2007 Toyota 4Stunner

[Senor_Taylor]

Consuella the Tacoma took great care of me through high school and college. I beat on her and she only showed me love. She got me to work and back home safely in 18 inches of unplowed snow, she hauled motorcycles, mopeds, motors, wood, camping gear, all of the stuff for 4 car shows, and way too many drunk people around Harrisonburg. I dubbed it the MM Support vehicle my freshmen year because I must have been used to jump start at least 10 people just that year, drove people to work in the snow, pulled tons of cars out of ditches including a certain green Subaru on the JMU Campus, a motorcycle off the side of 81, and my own Miata off the side of a mountain. Honestly, as much fun as the Miatas and the E46 were, this truck was responsible for more cool things happening in MM than I'd suspect many other vehicles have been. (I heard it was pretty fast too!) Sadly, it's time for it to go. I always dreamed I'd be able to keep it forever and turn it into the off-road rig it deserved (and clearly wanted) to be, but that's just not in the cards. My back is pretty borked and this thing doesn't really do well on the commute from Sterling to Tyson's. I need a little more comfort and inside space.

For months, I pondered what would replace her. I was stuck between a newer F150, Mid 2000s Silverado. I really wanted something with 4 doors since all Zach and I own are vehicles with either 2 doors or 2 wheels. More recently, I almost bought a 2017 Tacoma. I mean, I was REALLY close to buying one. Standing in the dealership crunching the numbers over and over in my head hoping somehow they would change. In the end, Jake and Joey talked me off the edge of that financial suicide and Joey sent me a 4Runner he found that looked really clean, in my favorite color, and with every feature I wanted. I just so happened to have a short day at work so I stole him away from his gluten free pizza and we drove to Front Royal to look at it. I really liked it. Obviously it didn't make giggle and squeal like a little kid being chased by a leaf blower or anything, but it was comfortable and the thought of how much easier it would make day-to-day life made me feel really good. The rumble of the V8 and 300+ lb-ft of torque didn't hurt either. I was approved for a loan from my bank, so I went inside and told them I'd take it. My bank was closing, wasn't open on weekends, and the dealer needed to replace the right rear caliper anyway, so we agreed I'd come back Monday.

Natalie gave me a ride back down there and I picked it up today. Not only did they replace the caliper, but they threw a new battery in and handled the tags, title, and registration for me. The dealership is G & W auto sales and they seem like really great people. Not pushy at all, really nice to talk to, and honestly they ask seemingly great prices for their stuff. I didn't get this thing for a steal, but I certainly got a great deal considering the mileage and condition. That said, here's the details:

2007 Toyota 4Runner Limited
- 2 Owner, Pennsylvania car with a clean carfax
- 116,000 miles
- 4.7 Liter V8 with variable valve timing ( 260hp and 306 lb-ft of torque)
- Only weighs in somewhere between 4000 and 4300 and you can tell when you step on it.
- Heated leather
- JBL Sound System
- Front window tent
- Power moonroof
- 100Watt outlet in the center console
- Dual Climate
- Locking Center Torsen Differential
- 18 inch wheels
- Running boards
- Tow Package
- Tons of other nice things I've never had (or only had briefly with the E46) like a self closing tailgate, folding rear seats, one of those automatic rear view mirrors, power rear glass, memory seats, electronic lumber support, radio controls on the steering wheel.
- This is obviously the newest vehicle I've ever owned, but also it's essentially the lowest mileage as well since the 95 Miata now has just as many miles.

I've already spoken with Jason and we're pricing out a Timing Belt, Water Pump, Front/Rear/Center Diff fluid, Trans fluid, Coolant flush, etc. I only used Toyota products in my Tacoma and I'll continue the trend here.

The drive home was absolutely splendid. It soaks up bumps and rough road ten times better than my Tacoma on those crazy high spring rate lift springs. I will echo what Cabell said when he got his and say that the stock suspension is pretty tired and really floaty at highway speed (vertically, not laterally). The extra gear and extra 100 lb-ft of Torque was so satisfying when you could pass people no problem on 66 while only taching 2100 RPM at 75MPH. Another thing to note is this gets essentially the same mileage as my Tacoma did. The stereo sounds great and will be even better when I upgrade the head unit to something with Nav and Bluetooth. Joey and I were surprised to see that a 2007 Toyota had a factory aux port in the center console, but then again, this was a $40,000 car. Also, after doing some math, it seems absolutely feasible to pull an open trailer with this. That will have to be further down the road when I have room for a race-car or I finally nut up and sell the Miata to build one. Regardless of that, I'm excited to get out and do some trail riding and camping with this thing. It certainly won't do what my Tacoma could do without dumping large amounts of money into it, but it'll hold it's own on some trails and will be super comfortable while doing it.

Future plans:
Baseline maintenance
Small lift and more aggressive tire (Depending on how much I turn out to care about gas mileage)
Double Din Head Unit with Nav and Bluetooth
After that, who knows? I have a million other things to spend money I don't have on.

Any way, thanks for reading! Here's some pictures of a stock 4Runner.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Hawt. Hawt. Hawt. Can't wait to see it and you in it. I need me a Land cruiser like yesterday.

[ScottyB]

nicely done man, i know its tough to say goodbye to the pick'emup truck but this is a good plan.

that 2UZ V8 should last you past the point where the body is rotting into the ground. one of toyota's best engines ever IMO.

i'm going to find opportunities to taunt you with overlanding pictures to attempt to poison your mind and make you do illogical things with this

[Jake]

Is anyone else incredulous that a mid-trim brand new Tacoma is thirty-seven-fucking-thousand dollars? Because I think my astonishment knocked Taylor out of the dealership over a text message.

That said, I dig these. Looks like a nice one. Want to see and drive.

[JPolen01]

Tacomas are insanely expensive. So much so that I don't even think I would consider it if I was looking for a smaller truck.

[WRXtranceformed]

Agreed on the Taco pricing. We looked at a loaded limited one before I ended up in the Canyon. The price was almost unjustifiable and they weren't really willing to negotiate at all. To be fair though, all new trucks now are pretty pricey and even used trucks down here in the south are too. They hold their value so well.

I think this was a great purchase all around. The lack of fuel efficiency may start to add up after a while of stop and go DC traffic but it kind of is what it is if you want that kind of all purpose vehicle.

[Senor_Taylor]

Agreed on the Taco pricing. We looked at a loaded limited one before I ended up in the Canyon. The price was almost unjustifiable and they weren't really willing to negotiate at all. To be fair though, all new trucks now are pretty pricey and even used trucks down here in the south are too. They hold their value so well.

I think this was a great purchase all around. The lack of fuel efficiency may start to add up after a while of stop and go DC traffic but it kind of is what it is if you want that kind of all purpose vehicle.

Looking back at the original MSRP on a "loaded" 2003 Tacoma, you're looking at very low 20,000s. Now a loaded limited is almost $40,000. Granted, there are just about twice as much truck.

The gas mileage isn't an issue, though. I'm averaging over 20 in the 4Runner, where I only averaged 18 in the Tacoma. What a difference 10 years makes for engine design.

The commute this morning was very pleasant. My back is thankful and it's a much better way to start the day than I was doing before with either the Tacoma or the Miata. I did notice a tick which is probably an exhaust leak. Only noticeable with the window down, which Joey and I couldn't do on the test drive or my drive yesterday as it was raining. The dealership replaced at least one of the exhaust manifolds as it's a known issue, so either the other needs to be replaced or they didn't torque it properly?

Speaking of torque.... wow. I never got above 2000 rpm this morning. I step on the gas and expect it to drop 2 gears and start screaming, but instead it pulls from 1000 rpm, or idle, or -500 rpm. Wherever it is, it is happy. Also, the same bulbs behind the lcd screen are out in mine that were out in Cabell's. These things are too predictable.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Also, the same bulbs behind the lcd screen are out in mine that were out in Cabell's. These things are too predictable.

Let us know which ones. I have stupidly bought a bunch trying to figure out which ones were which so I may have a spare kicking around and can mail them to you. :thumbup:

I also have a few updates on mine that I have neglected to get posted in my thread..

[Senor_Taylor]

Also, the same bulbs behind the lcd screen are out in mine that were out in Cabell's. These things are too predictable.

Let us know which ones. I have stupidly bought a bunch trying to figure out which ones were which so I may have a spare kicking around and can mail them to you. :thumbup:

I also have a few updates on mine that I have neglected to get posted in my thread..

It's the right side of the lcd screen. I'll do some digging to see what's going on.

[Deceus]

SEND IT! Currently trying to convince my friend to pull the trigger on a long travel kit for his Titan.

[Senor_Taylor]

Unless he lives out west in the desert, his money is much better spent elsewhere.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Deceus]

Both him and another friend really want to drag me to AZ with them in a year or 2. Having easy access to mostly rust-free classics would be great but I ain't living in a damn desert.

[*insertusernamehere*]

SEND IT! Currently trying to convince my friend to pull the trigger on a long travel kit for his Titan.

#ENCIERROGOALS. Someone find me a rally course with a jump in it. SCOTTY B?!

[ScottyB]

no jumps on rallyx courses what with the people bringing their daily drivers and not wanting to bend the chassis in half and all.

Tarheel Sports Car Club use to run courses with jumps 10 or so years ago and stopped because people weren't backing off and breaking stuff left and right. they're still the best club to run with though, awesome courses and more speed.

[*insertusernamehere*]

no jumps on rallyx courses what with the people bringing their daily drivers and not wanting to bend the chassis in half and all.

Tarheel Sports Car Club use to run courses with jumps 10 or so years ago and stopped because people weren't backing off and breaking stuff left and right. they're still the best club to run with though, awesome courses and more speed.

[Goodspeed]

Both him and another friend really want to drag me to AZ with them in a year or 2. Having easy access to mostly rust-free classics would be great but I ain't living in a damn desert.

Depends on where in the state you are. Arizona's got lots of green/forest land.

Taylor - congrats on the purchase. I need to pimp zis auto sometime and see what all the fuss is about :thumbup:

[Senor_Taylor]

Taylor - congrats on the purchase. I need to pimp zis auto sometime and see what all the fuss is about :thumbup:

Of course! We need to get a few people together for dinner or something in a neutral place now that Zach and I are up here.

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[Senor_Taylor]

So, the Tacoma is gone and I got a pile of money for it, so what else to do but spend it? (Except bathe in it.)
Mileage : 118,250

Our friendly Toyota expert, Jason, was happy to give me an insanely good price to do the timing belt an water pump. Recommended service for the timing belt is around 90K and this was at 116k when I bought it, so it was definitely due. I've put about 2000 miles on it since I bought it and it's been very nerve wracking imagining the timing belt letting go and destroying my engine. The upgraded VVT-I V8 motors are interference. I showed up around 10 am and we drained the coolant and left to go get lunch and pick up some tools while the car cooled. We got back and started tearing apart the car. By "We" I mean "Jason" because the man works so fast, I can't help but be in the way if I try to help. It wasn't long before dark storm clouds rolled in and we abandoned the project until it subsided. Realizing the rain would last until 6, we trudged back outside and I found an umbrella in the car to hold over Jason as he worked. Lightning quick hands and a few cuss words later and the water pump was out. The water pump actually did have a little wobble to the impeller so that feels like a victory that I decided to buy a new one for this project. The timing belt on the other hand, looked fine, but seemed to have stretched to the point of the tensioner being all of the way out and there still being slack in the belt. Definitely time to replace it. Jason suggested we not replace any of the bearings as they usually never fail, so we, "he", buttoned it back up in the pouring rain, and I headed home on my merry way.

I know it's not really supposed to affect performance, but I swear this thing runs a little better. I guess it's more in time, but the power delivery is great and it doesn't downshift if I'm at 3000RPM and floor it, it just kind of accelerates. Maybe it's my imagination, maybe I'm crazy, but I like it. I decided I hadn't spent enough money today, so I popped over to Hard Freight and purchased their finest chinesium tool cabinet combo and shoved it in the back of the 4Runner with the seats down. I actually don't think I could have fit those two boxes in the Tacoma with the truck box in the bed. I got home, pieced them together, replaced the cabin air filter and began work on the longest oil change I've ever done.

First off, I am so used to the Tacoma being lifted that I didn't realize how low the 4Runner is to the ground and how tight a fit it is to change the oil without jacking it up. The 4Runner is so tight in my garage with Zach's bike and my moped that I didn't even bother putting a jack under it and messing with that. Drain the oil and attempt to tackle the oil filter and I swear it took me 15 minutes of wrestling with it before I decided to stab it with a screwdriver, and even then it took another 10 minutes to get it off. I go to fill it back up and realize that this V8 takes 6.2 Quarts and I only bought 5. Guess I'm used to smaller engines. Oh well. Joey is bringing oil over tomorrow before we head to cannibalize some Subarus in Maryland tomorrow.

Next on the list is Jason is sourcing an OEM Exhaust Manifold, Trans, and Diff fluid, and the appropriate gaskets for one final wrench session before this thing is officially bulletproof for the next 60,000 miles. 4th gen 4Runner crack headers a lot for some reason and my passenger one seems to have cracked right after I bought it. The drive side manifold seems to have been replaced before I bought it, so I guess it was time. The only problem is this headers have a cat on them, so they're stupid expensive. Oh well. We also need to figure out why there is a whining noise coming from the alternator or near it. It doesn't seem to be a bearing, so Jason thinks it may be a diode or something like that dying in it.

Other than all of that, I'm in love with this car. I think it looks beautiful. It eats up highway miles, and it has so many creature comforts I'm still not used to. I'm not sure if I can ever go back to having a car with auto climiate control, steering wheel radio controls, and projector head lights. The seats are really comfortable in the rare situations that my back isn't already hurting and that's a big plus for me. I also LOVE the V8. I find myself slowing down just to floor it and listen to all 300 lb-ft of torque haul my ass up 28. I don't know how long I'll keep this and it's basically just an appliance at this point, but I've always taken care of my "primary" cars so this will receive on Toyota parts and fluids and my aim is to keep it as nice as I possibly can. Toyotas have always treated me well, why shouldn't I return the favor?









We also had to go find a C-Clamp to compress the tensioner, so I met some guys with some seriously cool dirt track cars.

[Senor_Taylor]

Well, when I was with Jason, I asked him to give me his opinion on the loud whirring squeal it made when revving. It sounded like a bearing trying to reach escape velocity, but he did some poking around with a screwdriver, called a chant to whatever layer of hell he draws his mechanic powers from, and deduced it was the alternator, but NOT the bearing. "When should I replace it?" inquired me, misty eyed and innocent. "Eh, whenever it blows up" - torts Jason.

Then the alternator blew up.

Honestly, it's true. I think I drove it 2 days after we did all of this work, then parked the 4Runner for a while to drive the Miata. Zach and I headed out there to load up an old TV and the battery was 100% flat. We jump it with his Miata, take the cables off, and it stalls after a minute or two. We try again, and again, and again, and it's the same thing. When it was running, something seemed "off" about the idle and I realized it didn't have that high pitch squeal anymore and it all made sense. The diode that was heading towards the light and giving its best death squall had finally given up the ghost. I guess trying to charge and 100% flat battery finally did it.

Seeing as my baby only gets the best parts, I ordered a reman Denso OEM alternator and waited a week to get it. Zach help me put it on in the dark last night and I can say without a doubt, it was harder than I thought it would be. If I had tackled this a year or two ago without my impact to take sway bar off, I definitely would be on here crying about how I could get the alternator off. In the end, it only took 3 hours and a possible hole in my radiator. 5/10 with Rice.

For now, the 4Runner has a trip to VIR next week. A trip to Myrtle a couple weeks after, and possibly towing the Chariot of Victory to Catlett for an Rally event in September before I do anything else to it. Still pricing an exhaust manifold and then she'll be perfect. (Until the mods start)

[V1GiLaNtE]

Well, when I was with Jason, I asked him to give me his opinion on the loud whirring squeal it made when revving. It sounded like a bearing trying to reach escape velocity, but he did some poking around with a screwdriver, called a chant to whatever layer of hell he draws his mechanic powers from, and deduced it was the alternator, but NOT the bearing. "When should I replace it?" inquired me, misty eyed and innocent. "Eh, whenever it blows up" - torts Jason.

Then the alternator blew up.

Honestly, it's true. I think I drove it 2 days after we did all of this work, then parked the 4Runner for a while to drive the Miata. Zach and I headed out there to load up an old TV and the battery was 100% flat. We jump it with his Miata, take the cables off, and it stalls after a minute or two. We try again, and again, and again, and it's the same thing. When it was running, something seemed "off" about the idle and I realized it didn't have that high pitch squeal anymore and it all made sense. The diode that was heading towards the light and giving its best death squall had finally given up the ghost. I guess trying to charge and 100% flat battery finally did it.

Seeing as my baby only gets the best parts, I ordered a reman Denso OEM alternator and waited a week to get it. Zach help me put it on in the dark last night and I can say without a doubt, it was harder than I thought it would be. If I had tackled this a year or two ago without my impact to take sway bar off, I definitely would be on here crying about how I could get the alternator off. In the end, it only took 3 hours and a possible hole in my radiator. 5/10 with Rice.

For now, the 4Runner has a trip to VIR next week. A trip to Myrtle a couple weeks after, and possibly towing the Chariot of Victory to Catlett for an Rally event in September before I do anything else to it. Still pricing an exhaust manifold and then she'll be perfect. (Until the mods start)

Same exact thing happen to me. Terrible squeal, alternator took a shit, battery drain. Only thing that saved me was the dual-purpose battery I have installed in a larger configuration (Group 27).

TBH I had a shop install it because 1) Didn't have the time 2) Looked at the how-to and said "FUCK THAT" when they said I had to remove the radiator, fan, and fan clutch before even getting to the alternator. Denson OEM was installed as well.