What’s up with the 3G 4Runner?

[Itaro]

#guyswheelintheirhooptie

FTFY

 

[Slim-Whitey]

Cost, size, capability, clearance.

They don’t cost $30k+, so it’s a good platform to build something you don’t mind beating up a bit.
They are small enough to get into tight places easily without bashing your shit.
Some came from the factory with the E-locker, and some have the multi-mode tcase which allows for 2wd, 4hi, 4lo, and AWD; which is nice for people that like to drive on winter mountain roads.
Stock, they have better belly clearance than the 2nd gen, 4th gen, and 5th gen.
Tons of aftermarket support over the last 20+ years.
Did I mention cheap?

Cheap is relative. 400,000+km on a 3g 4runner with an auto that hasn't been serviced in 300,000 still commands 5 grand.

That's too much money for a clapped out ready to die shit wagon.

Edit: quick search yields none with less than 300,000km, and prices range from 4500 to 7,000 dollars.

And I thought Cummins equipped dodges were overpriced.

 

[AssBurns]

Cheap is relative. 400,000+km on a 3g 4runner with an auto that hasn't been serviced in 300,000 still commands 5 grand.

That's too much money for a clapped out ready to die shit wagon.

Maybe up there, but around here you can find something like that pretty easily for under $3000. Rust Free. If you know what you are doing and are patient, you can find one for under $2k. I bought mine for about $5k, and it had 162k miles, limited model (leather power seats, sunroof, locker, mulitmode tcase, auto windows, tow package, etc), great condition besides some small dings on the bumpers. That was over 5 years ago.
I have since beat the ever living shit out of it.

You could spend less for a 2nd gen but those have shitty 3.0 V6's, torsion bar front suspension, and shitty ground clearance.
Or you could spend more for a 4th gen, better engines and front diff, but no OEM locker option, worse ground clearance, and an overall larger vehicle.

 

[Slim-Whitey]

So you paid the equivalent of 6600 Canadabux bucks for an SUV with 265,000km on it.

To flip that, we bought the Rodeo (shorter, narrower, etc) for 3g with 140,000km on it, and no rust (at the time).

Now yes, it's a more obsolete vehicle (sorta, Isuzu did sell more than 100,000 of these things a year for a while), bit it makes comparable hp to a 3.4 (being down 10), and is stout enough, even with some accessory issues (they leak some coolant when aluminum housing corrode if you don't clean em up, and the valve covers use a poor seal design). Non interference design, etc etc. Came with an Eaton LSD too.

Just sayin, Yotas are crazy priced for what ya get. Public perception. It's just like buying a truck with the big red C on the side.

 

[4runner DOA]

Maybe up there, but around here you can find something like that pretty easily for under $3000. Rust Free. If you know what you are doing and are patient, you can find one for under $2k. I bought mine for about $5k, and it had 162k miles, limited model (leather power seats, sunroof, locker, mulitmode tcase, auto windows, tow package, etc), great condition besides some small dings on the bumpers. That was over 5 years ago.
I have since beat the ever living shit out of it.

You could spend less for a 2nd gen but those have shitty 3.0 V6's, torsion bar front suspension, and shitty ground clearance.
Or you could spend more for a 4th gen, better engines and front diff, but no OEM locker option, worse ground clearance, and an overall larger vehicle.

4th gen trail came with a locker, but they're fucking unicorns. I don't think mine is too much wider than yours, especially since I ripped all the trim pieces off. Hahah.

 

[AssBurns]

So you paid the equivalent of 6600 Canadabux bucks for an SUV with 265,000km on it.

To flip that, we bought the Rodeo (shorter, narrower, etc) for 3g with 140,000km on it, and no rust (at the time).

Now yes, it's a more obsolete vehicle (sorta, Isuzu did sell more than 100,000 of these things a year for a while), bit it makes comparable hp to a 3.4 (being down 10), and is stout enough, even with some accessory issues (they leak some coolant when aluminum housing corrode if you don't clean em up, and the valve covers use a poor seal design). Non interference design, etc etc. Came with an Eaton LSD too.

Just sayin, Yotas are crazy priced for what ya get. Public perception. It's just like buying a truck with the big red C on the side.

Yeah I get that. It is nice having a vehicle that has a TON of market support. Not just aftermarket, but there are tons of these 3rd gens around here which means there is always at least 1 at the local pick a part. Usually 2-4 there everytime I go. Now there are probably less than a quarter of the amount of Isuzu's around here. Idk if there is much market support or if they interchange parts with many vehicles. 3rd gens interchange many parts from 1st gen tacomas, 1st gen tundras, T100's, some diff parts from 4th gens, fj cruisers, older pickups, etc. And there are a ton of all those vehicles around here. There is some inflation for convenience for sure.

 

[AssBurns]

4th gen trail came with a locker, but they're fucking unicorns. I don't think mine is too much wider than yours, especially since I ripped all the trim pieces off. Hahah.

Your's is probably 4" wider than mine at the axle, and probably more than 4" wider at the body. 3rd gen's have a little better ground clearance at the belly/frame.

 

[Slim-Whitey]

New parts for the Isuzu can be difficult. Isuzu is a bigass company, they make lots of their own shit. That means some of it is far away, especially since the brand isn't here anymore.

That also means that interchanging with other vehicles that contract their major systems out, isn't as likely. The ignition system is Chevrolet (and a shitty one at that, but cheap, thankfully. I got my last ICM for literally free)

Nice parts is, Isuzu did sell quite a few, and they have not retained their value. On a given day, there's half a dozen for sale for less than 1000 bucks. Complete parts vehicles. I bought my parts rodeo for 500 dollars, and it was played and driving at the time.

Aftermarket support is HUGE, but not on this continent. I can get some crazy stuff out of Australia. There are a couple of relatively dedicated places in North America, but they don't always offer everything you want.

But if you can ship it from Aus, you can get it.

 

[Chris In Milwaukee]

New parts for the Isuzu can be difficult. Isuzu is a bigass company, they make lots of their own shit. That means some of it is far away, especially since the brand isn't here anymore.

That also means that interchanging with other vehicles that contract their major systems out, isn't as likely. The ignition system is Chevrolet (and a shitty one at that, but cheap, thankfully. I got my last ICM for literally free)

Nice parts is, Isuzu did sell quite a few, and they have not retained their value. On a given day, there's half a dozen for sale for less than 1000 bucks. Complete parts vehicles. I bought my parts rodeo for 500 dollars, and it was played and driving at the time.

Aftermarket support is HUGE, but not on this continent. I can get some crazy stuff out of Australia. There are a couple of relatively dedicated places in North America, but they don't always offer everything you want.

But if you can ship it from Aus, you can get it.

Buddy used to have a Trooper. Okay, at the time it was his Dad's. He took that thing everywhere. I remember the day he sunk it in the river and had to tell his dad about it. That was a good time.

 

[Slim-Whitey]

I'd like a trooper sometime. The engine bay is markedly larger, and much easier to swap things into. As is the frame. There are points under the Isuzu where the clear span between the frame is 26".

 

[Dezert4Runner]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2658669574251253/

That would be almost double the asking price on the west coast. If the frame is intact I would jump all over that one very quickly.

 

[Slim-Whitey]

That would be almost double the asking price on the west coast. If the frame is intact I would jump all over that one very quickly.

It'd be EIGHT GRAND US?!

 

[Dezert4Runner]

It'd be EIGHT GRAND US?!

In the most inflated Toyota markets (PNW and Colorado) close to double. In SoCal, at least 6-7k, maybe more for the right buyer. It’s a late 3rd gen in a desirable color with 4WD and relatively clean. The extras are nice but don’t necessarily equate to a higher sale price but it’s a solid vehicle even at those miles. Trucks that are from the west coast are generally rust free, so you could argue that that factors into the premium. That PA one is most likely swiss cheese due to the area, and it may be part of the reason he’s only asking $4,295. I dot know the market very well in that part of the land of the free

 

[Blender]

It'd be EIGHT GRAND US?!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/794810740/overview/

 

[PCTaco]

In the most inflated Toyota markets (PNW and Colorado) close to double. In SoCal, at least 6-7k, maybe more for the right buyer. It’s a late 3rd gen in a desirable color with 4WD and relatively clean. The extras are nice but don’t necessarily equate to a higher sale price but it’s a solid vehicle even at those miles. Trucks that are from the west coast are generally rust free, so you could argue that that factors into the premium. That PA one is most likely swiss cheese due to the area, and it may be part of the reason he’s only asking $4,295. I dot know the market very well in that part of the land of the free

I agree it's probably rusty as fuck, I'd have to go look at it but it's 2 hours away and snowstorm tomorrow so fuck it.

 

[AssBurns]

Geeze! Maybe the cost of 3rd gens has gone up quite a bit in the last couple years. Do those things actually sell at that price? I had a buddy that sold a 3rd gen with LT with bypasses front and rear, lockers, fiberglass, bumpers, wheels and 35's for $13k about a year ago. I thought that was kinda high, but damn at these prices it looks like a steal!

 

[Slim-Whitey]

Hahaha imagine paying 16 grand for a 20 year old 180hp SUV. Holy fucking fuck

 

[Dukestaco]

FTFY

Ha ha always knew you were a flamer. Lol

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I agree it's probably rusty as fuck, I'd have to go look at it but it's 2 hours away and snowstorm tomorrow so fuck it.

I know the prices for 3rd gens are more reasonable in your part of the country but maybe a call before hand to see if they can give you some photos before you make the drive. You might want to take a screwdriver with you to check the area along the frame for the upper rear control arm. That’s one of the hotspots for these rigs. If the frame is decent for PA standards, it’s priced to sell for sure.

 

[Itaro]

Ha ha always knew you were a flamer. Lol

Human torch from the Fantastic Four