1997 Toyota 4Runner Base review from North America
"This vehicle is indestructible!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Throttle body replaced 30K miles under warranty.
Rear hatch shut stuck once.
Crankshaft pulley replaced at 235K miles.
Upstream O2 sensor came out of exhaust pipe.
No other problems.
Water pump and alternator replaced before failure as part of routine maintenance.
General comments?
This car has been a great bargain. I specifically ordered the base model with 4 cylinder engine and manual transmission, no FWD, to avoid major repair problems.
The car has performed near flawlessly for almost 250K miles. I change oil every 4000 miles. It has made ten trips across the US, carrying two adults, a dog, and one or two grandkids in reasonable comfort, along with a load of luggage.
Additionally, we have pulled a 2000 lb. cargo trailer to several arts & crafts shows each year for the last ten years. It still has the original clutch. On trips, mileage averages about 23mpg, about 17mpg around town. Fuel mileage is about 17mpg pulling the trailer.
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| Over all A Good Quality SUV!!! |
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| 1996 - 4Runner Limited 3.4L V6 As far as it's possible to love an object, I love this car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4L 4 cylinder Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 600 miles |
| Most recent distance | 249000 miles |
| Previous car | Plymouth Voyager |
| Date of Entry | 6th September, 2009 |