Faults:
I didn't know that this rig is a part-time 4WD when I bought it. I drove in 4WD mode on-road for a long time, and it caused me to pay a lot for repair of the transfer box.
Never drive this car in 4WD mode on dry pavement if you want to keep it for a long time! Also, if you live in cold areas, when you start the engine, give it time to warm up: it improves the performance of the car.
General Comments:
My car is actually known in Japan as Hilux Surf. Mine has 96,000km on the clock. Its engine is a 4-cylinder 2000cc gasoline one.
Underpowered, but pulls through almost anywhere. Shows great performance off-road. Just drive in off-road and see for yourself. Absolutely reliable.
Except for the repair of the transfer box, which was my own fault, I just paid for oil change and gas. I also bought some of the optional accessory parts on the Internet at very low price.
Maintenance is everything with this rig. I change the oil and the oil filter every 2,000km! The engine works like a clock. I highly recommend putting high-octane gas in the tank at every refill. It gives you grater power and fuel economy. Also clean the spark plugs regularly, say, once a year and keep it tuned up.
No blown gaskets yet! No oil leaks, either.
I love the looks of this car. I put a 1994-model grille guard on it, which I believe is available only in the Japanese market. It has turned heads many times. I guess nobody has seen that grille guard on that model before in Japan! I love the big sunroof as well. I bought all the optional visors, including one for the sunroof, and put them on. It really looks great now.
I have owned many cars so far. This car is the only one I really want to keep until it literally dies. I do all the maintenance work myself.
Absolutely no rust on the body. The bumpers have a bit of rust on, but that's not odd considering the age of the car.
It's not a gas guzzler! Just don't hurry catching up with every car at the green light. Give it time to pick up speed, and you'll save on gas! This car needs patience.
15th Feb 2005, 09:02
I had a 1990 4Runner, just sold it with 365,000 on the clock, now I have a 1995 4Runner with nearly 300,000. Maintenance is paramount-but changing oil every 2,000 is extreme. I tend to drive my vehicles about 150km/day (city driving) and I change oil every 5,000-6,000 km and the engines last forever. Out of curiosity, what is the general asking price for used 4Runners in Japan?I bought my 1995 in Oct 2003 for $3500 tax included (Canadian) with 250,000 km on it.