1986 Toyota 4Runner review from Australia and New Zealand

Well, sorry to rain on the good parade. I had nothing but trouble... I bought the car, on the road, for $5800.

List of things that went wrong:

1. Power steering box reconditioned ($700 approx)

2. NEW LONG MOTOR (crankshaft went)... fitted & installed for $3500 approx. Both these happened 2 months after purchase.

3. New master cylinder, drums, shoes etc for back brakes... approx $800.

4. Electrics in the car are a mess, to say it politely.

5. Exhaust manifold, fixed twice... both came to approx $1500 ea.

6. TPI switch (throttle positioning) CONSTANTLY playing up.

7. Various bits & pieces to fix etc.

8. Fuel regulator, fuel sender, fuel pump, & fuel lines needed replacing... approx $500 total.

9. New master switch for electric windows & heater fixed... approx $500.

10. Upper & lower ball joints replaced, approx $500.

11. New radiator...

12. FINAL STRAW... head gasket/cracked cylinder, dunno which, cause I don't give a rats about it anymore.

I poured over $13000 dollars into this 'car'. What a spectacular waste of money!!

It was great in the bush & on sand after purchasing decent Simex tyres for it.

The very few good things on the car that didn't play up... the transmission, turned on a 10 cent piece, zippy off the mark.

Serviced it regularly (every 7000kms).

All in all, I MAY have just got a 'lemon', but after consulting with a few 4Runner owners here & there... some of these problems seem to be common.

I can't say that this is a good car.