Good video. You have made me appreciate my 2000 V6 3.4 manual SR5 even more than before. I have 178,000 happy miles and was going to sell it and buy a 2004 BMW 330ci.... not any more. Going to have the 4Runner fully serviced and detailed....good for another 100k at least. Thank for saving me a bundle. Once I was fully loaded and pulled an overloaded trailer from the East Coast over the Rockies in August...not recommended...was running out of gears on the 11,990' Loveland Pass in Colorado...but the temp gauge never moved at all. Great, tough, dependable, capable, vehicle. A Keeper.
great video. I am a huge fan of the 4runner myself and use to have the 1999 4runner 2.7 4cyl 5-speed manual and now I drive the 2000 4runner 4wd sport 3.4 v6 5-speed manual (the most highly sought after and hard to get 4runner model). My truck has the cloth interior which reduces weight of the vehicle and plus the cloth is more comfortable than the leather year round. I've driven the automatic 4runner before, but it is completely different than the manual trans. 4runner (the preferred way to go in the 4runner). anyways, you gave a good overview on the truck and had some good things to say.
I think this is the BEST generation! It looks the best and has a nice old-school, simple interior - before it got all plastic-y, and trendy looking. An ex GF had a 1997, and it was a total slug. This gen with the 6 Cyl fixed that well-deserved complaint.
+1970borntorun Yep, 1996-2002 were all 3rd gens. 1996-2000 came with either a 2.7 4 cylinder or 3.4 V6. From 2001-2002, the only option was the 3.4. 2002 was the last year of the 3rd gen, then came the 4th gen that came with the 4.0 V6, or 4.7 V8. I agree that the 3.4 is not the fastest engine, but then again, these trucks aren't built for speed! If you're looking for power, I would think the best option would be the 4.7 V8 4th gen.
+Robert Davis I own a '00 5MT & there's nothing else on the market that I'd rather drive. That said, there are a few annoying design shortcomings imo: narrow interior (+4" & it'd be perfect); low 5th gear ratio on the manual (adjust down 400 RPMs @ 75 mph & it'd be perfect); non-fail safe LBJ design, PITA rear shock mount location; and rust-prone weak frame coating.
My brother drives the '97 4runner SR5, 2wd, with the v6 engine. But with the engine it makes a more of a muffled sound than what I heard in the beginning. Also, he just passed 300,000 miles on it.
+NintendoNation are the brakes in yours to where you have to push is so far down to get the full effect? I mean mine work just fine but my aunt said its always been like that even when she bought it in 2000.
Limited have the oem fender flares and running boards. Other stuff I'm not too sure about, like the sunroof and power rear window that goes up and down
Cameron, remote keyless entry has been available on vehicles since the early 1990's bud. I had a 93 suburban with the stock key fob. So, please quit saying, "Now, this was the late 90'/2000/etc" and act like there wasn't keyless entry.
my Tundra Limited suspension is Lexus soft and very smooth. I was looking into getting a 4Runner Limited but I expected the suspension to be like a Lexus suv but now idk if I want it
Yeah the 4Runners have all had a rather bouncy suspension as far back as the 90's models. Even the newer (2016) have a bouncy ride. I've heard that swapping the suspension from a Tundra fixes the ride quality of the 4Runner
ummm, the third gen 4runner and the 1st gen Tacoma share a shitload of parts, so IDK where you get that info at around :30. Also, this was the first generation of 4runner to be produced alongside the "tacoma," as previous versions were just called Toyota Pickup trucks. They share so many parts, you can literally buy same radiators, front suspension parts, all engine and transmission parts are the same, hell they even use some same interior parts like shifters and bezels. This guy is poorly educated on these vehicles.
OlBuckWalters The first gen 4Runner was in 1985 so IDK where you got the idea that this was the first gen. If you don't believe me look up first gen 4Runner and figure it out.
