Taco to 4Runner; would love advice

Hey guys,

New man here. Just about to sell my beloved 1997 Tacoma for a 4Runner and would love some expert advice for a new customer.

Love my Tacoma, but 20 years and a winter up in Michigan have done her in. Things I love about her:
- 4x4 V6 Xtracab with only 105K miles
- stick
- somehow since 1997 I have electronic locks & windows

She’s rusting out, and frankly I don’t use the bed enough to warrant another truck. 4Runner seems to be my ticket because these are my priorities for a new vehicle (and please correct me if a 4Runner doesn’t fit these):
- Reliable; low maitanence costs
- Seats 5 comfortably with lots of cargo space
- Is higher off the ground than a bitch vehicle
- can handle off-road when I need her to
- can tow moderate stuff

My budget is 25-30K. Looks like a 2013-2014 is in my range?

Are there any key considerations that I should be taking in to account while shopping? Key repairs? Trim differences? I basically would love an experts’ buyer guide.

I tried to search the site for threads, but I think the mobile site makes it difficult. Thanks in advance and I can’t wait to join the 4Runner club!

 

Made a similar switch. The extra room in the 4Runner is awesome. Should meet your priorities/criteria very well. Good luck!

 

Awesome! Thank you for the assurance but do you have answers for any of my questions?

Big repair milestones? Trim preferences? Red flags from sellers?

 

5th gen T4R's are really one of the most reliable rigs on the road. Search through the 5th gen forums and you will hardly read about any failures or complaints (outside of the nose dive during braking). No "big repair milestones" that I am aware of, just regular maintenance should suffice. I wold say if you are looking at a 2013-2014 with reasonable mileage it should be pretty much worry free. A simple carfax or asking for service records should give you an indication of anything is wrong.

Different trims is really up to your needs and desires:

SR5 - Base model but still has most options anyone would ever need
SR5 Premium- Adds "leather", sunroof, and upgraded stereo/navigation
Trail Edition- Adds rear diff locker, sliding rear tray, and optional KDSS suspension
Trail Edition Premium - Adds "leather", sunroof, and upgraded stereo/navigation and optional KDSS suspension
Limited - Adds full time AWD, real leather seats, XREAS suspension, 20" wheels, different front grill, and many other exterior/interior trim goodies.
3rd row is only available in the SR5, SR5P and Limited trims.

 

I bet you could sell the 1st Gen Tacoma pretty quickly over on tacomaworld.com. It should sell quickly in general. People leave notes under my first gen wiper blade asking if I'm interested in selling it all the time.

 

I haven't had my 4Runner long enough to address repair milestones or red flags. Brochacho posted above about the trim levels. Be honest about your needs and pick the best one. Although when you're buying used, sometimes there are additional considerations (mileage, condition, etc.). Regarding maintenance, I, like most of us here, chose to sacrifice some of the creature comforts available from other brands for tried and true reliability. Your old Tacoma has likely been really good to you and you're likely to get the same from the 4Runner. I had (briefly) a 2017 Tacoma. I think getting this generation of 4Runner, as you're planning, is a super safe bet for you, even a used one. New models (like my Tacoma) come with growing pains. Happy shopping!

 

I came from a 96 4Runner and just bought a 16 CPO SR5 in your price range. The SR5 has every option you would want besides the E-Locker. Love the power over the 3.4 and the interior is a lot nicer.

 

My only gripe is the plastic oil filter housing. It's starting to leak some, so next oil change I'll be replacing it with a metal housing.

 

Ah, another Michigander!!! I recently made the switch from taco to t4r as well. I think you'd be able to find a 12 or 13 SR5 well within your budget. Check around for local dealership and/or private sales! Love the room of my '18 TRD.

 

In general, I recommend getting an obd II reader to get a listing of previous engine codes.

People usually keep receipts for work done to fix a 'check engine light', and sometimes include the receipts when they trade a vehicle in.

 

I owned 2 2nd gen Tacomas and just got a 4Runner a few weeks ago. I love it! I highly recommend switching.

 

I purchased a new (2018) SR5 Premium last fall. My thought was that the depreciation is so low it makes the price difference between new and used so small that it's hard to justify the cost per mile for the used one. Then there is the difficulty is finding a (good) used one. Dealers are not going to discount them for the simple reason they don't have to. Private party sales are OK - Provided you get complete documentation as to the M&R on the vehicle (something very hard to find) I use my 2016 Taco for work and take it places I would not want to take the 4R...Not to mention the 4R is my wifes primary ride and she'd kill me - Clay

 

I was in the same boat a couple months ago. Was able to buy a gently used '16 Trail (8k miles) for right at 32k at the end of the year. Tried to take advantage of dealerships unloading older models. I know it's easier said than done, but, if you're patient and shop around the right deal will pop up.

 

So to ditto the last couple of comments. I looked at several lightly used T4R in the Colorado market and was able to buy a new one with 24 months maintenance, warrantee etc within $1,000 of a new one and the financing was better so it was almost a wash in pricing. I negotiated about $4K under MSRP so an SR5 should be in the $30K range.

 

I've been contemplating this as well; I have a 2013 Tacoma Double Cab with 2" Ironman lift, a hidden winch, a Bud Built rear bumper; TRD FJ wheels and Cooper 265/75 tires...it's been a great truck. it's a fairly plain SR5 with none of the TRD locking rear diff or traction aids.
The ability to sleep in the 4Runner and carry gear more securely than under a camper shell is appealing, along with a better more powerful driveline and maybe a little better mileage; and, all the traction aids like locking rear diff etc..
My dilemma is this:
I want the most "factory off road ability for the $," and I'm unclear which model out of Trail, Trail Premium, TRD, or TRD Pro delivers that; and would appreciate advise.

As a little new member bio, I've been a TLCA member forever, served on the board for 10 years, was president for four, still have my old FJ40, and an FJ45, both of which are currently down for complete resto, and I don't do the crazy off road stuff I used to do. Just light trail work and camping via national forest roads and such.

thanks much for advise!

 

From the Toyota website, the OR and the Pro have the same
Approach/departure angle (33/26 degrees)
Ground clearance (9.6 in.)
Offroad Electronic coolaid

For differences that matter to offroad driving
The Pro has beefier suspension
Th Pro has 7" wide rims vs the OR has 7.5" which should be able to fit wider tires

If I had to do it again, I would buy an OffRoad with KDSS because I've heard it helps with better road manners while providing the same offroad capabilities.

 

The “Trail” which is now the TRD Off-road(changed in 2018) offers the E-locker. I went with the SR5 and lost my E-locker but with ATRAC I’m not too concerned. The PRO just has upgraded suspension.

 

I'd really like to move the FJC TRD wheels and 265/75 coopers to the 4R; if that's possible, and good. I like those.

 

I'm not sure either upgraded factory suspension of KDSS is a thing I'd want.
I think for the money saved, I'd rather not have those, and do my own mild 2" lift...

 

Roger; so, spend more money on facory bits, get better shocks, but no more lift or ground clearance;
which again says to me "do your own mild 2" lift."

 

Yessir, but, the toyota "compare models/specs" page seems to indicate you can get that with the Trail models...yes?
I could be wrong, which is why I'm here asking ;-)

 

Understood on the KDSS; I'm not really sure the improvement is worth the complication in terms of maintenance and complicated computer controlled stuff that can go wrong that I probably can't fix? I've never had a vehicle with such stuff...

 

Can I move these from my Tacoma to the 4Runner?
https://www.ebay.com/i/162229364962?chn=ps

 

Chef, To answer your question, noting that you are in the process of restoring an FJ40/45 and have a modified a Tacoma, you do not need to pay extra for TRD Pro unless you like the color. I assume that you would modify your new T4R a little over time. The TRD Pro has the best suspension (off-road worthy) with an extra 1 inch of ground clearance out the door, but at a large mark up in price over the Trail. In the Colorado market, the TRD Pro is priced out the door about $5-6K more as they are sold at MSRP and the Trail/Trail Premium can be negotiated several thousand below MSRP. That said, my dealer said go with the Trail Premium (almost the same as the TRD Pro minus the badging and suspension) and put a couple $1000 into a new suspension and you get at or a superior ride and off-road capability depending on your choice of a new suspension. I then used the extra savings to purchase a set of add full skid plates, front bumper/warn winch, and rock sliders and still spent less than the TRD Pro. At this point, I would say that my rid is much more off-road worthy than a stock TRD Pro and I think I still spent less money on the Trail Prem with my accessories and suspension modifications. The reason I choose the T4R, in general, is that I can make it fit how I wanted and planned to use it. Like you, I primarily use my vehicle to Overland/Camp and travel primarily in the Rocky Mountains on old mountain trails/summit passes and forest roads. All my modifications are not always necessary to get through but the few times that the terrain gets rough or challenging, I don't have to turn around like some others so that makes the time and expense of upgrading worth it. In the end, though, you cannot go wrong with any of the models as they are all capable off-road so it comes down to if you want to modify the truck or pay a premium for Toyota to do it for you. Good luck and Happy Trails

 

NightGlow; thanks.
I'm staring at the toyota site, compare models feature, and don't really see a lot of diff bt trd off road, and trd off road premium, in terms of the off road features. maybe some convenience features like nav and entune stuff tho...