The Best Toyota Ever Made?
Posted Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026
1997 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 5-Speed Manual
This is from the era when Toyota was quietly building vehicles that would go 300,000+ miles without asking for much in return.
- One previous owner
- 4-cylinder engine
- 5-speed manual transmission
- All original keys
- Original window sticker
- Original bill of sale
It’s a very base example — and that’s exactly why we love it. Because “base” in 1997 meant durable. It meant fewer electronics. Fewer modules. Fewer expensive problems waiting to happen 20+ years later.
The body is gorgeous. The underbody is just as impressive. This 4Runner was collector-owned and climate-controlled prior to coming to us — preserved, not just used. You can feel it when you walk around it. You can see it underneath. It’s the kind of truck that survived because someone understood what it was.
The 4-cylinder paired with a 5-speed manual might not sound flashy — but it’s honest, mechanical, and increasingly rare. These trucks are getting modified, rusted away, or driven into the ground. Clean, unmolested examples are getting very hard to find.
Some will say the Land Cruiser is the best SUV Toyota ever built. Land Cruiser loyalists may never budge. But the 3rd generation 4Runner? It’s firmly in that conversation — arguably the sweet spot of simplicity, durability, and everyday usability.
This is what we mean when we say modern classic.
