I need an unbiased opinion: 4runner vs XJ

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As the title states, I am sort of thinking about buying another vechicle to drive around and mess with while I am finishing my YJ this winter. I am currently driving my 1989 F350 to work everyday and it is just wearing me out. Whatever vehicle I buy it has to be a manual transmission or I wont want to drive it. I am basically looking for something like a 5 speed Xj or a 5 speed 4runner that I can drive around. I have found a few 5 speed XJ's with the 4.0 which is the engine I would want, and I had all but convinced myself that I was going to buy one. But, then a friend of mine told me about a 1994 4runner SR5 limited 5 speed that his friend had and he was looking to get rid of it. This 4runner has a 3"-4" lift and 33's. I was actually NOT wanting a truck with a lift for driving around but I think I can get this truck for $1500. It only has 120K on it but it has the 3.0 V6 and that is the one thing that has got me hung up on getting this truck rather than finding an XJ with the 4.0.

The main question is do any of you guys have personal experience with the 3.0 V6 and its head gasket problems? I have no concerns with getting an XJ as I know my way around them very well and for the most part am not concerned about engine issues. I just have no experience with the yotas. Any input would be great. Thanks.
 
The other thing that I forgot to mention is I stopped and looked at this rig one day but I could not access the interior or under the hood. It appeared this 4runner has not been driven recently. The inspection sticker in the window was for 2004! He said the guy has not even started it in over a year!!
 
I'd go for the yota but the not be driven in 4 yrs spells problem in really big letters.Never owned a 3.0 but I know they are almost as slow as the 22re. It might be a lil more but a 3.4 5spd is where its at. Very good torque for what it is and get pretty good mileage(about 20). Toyota's are way more reliable than jeeps(kinda biased if you see what I own, but it's the truth :flipoff2:).
 
If this is just for a quick DD, and you don't want to have to worry about it... I'd pass on that 4Runner.
Sitting for years always leads to trouble.
 
2004 inspection sticker....isn't that more like 8 years?

I would pass on that one unless you are looking for a project.
 
Yeah, my guess is this thing has not been driven on a regular basis for over 8 years. I had already accepted the fact that if I do buy it I will need to work on it some. I have no problem changing all the fluids and doing some repairs to it. I am sure there are all kinds of things that have stopped working like power windows and the A/C etc. I don't even have a problem putting head gaskets on it if I have to but I have read that often times once you replace the head gaskets they will blow again. I didn't know if anyone had experienced this. I have also read that these engines leak oil like crazy from the valve covers and the oil cooler? I don't feel like spending the time on fixing the thing up if it is going to be a constant problem later down the road. I would not even be looking at this truck if it wasnt in such GREAT shape and the price tag was low.......... Thanks again guys
 
Normally i'd say go with the yota, the 3.0 ain't that bad once you have the head gaskets replaced you don't have to worry about them again. But as stated something that's been sitting for a long time always has other problems like brake calipers locking up, fuel system being gummed up etc...
Now all that wouldn't be bad depending what you want to get into and such. 2 big things to think of depending what you want to do:
Yota=frame, and ifs
Jeep=unibody, and solid front axle
 
Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. As far as what I plan to do with it, I am starting out with the notion that I will just leave it alone and daily drive it. Considering that this 4runner already has a 3-4" lift and because I can never leave well enough alone I am sure I will end up messing with it. I really just was looking for something to drive besides my two big a$$ trucks everyday. I think that down the road I may end up happier if I got the 4runner because I can always SAS it really easy and then I have a solid axle and a frame. You can't do anything about the fact that an XJ is unibody. I say all of this but I already have a wheeler in the garage in a thousand pieces that I am building. So I am unsure. This 4runner would be even more appealing to me if it was stock height.
 
There are soooo many things that would need to be replaced after sitting for that long. Whole fuel system would need to be cleaned out. I would send the injectors off to get cleaned. EVERYTHING rubber would need to be replaced. Valve guides would probably need to be replaced, but should be easy when you pull the heads to change out the head gaskets. IIRC, Toyota had a recall on the 3.slo head gaskets. Run the VIN thru a Yota parts guy and he can tell if it has been done under the recall. There are a few people on pirate that wheel the 3.0s and they dont mind them.

Also, a 3.4 swap is fairly easy on these trucks. More power and reliability.

I would still vote for the runner!
 
only info i have is my 3.slow made it to 350k miles before it gave trouble and i replaced the whole motor ran great till then oh and the runner has a frame way better than a uni body any day.. but thats my opinion

sent from deep space via galaxy S 2
 
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