Love my LC, but what about the 4Runner?

[Potbelly]

Hello folks, LONG time no post. My '96 LC has been probably the most capable vehicle I've ever owned. However, after 172k miles, it's having more & more things go wrong with it: metal lines rusting through underneath (rear heat, Power Steering line); bolts breaking off when trying to remove them, rusting tailgate, etc. It has served us well for around 50,000 miles. However, it's getting time to replace it.
I'm wanting something newer, in good condition. Maybe a 100? But for the past few months, everything I've seen has around 100k-130k miles & can't find anything under, say $15k. That's just hella high I think.
At the risk of being ostracised, I really began looking at the Land Rover Discovery II, but I just could not tolerate the headaches with those pigs. You could get a REALLY nice LR Discovery with under 100k miles for $6k, but even the Land Rover lovers practically laugh about how they are such turds (maintenance-wise, not capability-wise). If you don't have some type of warning light on your dash, it will only be a matter of days before you do, etc. And just for giggles - try reading about their head-gasket failure rate and aluminum block failures. Oh my gosh.
So I'm back on the Toyota train for now.
I feel completely safe and confident in the Cruiser, and would love another one. However, I've never owned a 4Runner. I did a quick search on this topic, but couldn't find anything, so forgive me if it's been covered before, but would a 4Runner be "nearly" as capable as the Cruiser? I say "nearly" because I certainly don't use the Cruiser to it's full capability, but when I need to hit the fields, or snow, or ice, or go back in the woods to cut firewood or have a bonfire with the kids, the 80 is the absolute king.
I don't mind buying one of these with 110k miles or less, then baselining it, but it's hard for me to chuck out $15k for one. I want something newer because of the reasons stated above. When vehicles are 12+ years old, they get to be a little tricky to work on.
One more thought: as my title says, I LOVE the LC. I'm thinking you guys are going to tell me to quit whining & get another one. If you do, I'll just tell the wife "but the guys on the forum SAID SO...."
Please give me your thoughts.
And Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

 

[cruiserdan]

The 4Runner is a fine vehicle and certainly very capable. Fortunately it is not a Land Rover. Unfortunately is is NOT a Land Cruiser.

If a Land Cruiser is not in your cards and you are forced to accept a lesser vehicle a 4Runner is a much better substitute than a Land Rover.

 

[FirstToy]

Take off the dress and put your big boy pants on.

you can get a stock, clean 80 cheap nowadays from regular, non-webfearing folk for way, way less than 15k
baseline it and

 

[swamp-thing]

realistically... what are you going to do with it? I had an 01 4runner and it was a good all around truck...roomy & reliable-- but only used for normal driving -- anything heavy duty and the LC is the ticket....

 

[ppc]

When vehicles are 12+ years old, they get to be a little tricky to work on.

The 100 series was first sold in 1998 and ran until 2007. That's ranging in age from 16 to 7 years old respectively. If age is important then at $15k your looking for something near the 2002 which is 12 years old. Seems to me you need to change your criteria.

A LR Disco II is cheap for a reason!

 

[084runnerltd]

I have both an 80 series cruiser and a 4runner. They are totally different a beasts. I love the Land cruiser.

In fact I originally bought the 4runner, the more I read on the 4runner, the more I got into the LC. My wife loved the 4runner....so I gave her the 4runner, traded her Camry for a boat and bought me a LC. Everybody won.

4runner will serve u well....just not as well as the LC would

Edit: I added some duratracs, wheels spacers and a small lift.

 

[thatcabledude]

What generation 4Runner are we talking about here? If you aren't using the 80 to its full potential then I bet you would like a 3rd gen 4runner almost as much.

Lighter on it's feet, better gas mileage, and just as good build quality IMO. Easy to work on. Negatives would be IFS and no AWD. Toyota builds nothing like the 80 and 3rd gen 4runnner for the U.S. anymore.

You could always get a 4th gen 4Runner v8 AWD.

 

[scrowley]

I too have both a 96 80 and a 04 4runner V6 sport. I love the cruiser!! The 4runner is good for a car like driving experience. My lady and son drive the 4runner. The 80 is my wheeler/fun/everything truck. 3rd gen Runners are very reliable and have great reviews. Seems like this would suite your needs better IMO. Also I have seen some newer 4runner's do some crazy stuff in the woods.

 

[thespecialone]

I have both (at the moment) and my '05 Limited V8 is certainly the more modern of the two what with the IFS, XREAS and other such things. However, that said, I enjoy driving the LC more just because it feels like a proper SUV. It's an old school, AWD bruiser. You would think with the solid axle's and 4 speed trans the driving experience would be terrible but it's really not - it's quite pleasant. Additionally, the headroom is miles better in the LC. It's my sole complaint about the 4runner, the headroom with sunroof absolutely sucks. Other than that, it is a wonderful SUV which is great value for money.

I don't understand people buying 30k Honda CRV's when you can get a nicely equipped, low mileage 06-07 runner for $20k or under, which will be equally as reliable and more practical. I guess people are just that averse to pre-owned cars - I simply see loads of value.

 

[Corbet]

What ever you decide on buy something outside the rust belt of the NE and Midwest. Trust me it will be worth the hassle of a non-local purchase.

Growing up in Wisconsin I know what a midwest truck looks like underneath. A properly maintained 80 will go 300K pretty easy. But rust is hard to fight in that part of the country. Lots or quarters at the rent-a-hose.

 

[jcardona1]

I love 4Runners! If I didn't have an 80, my trail rig would be a 3rd gen 4Runner. In fact, we're considering making a 5th gen our new daily driver as well. I think the 3rd gen is the perfect balance of size, comfort and reliability to make an awesome trail rig. With the right setup, they can be unstoppable and the V6 engines are incredibly reliable, unlike the fragile inline 6 of later model 80s.

My buddy set his to be a sweet little camping/trail rig

And at the extreme end, my other buddy has his setup as a solid axle crawler which is now sitting on 40s

 

[Corbet]

fragile inline 6 of later model 80s.

Huh?

 

[jcardona1]

Huh?

Meaning head gaskets that love to go kaboom! A bigger version of the 4Runner's V6 in the 80 series would have been perfect.

 

[IanB]

What generation 4Runner are we talking about here? If you aren't using the 80 to its full potential then I bet you would like a 3rd gen 4runner almost as much.

Lighter on it's feet, better gas mileage, and just as good build quality IMO. Easy to work on. Negatives would be IFS and no AWD. Toyota builds nothing like the 80 and 3rd gen 4runnner for the U.S. anymore.

You could always get a 4th gen 4Runner v8 AWD.

'99+ 3rd gen Limited/Sport trim levels got the multi-mode transfer case with AWD, same as my Hilux Surf had. I really like the 3rd gens, but they are nearly as old as your 80 at this point.

The 4th gens are bigger, and the available V8/AWD setup is very nice, that's mechanicaly the same as our GX470, and it's very nice to drive, thirsty though.

 

[thatcabledude]

'99+ 3rd gen Limited/Sport trim levels got the multi-mode transfer case with AWD, same as my Hilux Surf had. I really like the 3rd gens, but they are nearly as old as your 80 at this point.

Very good point. Not sure how I overlooked that! Rear locker could also be had >2000.

 

[Corbet]

Meaning head gaskets that love to go kaboom! A bigger version of the 4Runner's V6 in the 80 series would have been perfect.

An occasional HG does not make this a "fragile" engine. How many of us abuse ours driving around built vehicles that are 2000lbs heavier than the day they rolled of the line? I don't ever think twice about putting the skinny pedal down towing up the mountain because my drivetrain is fragile?

But this is a debate for another time. No help to the OP and his original question/s.

 

[ironhippy]

Very good point. Not sure how I overlooked that! Rear locker could also be had >2000.

< 2001

1996 - 2000 you could get a e-locker and a 4 cyl. 2001-2002 no rear locker or 4 cyl. I think anyway.

I owned 2 3rd gen 4runners and then realized that if I did everything I wanted to with my 4runner (which wasn't going to happen) I'd basically end up with an 80 series land cruiser.

I bough the LX and sold the 4runners. If it played out differently, I would have kept one of my 4runners. The 80 is great, but I miss the 4runner, my dog especially misses the power rear window.

 

[PIG PUNISHER]

I would not hesitate to buy/build a 4runner. Especially a 3rd or 4th gen. I have owned and wheeled several first and second gen tacomas and they are no slouch off-road.(4runner basically the same recipe) while the 80 is an off-road beast I don't think you would be disappointed in a runner for your intended purposes.

 

[mmml4]

How about the best of both worlds, 3rd gen 4runner with 80 series axles and transmission/tcase. IMHO the 3rd gen 4runner while not solid axle is built just as good as the Landcruiser, true Toyota quality.

 

[retrofive]

I love my 80, it's not going anywhere soon. But did add a 99 4R to the stable. Like said totally different trucks. I was DD'n my 80, the 4R took that role. I love both for what they are.

If I had to give up one, it would be the 4R. I use the 4R for my DD duties now, but would be the first on the cutting block.