Solid axles
Strong transfercase and Tranny.
Light weight
EFI
Upgradable

Torqueless 4 popper

My father bought a 85 Toyota 4runner in 86 and i adopted it in 1998 when he
Unfortunitly bought a Blazer. I was restricted from upgrading it with lifts so i bought my own 85 4runner in 2000. The gut-less 4 popper came out and i worked on it for 1 month installing a 1989 Mustang 5.0 Engine and
tranny. The stock transfer case was retained. It was lifted 3.5 inches and is great.
If your interested in a 4runner with the 22re 4 knocker, i suggest setting about $500 aside for exhaust and intake.

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92 blazer s-10 "4x4"

Great looks, reliability, ride comfort, quality and fit-and-finish.

Quality of some interior components for a vehicle of this price. Engine power is a little lackluster. No oil pressure gauge or voltmeter.

Overall this is an excellent automobile.

The quality of construction is top notch. All seams are perfectly spaced. The interior is smooth and tight. Doors and windows operate flawlessly. Controls have a good solid feel to them. The climate controls are simple yet highly effective. Even the stock stereo system is surprisingly good sounding. Some of the interior components could stand to be of higher quality for the price. The leather seats actually contain a considerable amount of vinyl on the top and back. The instrument cluster is not as full featured as I would like lacking oil pressure and battery gauges (I've been saved more than once by an oil pressure gauge). I would've liked the walnut veneer to be extended to cover the instrument area and the center console. The A/C struggles in very hot weather.

The drivetrain is fairly good. The V-6 engine is a little bit underpowered for a vehicle of this substantial weight but this can be mitigated somewhat by selecting the "power" mode for the transmission. The engine gets a little rough at just above 3000 rpm but smooths out after that (maybe some balance shafts would help). The transmission shifts smoothly and quietly. The 4WD is great. Some have complained about it being a part-time affair but I personally prefer this as I feel it provides better economy and less component wear.

Ride comfort is great for an SUV. The seats are very comfortable. The suspension is firm and truck-like (which may not appeal to some) but I like it (having always been a truck owner).

Reliability is incredible. Over three years and 60,000+ miles later the only repair has been a tail-light bulb. The paint still looks great even though I've not waxed it as often as I should. I finally had to replace the tires. The thing feels as tight as the day I got it and still rides great. Everyone who rides in it is always amazed at how refined a vehicle it is and rightly so.

This is my fourth Toyota, 'nuff said. I had a Ford F-250 HD between Toyota number 2 and 3 and that was the biggest mistake I've made (well, when it comes to autos). For all the Toyotas combined I've had the following repairs: three tail-light bulbs, one CV joint boot (ripped it off-road). The Ford (which I traded in at 30K miles): rear brakes, rear brake seals, intake manifold gasket, serpentine belt, electrical system short, transfer case, etc., etc., etc., plus it rattled and the interior felt like it was made by Hasbro.

In a few years or so when it's got 200K on it I'll probably trade it in for another one, or perhaps a Land Cruiser. I'm giving it a value rating of 4 because of the aforementioned weaknesses which are only weaknesses because of the price. Overall, however, this is probably one of the finest mass-produced SUV's ever made at any price.

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First SUV. (3) Toyota pickups, (1) Ford PU (unreliable, poor quality).

- Great 4wd and ground clearance - plows right through bumper-high snow
- Rock Solid Quality - not a squeak after three years
- Extremely Maneuverable - tight turning radius
- Very good looking (subjective, of course)
- Rear Window - great for ventilation and long cargo items
- Good handling (for an SUV) - controlled body lean
- Visibility - high vantage point and large rear view mirrors
- Rear Tire under bumper - does not take up room in car or impede rear vision
- Small Footprint - this car is actually shorter than my 92 Accord but has more room. Very good for tight city driving.
- Good Highway Mileage (for an SUV) about 22 mpg
- Rear passengers love the rear heater and also functions as a seat warmer for front seat passengers (optional)
- Optional front sport seats are comfortable and has good support

- Could use a little bit more passing power
- Expensive - but quality is worth the price.
- No heated mirrors for a $34,000 SUV! (addressed in 1999)
- No full time 4wd for a $34,000 SUV! (addressed in 2001)
- Ride is a tad bumpy on expansion joints and potholes but I knew this when I bought the car.
- OEM Goodyears a tad wimpy - squeals often
- Cupholders right in front of HVAC vents and blocks HVAC controls (addressed in 1999)
- 18.5 gallon fuel tank limits range (my Accord has a 17.5 gallon one)

Paid $34,000 including tax. If you're looking for a highly maneuverable vehicle with outstanding off-road capabilities, this is your car. If you're looking upgrading from a family sedan and looking for a smooth ride, you may want to look elsewhere, including the new Highlander and Sequoia that Toyota will be introducing.

I love how the vehicle feels and handles. Compared to the 98 Trooper, it feels like a sports car. The only problem is the short wheelbase and the fixed axle rear suspension can cause for an bouncy ride on uneven and potholed pavement. Also, the car may be tough to control in 2WD when cornering on wet pavement. I have 4WD on whenever it rains or snows (or both!). However, I would leave the car in 2WD when the pavement is mostly dry (part-time 4WD doesn't like to corner on dry pavement). One time my car threatened to spin out while cornering on a curve where water had collected from over-zealous lawn sprinkling.

You sit high on the 4Runner so you see traffic through lower SUV's like the CRV, RAV4 and Blazers. The rear view mirrors are large and makes for extremely good visibility. I love the small footprint on this car. I can fit in fairly tight parallel parking spots and squeeze past delivery trucks that have decided to parallel park on a one-way road.

As expected gas mileage is on the low side, I get around 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on extended highway trips. Also, as expected the car can get a little wind noise on the highway and be susceptible to cross winds.

After three years of owning the 4Runner, I have not heard so much of a squeak from the chassis. The engine though a tad underpowered has been rock solid. I've only had two problems with the car: both the rear speakers failing and the rear hatch switch failing to sense that the rear hatch is open.

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1998 Isuzu Trooper
- Much more space but also less maneuverable.
- Larger gas tank (22.5 gallons)
- Lower gas mileage
- Pseudo full-time 4wd system is nice
- Not as squeak free
1999 Dodge Durango
- 3 rows of seats
- Much less maneuvrable

-Reliability
-Good Looks
-Great body color (desert dune)
-Reliability
-Reliability
-Reliability
-4WD prowess

-Not well suited for tall people
-Gas mileage
-Cup holders in front of stereo and A/C vents

Love this car. I took it up over some 13,000 jeep trails in Colorado a few weeks after my purchase in June 1998. Great 4WD capabilities. I would not purchase this vehicle, or any other, without 4WD. no way.

My major gripe about this vehicle is its shallow seat, combined with the short seat-to-floor distance. This makes a long drive very uncomfotable. This has been a 'feature' since its earliest days, not only on the newer models.

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Tahoe
X5
ML320

1st is Safety, toyo reliability, fuel mileage for SUV, same day service at any dealership, style blows the competition away.

nope

I'm over here on the dark continent (kenya) again for the fourteenth time. does anybody at toyota realize the whole of the middle east and africa live, eat and breath toyota? the new toyota "condor" has hit the showrooms here in nairobi. the bedouins in the deserts of the middle east and africa all prefer toyota products. $ cost is prohibitive to many here, but any taxis or safari driver will expound in great detail the virtues of toyota products/SUV's.. 4runner (HiLux SR5 in africa) has no equal for the $. get one now before the prices go up.

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tacoma,avalon,camry, toyota fit and finish still superb

I like a number of things about it such as Comfort, where it can go, its reliable its cheap to run and a great family car.

Dont dislike anything. Although the power is a bit weak, but you would epext that from what it is.

Yes it has been a good car to me and I would recommed it to anyone

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A very good car.

Definitely a keeper
durable
stable on highway (will NOT roll unless you drive like a sports car)
HIGH resale value
unbelievably reliable
comfortable front seats
masses of cargo space
low maintenance costs
good gas mileage (21 mpg) for an SUV
electric rear window

none - but the 4-cyl is a gutless wonder. So buy a 6 cyl.

1991 4-cyl lacks power, but I expected that. Acceleration is poor, but it will cruise at 90 mph once it gets going.
In 105,000 miles it has never failed - I've replaced clutch and am due for a new timing chain, but they're routine. I have frequent oil changes and that's about it.

Standard tire is 225, but I fit P235-70-15 Dunlop Radial Rovers and they last a long time and give great on and off road performance, and are QUIET on highway.

I drive mostly on highway, but bought it for weekend trips and do some off-road in mud and desert. It's off road traction is fabulous - high ground clearance is better than anything except the Discovery. I'd like full-time 4WD, but can't complain about 21 mpg for such a heavy vehicle.

I added a 2" receiver hitch and a good CD player - otherwise it's all stock.

I cycle a lot and have a bike rack "permanently" plugged into the tow reveiver (have to remove for car wash) - the roof is too high for me to want a roof bike rack. The electric back window means I can access the rear without having to lower the tailgate all the time.

This is now 10 years old, and I'd like a new one - they've got better and the new V-6 is great, but why? - this engine has quite a few years left and it drives like new, with minimal maintenance.

I also have a sedan company car, but much prefer the 4-Runner to drive; I've never had as much satisfaction from a vehicle.

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Sometimes had to tow Rodeos, Explorers etc out of mud.

Sporty and also family looking, reliable, resonable gas mileage for a SUV.
Toyota name, reputation on quality.

Price is a little too high for a 4WD V6. With some more money a Acura MDX is much better SUV for family (more room, stronger engine, higher mpg ...). Steering wheel shakes slightly at highway speed.

I've paid 30K for a 2000 SR5 4WD out of the door, which is okay. I would recommend it for anyone that doesn't want to spend more than $30K for a SUV. If you're thinking of limited model, make sure you check out MDX.

My truck is smooth, quite and car-like ride. However, I still don't know if it runs better in the highway with 16'' alloy wheel (upgrade) or 15'' wheel (standard). And which wheel will have better mpg for the truck ?

Is it right that the one with 15'' wheel is better on-road, while the other one is better off-road ?

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None

Very Dependable, High Resale Value. It Looks great and performs very well.

Needs just a bit more power.

This 1999 4Runner is the 2nd one I've had totalled. My wife flipped it over on the interstate. The truck was a complete loss, but my wife and her sister walked away with just bruises.

After 2 years and 44000 miles, it was valued at just a couple thousand less that what I paid for it.

I had a 1997 4Runner that got broadsided by a full-sized van that ran a red light. I was driving and walked away uninjured. The truck was also a complete loss.

I have nothing but good things to say about the crashworthiness of 4Runners. I am buying another one. A 2001 model this time.

I used to tow a 24' Travel Trailer with my 4runner. It weighed about 4200 lbs. The 4runner did a very good job doing it. I could do 65mph on the highway usually. A little more powerful engine would be helpful. I'm going to get a supercharger on my next 4runner for just this reason. Fuel economy while pulling this trailer was about 11mpg. Going up hills it was sluggish, but not unacceptable. I pulled the trailer through South Dakota and Wyoming to Yellowstone. The other people in my caravan was quite impressed with the pulling capability. I could keep up with their Surburbans quite easily. It did better that some other vehicles on the road.

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1997 4Runner

Styling. Good looks. Solid/ rugged. Big tires on the sr5 sport package. quite at highway speeds.

engine power....but got that fixed with a supercharger. makes a world of difference.

the best suv around......stills looks the best on the road despite all the newcomers. good reliability..although i had a transmission leak (fixed under warranty). solid and dependable overall. took it on a 2k miles trip....was surprisingly comfortable

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None