Looking for advice or a deciding factor. (1st gen runner vs reg cab)

[knox]

So i currently own a 89 4runner which
3.0,5 speed, 170xxx, but i know its reliable. only real notable upgrade would be my new ko2's on new tacoma wheels.

but have an offer to trade for a 92 regular cab truck. looks stock and just as clean as my runner. is 5speed and has the 22re but mileage is 227xxx.



Storage space will be approximately the same but will be separated in the truck best and as i would probably buy a camper top, which is appealing to me. I would loose 2-3 person seating. But besides that im not far into my "build" so i wouldnt really be losing much as far as i can see. I do plan to keep my ko2's.

 

[Crenshaw]

I've had both. I love the utility and extra space of the truck but I always miss the cool factor of the 1st gen runner. I find that I rarely would use the rear seats (for humans) and the space in the xtra cab part of my truck is just fine for the dog/cooler/etc...
Of course the 3vze gets a bad rap, but the one in my most recent 4runner had ~260k on it and ran like a top. I did however just blow up the one in my pickup at 190k. If I had a choice and was shopping for a new truck I would look for a 22re.


Tough call...

 

[p nut]

Devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

Plenty of high mileage 3.0''s out there.

 

[Clutch]

I had both, I like my Extra Cab the best....and now getting tired of that too.

22RE's aren't as solid as everyone makes them out to be, the one in my 4Runner went out at 120K, then I put a junkyard engine in it.

See if the guy that wants to trade you, will let you borrow it for a couple days or a week...only way to tell if you'll be happy if you spend some time in it.

I am shopping for a new truck, I rent what I am interested in for a couple days or a week...instead of doing a quickly test drive at a dealer.

 

[p nut]

I am shopping for a new truck, I rent what I am interested in for a couple days or a week...instead of doing a quickly test drive at a dealer.

Where did you rent a Tacoma? A good idea, though.

 

[Dwill817]

When I bought my truck, I hopped in it, told the guy I'd be awhile, & drove around for 3 or 4 hours.. I wanted to get a feel for what it was like to drive it for extended hours..

I think the swapping vehicles for a day or two idea is a good one as long as the guy will agree to trade back if you decide not to.

 

[Clutch]

Where did you rent a Tacoma? A good idea, though.

My friend bought a Tacoma before me, we swapped vehicles for a week. I had the RC '92 Pickup at the time...he couldn't wait to give me back my truck, and I didn't want to give his back.

Toyota has a try before you buy program. Link

I have little to no interest in the new Tacoma, so...many rental companies rent fullsize pickups. Enterprise for an example rents 1/2, 3/4, and 1 Tons. I am heading to AZ for a week in April, I am going to rent a Silverado for the week to see if I really like it. Already did a quicky dealer test drive.

I did the same with a Subaru Outback, rented one for 2 weeks...I so hated that thing by the end of 2 weeks...

 

[jgilbreath]

I love single cab trucks, but a first gen runner is what i want to get into eventually. I would say keep the runner, especially with 57k fewer miles.

 

[tanglefoot]

I'd stick with what you have as well. In my experience, trading/swapping usually results in ending up with the short end and regretting it. If you have a well-sorted 1st-gen, I'd hold on to it.

You can do a lot with a 1st-gen 4runner. I've put different pickup shells on it, built a sleeping platform in back (works well with the rollbar out), had a soft top on it (with roll-up sides...very cool!), and currently have a truck camper in it. Then, you can easily take it back to a ute with rear seats, as you mentioned. I think it's a great combo of passenger wagon and pick-up.

The 22RE is a great engine, but it does have a chunk less power output than the 3VZ-E, and sometimes feels less-refined.

Oh, don't forget about the ability to crank the front seats back and sleep--that doesn't work well in a reg-cab.

I do love the styling of the '89-'95 Trucks as well, especially the Xtra-cab, but I like the gen before that even more. I think you might regret the swap.

 

[p nut]

Toyota has a try before you buy program. Link

Ah, nice. Hoping a dealership around me has a new Taco rental.

I have little to no interest in the new Tacoma, so...many rental companies rent fullsize pickups. Enterprise for an example rents 1/2, 3/4, and 1 Tons. I am heading to AZ for a week in April, I am going to rent a Silverado for the week to see if I really like it. Already did a quicky dealer test drive.

Let these words haunt you during the entire length of your ownership of that Silverado--"Tooold yooou soo---toooold you soooooooo----toooooooooooooooooold yoooooouuuu soooooooooooooooooo..............................................."

:sombrero:

OP, keep that 1st Gen 4Runner. Them things are awesome.

 

[Clutch]

Ah, nice. Hoping a dealership around me has a new Taco rental.

I wonder how hard it would be to get a hold of a Taco?

Let these words haunt you during the entire length of your ownership of that Silverado--"Tooold yooou soo---toooold you soooooooo----toooooooooooooooooold yoooooouuuu soooooooooooooooooo..............................................."

:sombrero:

LOL! I am looking at F150's too... Both the Ford and the Cheby edge out the Tundra on Payload & mpg. Ford isn't wheeling and dealing on the new F150's...Cheby is. Finding WT/LT DCSB's for $30K and less...

Stopped and looked at the Colorados...they are nice! (Over the mid-size truck thing though)

 

[bkg]

No way I'd ever trade a known for an unknown, especially a "step down" to a regular cab.

 

[surlydiesel]

Change is the spice of life right?

That's a lot of miles on the truck.

 

[knox]

I think im leaning towards keeping mine, but i will still give it a shot and go look at it, then contemplate it more. Im not really gaining any capability as far as i can tell and keep think of the summers with the top off.

 

[AxleIke]

I regret selling my 1st gen 4runner, a lot.

However, I don't miss the 22re. It would be fun to graft a 1st gen body onto a later model chassis and drivetrain. Certainly been done before, but still a unique and very cool idea in my mind.

Keep the 1st gen. The 3vze is can be plenty reliable, especially the early ones. My understanding is that the 89's and even some of the 90's still had the asbestos head gaskets, which held up great, and were not subject to recall. Could be wrong there though.