I'd appreciate your advice. We're looking to replace our sweet 5-speed '99 highlander, which was so nicely set up with supercharger, rear diff locker, bilsteins and springs. Let's just say I'm glad "WE" are replacing it and not just ME! It was a nasty wreck but trucks are replaceable, good husbands aren't!
We will continue to use our future Runner for desert and mountain off-roading, in search of great places to camp and hike. We don't deliberately rock-crawl and such, but we've put ourselves in places where we're sure glad to have the locker...and we continue to challenge ourselves on each trip out.
My question: do we really need to stick to 5-speed, or can I look for an automatic tranny? It's also my daily driver in San Diego, and my trick knee sure would appreciate an auto around town, as well as on the trail. But I don't want to sacrifice our ability to do the Rim Trail in Canyonlands someday, too!
And if you know of anyone in So. Cal looking to sell their '99 or '00 'Runner...send 'em my way!
thanks!