Best years

I'm searching for a 3rd gen. I had my mind set on a 99/00. However, a pristine 97 presented itself. Does anyone have any helpful guidance aside from esthetic preference.
Thanks!

 

I wouldn't distinguish against the early (1996-98) and mid generation (99-2000) 3rd gens. The early generation is everything the mid generation 4runners are, but the mid-generation 4runners had some quality of life improvements. Only the post-2000 4runners is where I would start considering my wants, because there are things that the 1996-2000 4runners had that the 2001-2002 4runners don't.

1996-1998: early generation, considered 2nd best year range because it had a high stock ride height, optional manual transmission, optional rear locker. These tend to look the best (IMO) they had a slim front bumper, and normally had chrome bumpers instead of painted ones like later ones.

1999-2000: mid generation, considered best year range of 3rd gens because it had good cupholders, 1999 had the highest ride height of all 3rd gens. The 1999 update removed the Fresnel headlight lens seen on pre-99 in favor of a clear one which has a better beam pattern. It also added a fat lip bumper to improve low speed crash ratings, whether you find the look more attractive is opinion. Other updates include the center console and sound proofing.

2001-2002: late generation, considered worst range if you like going off road, but best if you daily drive. All 4wd came with a locking center diff instead of a transfer case, meaning you could have AWD on dry surfaces, and lock it into 4wd when you went off road (a really good thing if you live in snow). This year range is only found with an automatic transmission and a V6, the manual transmission and I4 were dropped. These 4runners tend to have body colored bumpers which makes them nearly look like a 4th gen. The ride height is the lowest too, and the rear diff locker was dropped. Toyota added a hybrid drive by wire system in this year range too, it doesn't really benefit anything, and it isn't known to break, but it is more complex than the old drive by cable.

 

I had a 97 Runner & it was definitely a favorite. 100K & not a single issue. Can't say anything negative. Not sure that helps.

 

Trekker, thank you for your thoughts. To me the 96-98 looks more classic, the 99/00 looks more sporty. I'm dead set on a chrome bumper. I have been looking for awhile now, and worry I just simply have analysis paralysis

 

You can't fit a 96-98 bumper on a 99-02 4runner without cutting part of the crash bar away, but people have done it. So if a 4runner doesn't have the right bumper, you can swap it later relatively easy.

Worry more about whether the 4runner is in good shape and deal with the cosmetic differences later.

 

I own a '97. 3rd owner. had 200k on her...I've added 88k on her..in almost three years, replace timing belt, radiator...and she still rides like a champ...I love the 'steel' bumpers...over the later plastic ones...My only beef with the '97, is crummy cup holders, and lack of a in dash oil gauge...

 

Why not grab the 99+ center to swap in?

 

How hard is it to remove this? It has the 21 piece kit from the dealer as the add-on. I could handle a few pieces, but this is just ridiculous.

 

Probably going to look like ass underneath with all the leftover adhesive.

Isopropyl alcohol may weaken the adhesive to get one of the small pieces off. Then I would try and see how well the adhesive underneath cleans up. If you can get the adhesive off with no damage, then proceed with other pieces, otherwise glue the piece back on and just live with it.

Various "Goof Off" or "Goo Gone" will attack plastic. So be careful with those.

 

That’s what I’m worried about. It has been garaged its whole life so it is in perfect condition. But doubt I can live with all of it. The seller offered to take it off, stating he does so often on the older Land Cruisers. Or he can find me another vehicle without half a tree on the trim.

 

Stuff like the trim and the factory sound system becomes very desirable as cars enter vintage status.

 

If that fake trim is an original dealer add on I would sell it and buy a plain one. I've never seen that done by a dealer. I don't like the way it looks, but it does look better than the stickers people normally put on after the fact. It wont be hard to find replacement trim since any 4wd automatic 4runner made before 1999 will work (which is most of them). The only exception is the climate control face plate, it will have to come from a 96-97 4runner.

Most of the sound systems aren't valuable, and basically every enthusiast removes them. The typical 86120-0C020 cassette/CD starts around $50 and is easy to find under a good one under $100. That particular head unit would be interesting to me not because it's rarer, but because the 86120-0C020 had a design defect where the plastic Toyota used on the cog gear liked to crack. I've opened 4, and all 8 of the gears between them were cracked. It only matters if you use cassettes (which I do still), don't know if that particular head unit was exempt from the problem. To most people this doesn't matter.

 

I get what your saying, and it is true that matching VINs increase value, but neither the radio or the trim has the VIN number.

People only care if it looks period correct. The only thing on the radio that could tag it to the vehicle is the date code (the serial number for the radio isn't paired to car) on a paper sticker at the top of the radio. You'd have to remove it from the dash, and you could always buy a radio made around the same time if you ever decided you did want it have matching parts again. And no one would ever be able to say it wasn't the radio that came off the show room floor... wink wink.

 

I understand what everyone is saying and I appreciate the feedback! I have a 91 Honda CRX SI that is 100% stock, I love it!

 

i know this thread is older, but that car looks awesome! my wife and i got one for our daughter when she went to college and she loved it.

 

That was my first car