I'm looking for some realism and advice.
I love my 3rd gen 4Runner. It's been great. However, with two kids and one wife, it's getting to be a bit crowded. Especially being far from town, getting lots of groceries every couple weeks.
One day, we might have another kid, maybe two. One kid would fit with 5 seats, but we're thinking a 3rd row might be good.
We do lots of gravel road driving (we live down a gravel road). I don't appreciate the lower ball joint design issue of the 3rd gen 4runner and 1st gen Sequoia. I don't think it's critical, but getting out of that camp might be nice.
We also have lots of highway miles into town. So gravel and highway. And then plenty of snow in the winter.
A Sequoia is definitely big enough, but maybe bigger than I want. 80 series and 100 series don't get good gas mileage. I imagine the 4.7 motors edging out over the straight 6s.
I am open to 15 MPG, if I have to. My worry is that with so much gravel driving, a unibody vehicle would tend to suffer. Although one would have better gas mileage.
I do like to do some trails, but wonder about a more trail worthy rig, and a more highway worthy rig. Of course the FJ80 and 100 series are both very trail worthy as they are, but in time I could imagine wanting to do bigger tires, which means less MPG... Perhaps a solid axle 4Runner paired with a 100 series Land Cruiser could make the most sense.
I also wonder if a solid front axle is a bit of a liability on the gravel roads. It's not going to be quite as planted as IFS (or so I imagine), and maybe somewhat more accident prone.
Should I just get a 90s mini van every couple years? Would I be able to tow a 2,000lb trailer happily with an 80 series? Is a Sequoia really what I need?
I tend not to care for ATRAC and AHC on the 100 series / LX470, in the years that had them. I'd also prefer not to jump too much into modernity.
My budget is probably around $15k at most.
What do you all think?
Thank you!
I love my 3rd gen 4Runner. It's been great. However, with two kids and one wife, it's getting to be a bit crowded. Especially being far from town, getting lots of groceries every couple weeks.
One day, we might have another kid, maybe two. One kid would fit with 5 seats, but we're thinking a 3rd row might be good.
We do lots of gravel road driving (we live down a gravel road). I don't appreciate the lower ball joint design issue of the 3rd gen 4runner and 1st gen Sequoia. I don't think it's critical, but getting out of that camp might be nice.
We also have lots of highway miles into town. So gravel and highway. And then plenty of snow in the winter.
A Sequoia is definitely big enough, but maybe bigger than I want. 80 series and 100 series don't get good gas mileage. I imagine the 4.7 motors edging out over the straight 6s.
I am open to 15 MPG, if I have to. My worry is that with so much gravel driving, a unibody vehicle would tend to suffer. Although one would have better gas mileage.
I do like to do some trails, but wonder about a more trail worthy rig, and a more highway worthy rig. Of course the FJ80 and 100 series are both very trail worthy as they are, but in time I could imagine wanting to do bigger tires, which means less MPG... Perhaps a solid axle 4Runner paired with a 100 series Land Cruiser could make the most sense.
I also wonder if a solid front axle is a bit of a liability on the gravel roads. It's not going to be quite as planted as IFS (or so I imagine), and maybe somewhat more accident prone.
Should I just get a 90s mini van every couple years? Would I be able to tow a 2,000lb trailer happily with an 80 series? Is a Sequoia really what I need?
I tend not to care for ATRAC and AHC on the 100 series / LX470, in the years that had them. I'd also prefer not to jump too much into modernity.
My budget is probably around $15k at most.
What do you all think?
Thank you!