Recently converted to Yota, stuck in desert for a while.

[BattleWagonActual]

Hi everyone, after an accident back in spring, it was my turn to pick a new vehicle. After some persuasion from my neighbor I finally converted to a Yota. Found a steal on a 97 4runner 5spd 4wd, and couldn't pass it up. It's no Grand Wagoneer, but I'm more than okay with that. These last few of months have been a pleasure and I'm happy say I'm proud Yota owner now. Thanks to the Marine Corps, I'm stuck in sunny (sun baked) Twentynine Palms, and have been for a few years now. http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y372/klbillings41/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6543d70b.jpg (http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/klbillings41/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6543d70b.jpg.html)

[Seanz0rz]

Looks good! Welcome to the site! You'll have to come wheeling with us soon.

Don't forget to come up to the Pismo Jamboree in September. We have quite a bit of 3rd gens there!

[4x4mike]

There is a couple of you down in that area now. Welcome to 4Runners and UY.

[BattleWagonActual]

Thanks, we'll see if I'm still in the area by then. I may or may not be moving in a few months over to the East Coast. All just depends on the needs of the Military.

[Good Times]

welcome aboard and thanks for your service!

[Kryptoroxx]

Welcome neighbor

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[BattleWagonActual]

Welcome neighbor

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I'd welcome you too, but since you were the one that got me on here... I'd say you joined a couple hours earlier.

[Kryptoroxx]

Lol. Whatcha doing tomorrow? If the CO has plans that's cool but I figure I might need your help. Or at least as a sanity check.

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[BattleWagonActual]

Lol. Whatcha doing tomorrow? If the CO has plans that's cool but I figure I might need your help. Or at least as a sanity check.

Sorry man, I know you could use some help with your Runner, but the wife and I are headed down the hill with the planned power outage... And let's just say the wife's pregnancy hormones kicked in last night when I came over to help you out for those 10 minutes.

[Kryptoroxx]

Solid Copy on that. Enjoy Palm Springs.

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[04 Rocko Taco]

Welcome to UY. I need to hunt up one of the Pirate4x4 avatars that say go east Marines, just for you...

Thanks for your service, and nice looking 4runner!

[BattleWagonActual]

Thanks, she was all stock when I got her, slowly but surely I'll get to where I want it. The money tree grows rather slowly in the desert when the nearest town worth going to is over an hour away.

[DHC6twinotter]

Welcome! You've come to the right forum for 3rd gen 4Runners. We've got some pretty knowledgeable 3rd gen guys on here, and I know there are at least 5 of us now with the 5 speed 3rd gens.

[BattleWagonActual]

Thanks, for the welcome. I had no idea how few have the 5 speed 3rd gens until I bought it. I think my neighbor Kryptoroxx has an ever rarer breed with his 4banger 4x4 3rd gen w/stick. If I had known at the time I probably wouldn't have talked the seller down an additional $600. Guess that worked out in my favor.

[Kryptoroxx]

I was surprised that he found one in a 4x4 cut here in Socal. There are gobs of 3rd gen 4runners but there are far fewer 4x4 and then even fewer 5spd 4x4. You were very fortunate in your find.

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[4x4mike]

I found mine in the central valley foothills but there seem to be a concentration the Bay Area of CA, Colorado and the the PNW.

[paddlenbike]

I came across THIS (http://gtcarlot.com/data/Toyota/4Runner/) website that lists how 4Runners were equipped and sold in the U.S. If you follow the link and click on the year of interest (at the top of the page), you can get detailed sales information for each model year. For example, for the 2000 model year, 42.9% of all 4Runners sold were the SR5 4WD model, 93.8% had the V6, only 2.7% were sold with the manual transmission and 52.7% were millenium silver in color.

2000 Toyota 4Runner Sub Models
6.3% - Standard Model
9.8% - Limited
21.4% - Limited 4x4
19.6% - SR5
42.9% - SR5 4x4

2000 Toyota 4Runner Engines
6.3% - 2.7 Liter DOHC 16-Valve 4 Cylinder
93.8% - 3.4 Liter DOHC 24-Valve V6

2000 Toyota 4Runner Transmissions
97.3% - 4 Speed Automatic
2.7% - 5 Speed Manual

2000 Toyota 4Runner Colors
18.8% - Black
8.0% - Desert Dune Pearl
8.0% - Imperial Jade Mica
52.7% - Millennium Silver Metallic
8.0% - Natural White
0.9% - Radiant Red
3.6% - Sunfire Red Pearl

2000 Toyota 4Runner Interiors
29.5% - Gray
70.5% - Oak

I found it interesting that Toyota sold nearly 15% of 3rd gens with manual transmissions in 1996 and 1997 and demand for manuals dropped by 50% every year until they were discontinued in 2001. Only 2.7% of 2000-model year 4Runners had the manual trans. We speak with our wallets, and as lazy Americans, we killed off the manuals in this country.

[BattleWagonActual]

That's some pretty cool info, and you're right about us lazy Americans killing off the manual. Luckily for me I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, and had to learn stick. The previous owner of mine was from Colorado and confirmed that there are plenty of them out that way.

[Kryptoroxx]

Great site for info....mine falls into less than 6% for being a 4 banger and 4x4 with a 5spd.

If you look at what crowd the 4runner was trying to reach eventually the demand for them was going to run out anyway. I am willing to bet that if you got a stick in 96 that most owners wouldn't buy another one till the next generation. I don't think they should have discontinued the option though. It doesn't really make sense after they had the manufacturing process set up in 99 and the cut didn't change again till 03

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