1990 Toyota 4Runner SSR-Limited review from Japan
"The Most Reliable 4WD"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I didn't know that this rig is a part-time 4WD when I bought it. I drove in 4WD mode on-road for a long time, and it caused me to pay a lot for repair of the transfer box.
Never drive this car in 4WD mode on dry pavement if you want to keep it for a long time! Also, if you live in cold areas, when you start the engine, give it time to warm up: it improves the performance of the car.
General comments?
My car is actually known in Japan as Hilux Surf. Mine has 96,000km on the clock. Its engine is a 4-cylinder 2000cc gasoline one.
Underpowered, but pulls through almost anywhere. Shows great performance off-road. Just drive in off-road and see for yourself. Absolutely reliable.
Except for the repair of the transfer box, which was my own fault, I just paid for oil change and gas. I also bought some of the optional accessory parts on the Internet at very low price.
Maintenance is everything with this rig. I change the oil and the oil filter every 2,000km! The engine works like a clock. I highly recommend putting high-octane gas in the tank at every refill. It gives you grater power and fuel economy. Also clean the spark plugs regularly, say, once a year and keep it tuned up.
No blown gaskets yet! No oil leaks, either.
I love the looks of this car. I put a 1994-model grille guard on it, which I believe is available only in the Japanese market. It has turned heads many times. I guess nobody has seen that grille guard on that model before in Japan! I love the big sunroof as well. I bought all the optional visors, including one for the sunroof, and put them on. It really looks great now.
I have owned many cars so far. This car is the only one I really want to keep until it literally dies. I do all the maintenance work myself.
Absolutely no rust on the body. The bumpers have a bit of rust on, but that's not odd considering the age of the car.
It's not a gas guzzler! Just don't hurry catching up with every car at the green light. Give it time to pick up speed, and you'll save on gas! This car needs patience.
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  | The 4Runner is an easy truck to fall in love with, poor MPG though, but everyone loves it honestly. |
| Buy American |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1990 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Gasoline Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 75000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 96000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Subaru Vivio |
| Date of Entry | 30th October, 2004 |