1997 Vs. 2015 4Runner: What Has Toyota Done With It In 18 Years?

"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair)
04/24/2016 at 12:18 • Filed to: 4Runner, SUV

Every day I wake up thinking: “Man, I wish I could compare two 4Runners, 18 years apart.” And then one day my dream finally came true.

Of course, I’m just joking. Who dreams about comparing two 4Runners? Two Sonatas on the other hand..now, that’s what true dreams are made of.

Lately, I’ve been noticing that Toyota 4Runners are everywhere. Older 4Runners are so ordinary-looking that they blend into traffic with the millions of Accords and Corollas that you encounter on the road every day. But, if you really start paying attention, you’ll start to see just how many 4Runners are out there.

And there’s a reason for that. They’re bulletproof and won’t stop running.

One of the best examples of this is my friend’s 1997 4Runner. He purchased it new and has been driving it now for 19 years without experiencing any major issues and carrying out minimal maintenance.

Compare the ‘97 4Runner to this orangy-red SUV with a weird looking front end. The 2015 4Runner TRD Pro is bigger and bolder than the ‘97 and unlike the older 4Runner that might as well be invisible, the newer one cannot be ignored.

It has all the equipment you need to handle off-roading skillfully like gigantic wheels, a gigantic skid plate and a multitude of settings that allow you to tackle mud, sand, snow and bulldoze through chained gates. This 4Runner is no stranger to any of it and as is clear with its mud-covered engine bay, it has been through it all.

My carefully designed road tests unfortunately consisted none of the above, although I’m happy to report that it handled smooth pavement extremely well with a comfortable ride.

The ‘97 4Runner has, on the other hand, has never been offroading in its 19 years of existence. That must explain why it’s still running. Even after all these years, the 4Runner doesn’t feel terribly old and with almost 200,000 miles on the clock, it feels like there’s still plenty of life in it.

However, for the first time ever in its long and fruitful life, it was plowed through water. It was about time that the 4Runner encountered something other than normal roads. Fortunately, no water leaked into the aging vehicle. I hope that once the SUV hits half a million miles, Toyota gives my buddy a brand new 4Runner for free.

How does the interior compare?

The older 4Runner is quite a bit smaller on the inside and things are visibly worn out with tears on the seats. However, the leather on the dash and interior paneling has held up surprisingly well over the years.

Comparatively, with the new 4Runner, you’re greeted with large swaths of cheap shiny plastic as soon as you enter the car. It’s the same kind of plastic found in American cars ten years ago which can only mean one thing. A trade agreement must have been signed stating: “2005 Ford hard interior plastic objects to be exchanged for parking sensors.”

As you start to touch and feel this cheap plastic, a cringeworthy feeling radiates through your fingers and fills you with utter dismay. After 18 years, Toyota has managed to go the opposite direction in the quality of materials used. And by quality, I mean, there is no quality. It’s all crap.

Embedded in all this crap, you’ll find plenty of modern gizmos and functionality, like navigation, a rear view camera, numerous apps and a maintenance notes feature that is about as useful as a landline telephone.

Despite the cheap look of the interior, I did like the spaciousness, seats and the overall comfort of the new 4Runner.

Riding high

Both 4Runners are high off the ground with a similar amount of ground clearance which makes it fun to drive these things off-road. But even if you never go off-roading, it’s nice to have a vehicle that can run over things like office chairs, cushions and trash bags. You’ll probably want junk laying all over so that you’ll have a chance to drive your elevated vehicle over various obstacles and feel a sense of accomplishment when doing so.

As Booker T Washington so eloquently stated: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he had overcome.”

Rear window roll-down

This is an excellent feature that only the 4Runner seems to have. Having that window down allows you to become one with nature. Bees can fly in, birds will nest inside, and dogs can jump in and out whenever they want to. And before you know it, you’ll be driving around a 4Runner’s Ark.

It’s fun to enjoy the outdoors like this–with all the windows down and creating a zoo in your car.

Will the new 4Runner last?

The interior in the new 4Runner is likely to melt within about a year. All it will take is one scorching hot summer day, and all that mid-2000s Ford Focus plastic will turn into liquid and drip down onto the floorboard.

But what about the rest of the car? Does Toyota still make cars that will run forever? Who knows–I suppose we’ll need to wait a couple of decades to find out.

But maybe cars are built to be disposable these days. It’s a great business model. Build automobiles with an expiration date and that way people will have no choice to but to keep coming back to buy new cars every two years: “Excuse me Mr. Toyota salesman, my dash has evaporated from my car, can you get me a new one?”

How about the cost?

The new 4Runner isn’t really more expensive than the ‘97 version. That’s because the MSRP for the ‘97 one was roughly $31K and if you account for inflation, that translates to $45K in today’s dollars which was approximately the cost of the 2015 one. That’s good to know that Toyota has kept prices roughly the same, thanks to the trade agreement with Ford.

What is incredible, though, is the fact that over 19 years, my friend has spent only $4500 on maintenance items like the radiator, shocks and batteries (not including oil changes and tires) over the lifetime of the car. That only amounts to a few bags of delicious trail mix a month to fix things over all these years. I’ve spent more money on buying laptops over the years than he has on repairs for his car.

This definitely won’t be the case with the 2015 4Runner because the feature-laden infotainment system will undoubtedly need to be replaced the day after the warranty runs out.

Buy a used 4Runner

I’m not a big fan of SUVs, but I’ve always liked the 4Runners. The orange one has flare and although weird looking, definitely stands out from the rest. But if you’re wanting to buy a 4Runner, look at used ones first.

Judging by the ‘97 4Runner and the fact that you see so many on the road, I think an older 4Runner could be an excellent, reliable and cheap family-and-pet hauler. Many of the used 4Runners you’ll find on sale will be high mileage versions that can be purchased for a few grand which is a great deal. Don’t let the high mileage deter you because these SUVs will likely run strong for many more thousands of miles– Long live the 4Runner 4ever!

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DISCUSSION (100)

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 12:47

Only half a million? I’d expect at least 1 by now.

Also, really good article.

HammerheadFistpunch > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 13:26

I’m really confused by this article. I can’t tell if you like or hate 4Runners, or what the takeaway is on the new one. I think its heavy on the hyperbole and light on the actual details. You cover the typical car mag tropes though; cheap plastic, silly suv owners, etc.

I think there is promise here with time.

E92M3 > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 13:55

I could only rock a new “Limited” version. I couldn’t stomach looking at the front on that orange one everyday.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:03

Hey! I have a third gen too!

Kinja'd!!!

Yes, the dash is plastic but..... It’s very nice plastic.

toecutter (so grey, I gotta wear shades) > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:37

I had a '95. Did they get that whole head gasket thing figured out on the new ones?

SNYDAMAAN > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:40

Good article. New 4Runners need to be compared to the their legendary older brothers. I’d take the old one for now, but maybe with enough nostalgia Toyota will build them properly again.

j250ex > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:45

Wouldn't mind if Toyota brought back the v8 option. Had ourselves a mini land cruiser there for a while.

Land of the Rising SAAB > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:48

“Bulletproof.” Yes. Little known fact: Kevlar is made of rust and blown head gaskets.

Turetto > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:48

I have a 2010 SR5 4Runner and a 2001 Tacoma (basically a 4runner). The 2010 interior is shitty looking for sure, but has held up well after 100,000 miles and I have spend $0 outside the standard maintenance on it. One thing I love about the 2010 is that there are still knobs to turn on the heat/AC and volume and a manual transfer case. Less shit to break in an era of cars where it seems that everything is made to fail in 3 years. Finding a car w/o a touchscreen to run everything in the interior is becoming way harder and I hate that once that breaks, your interior is useless. The 2001 Taco feels like it will run forever, I’ll never sell it.

Beldrueger > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 15:49

Yeah. I don’t get it either. All those hard plastics were probably chosen for durability ad the soft-touch stuff diesn’t last as long. New 4Runners don’t depreciate, so I also don’t know why used makes more sense.

JesseDDaniel > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:50

My dad purchased a 4Runner brand new in 2000 with it being a daily driver until he purchased a Lexus Rx350 to replace it... 16 years later it’s still in the family, with almost 400,000 miles on it, just mostly used as a secondary vehicle for his hobby of kyacking

Kinja'd!!!

graham > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:52

My ‘97 4Runner SR-5 V6 with a *manual transmission* and cloth seats will last forever. I’ve had to replace the rusted out rear bumper ($150 and 2 hours of DIY) but otherwise it has required only routine maintenance and does everything that I’ve asked of it, including towing 5,000 through the Catskills on occasion. Best SUV ever.

EL_ULY > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 15:52

100% the same thing I was thinking Hammerhead.

“Cheap plastic” blah blah blah.

“This one has never been off road, probably which explains why it’s still running” Really?

“This is my favorite feature of the old 4runner. UNFORTUNATLEY! it’s on the new one as well”

Dude sorry, but GTFAC

DipodomysDeserti > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 15:53

So what are the actual differences between them besides what the look like? Engine, drivetrane...etc?

DipodomysDeserti > j250ex
04/24/2016 at 15:57

There's a lot more non V8 Land Cruisers out there than there are V8 ones.

HammerheadFistpunch > EL_ULY
04/24/2016 at 15:58

Gtfac? No, but try harder. Yes.

Sjubbdubb > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:01

Apart from the slapstick review, what really caught my eye was the absurd cleanliness and lightness of that parking garage in the first shots. Is this on earth?

teamsmith > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:05

Why are we yelling!?!

HammerheadFistpunch > EL_ULY
04/24/2016 at 16:07

Btw it’s “and fortunately” but I had to watch it 3 times to hear it.

Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:10

I appreciate comparing new models to those of ~2 decades ago as much as the next guy, but that video comparison wasn’t very much of a comparison. I did enjoy the written portion though!

cybersamurai > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:13

Go with the 1997 for fun off-road duty. Wouldn’t feel bad putting some pin-striping on a 20 year old ‘Yota.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > DipodomysDeserti
04/24/2016 at 16:15

4-speed auto vs. 5 speed auto, 180hp 3.4 V6 vs. 270hp 4.0 V6 with dual VVT-i.

ikutoisahobo > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:16

early-mid 2000's Ford? Please, 2000-2012 GM has more shitty plastic interior than any automaker.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > EL_ULY
04/24/2016 at 16:17

1. That cheap plastic has held up pretty well for the most part.

2. I beat mine all the time, had it cross a river, beat it some more, and it still keeps kicking every day.

3. I take back what I said about newer 4Runner’s being worse due to not having a tailgate. My window doesn’t work, so now I can’t access my hatch. It’s a great feature, until it breaks.

EL_ULY > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 16:19

agreed

Hoon U. Class of '76 > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:27

This article truly makes me miss my ‘98 4Runner SR5. I was lucky enough to buy one new with the 5MT and only 2 options: Sunroof & Trailer hitch. No running boards, spoiler, or gold trim. That truck was the one vehicle I’ve owned of many that I wish I had never sold. It went 145K with only brake pads. A few months ago I test drove a new ‘15 and it was pathetic. Cheap interior, “infotainment” system that does nothing for me, and not near the build quality that endeared me to my ‘98. I love me some Toyota, just not new ones.

HammerheadFistpunch > j250ex
04/24/2016 at 16:30

Still do technically, this shares a basic chassis with the Land Cruiser Prado, and many markets get this same engine in the smaller and full size cruisers. That 2uz was sure in in the 4th gen though.

thebullfrog > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:31

Everywhere? I haven’t seen a 4runner of that vintage in years. They all rusted away into oblivion within a decade.

OZI > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:37

I’m sure the new one is great and all, but I can’t get over the engine and transmission. 270hp from a 4.0l V6 isn’t exactly impressive and having a 5 speed transmission doesn’t sound too spectacular, either.

Are the both bullet proof? Probably. But a little added power and tech never hurt anybody.

OZI > ikutoisahobo
04/24/2016 at 16:40

Agreed. My 2004 Focus interior has held up nicely, in its factory melted-like state.

(Yes its interior styling was polarizing, but at least it wasn’t boring.)

Phil > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:41

That was hard to watch. So I didn’t. I stopped at “It’s a shame we won’t be taking this off-roading today.”

HammerheadFistpunch > Turetto
04/24/2016 at 16:44

small point, the Tacoma and 4 runner haven’t been related for a while, not since the end of the 2nd gen basically. Come to think of it...they’ve never been related since the Tacoma is only on its 2nd gen.

Isaac Marchionna > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:48

Just completed the Mojave Road in my “not so stock” TRD Pro (there’s very little TRD Pro parts left in it), and man, it’s such a champ. What a great platform:

Kinja'd!!!

Mike D F > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:50

The video needed some actually comparisons. Look, the interior of the 18 year old one is worn out. No kidding. Hard cut to the new one complaining about plastic without actually comparing anything.

I wonder which one has more recalls on it?

TrueBull69 > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:51

Kinja'd!!!

15 years and counting

all it needs is about 69$ in oil and rubber per year to run

buk > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 16:56

My last 4runner pulled 259k before blowing a gasket. Besides a bad drive shaft and one radiator, it never missed a beat. My current 96 Tacoma has 214k...both have the 2.7L

Flipping great trucks that can do anything...

Krochus > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:03

Half an article about interior plastic and nothing about the powertrain.

I see the Clarkson wannabe school of auto journalism is still alive and well.

I’m going to give you a little advice you as an auto journalist sitting in a different car every day does not look at an interior the same way as a long time owner will. After about 4 weeks an owner will pretty much cease to even see the interior beyond “where are the cup holders” and “will armor all clean it”? There’s no such thing as a cheap “feeling” piece of plastic.....its motherfucking plastic it's ALL cheap.

iceman > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:08

How did i never know the back window rolled down on these? I dig it

Susan > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:13

.. I think that dude in the video is trying too hard to be funny. JMO.

Danger > j250ex
04/24/2016 at 17:21

Love my 2UZ

Andrew Colvin > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:29

I own a ‘97 4runner as well. Unfortunately some of the previous owners weren’t too kind to the vehicle so I’ve had to do some fixes here and there. Overall the vehicle definitely holds up over time with regular maintenance any vehicle would need.

kulak > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:30

Fake turbo diesel hood scoops make all the difference to help people appear rugged in the mall parking lot. That’s Toyota innovation at work.

Neil Davidson > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:46

Another completely nonfunctional hood scoop.

ferric oxide > ikutoisahobo
04/24/2016 at 17:47

That is indeed a traditional GM “feature”...it even carries all the way up to Corvette and Cadillac, but it’s not like plenty of other makers aren’t also sporting cheap plastic panels.

On the plus side, ABS is durable and simple to repair. The constant squeaks do get annoying though.

Whale Tail > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:47

I never really noticed how bad the materials are in the new 4Runner. My uncle’s got a 2013, and it’s no S-Class but it’s not terrible...

HammerheadFistpunch > Isaac Marchionna
04/24/2016 at 17:49

That looks like massive overkill for Mojave, nice though.

Racin'Jason001 > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:51

Nice review, you have a good style, thanks for your input.

Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 17:57

I’m not posting this to troll or be a jerk, but are 4Runners slow? I know they’re not fast vehicles, nor should they be. But are they chronically underpowered? I ask because without fail, there will be one in the left lane of traffic dawdling and barely doing the speed limit here in Denver. It might be a Denver thing, but there sure are a lot of them, and they sure occupy that left lane a lot, going slow every. Single. Time.

Buccaneer9 > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:01

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They’ve definitely made it uglier.

ZardozSpeakstoYou > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:01

I'll just add right here the new one looks like ass when compared to the older one. If I could buy a brand new 2000 4Runner I'd do it.

CACressida > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:03

It’s been running that long because they’re engineered to run for a long time reliably. I greatly exceed the towing capacity of my 4Runner all the time, I off-road it hard and i constantly drive it full throttle. 300,000 miles later and it still runs like new. Things i’ve replaced on it were shocks, shocks, shocks, a few CV axles, shocks and an alternator. Oh, I forgot. Its gotten a few sets of tires and some FJ wheels because the factory wheels were heavily gouged when I came crashing through a boulder field. Don’t ever underestimate a 4Runner. It’s dad is the Land Cruiser.

Kinja'd!!!

For those wondering; the van broke down due to a seized A/C compressor which snapped the serpentine belt and needed to be towed back to home 130 miles. And before any of the heavily qualified internet police come on to try to ejamcate me on vehicle capacities, i’d like to give you a middle finger first and to tell you I’m an overqualified Class A driver.

The Artist Formely Known As Woody > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:13

“I hope that once the SUV hits half a million miles, Toyota gives my buddy a brand new 4Runner for free.”

IS THIS POSSIBLE???

Rio > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:14

I have a TRD pro 4runner, and love the interior. It has a leather steering wheel, and upper door panels. Sure the dash is plastic, but it looks great, and is the norm on any non luxury car these days. The roll down rear window is great for short trips with a long piece of trim, plastic pipe, or 8ft fluorescent bulbs, that wouldn’t fit inside.

drsus > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:20

Good lord... “Interior will melt”, because you know, you hear of that happening so much, specially to toyotas.

I happen to have owned both these trucks. And I won’t get into my opinion vs your opinion too much. They are both good trucks, they are both going to last well past your ownership of them .... Both of them. They both have cheap materials, crap everything inside, the both feel like Walmart when you sit in them, but that’s a good thing because if you use them as intended, you’re gonna appreciate that you didn’t damage anything expensive. you just let nostalgia confuse you for quality.

This new 4Runner happens to share a lot of its foundations with trucks that have been tried and proven around the world and are know to be tough as nails. There are countless amount of owners here I the US that have turned to this new 4Runner as the go to rig for off roading for a reason... Guys that know what to pick. But you think it’ll melt in a few years and is not as good as then older truck, that by today’s standards couldn’t get out of its own way off road with serious mods, simply because of... Materials. Forget a-trac, rear locker, terrain select, crawl controls... Forget the 10x beefier axels, transfer case, etc. forget the 10x beefier ladder frame or the better wheel travel and track. None of those count because you didn’t like the way the fake leather feels to the touch.. So much better than that grandma cloth on the older 4Runner..

Diavel in Hawaii > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:38

I love old SUVs with roll down rear windows. Hence my bronco. I didnt know anyone still did that. Kinda cool...but I’m still not buying a toyota.

2014Challenger > Beldrueger
04/24/2016 at 18:39

So Toyota uses hard plastics and it's for durability... The big three use them and it's because they're cheap? What?!

2014Challenger > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
04/24/2016 at 18:43

No. It’s just that Subaru and Toyota program their cars to go immediately to the left lane and drive 10 under for the Colorado market. I’ve asked them both to stop.

Seriously. I wrote a letter to both companies asking them to take this programming “feature” off of their vehicles.

2014Challenger > OZI
04/24/2016 at 18:44

Have a 2005. Can attest to this. Looks great 11 years later.

Colorado_Car_Enthusiast > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:48

Mine has 244,000 miles, it’s my first car and it’s the best possible first car I could imagine. Yota for life!

GutterIsATool > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 18:48

As dumb as it sounds, the retractable rear window was one of the main features that led me to buying a 2012 4Runner when I was looking to replace my 1999. I just love putting the windows down and letting the air flow through.

Colorado_Car_Enthusiast > JesseDDaniel
04/24/2016 at 18:53

These trucks will never die

Isaac Marchionna > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 18:54

Anything worth killing is worth overkilling

Colorado_Car_Enthusiast > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/24/2016 at 18:55

Third gen lyfe

xanthophyll > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 19:07

Without reading the other replies....I want those 3:43 minutes of my life back. I learned nothing.

xanthophyll > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 19:08

Freaking Millenials. Promise to do the work, yet turn in shit. Then make excuses. Nice job.

2014Challenger > CACressida
04/24/2016 at 19:09

Overqualified or not, you're still a moron for towing like that.

CACressida > 2014Challenger
04/24/2016 at 19:11

I can tow whatever i want. You don’t even know how towing standards are created for idiots like you. FYI the tow rating is 5k and the van isn’t 5k.

BobWellington > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 19:14

That doesn’t seem too incredible to be honest. I think my mom spent maybe $500 other than oil changes, tires, etc. on her Expedition and that had 315,000+ miles on it when she sold it.

2014Challenger > CACressida
04/24/2016 at 19:15

Yeah, I have no idea how standards are created. You don’t know me then. I sell trucks EVERY FUCKING DAY and have done more homework into this than you’ll ever know.

The van and the trailer EASILY break 5k.

Also, the tongue weight counts against your payload which I guarantee reduces what your actual tow ratio is. But we can do a worksheet if you’d really like. I only do this all day every day.

You’re an idiot if you think that is safe towing and your CDL should be revoked.

Edit to add: just the weight on the back pulling the front end up like that is image enough that you should never consider it.

But I'm the idiot.

BobWellington > Isaac Marchionna
04/24/2016 at 19:16

That’s awesome.

Destructive Tester > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 19:20

Actually the era of 4-Runner in question and its contemporary Tacomas were mechanically nearly identical; aside from the 4-Runner having two extra doors, an enclosed cargo area and a rear gate of course. I’m pretty sure they didn’t even upgrade the shocks for the added body weight of the 4-Runners, a fact that made the handling characteristics somewhat schoolbus-like...

CACressida > 2014Challenger
04/24/2016 at 19:20

First of all, I’ve got Tundra brakes which the tundra itself is equipped to haul in excess of 7,500lbs, secondly i’ve got an upgraded suspension designed to haul in excess of 2,500lb pay load in the back and a lifted springs up front designed to counter the heavy weight of a winch and bumper up front which aren’t installed at the time of the pic. 3rd, you sell trucks doesn’t mean you’re a qualified trucker. You’re a used car salesman who sells whats listed on a brochure. When you haul 120,000lbs with police escorts across state lines, get back with me.

Wesbo > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 19:23

Is there an automagical Jalop article writing app now? Misplaced humor, mention the plastic, avoid facts, casual list o’ funnies sprinkled throughout. No real content...

Destructive Tester > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
04/24/2016 at 19:24

They’re not necessarily slow, in fact the SR5s can feel quicker than the numbers would indicate. I think it's more a matter of the owners not having anywhere to be in a hurry and being blissfully ignorant of those who do...

Torque Affair > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 19:26

Thanks for your feedback. I didn’t make it clear in the article, but I do like the 4Runners overall inspite of a few gripes. The new one is great, but the old one is still so good that it’s great value for the money.

2014Challenger > CACressida
04/24/2016 at 19:32

First of all your brakes and suspension do nothing for tow rating. If you’re a qualified trucker you should know that. Second you’re still a fucking moron. Third, consult any lawyer or police officer or anyone who develops towing standards, you’re 100% in violation of the law and of safety standards.

Third, your upgraded front bumper and winch only TAKE AWAY towing capacity so you’re really not understanding how this works.

Fourth, I’m not a used car salesman and they don’t give brochures for used cars anyway. I sell trucks that can carry that van as payload, I sell trucks that can tow 30,000 plus pounds to people who have DOT numbers and have to pass checkpoints where this is all taken into account. So maybe, just maybe you should do some homework on all of this.

If I sell a truck and a customer over tows and kills someone, I can be found liable if I don’t explain this to them. So to you I say STFU and do some research. Please. I beg you.

You really have no clue what you are talking about.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > JesseDDaniel
04/24/2016 at 19:32

And 110 is optimistic.

Torque Affair > Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT
04/24/2016 at 19:33

Thanks!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Colorado_Car_Enthusiast
04/24/2016 at 19:33

YEAH! NO POWER!

Torque Affair > TrueBull69
04/24/2016 at 19:34

Very nice!! How many miles?

Torque Affair > buk
04/24/2016 at 19:34

Not bad! Thanks for sharing.

Torque Affair > BobWellington
04/24/2016 at 19:35

Serious? No repairs of any kind?!

Torque Affair > iceman
04/24/2016 at 19:35

awesome feature!

Torque Affair > Andrew Colvin
04/24/2016 at 19:36

Ah, how many miles on yours?

Torque Affair > Racin'Jason001
04/24/2016 at 19:37

Thanks! Appreciate it.

Torque Affair > Diavel in Hawaii
04/24/2016 at 19:38

I didn’t know the old Broncos had them! Awesome.

Torque Affair > Colorado_Car_Enthusiast
04/24/2016 at 19:38

Keep it going! Half a mil is around the corner.

Torque Affair > Hoon U. Class of '76
04/24/2016 at 19:39

You can always buy an older one for a few grand!

mr_bots > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 19:40

I lack nestaligia so I’d take the new one. The dash might be hard plastic but the seating position is infinitely better, the head rests don’t fold over backwards if you try to rest your head on them, and the engine makes power instead of just noise. Also, say what you want but a 20 year old vehicle is going to be higher maintenance and less reliable then a new one.

Torque Affair > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
04/24/2016 at 19:40

Thanks!

Torque Affair > OZI
04/24/2016 at 19:41

Yes you’re right - they need much more power.

Torque Affair > E92M3
04/24/2016 at 19:42

How are you liking it?

CapeFearFinn > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2016 at 19:50

The Tacoma is on its third generation.

zetec duratec ECOTEC > E92M3
04/24/2016 at 19:51

I’ll say this. The styling I go back and forth on.

But, seeing T O Y O T A on the grill instead of that stupid, curvy, and weak-looking “circle t” toyota logo, adds 100% more charisma and toughness to the look of the vehicle.

I’ve seen this done (I think aftermarket?) on some of the Tundras and Tacomas, too, and it looks great. Toyota really needs to think about making it standard on their trucks. (if not their entire line)

BobWellington > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 19:56

Well, I didn’t say no repairs. I believe only the alternator and some bushings were replaced. Maybe something else small, but that was about it. It was impressive how reliable it was. Her 2011 Explorer had more repairs than that in the first year, though it was a brand new generation and it’s been mostly reliable since (she’s already got around 150,000 miles on it).

Oh, and I forgot to mention it but the Expedition was a 2000 with the 4.6L V8.

Phatboyphil > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 20:05

As someone who drives cheap old cars as well as my friends and family. What’s the standard for car interiors nowdays? As much as auto journalist bitch about platic interiors I’m really curious

feather-throttle-not-hair > Torque Affair
04/24/2016 at 20:20

My buddy had a 99 for a while, couldnt stand the auto. He finally sold it and bought a 97 with a manual. I gotta agree with him, pretty high levels of “night and day” having driven the two trucks.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > OZI
04/24/2016 at 20:29

They are plenty quick enough. If you want speed, don’t get an SUV.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Destructive Tester
04/24/2016 at 20:30

4Runner is JDM and Hilux based. Tacoma is USDM and has a weaksauce, not fully boxed frame.

Torque Affair > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/24/2016 at 20:35

I might end up with one of these as a daily driver!