5th gen: Daily driver, or as an extra vehicle?

This is primarily a question relating to finances and practicality.


For those of you who own these ... do you prefer them for a "daily driver", or mostly a 3rd or secondary car for your family?

• The reason I ask is because they are obviously very expensive compared to most cars. (From what I see, these are $40-50k for a late model 4Runner).
• Additionally, these get below-average gas MPG, at around 20mpg.
• Once you start adding off-road mods, bigger tires, armor, etc... I can imagine the MPG just goes down from there.
• I'm not sure what depreciation and repairs are like... I assume they are low. Perhaps this is their best financial quality?

Daily driving a $50k 4runner that gets 18mpg is obviously less efficient than a $15k econo car that gets 35mpg.

Given the gas cost, depreciation, and wear and tear on a cool vehicle... are these best suited as a weekend warrior or hobbyist type of vehicle? As a reference... most Corvette owners I've known keep them as 3rd vehicles, for the reasons above.

I realize there are exceptions to every rule, and people can do what they want. Do 4 Runners fall into the category of vehicles where it makes sense to daily drive them, or keep one as a spare hobby vehicle?

Why or why not, for most people?

 

That’s a personal choice. Answer will be different for everyone. If you are committed to a daily commute then there are better options. I think you answered your own question.

 

100%. Its a personal choice. My family only has 2 vehicles now and both are 4Runners. Both use to take my elder to be driven to school and new born to doctors. Prefer to have a bigger vehicle for safety than a smaller car even though smaller cars have higher safety ratings. Its my personal choice of having a taller, heavy vehicle with a frame on the sides with airbags all around. One is lifted and both have bigger tires.

Bottom like don't care like driving style, high ground clearance (especially in Winter here in CO), extreme reliability (no turbos, no cvt, no electro magnetic/clutches awd, etc) my family is sold to 4Runners.

This is not for fun. Taking my kiddo to doctors..

 

Daily driver. The 1GR-FE engine and the A750 transmission mated to the J150 Land Cruiser platform (same as Land Cruiser Prado and Lexus GX460) is one of the most reliable combinations on the planet. If you want even more reliable buy a J200 series Land Cruiser. If MPG were an issue for me I would consider a Prius or other hybrid.

 

My 4Runner was my primary vehicle, as my driving to work got further and more frequent and the mods dropped my mpg to like 13 I picked up a 2006 Pontiac Vibe GT for an couple thousand as a beater. It’s the same 8000+ rpm 1.8L high output engine and 6-speed manual from the Lotus Elise, in a rebadged Toyota Matrix (Corolla hatch) thats gets me about 30ish mpg.

 

My Runner is my daily simply because it's comfortable. I have a 2006 GTO as my weekend/project car.

 

I daily drive mine.
Because I want to! Its more economical to drive a hybrid RAV4 for instance. But for me personally, a RAV4 (or any other vehicle for that matter) does not put a smile on my face. a 4Runner does.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but 4Runner is not a financial choice in my mind. Its a vehicle that speaks to me; it may not to others.

 

Mine is the primary, and only, vehicle for us; we moved closer to our work so we could easily walk or transit, and got rid of the second vehicle. I've put on 5500 km's since I bought it 3 months ago, so don't realize substantial costs in getting 14L/100km as opposed to 8L/100km...about $2000/year. Where I live an extra parking spot would cost me $3000/year, and then add another insurance payment of $700/year, and the inevitable repairs that come with a commuting beater...

If my wife or I started commuting more than 50km/day I would seriously consider getting a second (used) vehicle though.

Like others have said, its very much a personal decision.

 

Where can you find a $15K car nowadays? Have you seen the price of new cars lately? My '22 ORP was only a few $K more than my '22 Subaru.

Anyway back to your question, I use the 4R in spring and summer when there is no salt on the roads since I plan to keep it for awhile. I'll keep it pure stock so the gas mileage won't get any worse and I'm happy with the way it drives. The Subaru gets driven in the winter and in a year or so I'll trade it in on another one so rust isn't an issue. The gas mileage sucks on both but the Subaru is a bit better. I think I'm averaging about 18 MPG on the 4R.

 

Daily driver for both of our 4R’s - but daily drives in our world includes lots of unpaved roads before we get to the interstates. When it’s rainy, we’ll be in 4WD. But, as the other members above observed, it’s personal choice and everyone’s situation is different.

Don’t miss HotelMedics points above about the engine and transmission combo we have in our vehicles. To me, world-class reliability and longevity pays big dividends when miles stack up. One blown CVT or turbo will buy a lot of gas. So, with that factor in mind I’ll take the 5th Gen 4R every time in comparisons like this.

 

I purchased a 21 ORP to have as an extra vehicle primarily used to tow my fishing boat. I also have two other cars (Accord and Acura TL). As a single guy with no kids I can do this and realize its a bit much. I prefer old school V6 or V8 engines. Having said that I am considering getting one more new 4Runner and replace my old Acura and give it to my niece.

Personally, I do not care about gas mileage, efficiency etc and I am sure many hate me for it. I am not a fan of this start stop bs either on most new vehicles. So I am considering getting one more 4Runner and use that as everyday car and just keep it well fluid filmed to do my best to avoid rust. I thought about a Tacoma and drove one and much prefer the 4R.

Ironically enough I read today also that the laws were changed on Friday for dishwashers and manufacturers will be forced to use a max of 3 gallons of water instead of 5 currently per cycle. Of course mine broke today so instead of repairing it I will buy a new old school one before that industry gets all jacked as well.

 

My thought too.. That 1GR-FE is been used from small FJ to Prado & Lexus GX(outside of USA) to big Land Cruiser300.

 

I’m going to be using mine for both commuting, travel, and recreation. I drive >2k mi per month. Just my 2c, but I’ve only owned 4 vehicles in the last 20 years. All used. I hope to keep my used 4Runner for a decade or longer. In terms of gas or parts, I think reusing one vehicle long-term (especially a basic non-ev without a ton of electronics) has less of an impact on the environment than fuel efficiency alone. In other words, the mpg is a smaller part of the overall impact, and I prefer to look at things like long-term use, overall repairs (how many parts go to recycling or a landfill) etc.

I get 26mpg in a V8 because I drive efficiently (slow acceleration, planned routes, minimal idling) and I’m curious to see how those driving habits transfer to the 4Runner.

 

Good perspective Julia--very well put

 

Nice! Full time 4x4, 6 speed transmission, that's pretty cool.

 

Semi-daily for me. It alternates daily with a 2003 Tacoma. Keeps miles down on both, and both will outlast me. An out-of-town excursion will be in the 4R due to room and comfort.

 

??

 

My 4Runner is my daily driver. I feel better and more confident when I drive 4Runner.

 

I was replying to kmeeg's post about the Landcruisers with a 4.0L

 

Gotcha. I don't see some folk's posts, unless they are quoted.

 

Daily driver. My commute to work is less than 15 miles. The rest of the time I'm having a great time driving it. I don't live for money anymore. I live by the saying, "Life is short. Eat dessert first."

 

You got it! In all of the Middle East the Land Cruiser 300 series comes STANDARD with the 1GRE-FE. It's an absolute gem of an engine.

 

Wife daily drives the 4runner to her work, I daily drive the Tacoma. For family outings the 4runner is the "go to" due to space.

 

Mines a Daily driver/work truck. My commute to work isn't to bad most days(less then 30 miles combined) . Sure I could get a commuter eco car. But I hate driving in small cars especially on the highway. So I can live with getting 18mpg or less.

 

Its a daily driver for me. I only drive 3.5 miles to work and wherever i go on the weekends, i only drive about 3500 mile per year and my old car only got 12mpg, so I'm winning!!!

 

Bravo. When I try to explain environmental impact from a cradle-to-grave perspective, most people just glaze over and stop listening. For many EVs, when the battery reaches the end of its lifespan, or if the battery is damaged in an accident, the replacement cost is prohibitive or the vehicle is totaled.

 

My decision came down to a Wrangler plus an everyday car, or a 4Runner. I chose the latter.

 

My 2021 OR is not my daily driver. I have a 2007 Honda Ridgeline with 165k miles that I use as a daily driver and it’s not so much about gas mileage as the Ridgeline and 4Runner get similar mileage as it is about the 4Runner being my fun vehicle…

Cheers,
Bob

 

It’s totally personal, do what helps you get up in the morning.

For me? We’re a two 4Runner family driving both daily.

Enjoy it!
Mike