2006 4Runner V8 Limited

[V1GiLaNtE]

New to me 2006 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited.

I spent a long time looking for a V8 4Runner around 100k and a reasonable price. I didn't want the limited mainly because of the leather seats, but after driving this loaded version it seemed worth it.

I picked this specimen up in Fredericksburg, VA for what I would call a very fair price after some negotiating. This particular example is loaded with leather, heated seats, sunroof, navi, JBL sound system, power seats, tow package, etc. Only options missing are the 3rd row seating and XREAS/Air bag suspension. These would prove to be a pain with the long term goals.

Speaking of which, what are they? Well, I needed an all around vehicle that could go for longer trips. The Jeep can prove itself offroad, but 2 hours is about the max I want to spend driving it on the highway.This will hopefully serve many long years as a reliable people, gear, and toy hauler. Over time I'm hoping to build in creature comforts for longer trips to the outdoors and other destinations.

Definitely a small lift will come and a probably a set of sliders. No aggressive mud terrains for this one. Even the new BFG KO2 AT's maybe too aggressive for what I need the vehicle to do. Also, the current set of tires are practically brand new. I still have a lot of researching and learning to do from the Toyota and 4Runner community so expect the mods and updates to be slow.

Offhand, there are a couple of small items to address. I'd like to get a proper detail to see if the pinstriping can be removed. It's pretty cruddy. The LCD display for MPGs,temperature, etc. has one of the bulbs on it's way out. It's about a $3 part at the dealer. Couple of little trim pieces or covers inside could be replaced too. The interior is pretty minty except for the mats and those little things. Oh well. Only "mod" I can see right now is getting a set of WeatherTech Digital fit floor mats.

I plan on just driving it for the time being. With summer fast approaching having the sunroof open and that power rear window down is going to be pretty bitchin'. Might be my favorite feature of these vehicles. 306 ft-lb of torque doesn't hurt either.

DSC_0176 by Cabell Spicer, on Flickr

DSC_0178 by Cabell Spicer, on Flickr

DSC_0181 by Cabell Spicer, on Flickr

DSC_0183 by Cabell Spicer, on Flickr

DSC_0187 by Cabell Spicer, on Flickr

[Senor_Taylor]

Oh my gosh yes. I approve of this every step of the way. I'm not sure why so many people look over the 4runner nowadays. Very spacious and COMFORTABLE. Great power, and rock solid. I love 4Runners. Welcome to the family.

[Jake]

Congrats!! Love the color (but maybe I'm biased). Should be perfect for your needs.

[navin]

Man I miss mine so much...! I'm sure you've done the research into it, but if the shocks are blown and you want a small lift the 5100's + FJ cruiser springs are pretty common.

Be sure to check those calipers for seizing, and enjoy!

[SlimKlim]

Nice! Lauren and I are seriously considering picking up a 3rd or 4th Gen to replace the Kia since she's not commuting long distance any more. I'd love to know what you paid for it if you wouldn't mind sharing, you can shoot me a FB message.

If the pinstripe is vinyl and you want to come out to Ashburn I can take it off for ya. :thumbup:

[V1GiLaNtE]

Man I miss mine so much...! I'm sure you've done the research into it, but if the shocks are blown and you want a small lift the 5100's + FJ cruiser springs are pretty common.

Be sure to check those calipers for seizing, and enjoy!

The ride is pretty soft right now. Not blow shock bouncy, but tired. I am looking to get a complete kit from Old Man Emu which should put me in the 1.5/2" lift range. I've done the piecing together lift thing with the XJ so this time I'm going for a kit which has been engineered to work together.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Nice! Lauren and I are seriously considering picking up a 3rd or 4th Gen to replace the Kia since she's not commuting long distance any more. I'd love to know what you paid for it if you wouldn't mind sharing, you can shoot me a FB message.

If the pinstripe is vinyl and you want to come out to Ashburn I can take it off for ya. :thumbup:

I'll have to check Joey. I'm hoping it's not paint, but haven't had much time to really inspect it. I'll definitely take you up on the offer. If you're thinking of going 4Runner I would definitely consider the 4th Gen. I had a hard time finding the right one because of the V8. If you're willing to take the V6 they are dime a dozen. I think the 4th Gen would suit you and Lauren + furry children better. The 3rd gen's are honestly not much bigger than the XJ.

I'd be happy to let you guys take it around for a weekend to see if it's a good fit! The rear cargo area with power sliding window is perfect for dogs. :thumbup:

[SlimKlim]

Yeah we'd love to take it for a test drive. Her sister has a 4th Gen but its a V6 with like 170k on it and good lord its slow. It's like hooking your dishwasher motor up to your apartment and expecting it to go somewhere. We'd definitely want the V8 4th Gen or 3.4L 3rd Gen.

We don't need *tons* of space and I have a weird attraction to the styling of the 3rd Gen which is why I was thinking that might work for us, but I think we definitely need to drive both. Anyway, I'm home most weekends, just shoot me a text sometime and we can take a whack at that pinstripe.

[Goodspeed]

Great purchase, on the days I miss having a SUV I think about these, count me in for checking it out in person sometime :thumbup:

[WRXtranceformed]

Very nice purchase, that thing should be a tank for years to come!

[*insertusernamehere*]

Hawtniiisssss yaaaaasssss

[ScottyB]

love these things. not gonna lie, one of my favorite parts of the whole truck is that power hatch window.

should last you as long as you want it, knowing how Toyota is.

[SlimKlim]

Lauren and I went and test drove one yesterday. We intended to check out a 2002 3rd Gen Limited but it was sold by the time we got there. It was probably sold when I called and asked about it too, but whatever.

We took a 2008 SR5 with ~80k and not much in the way of options around the block a few times and both liked the way it drove. You really don't feel the weight and size of the thing in the steering which is nice, but you are definitely reminded of it when you step on the brake, at least when you've been used to driving a GTI and E36. They also had an 05 V8 Limited with ~85k sitting in the service shop that wasn't ready to be test driven, but he let us poke around in it. The interior is definitely a HUGE improvement between trim levels, the SR5 feels tinny and has hard plastic everywhere, the Limited is much more solid and insulated feeling. After entertaining our request for a non-committal test drive he dragged us into the showroom to make offer us an OTD price of $18,500 on the 11 year old V8 coupled with a slightly offensively low trade offer on the Kia. :lol: We politely thanked him for his time and GTFO'd.

After that experience I'm thinking we'll either go for the cream-of-the-crop 3rd Gen Limited with low mileage (100-150k) for $8-9500 OR we'll try to find a hell of a deal on a Limited 4th Gen (with either the V6 or V8). I've been able to kick up a couple in the 9-11k range that don't have a completely insane amount of mileage on them, roughly 160-170k which is apparently just past break-in on Toyotas, I'm not used to this reliability thing...

So anyway, sorry to thread jack. If anyone can find 3rd Gen 'runner for Lauren and I to test drive let me know, its been surprisingly hard to find one of the little bastards at a dealership that doesn't get sold before I can schedule a test drive, and I'm hesitant to waste the time of some poor dude on CL trying to sell one privately if I don't have cash-in-hand. Once we find one we'll make our final decision and list the Kia for sale. :thumbup:

[navin]

If leather isn't a must have look into the sport edition 4runner's. I actually think the seats are nice material, and dog hair doesn't stick to the fabric like traditional cloth seats.

You should be able to find high mileage ones easily in the 9.5-10k range easily I thought... buddy of mine just sold his for that. v8 model as well.

edit: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5539690115.html">https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva ... 90115.html</a><!-- m -->

+1 for having the timing belt done (check receipt)... kind of weird he didn't do the water pump as well.

[Senor_Taylor]

If leather isn't a must have look into the sport edition 4runner's. I actually think the seats are nice material, and dog hair doesn't stick to the fabric like traditional cloth seats.

You should be able to find high mileage ones easily in the 9.5-10k range easily I thought... buddy of mine just sold his for that. v8 model as well.

edit: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5539690115.html">https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva ... 90115.html</a><!-- m -->

+1 for having the timing belt done (check receipt)... kind of weird he didn't do the water pump as well.

There really isn't a mass hysteria about water pumps when it comes to Toyota, so people really gloss over there maintenance. I've talked to a few people who even argued AGAINST replacing the WP with the timing belt.

[navin]

Ha, tell that to 2008-2010 Tundra owners... lot's of waterpumps failing around 50-60k miles. But yeah I think I heard the same thing from my Toyota tech friend when he did mine, but while you have everything apart why would you not do it. When we pulled mine it was already weeping a little bit.

hrug:

[SlimKlim]

If leather isn't a must have look into the sport edition 4runner's. I actually think the seats are nice material, and dog hair doesn't stick to the fabric like traditional cloth seats.

You should be able to find high mileage ones easily in the 9.5-10k range easily I thought... buddy of mine just sold his for that. v8 model as well.

edit: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5539690115.html">https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva ... 90115.html</a><!-- m -->

+1 for having the timing belt done (check receipt)... kind of weird he didn't do the water pump as well.

Is the Sport Edition fabric special or the same as the SR5? I thought it seemed fine, but Golden Retriever hair is so fine and long it just weaves itself into stuff and you can never get it out. We bought a retriever-colored couch earlier this year just because of this.

There are definitely some decent looking 4th Gens out there close to our budget, that one in particular seems priced well for the miles it has, but I want to drive a 3rd Gen before getting too serious just to see. I've always really liked the styling on those old things, and with those we're shopping down from our budget, not up, so we'll see.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I feel like for what I paid for mine it sounds like I about stole it from them. The dealership just wasn't ready to deal with my haggling about things. After putting about 500 miles on it and poking around there are probably a couple of other things I could have dinged them on for price. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on going with the 3rd gen. You and I are about the same height and so going from 3rd to 4th gen was a big WOAH for me in terms of comfort and space. My fear with 3rd gens was trying to find one that wasn't pretty darn rusty underneath. It's a typical Toyota thing from that era.

[Senor_Taylor]

My fear with 3rd gens was trying to find one that wasn't pretty darn rusty underneath. It's a typical Toyota thing from that era.

My life. Joey, I forgot to tell you that the driving position in 3rd Gen 4runners and 1st gen Tacos is abysmal for anyone over 6 foot. Still, find one and drive it. They are stupidly simple.


Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[SlimKlim]

I feel like for what I paid for mine it sounds like I about stole it from them. The dealership just wasn't ready to deal with my haggling about things. After putting about 500 miles on it and poking around there are probably a couple of other things I could have dinged them on for price. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on going with the 3rd gen. You and I are about the same height and so going from 3rd to 4th gen was a big WOAH for me in terms of comfort and space. My fear with 3rd gens was trying to find one that wasn't pretty darn rusty underneath. It's a typical Toyota thing from that era.

I didn't realize the 3rd gen was bad for tall people. :evil: That might be the deciding factor but I'll still find one to test drive.

PM me what you paid?