WJ vs 3rd gen 4runner

[MaverickTRD]

I know this is in the Jeep section so i will probably get biased opinions...I didn't want to cross post the same thing into the Toyota section as well so hopefully some of them browse here as well...And being that the site caters to all makes hopefully I can get some honest input.

I'm in the market to pick up one of the 2. I like the benefits of each of them and they each have their own disadvantages. I have about 7k to spend and it will be an occasional commuter but not to the point where I will be afraid to mod it to how I see fit.

WJ...V8, full time 4wd with the non selec-trac models (it can get icey up here sometimes). Solid front, good power, similar gas mileage, the prices are a lot more reasonable. I can find an 02-04 with under 100k miles for 6-6500 it seems.
Bad: I haven't personally owned a jeep but it seems like a common complaint is nickel and dime maintenance all the time. I would like to avoid having something always breaking down, as I just recently got out of a German car and after 5 years it truly became tiresome to deal with. Also its a lot more difficult to fit a decent tire under them...Unibody is a negative as well

4runner...IFS is not a major issue for me, they seem to still do decently well on some jeep trails, and accel in areas like forest roads and dunes. I would not swap out the IFS, probably something like Icon coilovers up front. with a 3" lift 285/75's seem to fit much easier than on the WJs. I want a limited 99-00 or an 01-02 sport. Main reason is because those years offer the multi mode AWD/4WD and in 99-00 you can find some with the factory rear E-Locker. Also, in either vehicle leather is a must...not for comfort but for ease of cleaning with 2 toddlers and 2 siberian huskies.
Bad: Even the V6 is painfully low on power, finding one in my price range generally means buying a rig with 160-200k miles. I know they demand a higher resale for such reasons as reliability, but will a 4runner with almost double the miles really prove to be less hassle (providing both had equal care by previous owners etc)

Its mainly between these 2 at this point. The only xterra I would consider would be 05+ and they are still too pricey, If i could afford a 4th gen V8 runner I would jump on that in a heartbeat, but I am not looking to finance anything. I don't see to many other midsize formidable SUVs to choose from at the moment that would serve me well for my needs. (forest roads, occasional wheeling trips, camping, snowboard trips, moab etc) I really like theksmith's wj on here and it looks like a solid to everything type of ride, and there are some runners that appear to fit the same standards.
I guess basically i'm stuck in indecision. I've driven both, the WJ is a little wider which is nice, I like the driver seat feel in the runner more n the roll down rear window, haven't really found a deal breaker on either, but it would be nice to save some money with the WJ....just need to be put at ease regarding breakdowns and the like i guess.

Some input would be great!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

If you plan to tow or still want great acceleration with bigger tires you will want the WJ, and the WJ's are more reliable than the ZJ's. But if I were putting together a rig for easier trails with 31's or 32's I would consider a 4-runner with the Old Man Emu suspension.

 

[briboki]

About a year ago I was deciding between a 3rd Gen 4runner and an XJ.

I'm a long time Toyota guy, and I had every intention of buying the 4runner. I grew up wheeling an FJ40. I've owned a Tacoma. My plan was to find a 3rd Gen with the factory locker, run a small lift (OME), 265/75's, and some armor.

I found the 4runner to be under powered and the seats were very uncomfortable. My wife hated the seats as well. I found them to be over valued by sellers. Everyone wanted high blue book value. When I asked about maintenance the usual response was "it's a Toyota, you just have to change the oil". Anything not overpriced was approaching 200k miles. IF you find the seats comfy, and IF you find the power adequate, and IF you can find one somewhat maintained with *low enough* miles (low enough is subjective to each person) I think they would make a great vehicle. 3rd Gen's do have their own issues, like the pink milkshake...

I never really considered a WJ. They don't have quite as much aftermarket support as other Jeep models, but that was something that was important to me. Based on your post it might not be a deal breaker. I don't know enough to speak to their reliability.

 

[Applejack]

I've now owned 2 1999 4runners, and previously owned an '02 GC, but it had the 4.0 not the V8. I did like the power delivery of the GC's I6 more than the Toyota 3.4 V6, however overall the difference is minute. On long trips the GC was more comfortable, the seats are like a granny's car and I could travel more miles in it without resting my back. The 4Runner has firmer sportier feeling seats. I am not a big guy maybe a little bigger than average (6'1'' 200lbs) but I do feel a bit cramped in the 4runner on long hauls but I just pull over and take a stroll when needed. I had a lot of little niggles about the GC, they just aren't put together with near the amount of attention to detail as the 4runners, large gaps in interior trim pieces, even with low miles the suspension became clunky but fixed it with help from OME and the transmission developed a transmission problem than no one could figure out and then had cooling issues. Finally it developed a sever case of "death wobble", and we got rid of it. We traded for an older 4Runner with twice the mileage and it felt so much better built than the Jeep. We'd always been Jeepers and still like them but as far as a rugged family capable family rig the 4runner is my pick. They are not power house race horses, more like old reliable donkeys.
In all honesty I wanted the Grand to be a survivor because I still believed that IFS rigs couldn't be good off road and they were the last solid axle hold out, but that's just not the truth, and I had to bow to it.

 

[mrshish]

I have never owned a Jeep before but my 2000 4Runner just got totaled last month. I bought it in 2002 after my original 2000 bought in 1999 was totaled (neither my fault). When it died it had 185k miles on it and had never been in the shop for anything. The reliability was phenomenal even with my sporadic oil changes.

I had a Toytec lift and bumpers front and back. It saw a lot of dirt and was my daily driver so I am a bit biased. After 13 years it's also sort of all I know but I wouldn't hesitate recommending one to someone. I just placed an order for a 4 door wrangler but the reliability concerns made me think before I plunked down any money.

What others have said about the power is true, the V6 is underpowered. With my first 4Runner I got lucky and picked up a new in box TRD supercharger on ebay for $900 and had a local dealer install it for another $300. It was the best money I put into it. I wanted to put one in my second 4Runner but I never got another good deal so drove it for 160k miles that way and got used to it.

I never found the seats uncomfortable but again I was so used to them I never knew any different.

If I was me I would go with another 4Runner simply because I had such a good experience with Toyota.

 

[Applejack]

I forgot to mention and should add that while you do pay the "Toyota tax" initially it will be at the very least a wash because of less trips to the shop. Again, I am not a Jeep hater, I have owned 5 ('83 Grand Wag,'77 CJ5, '93 XJ, '97TJ, '02 WJ) and someday may own another, but between these two the 4runner is my best pick. Also there is the safety issue, if that is a concern for you (kids etc.) The 4Runner scores better in NHTSC tests. Also I like how the rear window on the 4runner is a roll down affair rather than the Grand's flip up, if you have a dog this will matter. The T4R also has several power ports which is very handy.

 

[fishyoo7]

I have a 2002 GC Overland - 4.7L HO with Quadra-Drive. I like it. I have a 4" zone lift with 255/75R17 BFG (Rubicon take offs). It rides good. I had to trim the front bumper to clear the wheels when turning and at full compression.
I just installed a Warn front receiver mount for a winch. The overland comes with stock rock rails. It is nice, and I can fit my family of 5 in it. Need to fix some seals on the axles.

 

[squint]

Thought I should chime in here... My good friend who lives down the street had a Jeep GC for many years and really beat on it offroad (although he is meticulous about maintenance) and finally sold it 7 years ago with close to 300,000 miles on it. He was so impressed with it, that when I went in to buy my LJ, he bought a new one at the same time and loves it. They are definitely more luxurious than a 4runner. Personally, I like the looks and sportiness of a 4runner better, but the power in a GC is awesome. It is really going to come down to personal preference. I would find it to be a very hard choice, personally!

 

[MaverickTRD]

Thanks for the replies. Just to update you all I just flew to seattle today and snagged a gem of a 4runner from a member on here I will make a thread tomorrow