I love 4Runners in general. My current 4Runner is the fourth I've owned and the only vehicles I have ever owned personally (a 1987, a 1990, a 1998 and a 1997 currently). Generally speaking, they are very mechanically reliable and engine life expectancy with proper maintenance is exceptional. I have owned two that were very near 300,000 miles and running strong when they were wrecked and totaled, and both engines still ran smoothly after the bodies were destroyed. It gets fair gas mileage, averaging somewhere between 18 and 20 mpg. They are fairly simple to perform DIY maintenance on and even more involved tasks can be done easily with mechanical knowledge. The engine bay area is not cramped, and most components are easily accessible. The ground clearance is also very appreciated when work needs to be done from under the vehicle as no jack is needed to be able to crawl underneath. I've never had any major issues from any of 4Runners. All repairs have been routine maintenance after life expectancy of the component has expired (i.e. water pump, spark plugs).

I bought this SUV used with ~99 thousand (+/-) from a dealer and the price was very reasonable. I financed the amount for 24 months. Right away I fell in love with this SUV, an easy to drive 6 cyl. automatic with 4 wheel drive, Engine has plenty of power, it goes when asked, never sluggish. It is smooth over the road, steering is tight, no sway, it corners with stability, good anti-lock braking. It seats five comfortably and the back is a large open space for hauling, with a retractable cover. This is been the best car I've ever owned. I would recommend this car highly. Good gas mileage for an SUV, around 18 MPG.