1999 Toyota 4Runner V6

Summary:

I should have bought another GMC

Faults:

Head gasket blown twice.

Fuel injectors tend to clog abnormally quickly.

Transmission shifts roughly sometimes.

Mileage is worse then my half ton GMC.

General Comments:

I think Toyota should have stuck to making 4 cylinder motors. The 6 drives OK, but performance is nothing to brag about.

Mileage should be much better for a truck this size.

Cabin is comfortable enough for a truck this size, but I feel it has all the drawbacks of a small car and a big truck.

It does drive well enough off road though, if you don't beat on it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 10th May, 2009

10th May 2009, 22:27

As a GMC owner I heartily agree with the title of your review. My GMC has never had one single problem... EVER. I definitely can't say the same about my imports. No more rice-burners for me!!

1999 Toyota 4Runner SR5 3.4L

Summary:

The best SUV you can buy and run right out of the box

Faults:

#2 O2 sensor.

General Comments:

Very reliable.

Comfortable.

Very good both on and off road.

I looked for a manual 4runner for over a year. The only one I could find had high mileage, but having owned Toyotas in the past, the mileage (116000) did not seem excessive.

I cannot recommend this vehicle highly enough. It has done everything I have asked, and then some. It will ford over 2 foot of water. It has a limited slip rear, so with 4WD that means at least 3 powered wheels.

The only thing that keeps me from seriously off-roading it, is that it looks so good I don't want to scratch it

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th July, 2008

18th Jan 2010, 07:38

An update;

I just sold the 4runner with 155,000 miles on it. Got 3,000 less for it than I paid almost 4 years ago. Not bad. (I sold it at a friends car lot. It was on the lot for 2 hours!) I had no problems other than the O2 sensor in that time. I averaged 19.8 mpg over that time. I kept track of every tankful. I did use 89 octane as the truck definitely ran better with the higher octane. I live in West by God Virginia so that mileage was achieved in mountain driving. On one tankful in the flatlands I got almost 23 mpg.

I also sold my Dodge Ram, which surprisingly was also a very reliable truck. Just horrible gas mileage (12). So what did I buy? I combined the two and got a 1997 Tacoma xtra cab V6. In 20,000 miles or so I will review that. Happy Toyotaing...

1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited 6 cylinder

Summary:

I do very little to it or for it, and it repays me like a good Labrador Retriever

Faults:

Nothing mechanical. Had a belt replaced at 75,000 miles, but other than this, it has only been serviced for oil changes every 3,500-5,500 miles.

The leather on the seats is beginning to crack some, but I've not been diligent in conditioning them.

General Comments:

This car is a workhorse. It goes and goes and goes. I do very little to it or for it, and it repays me like a good Labrador Retriever. It isn't the most comfortable ride and distances of more than 3 hours can necessitate a couple of stretch breaks, but hey, it's really a truck with an enclosed cab. This one isn't a 4X4 and is a 6 cyl., so the acceleration isn't stellar, but I don't really need a race truck. It goes fine and has no shimmying/shaking at higher speeds the way my old Honda Accord did. Now that it's 2007 and this is a 1999, I'm considering upgrading, but I feel disloyal thinking about giving this one up. Maybe I'll keep it for the weekend runs to the home/garden store. Or maybe I'll get a newer 4-Runner.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st July, 2007

1999 Toyota 4Runner 4 cylinder

Summary:

4runners are great cars and will always be.

Faults:

Being a 22 year old college student with a 99 4runner basic 4 cylinder since I was 16 has been a great experience.

Problems I've had was once the starter broke down on me and had to get it towed. And I had to replace my battery once.

Other than those $500 I spent for breaking down on me, nothing else in 7 years. I haven't even properly maintained it, being that I received the car in high school and still have it through college being broke. Still when I get a chance I take care of it within my budget.

General Comments:

This car is so low maintenance its unbelievable. Being that it is a 4 cylinder, the gas runs a long long time compared to what these newer cars demand. Being a student, maybe you can understand how much it makes me appreciate the car.

Right now I have 110,000 miles, but it sure as hell don't feel like it. I plan to keep this car for a while, I highly suggest anyone looking to buy a used 4runner to do so. You can have a great looking, dependable truck and highly economic without it being a small boxed in civic or something.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th February, 2007

13th Feb 2007, 02:14

The best on smooth paved road. With tires so big, low gearing and anemic engines, going off-road would compromise your enthusiasm and budget. THe 4 banger is known to suffer oil starvation in off camber situation. Rebuilding engine over 120k is common even with moderate abuse.

9th Jan 2010, 17:47

I had to have my 4 cyl rebuilt with very modest driving at 128k, and I now have 200k. I am a student also, and I drive an insane amount in this truck. I get good gas and love it.

8th Feb 2010, 22:08

I am a college student too, who inherited my base sport 4 cylinder 4Runner from my dad because my 2000 Jetta VR6 crapped out at 133k, and I took very good care of it... Grrrr... I'm so bitter about it.

Anyways, yes my runner has 191k, my dad took care of it very well. He also had the top end rebuilt at 124k-ish, $4,000, but since then nothing has gone wrong.

He only put 2 sets of tires on it in 150k; the 3rd set I purchased and put smaller ones on it, and they make a huge difference.

The automatic has never had anything done to it, and it shifts like it was brand new.

There are some squeaks belt and fan, but nothing to complain about.

I get about 17/25 mpg driving very grandma-ish :-) I also use premium fuel because I get more miles per tank. Truly these are great rigs.