ChickenLover

Me too. The thought of a supercharger makes me drool. However, I love the fact that my 2nd gen has a tail gate instead of the flip up hatch on the 3rd and 4th gens. And to be honest, I prefer the look of the 2nd gen. But it is a little underpowered.

r0cky

i think you can make any gen. look great, and what do looks ever have to do with capability, comfort, and power?? nothing.

you just can't beat the 4th gen. for power, not to mention that it has xreas, downhill ascent control, and center locking diff. ...

and i think the 4th gens look damn good.

(also, note that SD4runner avoided replying to my compliment)

anyway ... bottom line is, you can't go wrong with any generation 4Runner. it all depends on what the most important things are to you...

comfort?
power?
looks?
off road capabilities?
safety?
roominess?
handling?

... give us a little more detail about what you're looking for, and maybe we'll be able to give better recommendations for what you are looking for in particular.

Yotawannabe

Well, from all the talk, I have narrowed it down to either a 3rd or 4th generation. I like the look of the 3rd better but the power of the 4th is awesome. And like everyone is saying, I am going to test drive both generations!

Thanks all

Yotawannabe

r0cky

have fun and let us know what you think!

Mossback74

I forgot the downhill assist, another cool gadget! But you can get the center locker in a 3rd gen too.

r0cky

true enough.

arjan

I really like the 4th gens looks and power, but I am not a big fan of the electronic gadgets for traction control. If you are serious about going off road and you think you'll get into modding, I think the early 3 gens are a lot easier to do things to. I like the simple mechanical lever transfer case my '97 has. I am in the process of adding the elocker, and I feel the electronic traction control is a band-aid solution.
Either generation are decent vehicles off-road in their stock form, it's just were you see yourself going.
If you are craving power, you can always add the supercharger to the 3.4L.

r0cky

but most of us who own 4th gens have taken ours off road as well.

arjan

I said that that both of them are decent off-road in stock form, I just think that when you start lifting and add locking differentials then the electronics seem to get in the way. Even when you put a straight axle on a 3rd gen, you will loose the abs on the front wheels. When you add stuff like XREAS, it makes lifting more complicated.
I just think that the simpler the vehicle the better it is for off-road use. My favourite Toyotas are still the '80's BJ60s. They have lots of room and are built bullet proof. Not all that convertable for a daily driver, that's why I have my 4runner. I guess I feel my 4runner is sort of the middle off the road: not to much electronics, but convertable. To each their own I guess.
The 4 gen sport model has very convertable seats and looks great. I would love to have one of those and have a landcruiser for the trails, but that's not quite in my budget right now ;-).

Mossback74

Personaly, I would love a 4th gen (and a toilet made of solid gold) but that wont happen for a while. And I like the idea of having a new car that nobody has messed with before you. But I really just can't get over how much they cost. I have owned a 2nd and now a 3rd. The newer you go the more complicated it gets. Like XRES, its great but even the most devoted 4th genner can tell you that it makes the lift a bit tricky. Because they are so new ,4th's don't have as many options available yet. If you are seriously considering a 4th, I would wait until at least until the next model year. The 3rd gens took a couple years to get all the kinks out, and then in 99 they made them even better.

In my very professional (read amature) opinion you should get a 01-02 or an 05.
If those are too expensive, look at a 99.

flecker

Out of all the trucks below in my sig, I would go 1st gen anyday. Simpicity at it's finest and for the cost it won't make you cry when the payment or insurance is due. My runner gets 22+ to the gallon and has been to Canada and back down to Az. twice in the time I have owned it and never skipped a beat.... rides like a new truck. If money is no object I still say go first gen.
I like the Tacoma, but it wouldn't make it nearly as far as my first gens offroading. Plus w/ the mods I've put in to the 22re it has a cruising speed of 85+ and can climb hills in 4th and 5th no prob, no lack of power for me. Creature comforts to me = It should act like a creature in the wild, that's the first gen. Not trying to discredit any other gens, they all have thier own unique qualities... Get whatever tickles ya'. After all it all boils down to what makes you happiest!

Alin10123

Haha, seriously? If your rig isn't supercharged, i wouldn't do that!
The new V8's for 05 produce 270HP! (thanks to vvti).

JHupp

I have a 3rd gen, '01 SPort, but if I had it to do again, I would have gotten like a '95 2nd gen, or 2 door 2nd gen(provided I could find one).I like the looks of the 2nd gens a lot better, and would have saved some serious dough to put into mods.