Best & worst years

https://carbuzz.com/features/best-years-for-the-toyota-4runner-the-standout-years-and-those-to-avoid

 

That article has a lot of mixed up info, like saying a 2005 is a 3rd Gen and could be gotten with a 4 cylinder and manual transmission, also including the 4th Gen T4R in the frame recall by Toyota, plus a few other hiccups, but otherwise not to bad, but they could of checked their facts a little better!

 

2017-2019 was the sweet spot.

 

IMO the key points for these having ridiculous resale for years to come:

-the final year of most generations is the most reliable
-with proper maintenance, a new 5th gen will easily last decades
-“the 4.0L motor is no more” (I think the 4.0L will go down as a legendary motor, akin to the 22R, and people will want them and value them)
-the first gen 4Runner was a Hilux with a roof. Man it would be amazing to be able to buy a new Hilux in the US today.

 

So in your opinion, do you see the 4R's resale value most like what happened with the FJ's when they were discontinued?

 

I don’t think that’ll happen for the 4R for a longer time just because there are so many on the road. Realistically, any iteration of the 4R if properly maintained will last decades. I think in the future, with the push for hybridization, auto stop / start, smaller displacement turbo motors, and eventually all electric (if that ever really comes to pass) that the old 4.0L will be the go to motor for folks who take their vehicles off road and off the grid. When I think about the 5th gen, any year is great. Heck, the “last model year” has been every year since 2015 or 2016. The fact that the 5th gen lived on for so long basically unchanged is a testament to just how good it is. I’m sure the 6th gen will be great too and I’m excited to see it, but I have no regrets about grabbing two new 2023s either.

 

Remember the 4th gen 2UZ-FE V8 has documented a million miles in several Tundras. I own both engines, the 1GR-FE V6 and the V8. Both are very reliable, but the V8 is and always will be my favorite.