Here’s another rear-wheel-drive SUV for the archives here at Barn Finds. Is it just me, or does anyone else automatically think 4×4 when they see a Toyota 4Runner, or Chevy Suburban? This 1998 Toyota 4Runner 2WD looks great at first glance, but there are, or were, some structural issues at one time. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $2,475.
The third-generation 4Runner was made from late 1995 for the 1996 model year until 2002 and they were known as being rough and tumble off-road vehicles but could still give a nice highway ride, a combination that was going away for a lot of other 4×4 SUVs at the time. The 1998 models didn’t have any significant updates other than some electronic features and a new steering wheel.
The seller has included over 100 photos, which is amazing, and you can see almost every square inch of this rig inside and out, including many underside photos. Also, many underside photos show what appears to be some fairly major frame repairs and show the spray coating on most of it under there, next to heavy surface rust that hasn’t been coated. We don’t really know what happened, but they say that this 4Runner has 80,000 miles and that’s a lot of rust for only 80,000 miles. Kudos to the seller for showing everything, including all of the repairs.
If you’re still here after checking out the underside, you can see that, for the most part, the interior is in nice shape. The seat cover on the driver’s seat has to be there for a reason, but other than that, it looks pretty nice inside. The back seat looks good as does the rear cargo area. Depending on how much rust there was or still is, and what the final price will be… well, I was going to say that this might make a good winter vehicle, but maybe not with just rear-wheel-drive.
The engine is Toyota’s 3RZ-FE 2.7-liter DOHC inline-four, which would have had 150 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. They say that this engine, in general, is a great one but they don’t specifically say how this one runs. I’m assuming that it runs well and they do say that everything works, including the AC. Let us know your thoughts on this one after checking out the underside photos, and whether it’s worth taking a gamble on it.
A 2wd 4 Runner,,,now there’s a contradiction of terms. Oh, it would be so easy to hose someone thinking it’s a 4wd. Kind of sad, really. Like the time, someone I knew bought a postal dispatcher Jeep,( before they stopped selling them to the public) because, they always wanted a 4wd Jeep. I said, did you actually look to see if it was 4wd? They said no, and imagine their surprise with no front drive axle. They thought all Jeeps were 4wd, and so it goes here. I mean, what’s the point? I think people got hosed with 2wd Trackers too. I suppose, with the lackluster choices in cars, this is a nice family ride, I can just see it now, oh, oh,,getting slippery, better lock in the 4wd,,,hmm, no switch,, must be full time,,,
The damned post office strikes again!
How often does the owner of an old-school SUV, with hard-connecting 4wd, actually use it? I remember on a Jeep board, back when I owned a YJ Wrangler…someone with a leased TJ asked, how do you engage the 4wd? Because my lease is up soon and I’ve never used it, I’d like to at least try it out.
That’s extreme, but even locally, watching huge pickups and SUVs fishtail in traffic, on slick roads…I think most owners don’t bother. I’m unusual that way, with my own – Toyota says, use it every month or so to keep things lubricated. So whenever the road is wet at all, I’ll click it on…
…but, obviously, I don’t need it on wet pavement. Nor do drivers need it even on fire roads or gravel. What’s the point? You’re getting a station wagon with some load capacity; you’re getting Toyota reliability. You’re getting it cheap – and while the tinworm will eventually win, for under 3k for a year, and no other issues (one hopes) it might be worth a gamble.
I live in a close-in suburb of Boston and I’ve done fine in 20+ years of New England winters with FWD, then RWD + winter tires (BMW E46), then FWD + winter tires.
I’m shopping for my first ever SUV and it’s not so much for the 4WD/AWD as it is for the heavy-duty, off-road-capable suspension and ground clearance. The roads here look like someone used them for artillery practice.
They should’ve called it the 2Runner, and it would look great on the smaller steelies/tires and lower ride height of the base 2wd Tacoma pickups.
What’s not to like here? Just as there are 2WD pickups, there are 2WD crossovers and SUVs.
This is one for the three seasons, or four, with the right attitude (and tires). My first five automobiles were RWD. In the Midwest, most 4WD pickups were sold to the CO-OP and elevators until the late 70’s…
Use this as intended – and if the weather is that bad, stay home (or take your modern ride)!
It’s like years ago, when 2wd full size Blazers were offered. I mean, the 4wd was the selling point, not what a wonderful vehicle it was for the family. Same here, if you want a 2wd, but a Corolla won’t cut it, this is a viable alternative. It’s funny you say, “just stay home”. I live in area where it may be sunny here, but 20 miles away, it’s white knuckles. Many folks get in trouble merely trying to get to the store. Most people buy the 4×4 for the “just in case” scenario, and glad they have it for that 2 times they need it, but in a warm climate, I could see a truck like this for a family. If you aren’t buying it for the AWD, I’d have to think there are better “cars” to buy.
Had this same year but 4*4 also with the 2.7. Reliable engine but very under powered to the point that in 6″ or so of snow you needed to hold low gear or it would bog badly.
To answer your question in the title yes at the price still below $3k its worth it because its Toyota with under 100k miles so you know it will last but honestly I didn’t know they even made a two wheel drive in this model makes me wonder if you could easily convert it to 4X4 from bone yard parts and make a profit
I went hunting many years in poor weather driving a Pontiac sedan with limited slip and only had one issue and that was getting high centered on a rock. Most of the time here in Kansas a 4×4 is not necessary.
Iiiiiii’mmmmm not convinced that there is much more than load-bearing paint holding it together under there.
Haven’t forgotten the piles of 4-Runner and Highlander frames behind Toyota dealers’ service lots
Highlanders are unibody so don’t think you were seeing their frames, it was likely 4Runners and Tacomas.
You are correct, I mis-spoke: Tacomas.
You don’t see those piles anymore.
Toyota stopped with the warranty repairs of Fast-Fail (American manufacture) frames, in favor of buying the trucks back. Frame replacement isn’t cost/time effective.
That was a goof, and Toyota makes them, too. All manufacturers have had their problem children…Toyota had the flat-front Gen1 van, with its cooling problems; and setting up their truck plant in San Antonio, went with American suppliers for frames.
They got jobbed. I don’t know who made the frames – if it was a Detroit supplier, or just a low-bidder – but obviously the steel was not up to standards Toyota held in their Japanese-assembled products.
This may be one. But again, no one’s pretending this is a cream puff. If it sells for under $4000, it might be the cheapest drivable Toyota to be had, anywhere.
“PLEASE BE REALISTIC WITH YOUR EXPECTATION AS ITS A 24 YEAR OLD TRUCK.”
What’s he trying to tell us? LOL
There’s an awful lot of rust on small pieces in the engine compartment, like hose clamps and the clips holding the airbox on and such, that I would not expect. Given that this is New Jersey (I grew up not far from Hasbrouck Heights) I’m thinking this might have been a Hurricane Sandy car. Also the interior looks really rough for a Toyota with 80,000 miles on it–there’s a lot of wear and scratches on plastic surfaces that I wouldn’t otherwise expect.
Great to buy for your daughter for a first car in a state that doesn’t get snow. No 4WD and the slush box make it too boring for me and is too nice and useless for a winter beater in the snow.
Interior rough for under 100 k, but no frame pics, I’ve lost several YOTAS to rust.
Lovely looking 4Runner. It’s nicer than the one I owned. I’ve never seen a 4Runner with 2wd, I’d buy it if I didn’t already have a car. You don’t need 4wd, unless you live in an area that gets lots of snow and ice.
Auction ended due to “error with listing”.
Thanks, Allgonquin! I was just heading here to say that, and to wonder if, as almost always, it wasn’t bringing the price that they wanted at the end so it magically had an error in the listing and went away.
2WD Suburbans were very common in the “square body” era. They were frequently used for towing.
Not only did Toyota build a 2WD 4Runner (I owned a 2000 model) but some even had a 4-cylinder. Mine had the 6-cylinder AT and our (then) 16yo drove it as her 16th birthday, first car vehicle. She loved it! And I wish we still had it. This one? Frame issues? Makes me think about how it will fare if hit hard.
2wD with Modern rear ends with traction control & ABS are almost as good as 4WD with the right driver at the wheel as I learned in the old days before such deviltry helped, the driver was key to not getting stuck & after swapping ends a few times on ice you get the hang of it lol if not shave a few years off your life. The 1st good icey roads every year there are people all over the place till they realize once again slowdown, no sudden movements with the wheel because once your sliding your a spectator in your own car !
I stand corrected in fact on the brakes stand on them if you have ABS!
Finally finding the perfect woman of your taste and not being able to touch her !