Heap of the Week: Revisiting the ’87 4Runner

Senior Huxely McGetrick rolls into school every morning in his first-generation 1987 Toyota 4Runner. He purchased the truck two years ago from a Mesa resident who had been restoring it. 

The man on the Mesa had been building the car back up until it was in tip-top shape. He was planning to give it to his girlfriend, but unfortunately, she broke up with him shortly after the car was finished. After a few years of the car sitting abandoned in a field, McGetrick’s family bought it.

Before this car, McGetrick had driven a 1985 green Mercedes wagon that had previously belonged to his sister. McGetrick describes the Mercedes as smoother and quieter, compared to his truck’s more rugged and rough drive. Though it may ride rough, his truck is more durable and better built for adventure.

The farthest McGetrick has driven his car was to Cuyama Valley with his friends to film a music video set to Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain for a MAD project. The trip also included jump-starting the truck after it stalled, a helpful albeit rarely-used feature of stick shift cars.

If McGetrick could have any car in the world, regardless of the cost, he would still keep his truck, although he would find a top-notch mechanic to try to make it faster. McGetrick says his car can reach the high 70s in fifth gear with about 4,000 RPMs, but not much faster.

The car may not be speedy, but it’s durable and no major mechanical problems have ever happened. Although McGetrick says it has its fair share of minor issues. “If my car could talk, I think it would complain a lot,” McGetrick says, describing his car’s personality.

One of the most unique qualities of McGetrick’s car is the mobile roof, which can be pulled back in the summer to leave the back seat completely uncovered. McGetrick has also added black stripes to the side of its off-white body, emphasizing the car’s overall vibe.