I owned a 2000 4 runner with a five speed manual with the boring mini van engine. Blah.
There is nothing unique about them, they are boring to drive, and limited with space.
I applaud your future move to the 60 series.
One of your best bets, is to keep track of Canadian classified lists for an HJ-61. I've driven or owned all the 60 series.
Right hand drive takes no time to get used to, shifting gears with your left hand. The one I drove last year was a high roof model, front and rear winches, old man emu suspension, full floating rear end, intercooled, turbocharged. This cruiser was down-right manly.
Can't beat a 12 h-t, inter-cooled, and mated to an h55. It was by far, the most fun to drive Toyota I've ever been in. With the Canadian dollar so low, I guarantee you'll find one for under 6 grand american.
Heres a good one, start negotiating with this clown, he wants to much at roughly $10,000 American, it has some goodies:
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/...er/1229361789?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Looks like he lowered the price on craigslist bc to about $9000 American:
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/5948621649.html
I bet if you flashed 6 grand american in his face, he'd bite.
I would NEVER buy 3fe powered or 2f powered 60 series, knowing that I can get a 5 speed manual with a 12-ht for chump change, without having to spend a bunch of stupid money doing conversions. I get a chuckle over a guy who spends more money on a five speed conversion and that silly "2FE", than what you spend on a used hj-61