A reflection

So here’s the thing, yesterday my daughter and I packed into my 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road and headed 9 hours and 30 minutes to Utah to pick up a new 4Runner ORP. We arrived in a suburb of Salt Lake City around 5:30pm. Part of me was excited and the other part of me was rather nervous and somewhat sad to see the Tacoma go, what if I regret trading the Tacoma for a 4Runner.



Some back story, in 2017 I picked up my first 3rd gen Tacoma. It was a TRD Off Road with the premium tech package in Quicksand. Well life changes and due to life circumstances I traded in my Tacoma for a Jetta to save some cash and well, things changed again. The Jetta was an absolute garbage of a vehicle. So after not even a year, I was in the market to purchase a Tacoma again. I picked up a 2020 TRD Off Road in cement. My quicksand Tacoma quickly became what I wished the cement Tacoma was. The 2020 had rattles, the hood line didn’t line up, I missed the sunroof, the JBL audio system and there was a click in the front drives side suspension. The dealership’s techs said they couldn’t get the problem to repeat and sent me on my way. I was disappointed in Toyota and the Tacoma. I truly believe the 2017 was one of the best vehicles I have ever owned and regret selling it. The 2020 was meh in comparison however, I loved it. I was my truck.



My truck and I went everywhere together. My family and I created many great memories in that truck from watching fire works in the bed on the 4th, to eating lunch in the bed in the garage during covid. One of my favorite memories of the truck, is driving to Tea Kettle rock in New Mexico and having a picnic lunch in the back of the truck and then watching my kids explore and climb all over the rocks. It’s funny how we become attached to things over time.



Last April we had a third kid and the back seat of the Tacoma is just a tad bit to small to comfortably fit 2 boosters plus a car seat. Originally, I figured I try and pick up a 2023 Tacoma and hope that it had better fit and finish than my 2020. So, I went into the dealer and placed an order. While I was at the stealership, I saw a 2023 4Runner TRD off road and decided to take it for a test drive. Hot dog that thing was nice! It was at the moment I decided to pick up a 4Runner. I wanted the bells and whistles and the ORP fit the bill nicely.



I began calling around dealerships all around the south west looking for a Lunar Rock ORP. Ever dealership I called to me, “good luck that what everyone wants and we have a 4-8 month wait.” It was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. A couple of weeks later my family and I were scheduled to take a vacation to Utah. You know, see the sights, Zion, the Great Salt Lake, Arches, and Moab. While in Salt Lake City I saw a dealer I hadn’t called. I gave them a call right then and BOOM, they had one being built that someone either back out of their reservation, or the dealer was just allocated a Lunar Rock TRD ORP with KDSS. It was a done deal. I put down 500 bucks and the wait began.



Fast forward a 3 weeks I get the call, it’s at the dealership and ready for pick up. I tell my oldest kid, were going for a road trip. We left on Saturday picked it up Saturday night and then drove the 9.5 hours back home. In comparison to the Tacoma, the 4Runner’s cabin is quiet and refined. Sure it looks outdated but man, the quality is there. The seats are comfortable and bolstered. It’s slow to get up to speed but passing isn’t a problem. Gas milage was about the same the Tacoma made it to SLC with 22.2 MPG and the 4Runner was right at 22.3 mpg coming back. The 4Runner feels planted on the road and in the corners especially with the KDSS. The AC works like a charm. I do and will miss the blinker option, I also wish the back up camera was as sharp as the Tacoma, and auto head lights why can’t we have them.



I will miss the Tacoma but look forward to creating memories in the 4Runner. I also believe I’m done buying cars for the next 10-15 years.

TLDR: I traded in my Tacoma for a 4runner. I really like the 4Runner

 

My 23 ORP has auto headlights. It’s a button on dash to the left of the steering column. You might see if you have it. It’s certainly not obvious.

 

Isn't that just for auto brights?

 

Ah, yes. I misread your first comment.

 

Welcome and nice choice of color.

That looks like Karl Malone Toyota’s lot.

I’m not surprised that they had a buyer back out. They’ve pissed off all of us local buyers with their dealer markups and loading their allocations with every port-installed accessory available during Covid. Interesting that local business isn’t important to them.

 

I think there's a 'button' in the top middle of the dash that's just a filler. Below is the wiring connector for the sensor. You remove the filler piece and install the sensor, supposedly a 5-minute job once you purchase the sensor. Look it up.

Congratulations, too!

 

That sensor is for the dash display dimming, not auto headlights, unless something has changed with newer models.

 

Ah. It's been a while since I saw the post, and I didn't remember that. Thanks for clarifying.

 

Very nice 4R. I don't think nobody has ever looked back or regretting on the change from taco to the 4R. I think the 4R just delivers the best of both.

 

Fairly sure it controls the lights. If I put a hat on the sensor the lights come on about 30s later in my pro. Dash lights should sim when the lights come on.

 

basketball fans will understand when i say the mailman delivered.

i appreciate the family oriented story you gave us. congrats on the 4R and the many more memories for you and your family.

 

I know what that sensor does, as I added one to my 4R. It will keep the dash display bright if you turn on the headlights during the day. At night, the dash display goes dim as usual. People (including me) have been adding that sensor to the models that come with the wiring attached to the dummy plug for several years, as when it is cloudy, or raining, and they turn on their headlights during the day, they would like the dash display to remain bright. If your sensor turns on your lights after say 30 minutes, that's the first I've heard of that, and would sure like to see something from Toyota that states that.

 

You're correct for your 4runner. Pros and Limiteds have auto headlights. The other models do not.

 

Good to know, don’t think my Subaru ever did that. It’s 30 seconds, but as HuskyMike replied below it’s because I’m driving a Pro. Still learning from all you guys that have been at this longer than I!