Why did you pick the 4Runner?

Wanted something I could keep for 10+ years and put 200k miles on no problem.

 

Blargh, I had a whole bunch typed up then lost it because I navigated away from the page without remembering to open a new tab. The draft wasn't there when I navigated back to the topic either. Blargh. I guess I'll condense it a little bit.

I came from a 2009 Jeep Liberty. I loved it a lot. It was there through a bunch of events in my life. I felt comfortable in it. It was the proverbial extension of my body. It was also expensive and annoying to maintain. The big things were two heater cores and one transmission before 80,000 miles. This past January, before 83,000 miles, the transmission went out again.

Me disappointed. Me look for new vehicle.

Side story: I got into the video game Gran Turismo Sport and the anime Initial D which rekindled my interest in cars as opposed to SUVs a couple months before needing to buy a new vehicle. They both reminded me of the Nissan Skyline AWD which thousands of Americans wish Nissan brought to the USA. With my Jeep hitting the 11 year mark, I began to look for a stand in for the Skyline that I might wish to buy in the next couple years.

I live in New Jersey, and I need AWD/4WD in snowy/icy conditions. I went looking for AWD cars to buy in the USA. Options are limited. Looking at them took me in weird directions. I had a brief love affair with the Kia Stinger of all things but ultimately decided against it. The Dodge Challenger was on my short list. However, it's Fiat Chrysler. More on that later.

The transmission went out again. Me annoyed. I struck the Challenger from my short list. I didn't want to have anything to do with Fiat Chrysler anymore. Toyota became my entire short list due to reliability, but AWD car options were nonexistent. I also don't like FWD-based SUVs, even if they have intelligent AWD. I like RWD SUVs since that's what I've driven over the years except for my dad's Jeep Grand Cherokee which is FWD-biased but with AWD. It feels like I'm being dragged around like in a Roman Chariot. I might have settled for a FWD-biased AWD car but not an SUV. Toyota didn't have an AWD Camry or something, and their SUVs in the same category of the 2009 Jeep Libery were all FWD. Most SUVs from most manufacturers have become that way, so there was nothing to see and my short list remained Toyota.

This is about where my web browser navigation stupidity happened, so I'll just continue from here.

The Rav4. I'd have considered it if it was RWD, but it wasn't. Like I mentioned above, the 2009 SUV landscape was different from how it is now. Really, things feel like you're getting less vehicle for your money. Even the successor to the Jeep Liberty, the Compass, went FWD, and it, too, doesn't feel as good a hunk of machinery as the old Liberty. The FWD revolution has come and changed everything... Except for the 4runner. I began looking at the 4runner more closely.

The 4runner reminded me a lot of the Liberty. It's a V6 SUV with RWD and part time 4WD that's selectable and predictable. Size and shape is about the same. The 4runner is only about 13 inches longer. No, they're not the same class of vehicle in other respects, but it's a very familiar ride for a Liberty driver. I also liked how many of the articles I read about the 4runner had pro and con lists with cons that I considered pros. I actually like the rugged interior despite how plastic it is, and the dials and buttons for heat and air conditioning are great. I love how they're simple and disconnected from the touchscreen. My dad's Grand Cherokee has its heat/AC controls as part of the touchscreen, and it's awful.

That price... Ugh. But considering how I probably came close to a 4runner's price over the years of owning the Liberty, I decided it would be worth it. Also, with the reputation for the 4runner being as bulletproof as can be, I am feeling better in hoping that I'll get more than 83,000 miles and/or 11 years out of it. I also liked how it's an old vehicle with rock solid old technology. I welcomed the fact that current 4runners aren't much different from 2009 ones. 4runners going back to 2009 are revered, and I'm hoping Toyota didn't cheap out on anything in newer ones.

My own journey towards getting a new 4runner was weird. I was actually hoping to get a 2019 model. I saw a TRD off road for sale on the local dealer's website for under $39,000, but it was already gone. I wanted a 2019 for a couple reasons. Less nanny tech and the inclusion of a CD player. 2020 has nanny tech and no CD player. So... I had to settle for a 2020. It's not all bad, though. I did take a 2020 on the lot for a test drive, and I settled into it as if it was like my old Jeep Liberty just like I expected. I liked the visibility, the familiar size, and even the fact that I could see where the front of the hood is from the driver's seat. That's important for me so I can be confident I won't hit other cars with my front right corner in the parking lot. Yeah, it's not going to set any 0-60 records, but it's zippy enough for me. I've passed other cars without issue. I don't feel like I need a Throttle Commander or a supercharger.

Ultimately, they brought in a red 2020 SR5 for me. Yes, I was hoping for the 2019 TRD off road, but that was mostly because of the availability, the price, and the CD player. The 2020 SR5 actually cost more, but whatever. I still like it. I've found myself not entirely opposed to lane departure alerts, but I only turn it on when driving long distances on the highway. I had it disrupt a pleasant drive home one day when I wasn't even over the line. I haven't encountered a situation where the automated braking went into effect yet. I kind of wonder if it's working at all, but ideally it would never trigger anyway if I'm driving properly. I do miss the CD player, but I'm working on that. I wonder if a bluetooth-enabled portable CD player I've seen on Amazon can work with my 4runner. The product page says it won't work with cars, but I'm not so sure. I was able to successfully pair my Playstation Vita to my 4runner via bluetooth and have it play in-game audio. I bet the CD player will work, too. I'm going to wait a month or two before I buy it an experiment with it, though.

So, if you're a Jeep Liberty driver who needs a new vehicle that feels familiar and doesn't feel like you're taking a step down in what you're driving, I'd say consider the 4runner. The price is a tough pill to swallow, but you'll feel at home in it, and hopefully it'll last longer than your Liberty.

Of course, no feel good story can simply end on a positive note. Four days after I bought my 4runner, this appeared on all of the Youtube car videos that get recommended to me these days: "Hey guys! Toyota brought me out here to the snowy northern USA to let me test drive their new 2020 Camry with AWD! AWD in a Camry is finally happening!"

This was me: Back when I was looking at AWD cars, I looked at the Lexus IS AWD and thought to myself if it was only a Toyota Camry or something and not a Lexus I might have gone with it. Because, you know, Lexus. That stuff's luxury. Heck, I definitely would have test drove the AWD Camry.

Oh well. Luck of the Irish. At least I like my 4runner.

 

Sick of always working on broken Land Rovers and having to carry more spares on trips then anything else.

 

'Cause it was the closest thing to my bulletproof FJ which I still own.

Just purchased a 2019 4Runner TRD Pro with 165 kms, damn thing is new. My FJ has left such a mark on me for its reliability. I've NEVER owned a vehicle with this much mileage and age. 2007 bought in 2010 with 60k miles. I'm up to 140k miles now and I'm keeping it for my stepdaughters.
If the 4Runner is anything like the FJ in reliability, she'll be part of the family for a long time...

 

Because I couldn't get a new FJ.

 

There are times I’ve thought of getting out of the 4Runner and finding a manual FJ. Then I see the prices, the miles, and stay put.

 

Ditto.

 

I've had 5 Tacos over the years, and am sad to say the current version was so disappointing for me (Had a 19 TRD OR latest) ...…. lack of power, shifting, even fit and finish (rattles etc.) Beautiful truck, but it was all over whenever I started it up. Am so glad to be in the 4runner with the 4.0 5speed config. So good. Will miss having my Taco …. Is a shame.
Looking forward to mods now on the 4runner... tires, maybe a lift.... $$$$$$ exits.

 

Our last Tacoma was the '14 TRDOR 6-sp. Had to trade up to the '16 T4R TP. Wish it had an option for a manual and lower diff. gears though.

 

Although I am a fan of the automatic myself, I fear if Toyota offered the 4R in a manual they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough to keep up with the demand.

 

Yeah and if they did, it could make the simplicity of a manual make those bean counters think twice about their decision not to offer it.
Put me on the list for a manual transmission.
And of course, lower gears than the manual Tacoma.
Because first, second and third were too high. And fourth, fifth and sixth, seemed like overdrive. To me.

 

Goes anywhere. Great fit and finish.

 

1/3 less than an Expedition, Yukon, Sequoia, 1/2 the cost of a Rover

 

What kind of roof rack do you have?

 

Yakim Off-grid basket. It's the large one with the extension.

 

Back in 1993 I was looking for either a used 4Runner or Pathfinder. I really liked the 2 door Pathfinders but used one were very hard to come by and I ended up finding the 92 4Runner after about a year searching and never looked back. I would love to get a newer one but cannot afford one so I stick with my 92. I will have had it for 26 years come November.
If I could afford it, I would buy one in a heartbeat. There is nothing out there by any other maker that comes close to a 4Runner.

 

Thanks. I am thinking about getting the extension. What is your experience with it?

 

It seems well built, and I like the look of it. It has a decent amount of room, but the round edges along the side make it difficult to tie things down tight to the side. I still like it, but I'm thinking of replacing it with a Bajarack eventually.

 

Bought a new 2017 Taco and finally got tired of the constant hunting and shifting of the truck. Went to the 4Runner because it was still a 5 speed auto and 4.0 liter. Never looked back, probably one of the best decisions I have made since marrying my wife..

 

I had a Honda Ridgeline that I ended up giving to my in laws because it was a safer more reliable vehicle then what they had previous. I picked up the 4runner cause of it's Toyota reliability, third row option for family, and hobby fun factor.

 

Congrats on over 25yrs with your truck !! How many miles on it from start to now and any major probs in all that time ?

 

Reliability, off road capability, 8 air bags, KDSS and after market parts availability.

 

A late model Explorer spewing white smoke from both tail pipes, while leaving the beach, was a little reminder for me.

 

2004- bought my first 4Runner (a ‘96) that had 119k mi on it. Never had a problem. Loved it, did everything I wanted. I was dumb and let my SO at the time convince to trade it in on something else.

2010- after a horrible Jeep decision, I purchased a used Taco, 4x4, manual, 4dr great truck. Would still have it if not for a cross country trip with an 80lb dog who needed knee surgery. Traded in in for a ‘14 FJ.

2014- brand new FJ. Loved it! Put 35k on it and traded it in in 2018 for my current ride. Why you ask? Because I ALWAYS loved my 4Runner and kicked myself every fucking day for getting rid of it. Plus, the suicide doors of the FJ got really old, real fast.

No other choice in mind what I want to drive for the rest of my life, maybe just add my old truck back.

 

Always been a Toyota guy, had 2013 Tacoma. Got rid of it for a Silverado, was a huge mistake. Then bought a 2018 Tacoma TRDOR, after a driving it for awhile I came to the conclusion that the transmission was dumpster fire. Even after all the TSB's it still shifted/drove like shit. Got fed-up went in for another TSB on the Tacoma and left with a 2020 4Runner TRDORP. I have been happy since. Toyota really shit the bed with the new Tacoma and that transmission.

 

Wish I had a dollar for every time I've seen a post about dumping a 3rd gen Taco in disgust and loving the 5th gen 4R replacement...I'd have a few more mods...

 

All they had to do was keep the damn 4.0 but nahh.... it needs the Camry engine to get one more mpg

 

i picked the 4runner because i have a 2000 4runner. I just loved how easy it is to drive. Yes it is not fast. It does need a little more juice. I was thinking of getting a different brand SUV, but lets be real please tell me a nicer SUV in its Class?

If you dont like the engine then swap it with a japan v8 motor. Im sure someone has the $$$ and can do this. .

 

Friendly dinosaur.
I drive Tacoma. This one for my wife.
It will always get her home.

 

Because i couldn't afford a new landcruiser