Toyota trucks you wish you could cocoon for later in life

[paddlenbike]

After getting hit from the rear in the 4Runner recently, I've been thinking more about what would happen if I had to replace my 4Runner. The 3rd and 4th gens are old enough now that trying to find a low mileage one in excellent condition is getting extremely difficult. If I had the money and space (of which I have neither), the list of vehicles I'd like to cocoon for later in life include the following:

Sunfire Red Pearl 3rd gen:
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g326/toyotamafia/4Runner/IMG_2213-2_zps3d4e25b4.jpg

and a Thundercloud Gray, for good measure:
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/id2358/cb024f031e9c6282bdf1981afc15f3e8.jpg

2006-2007 Land Cruiser in Imperial Jade Mica (2006-2007 are the only years of the 270 hp vvti engine.)
http://img.autorevo.com/2003-toyota-land-cruiser-searcy-ar-4637708/420942-10-large.jpg

Anyone else?

What inspired this thread is my neighbor's new purchase. They bought their parent's 1999 Imperial Jade Mica LandCruiser and the thing is literally perfect and only has 115k on the odometer. It's hard to find purchases like this any more.

[Seanz0rz]

I have thought about this too. I think 06+ 4th gen or a clean, great condition 3rd gen (any year) would be a pretty direct replacement for me. I have also looked at the 2nd generation Tacoma as well.

I do have to say though, I have always had my heart set on the Autumn Blaze Metallic from 99. Only seen 2 or 3 maybe?

Not a replacement, but an addition to the family will be a 100 series Land Cruiser, probably 03+.

[YotaFun]

I have a large list myself lol!

1) Anthracite Metallic 3rd Gen:
At first this color really didn't jive with me but it grew after a while and I love it and love having it
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/20312683.jpg

2) Autumn Blaze Metallic 3rd Gen:
They only came out in 99, I would love to fine one grab it, restore it and the store it lol!
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/13854667.jpg

3) Thunder Cloud Sport 3rd Gen:
This color is on my stepdads which was orignially what made me fall in love with the 3rd Gen 4Runners:
http://3-photos.ebizautos.com/used-2002-toyota-4runner-sr5-8545-10932778-3-640.jpg

4) Golden Pearl 3rd Gen:
I love the this particular white:
http://cdn-w.v12soft.com/photos/vq9KDlt/6773990/image-1_800600.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

'03+ Land Cruiser in Thunder Cloud Matallic would probably be the only SUV I would buy now to save for a future date. 4Runners are great, but not really a vehicle I would cocoon for latter.

A stock '97 or '98 Supra would be a car I would love to hang on to for 50 years.

[toyotech]

if only we could get toyota to build new older models according to customers wants....

[Seanz0rz]

There is definitely progress though. 3rd gen suspension was much improved over 2nd gen, and 4th gen was even better. All the people screaming for solid axles won't buy a new one anyway because of the airbags, nice interior, and high price. I do wish the vehicles would stop growing each generation. And I wish they offered models without all the electronics nannies.

[paddlenbike]

There is definitely progress though. 3rd gen suspension was much improved over 2nd gen, and 4th gen was even better. All the people screaming for solid axles won't buy a new one anyway because of the airbags, nice interior, and high price. I do wish the vehicles would stop growing each generation. And I wish they offered models without all the electronics nannies.

I agree Sean. There are a lot of things to like about the 3rd gen, but for me, the durability, reliability, ease of repairs, etc., make it a great long-term vehicle to own. I suspect as the 4th gens get older they will have all of the issues of the 3rd gens plus things like the auto-latching hatch will break, vehicle skid control systems and sensors going bad, TPMS issues, the dashboards look like a nightmare to take apart if/when the heater core ever goes...things like that. The 3rd gen is pretty simple. Plus the 5VZ's iron block will take boost like a mad man; not so much with the newer aluminum engines.

[toyotech]

There is definitely progress though. 3rd gen suspension was much improved over 2nd gen, and 4th gen was even better. All the people screaming for solid axles won't buy a new one anyway because of the airbags, nice interior, and high price. I do wish the vehicles would stop growing each generation. And I wish they offered models without all the electronics nannies.

i agree. the air bag increase cost of bumpers. plus you cant (not that i know off) turn the bags off when offroad since i seen videos of them going off on bumpy fireroads...
not a fan of the electric traction controls that uses that brake system. talk about replacing pads/rotors often if you acually off road your vehicle

toyota should start doing built to order vehicles. options from all models (taco,fj,4runner,tundra,land cruiser) that be sweet!!

[paddlenbike]

I have expanded upon my plan. Once Dan gets his first set of aircraft and buys/rents a hangar, maybe he'll let me park my cocoons there. :)

http://img.autorevo.com/2003-toyota-land-cruiser-searcy-ar-4637708/420944-38-large.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

I have expanded upon my plan. Once Dan gets his first set of aircraft and buys/rents a hangar, maybe he'll let me park my cocoons there. :)

LOL...I wish I could afford a few aircraft and a pilot's license. That is an expensive hobby, and I've got too many other hobbies. Would love an old Waco and a Diamond DA-42 or Quest Kodiak. I actually wouldn't mind flying bush planes for a living, but paying 70 grand for a CPL is not worth the mediocre pay.

[slomatt]

Man, this thread is dangerous. For fun I looked on Craigslist and Autotrader for "low mileage" (under 150k) 4Runers and Land Cruisers and they are very rare, in fact I couldn't even find anything lower than mine which has 107k. Some of the prices are crazy.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2002&modelCode1=4RUN&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5B4RUN%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=326268124&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2002&modelCode1=4RUN&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5B4RUN%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=354697887&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2002&modelCode1=4RUN&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5B4RUN%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=353611907&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=345206858&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=354055285&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=351488472&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=330388411&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=349971967&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=352386903&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=94549&endYear=2007&modelCode1=LC&sortBy=bestmatchb&showcaseOwnerId=555577&startYear=1999&makeCode1=TOYOTA&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=300&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5BLC%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=339539878&Log=0

No new cars for me though, I've still got to get my 300tdi swapped D1 running properly.

- Matt

[paddlenbike]

Man, this thread is dangerous. For fun I looked on Craigslist and Autotrader for "low mileage" (under 150k) 4Runers and Land Cruisers and they are very rare, in fact I couldn't even find anything lower than mine which has 107k. Some of the prices are crazy.


They're collectors items, I tell ya. ;)



No new cars for me though, I've still got to get my 300tdi swapped D1 running properly.

- Matt

I didn't know you had a Land Rover? There's a beautiful black Discovery II that has been sitting at an autoshop by my house for 2 months now with the windows down. It probably has the cylinder liner issue they all seem to have. It's begging for a Toyota 2UZ swap.

[paddlenbike]

LOL...I wish I could afford a few aircraft and a pilot's license. That is an expensive hobby, and I've got too many other hobbies. Would love an old Waco and a Diamond DA-42 or Quest Kodiak. I actually wouldn't mind flying bush planes for a living, but paying 70 grand for a CPL is not worth the mediocre pay.

I had to google the Diamond DA-42, it looks (to me) like a twin-engine Cirrus. Love that aircraft.
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/5/2/1605253.jpg

And the Quest Kodiak similar to a Dehavilland Otter. I've been on those and the Beavers a few times.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xyNSS89wjNI/UEWHEkZGN_I/AAAAAAAAHMM/-LNkfZq_HaI/s800/DSC_1133r.jpg

Rockin' the co-pilot's seat out of BC
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--t8_MrGwfN4/THQdUVlDqOI/AAAAAAAAFMw/gMYcO5Kt-AQ/s800/P9140318.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yC_OR8wWKLs/TGwrIfbLZjI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/ysr17_t4Fac/s800/DSC_0376-1.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x8DvlLO-FpA/TGwruQEDwBI/AAAAAAAAFLg/yrz5NYND-tc/s800/DSC_0440r.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VZK1VRFsdt4/TGwsScO5clI/AAAAAAAAFLw/9pdlvwsl65Q/s800/DSC_0459.JPG

Taking off and landing on the water is pretty high on my "best things I've ever done" list. I can't wait for you to get yours Dan, just be sure to take me for a ride! ;)

[slomatt]

I didn't know you had a Land Rover? There's a beautiful black Discovery II that has been sitting at an autoshop by my house for 2 months now with the windows down. It probably has the cylinder liner issue they all seem to have. It's begging for a Toyota 2UZ swap.

My D1 is anything but beautiful, but it has a diesel and in theory gets 25-30mpg on biodiesel. I say "in theory" because it has some mechanical issues and is not running properly at the moment, and with the wedding and house purchase I haven't had time to look at it. But once things settle down it should be a fun project.

- Matt

[DHC6twinotter]

Man, this thread is dangerous. For fun I looked on Craigslist and Autotrader for "low mileage" (under 150k) 4Runers and Land Cruisers and they are very rare, in fact I couldn't even find anything lower than mine which has 107k. Some of the prices are crazy.

No new cars for me though, I've still got to get my 300tdi swapped D1 running properly.

- Matt

Those are some crazy prices! Makes me wonder what my 3rd gen is worth. I could buy a new Taco for the price of a used, low mileage 100 series.


I had to google the Diamond DA-42, it looks (to me) like a twin-engine Cirrus. Love that aircraft.


The DA-42 does look like a lot like a twin Cirrus. The cool thing about the DA-42 is that it's available with diesel engines in Europe. Diamond has some cool aircraft, including several single engine planes and a single engine jet.



And the Quest Kodiak similar to a Dehavilland Otter. I've been on those and the Beavers a few times.

Taking off and landing on the water is pretty high on my "best things I've ever done" list. I can't wait for you to get yours Dan, just be sure to take me for a ride! ;)

I've never had the pleasure of flying on an Otter or Beaver. The beaver is a cool airplane, and radial engines are just plain cool. If I ever get a plane, I'll let you know!

[arjan]

I am surprised nobody mentioned the later T100s. I always like the extended cab, 5 speed versions.
A 2006 quad cab tundra also is high on my list.