And as was mentioned the 03-current 4r are very close to the same exterior dimensions as a 80 series, though the interior doesn't feel as "open" to me.
this is b/c the 80 is vastly taller. The GX is closer but I think modern crash standards have resulted in the pillars being quite thick nowadays (not a bad tradeoff, imo) so you don't get that open feeling of the 80. Also, I think the 80's seating position is near perfect which kind of spoils you. The only seating I like better is the 100 but I also really like the GX's too.
I can't speak highly enough of the 3rd gen. 4Runner. It is very different from an 80. Much more nimble, much stronger feeling even before a S/C, and strangely enough, somehow roomier feeling. The back seats actually are roomier.
You can drive it more like a car (push it harder in the turns) and it is still extremely capable off road.
I'm not partial to the 4th gen. at all. Toyota has completely catered to the " I want a minivan but don't want to have to say I drive a minivan" crowd.
Have you compared the visibility from inside the 3rd vs. 4th gen. 4Runners? The 4th gen. has noticibly less.
I love both my "trucks" but a 4Runner definately makes a better DD. But don't expect the gas milage to be that much better, at least it isn't the way I drive
Before anyone buys the cayenne turbo you should look at the V-8 VW Touareg, they are a lot less, ride a lot better and are the exact same chassis with better 4wd goodies. Oh did I mention that it was available with a 500 + ft lbs torque diesel!!!
I don't know if the potential replacement for your 450 will be exclusively for your wife or not, but if it is, you may want to consider the RAV4 or a Subaru Outback. They are both AWD and get great fuel economy for an AWD. I have always been a Toyota fan, but I'm also now sold on the Outback and my wife loves it. I love it because I know she won't have the troubles in our Minnesota winters that she used to have with her 2wd Chevy pickup lol or Camry, and she loves it because it's got as much interior space as my '90 4Runner but gets 25-28 mpg. She had been driving our '96 80 for a while but hated the fuel economy and size. The other nice thing about the Outback? They are the only manufacturer I know of that installs the heated seat option on CLOTH seats! I love my '80, but not for the first 10 minutes when it's below 0F.
Get her an AWD Cherokee with the Up Country package. They feel just like an 80 inside from the driver perspective except they are much faster, much lower in stock form, fit everywhere with perfect visibiilty, and are cheap and reliable (inline six plus Toyota auto tranny) if you go 1997+.
