Good morning! You’ll be sad (I hope) to learn that I’ll be out for a few days after today, leaving you with a substitute. I want you to all be on your best behavior while I’m gone. My wife and I are going on a trip for our 20th wedding anniversary, but before I take off, I want to take you on a little trip down memory lane.
Sometimes there’s not a clear right choice to these matchups, but sometimes there is, like yesterday. Chevy Novas can be cool, but when they aren’t, they really aren’t. Corvairs, on the other hand, are almost universally cool. Add in the difference in condition, and it was no contest.
That brown four-door might not be my first pick among Corvairs, but I certainly wouldn’t kick it out of the garage. The Nova, on the other hand, looks like the $500 “Transportation Thrifties” I used to look at thirty years ago. They were a necessity then, and dull now. Put me in the Corvair camp with the rest of you.
When you marry someone, you’re getting a whole package deal. You inherit their family, their friends, their music and movie preferences – and their car. Since it’s our twentieth anniversary, I thought it would be fun to find cars like the two my wife and I had when we got married. I came pretty close, actually. I had to look in California to find good examples of them, and it’s only fitting that I found them on Craigslist, since that’s how we met. (Yes, really.) Let’s check them out, and you can decide who brought the better ride.
2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5 – $7,500
Engine/drivetrain: 3.4-liter DOHC V6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Odometer reading: 240,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
If I remember right, my wife was actually at the dealership signing the papers for her 4Runner when we were on the phone setting up our first date. She traded in a Nissan Frontier for it. Her 4Runner was actually a 2002, but it was an SR5 model like this, and 2WD, which is something you don’t see often outside of warm climates. Hers was a sort of cranberry red, but if a purple one like this had been available, I bet she would have gone for it.
Two engines were available in this generation of 4Runner, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder, and a 3.4-liter V6. After model year 2000, only the V6 was available. And in the 2WD models, only a four-speed automatic was available. Like most Toyotas, it’s capable of racking up truly impressive mileage. This one has 240,000 miles on it and counting, though the seller doesn’t give us much to go on regarding its condition.
It’s holding up pretty well inside for that many miles, but the driver’s seat shows some wear and tear. The center armrest is a little torn up, too. But the good news is the seller says the air conditioning is nice and cold, so that’s something.
There aren’t enough purple cars in the world. Especially a nice dark purple like this. It looks like it was just detailed; it’s nice and shiny, even the tires. There is a dent in the front bumper, and it’s missing the center cap on one wheel, but otherwise it’s in really good shape.
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 S – $2,995
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter DOHC inline-4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Odometer reading: 168,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I had a stickshift Mazda Protege when we met; I moved from St. Paul, Minnesota to LA in it in 2005. It was a ton of fun on the canyon roads, but a real pain in the ass commuting on the 60 and 710 freeways. So shortly before we got married, I traded it in for a 2005 Ford Focus ZX3, yellow like this one. Mine was an automatic, though, and the fancier SE model. It was a good car, but not a great deal, and I remember thinking it was going to make someone an excellent $3,000 beater eventually. And here we are.
When the Focus was facelifted in 2005, both the old CVH and Zetec engines were replaced by the Mazda-designed Duratec. Mine was a 2.3-liter, but if memory serves, that was only available with an automatic, so I believe this is a 2.0-liter. I’m sure it’s every bit as capable of hauling ass down the 134 late at night on the way home from the karaoke bar as mine was, though. All the seller says about how it runs is that there are no warning lights on the dash, but that’s not nothing.
The Focus S has manual locks and crank windows, which to me isn’t a bad thing. Fewer electrical things means fewer things to go wrong. The fabric in this one looks less plush than my SE, too. But it’s in really good condition. It has an aftermarket stereo, which is a bit of an unknown, but if it sucks, you can replace it. At least the installation kit is already there.
I always did like the styling of these things. It looks good in yellow, too. This one is in good condition, with no apparent damage. I can’t quite tell if those are aftermarket wheels, or just covers on the steelies, but they’re the one thing I’d change on it. They just don’t look right on there.
Neither my Focus nor my wife’s 4Runner stuck around long; we sold them both before we left California, and moved to Oregon in a beat-up Nissan Pathfinder. But that’s a whole other story. For now, I’m going to leave you in the capable hands of Pete for a few days and go have some fun in the sun with my girl. But in the meantime, whose old car would you rather have: mine or hers?
Went with the Focus. My Dad owns a 2wd 4Runner…bought when he lived in southern FL. Our youngest is still driving our 07 Focus S 5spd. 192k and runs fine, doesn’t burn a drop of oil and still on it’s original clutch. Our middle child was driving a 05 Focus SES Auto w/ 200k+ until she got rear ended in stopped traffic on interstate.
When we married 35 years ago, she had an 89 Suzuki Sidekick, 4wd, 5spd, no a/c, darkish metallic blue. She had just traded her 86 Mustang GT in for a cheaper payment. I had an 89 Mustang LX 5.0 5spd Conv. black on black.
Craiglist wasn’t even a thing when i met my wife in ’98 on Yahoo Classifieds.
woah,and I’m wrong. Craigslist started in 95!
Both are cars that I would consider cool, but if I had to pick one I’d grab the Focus. That generation of Focus is just endlessly fun to drive, almost as reliable as the Toyota mechanically, and would make an excellent first car or reliable/fun commuter.
The Focus will be fun to drive and not be a gas guzzler… so it gets my vote.
That Focus is SWEET, and I’m sorry to say it’s niftier than yours was.
OTOH, you lucked into the kind of gal who would have a Nissan Frontier to trade in for a 4Runner, so as a fellow 20-year cool-spouse-haver I salute you and wish y’all many more enjoyably interesting years.
4Runner! Also, Congratulations!
I was immediately all in on the 4Runner until I saw it was a 2Runner. I can’t get my head into the idea of a 2WD SUV. Bummer.
Same. Even if you never need the 4WD, it’s still great for resale.
That model of Focus was my second car and damn did I have a ton of fun with it. It’s pretty funny that it doesn’t have a tach. I remember knowing redline based upon MPH. Because I certainly found the redline many times. Although, I still hit redline more often in my 2022 subaru crosstrek because of how damn anemic the motor was. The focus is a great little car. Hopefully its still got some good mileage in her. and that body style! Talk about right from WRC to the dealership floor. I had lots of fun flogging the focus around some rally cross “tracks”.
As a fellow former Minnesotan, I approve of the purple and gold color selection.
Although I know the Toyota is superior in virtually every way, I live in the mountains, and regularly see several hundred inches of snow every winter. I owned a RWD Pathfinder when I first moved here, and am all too aware of the limitations of a SUV without 4wd.
Plus the 4Runner is stupid expensive.
Focus by default.
Wtf does someone think a 2wd 4runner is worth that much? Is that the case? Toyota buyers are wild.
If it’s which one I would spend my money on, it’s the Focus. Manual usually wins of course. I have a Tacoma, so a 2WD 4Runner serves me no purpose but MAN I love that color. Agreed on the purple; such an underutilized car color.
4Runner. I have a 99 5-speed.
The Focus is a fun car, but I wish Ford had been a bit more – well, focused – on their marketing. The Foci of that era could be anything from bland driving appliances to fairly sporty canyon-carvers, but it’s hard to know at-a-glance.
Apropos to the author’s CL comment, the 4Runner is a far more useful conversation starter and dating filter than its much-newer BMW diesel stablemate in my garage. I kicked off a relationship (chatting about tires at a gas station in Kanab, of all things) with the 4Runner. On the other hand, it’s proven to be a great dating filter (if I get judged on the basis of driving said 4Runner, I sorta know where things are headed).
“I found them on Craigslist, since that’s how we met. (Yes, really.)”
That is also how I met my wife. 20 years ago next month (since we met, 16 since we got married).
As for the cars, a good friend of mine had a Cranberry red 4-runner of that vintage. Perfectly cromulent automobile, but I never cared for it. I do agree that the world needs more purple cars.
A yellow stick shift Focus would be right up my alley though!
Ha! I thought we were the only sucess story from there… I’ve heard so many tales that went the other way.
I also thought we were the only success story from there 🙂
I bet there’s a few others out in the world, but not many. It was a wild time on Craigslist, back when they were openly advertising hookers.
Met mine in a bar, our 20-year anniversary is this week. Agreed on the yellow all-manual Focus, probably about the lightest and simplest thing you could get these days that meets modern safety standards, and I’ll bet there’s some good upgrades out there.
We need you to elaborate on this
Craigslist used to have personal ads. 20 years ago next month, I met my wife through one of those.
Which one of you was the john?
Yer mom.
LOL!
The actual personal ads were a seperate section. I never responded to any of the “Erotic Services” ads. Nor did I place one.
Only us olds would get my joke. You gotta admit that was low hanging fruit for my hilarious comment. Thanks for being a good sport.
No worries 🙂
Both are good choices. I voted for the 4Runner because I like it better. I find this generation 4Runner particularly appealing. To me, it strikes the ideal balance between a truck and a car. It is what an SUV should be.
It also helps that this particular 4Runner is in great shape. Plus, the ad shows a Carfax report indicating it is a one owner vehicle. Assuming the creepy cartoon fox speaks the truth, that is a positive. This vehicle was clearly kept up well and it was probably kept up well the whole time.
While I like the Focus and see why someone would choose it, I would probably look for a Civic or Protege if I wanted a small stick shift car from the early 2000s.
I have a real soft spot for that hatchback Focus thanks to Need for Speed Underground
Best NFS game with the 2 a close 2nd
The Focus wins today for me but I wish it was purple/blue like the 4Runner. I never have liked yellow cars. I like 4Runners a lot and will probably be buying one sooner than later but I need 4WD in the mountains and when we head off road. Great color though.
When I met my wife, she had an ’03 325i in metallic blue and I had a ’90 Integra LS in that red/wine color as my daily and an ’84 Alfa Spider Veloce in Rosso Red. Both sticks. I was so bummed when I had to sell it after the first kid arrived.
Congrats on hitting 20 years Mark! Have a great trip!
100% Focus. The 4Runner is cool but my friend had a ’99 that had to drive a few times and it always felt like it was going to tip over in every corner. That inevitably happened to him a few years later, however it did fire right up once they got it flipped onto its wheels.
Do you think it could’ve been your friend ? 😀
It was 52% his fault.
My daughter had this exact focus except in black. It was generally a good A to B car, but once the clutch went the first time, it quickly went downhill. the drivetrain is generally good, but nothing else on it is. the HVAC dials drive cables which break regularly, the transmission is good, but the shifter bushings disintegrate leaving you guessing which gear you are in (or IF you are in one), and it is probably the loudest car I’ve ever driven (even louder than the saturns). To fill/charge the AC the valve is behind the passenger inner fender liner. If GM could be said to always build about 60-70% of a good car, this one was more like 35-40%.
My parents had a Chevrolet Nova and Triumph TR7 when they got married. By the time I was born it was a Mercury station wagon (Fox-body Marquis) and a Honda Civic.
Both solid choices, but a manual wins for me. That forerunner is too tempting though. I think you both have good tastes. My ex and I hit 20 years last year, met on match, and now is my ex. She had a Sunfire, I had a yellow DelSol and a Trooper. Not much different, honestly.
Can I take the $7500 and by the 2 cars from yesterday?
As much as I like that purple 4Runner it wouldn’t cut it here in the Winter. Anyway, I already have a purple 4WD XJ!
My 2WD pickup with snow tires and weight in the back manages to get stuck in the snow. I only drive it in the winter if I need to haul something and the roads are clear.
Do you live in a hilly area? My 2wd truck has never gotten stuck in the snow. I don’t even put weight in the bed, but it does have a locking differential, and I live in the Chicago area where hills aren’t really a thing.
I have gotten it stuck in mud twice. Once because the tires I had at the time were shit (Firestone Destination LE, total garbage). The other time I buried it in a rut in a junkyard up to the axle 🙂
Yes, I live next to a place called Moose Hill, actually. It’s up and down steep winding hills to get anywhere. It’s a 3/4 ton with no locking diff that I got cheap because nobody wants a 2WD truck around here. Very little rust though 🙂
Nice.
At the time your wife had the cooler car, but in 2026 I think the yellow stick shift 3 door is the cooler car. You can’t buy a new car with those 3 traits today and likely never will be again.
My wife and I also met on Craigslist. I was too cheap to pay for one of the dating websites and decided to try the free one first. After sorting through the porn and having a couple of women stop talking to me after they saw my picture, I met my love.
Focus. I had a first gen Focus SE sedan that I always wished was a hatchback. The 4Runner is fine, but being an off-road enthusiast the 2wd is honestly a deal killer for me, unlike the Focus that is both cheaper and has no off-pavement pretense.