX460 just a few days ago. Coming from working on & owning BMWs, I just wanted something comfortable and reliable for a daily which this GX very much is. It was definitely an expensive purchase but I still got a good deal on it and it was maintained really well so I'm very happy with my purchase. Wish I lived closer (reside in WA) to Kansas so I could bring it by!
I've owned 2 bimmers and 3 lexus'. The one lexus that wasn't totalled was the most unreliable car I've ever owned. I spent more in repairs than on car payments. Bimmers are reliable machines if maintained properly in my experience, esp i6 models.
@@dauchande , Absolutely wrong and millions of people will back me up on this comment, you can maintain it very well and it'll still be in the shop once a month. Through my lifetime I've known many people with BMWs and they're always in the shop. You must have gotten lucky and had that one BMW that wasn't a lemon. BMWs are good looking pieces of junk.
I have a 95 4runner 4x4 with the 3.0.L. Shes got 109,000ish miles on her and it runs great. Payed $2500.00 for it two years ago. It's got rusty body panels but the undercarriage is in good shape. Interior is very nice, very happy with it so far. Time to replace some fenders. I would like to find a newer one for the wife!!
I had an 04 that I bought in 2011 for like $17k with 64k miles on it, drove it to 140k and traded it on a 2016 tacoma like an idiot. Worst vehicle mistake I've ever made, the 4runner was the best vehicle i've ever owned. I drove it in Alaska for a few years, then across through the yukon and down into Arkansas. Off roaded it, drove through rivers, etc. The 4.0 1gr-fe is a far superior engine for a truck/suv than the new 3.5 camry engine they put in the tacoma. I'd never be able to get a 4runner for a price like that today either. I also think the interiors of the 3rd/4th gen 4runners were a little less cheap looking. It also had a traditional oil filter accessible on the top of the engine.
I put a Baxter adapter on my 4Runner. Uses conventional spin on filter now. Cost me about $200.00 but I can change my oil without tools now. Got a Fumoto valve for the drain plug too.
The fact that I can do the oil change in my garage, without tools and not have to worry about the plastic filter housing cracking from being over torqued, totally worth it.
I also noticed my '99 4runner has better build quality than an '06 tundra. Newer not always better, cheap plastic parts and lower manufacturing standards make all the difference.
Love those 4Runner's and it's in pretty good shape for 75000 miles. Wife and I got a 2018 RAV4 and we love it. Great for our Canadian winters and reliable.
Have a 07 4Runner with 188k miles on it. Traded in my BMW seven years ago. Best decision I’ve ever made in regards to a vehicle. Yeah it may not be as fancy as these new SUVs out there but I love it. It has never let me down and that’s the most important thing to me.
I stumbled across this video and had to watch. I have own two 4Runners so far and no regrets yet. I had a 1998 Limited for 15 years, bought it used and put over 200,000 miles on it for a grand total of 330k miles! During my time with it I swapped tires, shocks, a timing belt, battery and replaced the coil packs! I only parted ways with it because my brother needed a vehicle and I was in the market for a new 4Runner :) Got a brand new 2020 Venture Edition. Already at 35k miles and no looking back yet.
Our 2011 sequoia platinum still looks like that underneath @ 200k miles… zero issues. Zero leaks. All OEM save for a set of brakes. Regular maintenance. Had the original plugs in it when I bought it at 189k miles. Lol
Nice to see 4 Runner still keeping nice clean interior instead of filling it with bunch of screens & bs Friend of mine been driving her 4 Runner since 2017 and never had any issues yet except gen maintenance
I bought a '92 Fourunner V6, that had done close on 400,000 kilometers from a friend who had driven it through a flooded creek crossing and "hydrolocked" the engine breaking the number 6 connecting rod. Long story short, I pulled the LH head and sump off, fitted a used Conrod bought from a motor wrecker, reassembled the engine. It started right up and remained in use for another couple of years until it was "written off" in a road accident. Yes Wizard, they are "the best", cannot be killed.
Paid 5500 for a ‘99 4Runner with 240k miles last year. Loaded it up with 1200lbs of production equipment and drove it from Seattle to Las Vegas in one straight shot in July with zero issues. Then let it sit for two months and did the opposite route. Love that car
4Runners are certainly built to last
I paid $600 for a 1990 haha small towns rule
i had a 2003 4.7 SR5 edition.........the cold intake wasnt working,the hot intake wasnt working,the suspension was on its last breath...........but still it ran like a champ,to this day i regret selling it
My 2002 limited has nearly 304k. I'd trust it to go across the country!
@@benchattin I've got 408k miles on mines. It is by far the most reliable car I've ever had. I've taken it all around the Western Region of the US over the years. It uses about a 1/4 inch of oil now based on measuring the dipstick. Oil change is at 5000k. It used to now using any. Although I have a slight leak from the passenger side valve cover so that may be the source of my oil drop. I've replaced the starter twice. The last time was earlier this year. The factory one lasted over 250k miles. It was the same with the factory alternator. It lasted to about 260k miles.
Proud owner of a 2007 4Runner, purchased brand new with 3 miles on the odometer, currently at 330,000 miles and zero mechanical issues on nothing but routine maintenance.
Bought my '22 4R TRD OR 3 months ago, and i look forward to telling the SAME story with mine
@@grocerygrip did you buy it at a markup?
@@00raisergundam paid FULL msrp
@@grocerygrip nice.
Toyota/Lexus made in Japan are the best in term of quality and reliability.
Anyone else notice how more relaxed and playful Wizard is when Hoovie's around? That's when you know they're friends in real life and not put upon like other partnerships.
Yeah hoovie made his tube career. Where he gets to boss people around now and make a video instead of working on cars. Next up. Ninja!
What I like is that together, they have that silly, high school, sexual innuendoes going on between them, and you can just tell they never grew up, just like me…
I remember when the fluid mix up with Hoovie's SLS happened like a year ago and everybody thought Hoovie and Wizard's relationship was ruined forever. LOL, yeah right.
that's whats great with Hoovie and Wizard - the interactions feel natural and wizard just seems like a genuine car guy
I know that because ive watched them for years
I daily drove a 1989 4Runner that I ran up to 470,000 miles. I kept it stock and it was ultra reliable. Daily driven for 30 years. I sold it to some guy who wanted to make an off roader out of it, but man do I miss it. It had the inclinometer package, too. 3VZE V6 with a manual transmission. What an amazingly over-engineered machine that was. Miss it everyday.
I just had my 3VZE rebuilt in my 1990...Manual tranny, it was tough finding an engine builder that knew what they were doing, but fortunately, I did find. It took 13 months, it passes emissions. I have the tailgate, roomy inside and tire rack on back. I just hauled 10 boxes of 24x12 tile & a bath vanity in one trip to the flooring store. The drive train and u-joints and diffs all original..except a right side axle bearing and CV joints. Mine 305,000 after head gasket repair & machine shop work. I felt the vehicle was worthy of this expense, to get my 4Runner back on the road. I am 2nd owner, I paid it off (it was coming from a lease) in 1998
I have a 1990 4runner sr5 5 speed and 3.0 engine with 283,000 got it basically for free and runs fine pretty reliable truck so far
No head gasket issues with the 3.slow?
@@cameronturnbow8004 Surprisingly no. I cannot pretend to explain why. Maybe they had the kinks worked out by 89.
@wheezin_mtnbkr3576 my brother's 94 can attest to it but being figured out in 89. I think the auto trans was a big contributor to it. It sounds like if you avoid overheating it their fine but as soon as you do...
Current 4Runner owner. One of the most reliable SUVs and it’s my favorite toy so far
I have a 1990 4runner. Living in Saskatchewan after a certain point in winter it becomes the only vehicles that is reliable enough to leave the house with
I got a 2021
I paid $1000 for my '97 SR5 with 270k on it. All I've done is maintenance services after purchase, new valve cover gaskets and tube seals, and a new alternator. Haven't had a single issue. Best vehicle I've ever owned
"4 runner" is one of the best names Toyota ever came up with.
Reliability beats everything to me. Gas mileage, comfort, performance, all of it. Reliability is the most important thing. That’s why I drive a Tacoma.
That's why I drive an old pickup with the 22RE. The thing is so bare it doesn't even have power steering lol
you don't realize how important that is until you don't have it. I drove Toyota for 7 years then went to Tesla for 6 years. Blew a gasket at how many times the mechanic had to fix it in a year so now have a Toyota and Lexus in the garage. Life is better now....
For what it is worth, I drive BMW’s; for the opposite.
I age. Once you start throwing a bunch of money into repairs you wash any mpg savings
@@josekanucee1428
Life on the edge; thar she blows Cap'n.....
The buttons on the back are for opening and closing the rear window. Only models with smart key have the buttons. Models with a physical key can open and close the window turning the key in the keyhole. No 4runner to date has had a power liftgate.
All 4Runners are made at the Tahara plant in Japan. One of their best factories. Body on frame. Don't forget to periodically wash off the salt on the frame in the Midwest during the winter.
There is rumor that the next one will be built in the Texas factories. Will be interesting to see how it affects quality. Although, I own a Tundra that I'm at 100k miles with, and so far its been a very similar experience as my last two 4runners which both made it to 200k before I just got bored with them and upgraded.
@@saywhatnow57 I have liked all my 4 runners as they are built in Japan, the Taco's ive had the material quality and build dont seem up to par with Japan build vehicles. The oil filter on these new ones are terrible my 07 4.0 is on top and i run a tundra filter on it for more capacity, unable to do with these new ones
@@saywhatnow57 my dad's 2016 tacoma v6 has made it to 100k with no issues, been a great truck so far.
All Toyota factories have the same cutting-edge manufacturing standard. If a certain vehicle has a lower quality, it's because that's just the way they engineered it.
@@MrCarGuy I don't think that I would buy a Tacoma made in Mexico. Maybe it's just me. But I can't believe that the quality is as good as TX.
Love how the wizard always talks about Toyota quality. After owning clunkers and other used cars all my life I decided to save up a big down payment to be able to get something brand new for a change. By the time I had over $10k put aside I decided it would be a Tacoma. I brought it home in July 2020 and it's been so perfect. Nothing but maintenance and state inspection done to it.
Yet he owns and has owned very few Toyotas himself.
@@vw5056 yeah except the Sion. But really I think that's because he buys whatever cars that come by him for a good price. A lot of mechanics tend to by fixer upper cars because they have the skills to fix them at cost unlike use that often have to pay for labor. Not paying for your own labor puts many more project cars in to the realms of being reasonable to get for a good mechanic.
@@MrMikey1273 that Scion was not bought at a good price but at the current highly inflated bs numbers. $9k for a nearly ten year old Toyota with 140k miles that was possibly wrecked given the junkyard trans? It is a $4k car on a good day. I am still trying to figure out why he bought it when he said in the past that he prefers big floaters and to not operate a manual trans after a day's work. A Landcruiser would have made far more sense.
@@vw5056 I wasn't aware he paid that much for it. He does like bigger vehicles with the exception of the cube he had for a while.
Tacomas aren’t powerhouse’s, but it’ll run forever. We farm in southeast iowa with lots of rock road and those little trucks are beasts! Happy motoring.
I've got a 2011 4Runner. It has never needed a single repair of any kind. Just gets oil changes, tires, brake pads.
Same here, but 2012 with 102k miles
Don't forget to change the transmission and differential fluid and the air filters!!!
air filter, oil filter, fuel filter, cabin filter ?
you forgot transmission service every 40 to 60 thousand miles if you want it to truly last a ton of miles with all other normal services most people don't do it they just sell it and leave it for the unsuspecting buyer. Check car fax it usually shows fluid changes.
Yes I venture to say this is probably the best V-6 they ever made next to the 2GRFE and from what I understand this V6 4.0 is basically the 4.7 V8 with two less cylindersI'm not 100% sure but it's derivative was explained to me a while ago I just forgot some of the details
To me, Toyota is the answer to all of life’s hard questions. Any time I’m ever feeling down I just ask my 2005 sienna for advice.
i like toyota too. toyota stealershipp service centers though are another story
I just sit in my 93 4runner when im pondering life's great questions
How it wit know, it's never been down.
@@randomrazr fax
Toyotas are very awesome cars for sure, but their dealers have become rude and snobby! I was in the market for a new car because my old one just gave out on me despite taking very good car of it from day one ( 2014 Kia Soul) . I was at Universal Toyota ( in San Antonio) looking at a Corolla, they were very rude to us!
I'm the original owner of a 2001 4Runner SR5 4WD with 283k miles. Still has the original engine and transmission. These SUVs are bullet proof by just doing regular preventative maintenance. It's really great not having a monthly car payment since 2005.
I will never understand people that lease and have a permanent car payment. Pay off a car and see how long you can go without a payment. I went 6 years without a payment on my focus. Just got tired of it and traded for a new ranger. Gonna pay it off and see how long it lasts
And the license fee and insurance drop every year. My 2007 Miata is dirt cheap to register and insure.
I have the same obviously I’m not the first owner but I heard from some mechanics that that year 2001 was the best of all third gens
@@lesterparker1594 it is usually women who know nothing about cars that have a perpetual car payment. They want something reliable and don't want to deal with mechanics so they lease a new car every 3 yrs. No car payment since 2008 here.
@@vw5056 I can’t disagree more. Sure women lease, but I don’t think they do so more than men. There are millions of men in this world that couldn’t turn a wrench if you held a gun to their head
The 4Runner and the Toyotas I have owned (a few Corollas) really start to shine when they go past 50,000 miles. You slowly realize how well built everything is because almost nothing breaks or wears out.
Spot on with a Scotty impression 😂
Loved that, too😂
Time stamp pls
@@Fabbyboy69 6:24
6:20 He has the voice and arm movements down! Haha
That AC probably blows Ice Cold
I own a 2016 4Runner. I bought it to be the family car. It’s a great car. Quiet, confortable, and everything works as intended. I went camping into the bush with some friends. We ended up leaving their cars parked at the campsite and went exploring in my car. Seated 7 people comfortably. Everyone had a great time in our excursion and actually fell sleep on the way back 😂
@@twhalen that’s how I felt about the Nissan rouge but for me the 4Runner was pretty comfortable no issues at all and I’ve done a few road trips
I have a 03 4Runner with the V8 4.7. My dad bought it brand new, sold it to me then went on to buy another 4Runner. Not one thing has ever broken on our 4Runners, nadda, zip, ziltch. Love the thing. When the world ends it'll be cockroaches and 4Runners.
And corollas, tacomas and tundras
I have an 03 V8 as well. Has never spent a single night in a garage. Drives like a brand new car. Only thing unlovable is the gas mileage, especially in the winter
When Hoovie thinks buying an Acadia is a bad idea, you know it's a BAD IDEA 🤣
Damn right.
I'm looking at the acadia at4. It's so nice 😆 it can't be that bad right? 😟
Hoovie's a big GM fanboy, too, so you know it's really bad when even he says to avoid them.
@@dingonaut1794 like every piece of electronics and wire will break on it, and the transmissions are even worse than that.
And don't get me started on the engine.
Owned this generation for 11 years. It never had one issue except chipped paint, which was due to a paint defect that didn't appear for 8 YEARS. And Toyota repainted the front of our car for FREE. And I'd argue that they are not boring.
Actually they drive like brick with wheels, people like them because they are rock solid, safe, and last forever. Good aftermarket if you want to buy an older example and set it up for overlanding/off-roading.
I have a 2014... no major problems but I did have to replace all 4 door lock actuators within the last year. I have since reprogrammed it so that it doesnt just automatically lock/unlock when shifting in and out of park.
Just bought a 2014 SR5 with 180,000 miles for $21,000 and put old man emu 3inch shocks, arb front bumper & 33inch copper stt pros & it’s awesome
Paid $6900 for an 04 V8 plus $500 and 11 hours of my time for a timing belt and water pump job. Even at 260k it runs and drives great.
You did it yourself? Nice going
My 2014 4Runner Limited is worth more now than when I bought it 3 years ago!
Got a 2020 4Runner and it is easily the best vehicle I have ever had. Just the right amount of new tech with lots of old school parts that are easily replaced and worked on.
Good to know. I have a 3rd gen and to me the new ones just look gigantic. Like if I wanted a Sequoia I'd buy a Sequoia, I like being able to fit into tight parking spots and I don't have 5 kids that play hockey or something.
I have a 2020 as well. Just turned only 17k miles on it, and its going to be a "family heirloom". I got the TRD Off-Road version with the XP package. So many good things to say about it.
I have a 2020 SR5 as well. I want to keep this for 10 or more years. I have about 9k miles on it now.
My dad is trading in his '17 Tundra for a '23 4Runner Pro when the new ones arrive.
Thank you Dave “the car wizard “ for being honest and truthful about the Toyota 4Runners, I really enjoyed the video. Coming from a Master Tech like yourself (that’s worked on pretty much everything)
Means a lot.
I’ve been promoting this on my channel and I feel that people don’t believe me when I tell them that the 4runner is one of the best SUV’s money can buy.
Keep up the good work!
My 2014 has had nothing happen in the 8 years I've had it. My dad's 1999 has had nothing break in 22 years he's had it. These are incredibly reliable, cannot even compare with anything else.
ALL Toyota 4Runners, past and present, are built in Japan. My 2006 is going on 275k, perfect running and physical condition.
Just got a 2017 SR5 83,000 MilesI like it Its getting sorted by the local dealer.... I will get it in really nice shape, I like it.......
12:07 - Earlier Toyotas with filters like this were metal from the factory, but people would complain about burning thier hand when taking it off, so they switched to plastic, which would expand and contract with engine temperatures not only weakening it, but also making it very tight. In my experience the matco style cup is the the go to tool to avoid breaking them.
The suspension system in that Limited is called XREAS. Its an option and it's for road stabilization. The red shocks and the fluid lines tells you it has XREAS.
One of the few problem area on the Limited model. Most people change them over to traditional suspension systems after they wear out
6:39 here’s how I know that Hoovie and Wizard don’t know 4Runners, that’s the rear window button
These guys deal with so many unreliable cars being that they deal with shops, that they don't even recognize the basics of a reliable one, I love the irony
It's actually the lock and unlock buttons for the doors 😉
@@mnull2891 If you just press it once, hold it to roll down the tail gate window.
@@votekyle3000 I've had my 4runner since 2017 and never knew this. Learn something new everyday. 🙂
I’m buying my dream metallic grey 4Runner Trd pro. I’ll bleed short term but know I’ll love long term. Hopefully collectors item in 30 years
A 10 year old 4Runner with 150.000km still goes for 20k+ in Montreal,Quebec. They are bulletproof, except for corrosion.
Then again, which car is invulnerable to corrosion?
@@flowgangsemaudamartoz7062 not many. That’s the dilemma we face up North.
@@flowgangsemaudamartoz7062 Something with an aluminum/carbon fiber frame and body panels.
@@Epotheros Which fucking car has a factory carbon fibre frame. Tell me. Aluminum, yeah maybe.
@@flowgangsemaudamartoz7062 The Alfa Romeo 4C has a composite carbon fiber and aluminum chassis.
I have an 18’ 4runner and my wife has an 18’ Highlander. Best of both worlds. When we go on basic road trips to tourist destinations, we take her Highlander. When we drive to the mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina to go mountain biking, hiking and kayaking, we take the 4R.
I payed $33.5k + tax tag title for my 18’ TRD off-road non premium brand new in 2018. We got my wife’s 18’ Highlander XLE CPO in early 2021 for $29k + tax tag title. I’m pretty sure prices are outrageous now and to be honest, we probably wouldn’t be able to afford these vehicles in today’s market, so I feel truly blessed to have these two vehicles.
I do the maintenance on both vehicles, and I have just been following the maintenance guide in the manual. The only thing I needed to replacing was both batteries about a year ago. I will be totally honest, I get so used to driving these vehicles and not ever having issues with them. I sort of forget that I’m actually driving them if that makes sense. But when I watch videos like this, it makes me truly appreciate again having these vehicles, and how easy it is to own them.
2006 limited v8 4wd Runner with 218k miles, best vehicle ever! Put 40k in like 2 years never a single issue with it, love it!
Had a 2007 4Runner for 10 years ! Only thing that broke was a cv boot.Traded it in after putting 80 thousand miles on it ! Not a rattle in it and still ran as new! There's a reason for the great reputation they have!
The brake booster on my much older GX470 went out. It is expensive...about $1200 parts and labor. But the GX, like it Toyota counterpart, will run forever
Although expensive, when it’s fixed it’s fixed 10 more years trouble free.😍
Nervously biting nails...
Already went through air bags, levelers, alternator, timing belt, both cats...160k burns a qt every 1000 miles.
@@sheiladawg1664 that's tough. I have had three 4.7 V8s with no oil consumption
I own a 2011 4Runner Limited and have had to replace the hydraulic suspension with a full Bilstein damper and upgrade set. Messed up one day and had to have the front steering parts replaced at the dealer, but otherwise this vehicle is AWESOME! Plus, if you spring for a few bucks and a few hours, you can add wood trim parts that make it look like the Lexus inside. Still getting 23-24 mpg at 80k miles.
Don't have a 4runner, but have a 2016 Scion iM, 55k miles, still looks like a brand new car inside and out. The quality is there for sure. Have had it close to 2 years and 0 issues.
I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded with my wife to buy a Toyota 4 Runner. 3 years of pleading as her current vehicle had 360,000 kilometers, and nearing the end of its life. She settled for a Nissan Murano...a used one at that...oh brother.
I drive a 2011 Tacoma with very few problems.
Limited has X-REAS suspension. The extra hoses on the shock connect to the other shock on the opposite corner (driver front to passenger rear). When the shocks are unloaded while in a corner for example, they pressurize the opposite shock to prevent body roll and enhance dampening on the loaded side.
Kinda like a sway bar?
I think its called KDSS in the 5th gens (and it makes a huge difference in eliminating body roll over an XR5/Sport whatever), regarding XREAS I had mine ripped out and replaced with Bilstein 5100's
@@MaliciousSRT yeah, KDSS just like high-spec LandCruisers. An Australian invention!
@@MaliciousSRT kdss is a different system that adjusts the swaybar, including disconnecting them all together. As mentioned, they were available on the off road models, but not the Limited
@@skmetal7 Exactly, but also anti-dive and anti-squat, in addition to anti-roll. Kinda neat!
165k miles on my 2007 FJ cruiser, all I've needed to replace is alternator, fuel pump and, clutch. Absolutely solid products.
I have a 2008 FJ. Just replaced a power steering line and now working on a roof leak. Otherwise runs and drives great. Only 82000 miles. Hopefully it's got another 10-15+ years left.
So Reliable you hardly ever see a Toyota in a Shop.
LOL I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME
@@highwakemafia5497for oil change
The 4.0 liter engine in the 4Runner is not used in the Tacoma trucks and never was. I WISH it was. It is so much better than the 3.4L in my 2021 Tacoma. I had a ‘15 4Runner with the 4.0L and it was a great truck, tight up until it was totaled😢 the 4Runners are ONLY built in Japan. Quality is top notch!
Traded my moms 14 equinox in on a 19 4Runner bc of your advice. Wanted her in something reliable.
Did they give you $20 off
reliableyes. pig on gas tho
@@randomrazr Trust me the reliability will make up for the fuel,
Good you got her out of that thing just in time,
@@randomrazr not really worried about fuel mileage. She use ti have an 06 Yukon. 4Runner gets 21ish with her running it. No complaints
Glad Hoovie is supporting The Wizard. They're the classic straight man/funny man combo! I just sold an ultra-reliable Honda Element (175,000 miles, very few repairs) for a 2023 4 Runner. I'll miss the more nimble Honda, but am loving the 4 Runner during a wintery, snow-storm filled Colorado winter. It feels rock solid in the worst snow conditions. I hope it will go 300,000 miles.
I'm on my second 4runner. A 5th gen 2011 4runner 4wd limited with 135k miles. No problems. Comfortable. Very reliable. It is my favorite vehicle ever. We drive it for small 500 mile road trips at least once a month.
I would never own a Land Rover even if it was gifted to me.
I it was gifted to me, I'd take it - just to sell it to Hoovie! 🙂
Who cares? Land Rover sales have been exponentially rising for the last twenty years without your support.
@@vw5056 And some wonder why.
@@sunbeam8866 Drive a Range Rover sometime and you will understand.
@@vw5056 The few Rover-powered Discoveries I've driven were nice. That doesn't excuse the fact that they become endless money-pits as they age. Especially since they began stuffing in BMW engines!
To be fair, not all 4-Runners were bullet-proof. Up to '95, the 3.0 V6 ate head-gaskets, and the automatics were marginal. But these problems were fixed by '96.
I drive a 2002 4Runner that I bought for $2500 a couple years ago. Besides replacing the AC compressor (and some minor cosmetic work), I have zero complaints. I actually sold my newer BMW 3 series to get this one, and I consider the 4Runner to be an upgrade.
I like how Tyler had Mrs. Wizard calling the interior trim "plastic tree" 🤣🤣🤣
Nothing beats a Toyota truck. Nothing.
Safe, reliable and fun to take on long trips.
I have a 2021Toyota 4Runner and a 2010 Sequoia.
Both are beautiful machines. Zero issues.
We load them up with kids, dogs and a ton of stuff and off we go !
I have a 2016 4Runner. Best car I’ve ever owned. Got it brand new, just turned 70k in it. I can’t recommend then enough. They are a little old school, but will outlast anything being built today.
I've owned my 2015 4Runner SR5 for about 6 months now. It is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. I lucked out and bought one with only 51000 kilometers on it (32000 miles) so it has a lot of life left in it.
You got that right, barely broken in.
It will be broke in once it hits 100k miles. Then you should get another 300k out of it.
Oh, the horror stories I could tell you about GM products.
Years ago I worked for a business that had a fleet of GM passenger cars, everything from Malibus, Cruzes, Colorados, Traverses, etc. I really wanted to like some of those cars (the Cruze was actually pretty fun to drive with that turbo!), but as a Toyota owner, I was continually surprised at how often even low-mileage GM products had stuff break requiring expensive repairs. The older they got, the more terrible they became, and by the time ~60,000 miles came around, well, it was a relief to get rid of it. Sure, part of it may have been that they were fleet cars, but they were also maintained and inspected on a _very_ strict and zealous schedule. Stuff just seemed to break on them anyway.
We probably would have purchased something else, but a bunch of our clients were retired from the Detroit auto industry, so we had to maintain the right image by driving the pieces of trash that they had likely designed years earlier.
Nothing to do with them being fleet vehicles. That is the perk of GM ownership. Can't say their cars are boring when every week brings a new repair surprise. Been there, done that.
Sad what GM has become bc I have an ‘02 tahoe 5.3L with 300k miles and it’s the most incredibly reliable vehicle I could ask for. Such a shame bc the new trucks and Tahoes/Yukons look amazing but they’re garbage.
$100 to change a headlight bulb on a 2010 Malibu because it takes an hour to disassemble the entire front grill made me want to puke. They're designed to fail expensively with non-user-repairable problems to make the dealership money with constant repair bills. Complete garbage. Would rather drive a 20-year-old 200k mile Toyota than a 60k 5 year old GM car.
@@gorkyd7912 Hyundai is the same way. My grandmother has a 2013 Elantra and you have to take the front bumper off to change the headlights/turn signals on the drivers side because the fuse box is directly behind the headlight assembly and there is zero room to get your hand behind it to pull the bulb out like on the passenger side. So you have to take the bumper off to get access to all the screws to take the headlight completely out of the car to get access to the back of it. Plus Hyundai/KIA's are infamous for burning out bulbs frequently. I had my previous Camry for 5 years and only had to replace one turn signal bulb, unknown of even when the last time any of the bulbs were replaced before I bought it. She had to replace the same lights two times in a year and then one more time the following year.
@@KelbynFloydWorship exactly my 99 Chevy Blazer has 260k on it and just runs beautifully.
I've got 3 Toyotas, the youngest is my Sienna with 118,000, then the RAV with 145,000 and finally my daily driver a first gen XB with 230,000. Between the three I've changed an alternator and normal wear items like brake pads, rotors, batteries and front end bushing/ball joints on the XB. I will say my '17 Kia Forte with 55,000 that my son drives to college has also been trouble free, so far. Before switching to mostly Toyota I had Dodge, Fords and GM products and always felt like I was behind on repairs.
My 2003 4runner is still going at 140k and absolutely mint. I only had to replace a set of shocks at $600.
Ball joints? Filters?
That’s barely broken in
I purchased my first new car ever, a 4Runner SR5 Premium, in July 2020. Owned it now for under 18 months and it has 3,844 miles on it. I'm hoping it lasts for the next 20 years. Yeah, I listened to Scotty :) and the Wizard, and numerous others on RUclips. I saved up for my first vehicle, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
I've had about 20 vehicles in my life and 4Runner being one of them, I would say it's probably the most dependable vehicle that you could buy.
I actually bought a 2000 4runner recently with 320,400 miles and I love it. Sure it's been spending some time at the mechanic, but with that milage I'm surprised it's actually just minor stuff like hoses and oil leaks. Definitely worth the money for the fun I've had with it so far.
Buddy of mine bought a totaled 1997 4-Runner back in, oh, I think '98 or '99. It wasn't an old vehicle when he bought it, but it had been totaled in a wreck. So he fixed it up, got it re-inspected, and a salvage title for it. Then drove it for 20 years and put 315,000 miles on it before he sold it to a friend of his who modified it and still uses it as an off-roader for trail-riding and rock-crawling. Just can't kill 'em.
By watching so many Scottie videos, RUclips turned me on to both you and Hoovies channel. They’re all awesome. Unlike so many television and new shows, you gents don’t raise my blood pressure. So thanks for that. Keep up the fine work men! 👍
You give great advice! I've been a Ford owner for over 50 years and finally ditched it and took the plunge buying my very first Toyota! I got a 2017 4Runner limited and absolutely LOVE it! It had 94K miles so I took it to my local Toyota dealer and had a once over & oil change 100% synthetic. I put new wheels & tires on it (Raceline Bronze Ryno Cast beadlock wheels and KO2s with a +15 offset); I had the X-Reas & automatic foot rails removed and had Ironman 4x4 install their Pro Foam suspension with lift and I will be adding rock sliders in the near future. I bought an AFN laser cut/welded front bumper from Portugal & will be installing with my husband next month. I couldn't be happier than I am right now and know that I made the right decision to go with the Toyota 4Runner, made in the best auto plant in the world!
Here in Australia, we call the price difference between Toyota and everything else the "Toyota tax"
Really?
And when you sell your Toyota that has depreciated less than everything else you get your Toyota tax refund. I bought an '03 Tundra for $5700 from a dealer once and resold it a few months later for $7000. Could've asked more but didn't want to be greedy.
I pay it gladly.
I own a ‘98 4Runner with a little over 330k miles. Lots of minor issues that come with a HIGH mileage vehicle, but she still runs like a top. My daily driver.
If you want to drive through the desert drive a Landrover, if you want to get back, drive a Toyota.
Two extremes of a spectrum, I'd feel 20 times more secure crossing the Sahara in a 20 year old kia sportage with 300k than a Landrover with 50k. XD
This no longer holds true Mike. Just last year a family was found dead out in the desert because their Toyota broke down and did not bring them back.
Because that toyota ran out of gas🤣
After putting mountains of miles onto 4.0 Jeeps and a small block Ford for years, I took up doing drugs and bought a 6.0 diesel Ford. Now that I'm in recovery, I got clean and got back to my roots and bought something that doesn't like to break down: a super sweet 2010 4Runner Trail. The crazy thing is that it's already creeping up on 170,000 without a single leak or rattle literally anywhere. I LOVE THIS THING!!
Y'all listen up here.. Their build quality is mind blowing. Seriously, it's freakin crazy how well built they are, and I agree with The Wizard 100%. My only regret is not buying one sooner, and since the previous owner replaced a lot of wearable items on it before trading it in, I basically have a brand new one anyway 😂
10/10 would totally recommend a 4Runner.
Yes, indeed. I was a GM man for years. I deserted GM for Toyota and I am one happy camper.
I did the exact opposite...
I traded a troublesome Camry for a 2020 Buick Regal Tour X.
Just switched to Honda after owning 4 gm cars, very happy with my decision
Same! A GM guy for ever, traded our traverse for a 2019 4runner and we are so happy!
We have 2019 4Runner TRD Off Road. Doesn’t do anything the best. But does everything very well. We love it. So did a deer. Waiting to get front corner fixed do to parts availability. Only thing you have to watch on these if you have the hydraulic suspension option. We don’t so I don’t remember option name.
Bought an '06 Sequoia last August. Original frame, very little rust, all surface. Caught up some deferred maintenance and it runs like new. About to cross 215k miles.
Those buttons are actually for the rear glass going up and down not the liftgate.
Perhaps this owner has two sets of wheels and tires - one for winter and one for summer. That might explain the low wear on the OEM tires and the lack of corrosion on those alloy wheels.
I was wondering that too. I full time drive mine with A/T tires here in Northern Nevada. On and off road, year round and only pull maybe 45k miles out of them. 75k miles on those yoko's is great but I would assume with that mileage, they are rocking some winter tires too.
I love the respect the Wizard shows in his language such manners are hard to find on youtube
This is one SUV I would definitely love to own. Even the older models look nice.
Wife bought a 18 with 34K miles. Loves it. After owning a 2001 Sequoia with 270K miles we bought new. Toyotas just last.
Out here in Pittsburgh we see a lot of seized transmission range selectors, and front diff actuators... these are usually the parking lot queens that never get driven. Other than that pretty solid. I've seen one transmission fail on a 4runner in the 15 years I've been with Toyota.
One of our customers had steering failed after warranty, they said 4k repair, was 18 or up model... one of bad apples i guess... i just rented 21 sr5 model, got in use to twitchy breaks in lo lo speeds, got in use to different steering and i actually liked the soft body rolly suspension, it behaved much better then 2000 Tacoma i had
Parking Lot Queens have a different meaning in San Francisco.
I've seen the dreaded "pink milkshake" in a 4runner (they were trying to sell me) but granted it had like 340k miles and looked like it had been through hell several times. For 3rd gens people should replace radiator or bypass their radiator's transmission coolant when it gets high in miles.
@@BA-gn3qb yet they both benefit from a good lube job
KDSS suspension system. Front right and rear left and FL and RR are connected via oil to help cornering.
I owned THREE 4 runners and loved them all to 200k miles with ZERO issues. I now own a Tundra but my heart is still with 4Runners.
I love the 4Runner, and Land Cruiser.
The interior on that 18 is nothing short of beautiful.
2016 4Runner 120,000 miles no issues. Just drove through a monsoon flood last week in Phoenix. Many flooded out car and vehicles in the road. 4runner cruised through it all no problem, very confident, actually enjoyed the ride.
6:19 love the scotty kilmer impression🤣
For me, it was the 3-6 month wait to get a 4Runner. Ended up with a Highlander. My mother had an ‘88 4Runner, she kept it for 23 years and 386,000 miles. Still ran fine.
~160K on my '12 Tacoma with only minor, forgivable, age-related issues -- a bearing here, a clock spring there, etc. Otherwise, trouble free. It is happy to climb and tow, too.
165K on my '11 4Runner. Upgraded suspension, got rid of the XREAS, replaced with OME springs and shocks, upgraded brakes with slotted and drilled rotors and HP pads, upgraded upper and lower control arms, tie rods with greaseable. Tow a 4K Airstream regularly. Love it. No problems.
Buttons on the back for the glass up and down
Awesome video Car Wizard! Very rare to see a Toyota vehicle in your shop especially a 4Runner and a Tacoma. That gets to show the reliability of those vehicles. I have a 97’ 4Runner limited with 269k miles and still going strong. Couple timing belts changes, Oil changes, brakes and tune up that’s all I ever did to my truck. Of course the shocks needs to be changed, but my truck still runs strong. Long live the 4Runner!😀
My 2006 4Runner has 225K miles, still runs like new, does not burn or leak a drop of oil. Only thing I have done to it over its life.......brakes, shocks, sway bar bushings, oil/filter always Mobile One and tires. That is it, totally dependable and bullet proof. Has always done very well off road and in the snow......never stuck.
My moms has had a Avalon for a few years now. Its been nothing but reliable and fun to drive. Toyota really knows what their doing. Thanks for the video Wizard! I see that Chevelle again... Is that a Malibu?? Looks beautiful!!
I have a 2014 Avalon Hybrid with 95K. It has never needed major repairs. It’s been like a rock in terms of reliability yet oh-so-fun to drive on mountain roads or hills. Best of all, while I won’t win any drag races with the 4-cyl engine, the electric motors launch me from a standing stop and help me win a 100-yard dash from a stop light over most vehicles with gas engines only.
I drive a 2011 Toyota 4 runner 4wd here in Alaska. When temperature drops to -30 degrees Farenheit at longest I plug the battery and engine, transmission pan heater this beast starts all the time. It doesn't make any knocking noise. It still drives smooth. I purchased my 4 runner in 2019 with 109k miles for $21,000. Now it has 128k miles and it's worth $23,000. Can't beat that
What could a four year old Toyota possibly need from the Wizard?? Thanks again Mr. Wizard! Merry Christmas to you, Mrs. Wizard and all of your loved ones.
For the wizard to blow it up..lol..
My husband bought me a 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD off road earlier this year. It had 48890 when we bought it. Currently has 53500. It is a GREAT vehicle. This is our second Tacoma. We love it. It really makes me feel good to hear you say how good these vehicles are. I just finished nursing school and I will be buying a new car and give the Taco to my husband. Do you like the Camry or Corolla? We really like watching your You Tube channel.
The 4runner is made in Japan at the Tahara factory in Aichi. (Unlike the Tacoma, Rav 4 and Tundra)
Edit: some Rav 4s are made in Japan
Some rav 4s are made in Japan
@@thetechlibrarian My 2020 XLE was. I told the dealership to not even show me a RAV4 if the VIN didn't start with a "J".
@@whoknows8678 I have a 17 se and searched out a j vin
@@thetechlibrarian Yeah, I'm picky about that. When I'm buying a vehicle, especially a new one, I want it made in its country's namesake. If I ever buy a German car like a BMW or Mercedes, I sure as hell don't want one made in Mexico, Indonesia, wherever. It has to be made in Germany. Same goes for a Japanese brand like Toyota. I don't want one made in Canada or even the US because our workers just don't have the same attention to detail. I'm very familiar with Japanese culture as I was stationed there for years in the Navy and their work ethic is unmatched. They get a bad performance review at work, they might go home and commit seppuku. They work like their family's reputation depends on it...and it does... Joe Sixpack here? He doesn't give a crap. He goes home, gets drunk, kicks the dog, beats the wife, etc. LOL
@@whoknows8678 Funny but so true!
Bought a 96 4Runner new and it’s still my daily driver. Best vehicle I’ve owned. I did all the maintenance myself. I’m starting to believe I can’t wear it out
I took the wizard's advice and got a 2013 Lexus GX460 just a few days ago. Coming from working on & owning BMWs, I just wanted something comfortable and reliable for a daily which this GX very much is. It was definitely an expensive purchase but I still got a good deal on it and it was maintained really well so I'm very happy with my purchase. Wish I lived closer (reside in WA) to Kansas so I could bring it by!
I've owned 2 bimmers and 3 lexus'. The one lexus that wasn't totalled was the most unreliable car I've ever owned. I spent more in repairs than on car payments.
Bimmers are reliable machines if maintained properly in my experience, esp i6 models.
BMWs are garbage
@@dauchande , That's false, BMWs are not reliable cars.
@@Rocket9944 Wrong, Bimmers are reliable cars... *if they're regularly maintained*
@@dauchande , Absolutely wrong and millions of people will back me up on this comment, you can maintain it very well and it'll still be in the shop once a month.
Through my lifetime I've known many people with BMWs and they're always in the shop.
You must have gotten lucky and had that one BMW that wasn't a lemon.
BMWs are good looking pieces of junk.
I have a 95 4runner 4x4 with the 3.0.L. Shes got 109,000ish miles on her and it runs great. Payed $2500.00 for it two years ago. It's got rusty body panels but the undercarriage is in good shape. Interior is very nice, very happy with it so far. Time to replace some fenders. I would like to find a newer one for the wife!!
I had an 04 that I bought in 2011 for like $17k with 64k miles on it, drove it to 140k and traded it on a 2016 tacoma like an idiot. Worst vehicle mistake I've ever made, the 4runner was the best vehicle i've ever owned. I drove it in Alaska for a few years, then across through the yukon and down into Arkansas. Off roaded it, drove through rivers, etc. The 4.0 1gr-fe is a far superior engine for a truck/suv than the new 3.5 camry engine they put in the tacoma. I'd never be able to get a 4runner for a price like that today either. I also think the interiors of the 3rd/4th gen 4runners were a little less cheap looking. It also had a traditional oil filter accessible on the top of the engine.
I put a Baxter adapter on my 4Runner. Uses conventional spin on filter now. Cost me about $200.00 but I can change my oil without tools now. Got a Fumoto valve for the drain plug too.
The fact that I can do the oil change in my garage, without tools and not have to worry about the plastic filter housing cracking from being over torqued, totally worth it.
I also noticed my '99 4runner has better build quality than an '06 tundra. Newer not always better, cheap plastic parts and lower manufacturing standards make all the difference.
Love those 4Runner's and it's in pretty good shape for 75000 miles. Wife and I got a 2018 RAV4 and we love it. Great for our Canadian winters and reliable.
We have the same 4Runner but in White and absolutely love it!! Also own a Tundra!!
Toyota makes really good vehicles!
Like all of us tundra owners we have a second Toyota . I got a Highlander looked at runner but found it pretty dated
Toyota makes the best product out there.
Have a 07 4Runner with 188k miles on it. Traded in my BMW seven years ago. Best decision I’ve ever made in regards to a vehicle. Yeah it may not be as fancy as these new SUVs out there but I love it. It has never let me down and that’s the most important thing to me.
They are very nice looking vehicles. Love how Tyler was just hanging out for this one. Lol. Keep up the good work guys!
I stumbled across this video and had to watch. I have own two 4Runners so far and no regrets yet. I had a 1998 Limited for 15 years, bought it used and put over 200,000 miles on it for a grand total of 330k miles! During my time with it I swapped tires, shocks, a timing belt, battery and replaced the coil packs! I only parted ways with it because my brother needed a vehicle and I was in the market for a new 4Runner :) Got a brand new 2020 Venture Edition. Already at 35k miles and no looking back yet.
Love the knobs. No reason having touchscreens for stuff like AC etc. When the touch screen breaks you cant use any of it.
Our 2011 sequoia platinum still looks like that underneath @ 200k miles… zero issues. Zero leaks. All OEM save for a set of brakes. Regular maintenance. Had the original plugs in it when I bought it at 189k miles. Lol
Nice to see 4 Runner still keeping nice clean interior instead of filling it with bunch of screens & bs
Friend of mine been driving her 4 Runner since 2017 and never had any issues yet except gen maintenance
I bought a '92 Fourunner V6, that had done close on 400,000 kilometers from a friend who had driven it through a flooded creek crossing and "hydrolocked" the engine breaking the number 6 connecting rod. Long story short, I pulled the LH head and sump off, fitted a used Conrod bought from a motor wrecker, reassembled the engine. It started right up and remained in use for another couple of years until it was "written off" in a road accident. Yes Wizard, they are "the best", cannot be killed.
4.0L variable valving actually works for hundreds of thousands of miles.
That little squeak? Phaleese. That’s still good for at least 100,000 more miles.