Which Toyota would you pick?

[Photog]

If you take a truck to the Univ, everyone will want you to move their stuff, from place to place. Less likely to have that prob with a 4Runner.

Get a 1999 4Runner, with e-locker. It is the tallest of the factory 4Runners, and the e-locker will get you through the winters.

Maybe the best option is: Spend a lot less money, and put some better seats in your FJ-40, and use it for school. YOu can buy some nice seats and a tanker full of fuel for the price of another vehicle.

Your FJ-40 gets 10mpg, and something else might get 20mpg. You are only talkin about 10mpg difference.

I'm thinking you just want another vehicle, and the school thing is just an excuse to get one.

 

[mtnbike28]

my 2 cents

I have all three right now, 98 4runner, 02 dc taco and 74 40 (very rusty) and would say I like the Taco. Better power and fuel mileage than the 4runner. However, if you want to camp inside the rig, the 4rnr is hands down the winner. I have a shell and hard ARE cover for the bed on the Taco, great to lock up the dirty stuff, but no way to sleep in it at 6 feet tall. I understand why you are looking though, 5 hours or so is all I can stand in the 40... rain, snow and highway speeds in a 40 can make the ride scary! Good luck, Jay in NY

 

[AZ '83 fj-40]

I'm thinking you just want another vehicle, and the school thing is just an excuse to get one.


Is it that obvious?:wings:

mtnbike28,

I'm 6'4" so that could be a problem, haha

 

[Ridgewalker]

Forget the newer, more economical vehicle in Boulder. After you have driven around in Boulder for a while, you will realize you are better off riding the free bus or getting a bicycle you don't care if it gets stolen. Driving in Boulder is a frustration (I lived there from about '78 till 2000, actually a mile up in the mountains ).
The FJ40 is quite usable in the mountains near Boulder. You will also get lots of looks of envy from everyone driving it.:wings:
Invest your money now and save the new vehicle for when you get old and cannot get beat up so much.:gunt:
Best of luck on your decision.

 

[Redline]

Just wanting a new vehicle and more comfort counts for a lot ☺

I had what must have been a much more comfortable (than FJ40) car in my '05 Rubicon. It was conservatively built (3-in lift) but my 6'2" fame didn't like to be in the saddle for hours at a time, so I had a new car I didn’t want to drive on trips. I changed to a new 4Runner which is a pleasure to drive on and off highway. It was a "saddle-sore" test, but I managed to return from the ExPo Trophy in one long day, 800-miles. I have never owned another 4x4 that I would have been very comfortable in for that long. My wife's VW Golf TDI (at three times the MPG) or my BMW GS moto would be fine alternates for such an 'iron butt' trip.

Can't go wrong with a new/newer Toyota. The ergonomics were better for me in a 4Runner (V8 w/power seat) than a new Tacoma. But again, a 4th Gen 4Runner is low stock, and a stock Tacoma with a locker will be much more capable (because of clearance) than a 4Runner. Having said that, I was amazed how well the stock low-rider 4Runner worked with traction control, though the thin stock skids were easily dented. Now it works better. 4Runners do have the advantage of a shorter wheelbase. 110-in vs. 128” I believe.

I have all three right now, 98 4runner, 02 dc taco and 74 40 (very rusty) and would say I like the Taco. Better power and fuel mileage than the 4runner. However, if you want to camp inside the rig, the 4rnr is hands down the winner. I have a shell and hard ARE cover for the bed on the Taco, great to lock up the dirty stuff, but no way to sleep in it at 6 feet tall. I understand why you are looking though, 5 hours or so is all I can stand in the 40... rain, snow and highway speeds in a 40 can make the ride scary! Good luck, Jay in NY

 

[RHINO]

in my expierence they are both the same in everything, relibale, eftermarket,, ect ect. i chose the dbl cab cause i like having a bed.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I dunno...........

If I had an FJ40................

I don't think I would be complaining!

And when the Very Heavy Snow falls........you will Really wish you had it!

If I wanted another type of vehicle for commuting.........I would just figure out how to save up and buy it ......... so that I could be so happy to save ALL the miles on my beloved FJ40...........!

First off........

check out getting collector car insurance for your FJ.

I pay less than $100 per year for insurance on one of my collector cars and it allows me to drive 7,500 miles per year!

Having a collector car.....and it's insurance.....is the best thing going!!!!!!!!!!

And nobody even thinks about it!


.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Hmmm...another Buff here ('00, BA History)

Where are you going to be living? A lot of people who go to school in Boulder can't afford to live there (that's another soapbox topic of mine but I'll try to stay focused here... )

If you are living in Boulder, I'd say keep the '40 and buy a good bicycle. You can get around Boulder just fine with a bicycle. A new(er) truck is going to cost you money, I'd say do yourself a favor and keep the money for other stuff (like 'wheeling and fixing up your '40.) There are lots of '40's in Colorado, so you will be in good company.

Now, if you can't afford to live in Boulder (or just aren't willing to make the compromises it takes to live there) and you are living in Lafayette, Broomfield, Marshall, Longmont or whatever, then commuting costs can play a part (although remember that as a CU student you'll get an RTD - bus - Pass, at least I did when I was there.) In that case, I'd find a beater 2wd car or truck and drive that.

Before you make that choice, though, tally up all the costs. When I was at CU, the cheapest parking pass you could get was around $125 per semester (and don't even think about parking on the street. You could miss half a day's worth of classes just looking for a parking space and still end up with a ticket.)

If you're just looking for an excuse to get a different vehicle, then just get whatever you want, but don't think that the FJ40 will be inadequate for Colorado, and don't forget to take into account all the costs of having another vehicle. If you crunch the real-world numbers, you may be in for a surprise. As the old saying goes "the cheapest car is the one you already have."

Good Luck!

 

[Redline]

Brendan, have you test driven anything yet?

What years are you looking at? New?

 

[taco chaser]

Both Are Good Platforms

The double cabs are nice , but I think they only came with an auto tranny, so if you are looking to be towing all the time go 5 speed manual whicw you can find in a 4 runner or ext. cab taco. The 4runner is also 3 linked in the rear which would put you one step closer if you decide to link it all the way around some day but coil springs are not the best for hauling but easier to make it a long travel suspension in the rear. It's a toss up. FJ40's are solid, they just take alot more work to make them comfortable for long trips but personally I'd go with the 40 cause I'm over vehicles with OBD.

 

[AZ '83 fj-40]

Thanks for all the inside info on the parking in Boulder. I haven't test driven anything yet. It would be nice to find something from 03 or 04 and up. This wouldn't really be just for driving around boulder, more of a way to get out on the weekends (especially for snowboarding). I like the idea of a taco with the e locker and some sort of cover for the rear for all the dirty gear and boards.

As for the 40.The idea about the collector car insurance seems to be pretty sweet, although there seems to be a catch of some sort (no mods or excessive distance driving or something).

I'm really looking forward to move up there, going to live in the dorms for freshman year. Not really sure after that but it seems to be pretty expensive to live in boulder, housing wise.

Thanks,

Brendan

 

[AZ '83 fj-40]

hey guys,

Got back from Colorado on Sat. really like the campus. I now see the need for a bike. I really can't decide what to do. I would be cheeper to take the 40but alot slower, peaks at about 55 or 60, I was wondering how long it could travel at that speed w/o overheating or some other mech. problem. If I go with another rig it would probably be a double cab taco. So i can throw the bike or board in the back.

(On a side note) I had been wondering how subaru was able to stay in business, everyone in boulder owns one

brendan

 

[nickw]

hey guys,

Got back from Colorado on Sat. really like the campus. I now see the need for a bike. I really can't decide what to do. I would be cheeper to take the 40but alot slower, peaks at about 55 or 60, I was wondering how long it could travel at that speed w/o overheating or some other mech. problem. If I go with another rig it would probably be a double cab taco. So i can throw the bike or board in the back.

(On a side note) I had been wondering how subaru was able to stay in business, everyone in boulder owns one

brendan

Dude, 40 series in the summer with the top off at college = chicks begging to go for a ride. Enough said, lets close this discussion!

 

[Dave Bennett]

If you dont plan on doing HARD trails, the Tacoma TRD Sport 4Dr (long bed) is hard to beat. I wish I had the longer bed, until I have to turn around on the trail and then I remember why I got the short box!

.02

 

[DaveInDenver]

Dude, 40 series in the summer with the top off at college = chicks begging to go for a ride. Enough said, lets close this discussion!

Oh heck yeah. My wife loved our FJ40 when it was operational and if ours had been 1/8th as nice as Brendan's, we'd probably still have it.