What's the allure of older 4Runners?

My neighbor in FL just sold his 2005 Forerunner with 260,000 miles. He is the original owner and the truck was in VG to excellent condition. It spent a lot of time in western NC as well as FL, so it was exposed to some road salt. For a month he was asking $10,900. Just sold it maybe for $10,000 is my guess. In his first week of the sale listing, he was besieged with many scam offers, everyone except a Nigerian prince. In the end vehicles are only worth what someone is willing to pay.
 
Tacomas through 2004, and 4Runners through 2002, are impossible to find, and eye-watering to buy. People love them for their reliability, agility, and utility. This creates a demand that supply can't meet, so they're pricey and hard to find. People keep them long after they really don't need them anymore because they can't bear to part with them, and they know they're a hot commodity. My sister was one of those people, but finally, and tearfully parted with her 2001 Tacoma in 2012. She listed it for over Excellent KBB value and her neighbor snapped it up before she could even entertain other buyers.

They have a cult following, if you want to call it that. The truck's reliability surpassed any other car my sister has owned, with the exception of her current vehicle, a 2015 Highlander. But she's not 11 years into ownership yet, so we'll see how it compares in a few years. This is how lifelong Toyota customers are created. Personally, they have nothing in their lineup that appeals to me, but millions of (other) people must have a point.
 
Any Tacoma really.

It's pretty funny - not BECAUSE of the mods - but because insanity - I can get the price I paid, PLUS the cost of all my expensive mods if I were to sell today. This is funny because since stone age, it was an absolute given (and accepted): mods are sunk cost and enjoy them, because no way can you financially justify them, let alone recoup them.

But here we are with usual conundrum: Mah gawd, iffen I sell my truck what ever would I buy!
 
That was a great time for Toyota trucks. They did have issues, for example the early V6 blew head gaskets I believe.
3vze. There was a recall for a 1 time fix with a corrected gasket set. They blew in my pickup and took out the whole motor. They put in a new motor and clutch. Just paid for the clutch. Lasted another 100k and I sold it for the same price I purchased it for.
 
Lots of fanbois like Toyotas and the demographic is typically light footed and diligent on maintenance so you'd expect them to last longer if for only that reason. Coincidentally I'd pit a Trailblazer against anything from Toyota for reliability, plus additional power. Not so much a Chrysler. 😁
 
That was a great time for Toyota trucks. They did have issues, for example the early V6 blew head gaskets I believe.
They were repaired under an extended warranty. I has a 92 P/U with the 3.0 six. Toyota would reimburse the cost of the repair if done by an independent shop back in the day.
 
They were repaired under an extended warranty. I has a 92 P/U with the 3.0 six. Toyota would reimburse the cost of the repair if done by an independent shop back in the day.
Gee, ya don't hear too much of that from other manufacturers... My brother bought a used '92 Pickup and a local dealer did just as you said.
 
4WD - Crazy money. Gen 3’s even more.

We bought a 2001 Limited with 113,000 miles for $8,500 and thought that was a good $3,000 more than a normal market. CT dealer has one for sale for $15,000!
CT mine is a rust free AZ one. but the paint sucks. it need a paint job bad. thanks for sharing.
 
I was looking at the current gen prior to buying the ZR2. Pre-Covid you could get a TRD OR for low $40's. Those days are long gone. The appeal of the 4Runner is grounded in reliability and one of the few SUV's that is really off road capable. There are those that don't want to deal with things breaking (not saying they don't break) and don't need or want the newer technology. I think people have taken that to the extreme though. Hard to justify spending the absurd amount of money they want for a vehicle that is 15?? years old.
 
A 2000 4Runner Limited with 18,000 original miles just sold on BAT for $40,000.
As dated as these things are, I can see why many in the overlanding community stick by them. Domestic quality in the truck segment seems pretty bad, especially GM. Was talking to a guy yesterday who has a 21 ZR2 and is having the famous shudder issue despite the new fluid. Seems very hit or miss. I was surprised it still occurs in 21's with the new fluid. It's just a bad unit IMO. I had no issues with the Bison, but would occasionally get a hard 2-1 downshift when coming to a stop.

One thing I have noticed too hanging around on the GM forums/groups is many think 45k miles with no problems is something to brag about. I guess they consider 3 years and no problems long term reliability.
 
Domestic quality in the truck segment seems pretty bad, especially GM.

I'm not too sure about that. My 94 Silverado had over 300,000 miles on it when I traded it for drywall work. I'm now rolling in a 2005 GMC Sierra pushing 150,000 miles with nothing more than a heater core replacement, tie rod ends and hubs (as far as repairs).

I will say all the new ones from GM, Ford, Chrysler are not very reliable.
 
My dream vehicle is a Lexus GX460. Ugly as sin but the functionality and comfort are perfect for my wife and I. Not to mention the price and availability.

I was looking hard at the Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. Complete pieces of crap as far as reliability is concerned. OTOH, there is no other vehicle on earth than compete with them off the showroom floor for capability in the rocks and hard core trails.
 
I'm not too sure about that. My 94 Silverado had over 300,000 miles on it when I traded it for drywall work. I'm now rolling in a 2005 GMC Sierra pushing 150,000 miles with nothing more than a heater core replacement, tie rod ends and hubs (as far as repairs).

I will say all the new ones from GM, Ford, Chrysler are not very reliable.
True it seems to be the newer models.
 
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