Totaled my beloved 4Runner, what to get now? UPDATE! Bought a replacement!

Sorry. Get the new GX

 

If you can't find a 2024 4Runner taking a look at the new Passport might be an option contingent upon how hard core an off roader you are. Honda thankfully has not been scared off and is still using a V6. A friend of mind who is a Honda service manager said they really went hard core to ensure quality on this new unit.

We Drove the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport in Moab. It's Genuinely Tough

 

I was at Fred Anderson last week for 12 month service, they had zero 4Runners on the lot. Last month though, annual inspection, they had 5 including a Pro (no markup). Those evidently flew off the lot.

 

Cylinder deactivation & direct injection only is a red flag in my eyes. Have second hand experience seeing carbon build up problems in my friends Honda Pilots. Lucky Honda knows this and covered for 120000 miles or something like that.

Not seeing personally but reading online ZF transmission does not have a good rep as well. Atleast for 2024 or 2025 for Pilots they stopped ZF transmissions and uses Honda 10spd transmission. But Passport still uses ZF.

 

Good points. I’ll have to ask my buddy about ZF trannys what the plan is. I’d still seek a 2024 4Runner myself. I was just saying might be an alternative.

 

2 show up in my search there:

 

Maybe those are in bound. For my region some dealers show some in transit arriving between now and 11/2. I have no idea if they are sold yet. But it seems a few in transit for sure

 

I visited one of the [relatively] local dealers this morning. The Underground/Sand Beige SR5 evidently got sold/exchanged last night. The black one is still marked as incoming, without a definitive date. They have two Land Cruisers inbound, though it looks like neither will arrive before mid-November.

We did a 100-air-mile 4Runner search, and every '24 listed was allocated or pre-sold. Widening the search, we ended up looking in CA before finding any that were "somewhat available."

My dealer did have a white 2019 Pro on the lot... with 85k miles showing. I didn't ask the price on that one, but noticed Sequoia is now $83k. Yikes!

 

You’re good man to do that for the OP!

 

I’ve made a lot of phone calls. Everything new is sold. The inventory on the internet doesn’t get updated quickly it seems.

Thanks everyone for your empathy and tips.

I did my due diligence last year because I knew this day was coming with the end of the 5th gen. Shit happens, at least I can’t blame myself for this situation. As much as I love my 4Runner I am not going to pay the outrageous price for a used one. I’d pay MSRP for a new one that worked. I never thought I’d say that in my life!

Even though I’ve been offered what seems to be a very fair settlement, it is obvious that I couldn’t replace it with a similar used one for that amount of money, so I’m going to probe gently and see what they say. The initial offer didn’t account for the KDSS mine has, and when I pointed it out they upped my settlement $1000.

The new Passport looks interesting. I wish Honda would make a real 4x4 with a low range, but that is never going to happen. My ‘20 Ridgeline has given me 85,000 miles of perfectly trouble free service.

FWIW, almost every dealer I’ve called has said something to the effect of “I’ll make you a killer deal on a Tacoma or Tundra!”

 

Happy to help when I can.

 

Only high risk takers or people don't stay upto date buys new Tacoma, Tundra, Land cruiser, LX600,.....

 

Good luck bud, it’s rough but we all tried. Something will pan out sooner or later.

I am sure they will make a deal on a Tacoma or Tundra. There are tons of those on the lots here.

Sadly let’s hope that’s not the case with 2025 4Runner since it’s basically a Tacoma overall. I guess that’s what is driving the 2024 prices up.

Another thought on pickups is have you looked at the 2024 Ranger XLT with an FX4 package with the optional V6? I have to say that truck seems like a good buy at $45k with a V6 and seems like it would be very off road worthy. I am normally not a Ford fan anymore that seems like quite the little pickup with those packages.

 

Sure. They're trying their best to unload those it seems...

 

I’m not a big Honda fan but it does look pretty nice.

 

I know it was mentioned, but what about a used GX460? What's the budget now that a new 4Runner is out?

 

Budget is flexible based on value and deal. GX460 seems a little to fancy for what I do with it, but maybe I could find an older one that would be worth modding? I'm not big into messing with stuff, though. My 4Runner was stock except for the Falkens and it did everything I needed it to do.

Gonna be in PDX tomorrow so I am going to look at a couple of used 4Runners but the prices are crazy.

 

Yeah, 17k buy back is pretty steep. Maybe tell them you’ll buy it for 5k on account of all those nasty pinstripes on it haha. At 5k, I’d just cut out the airbags, tape over the idiot lights, and live happily ever after.

If they don’t go for 5k, then lay on the guilt trip about how they’ve just guaranteed this will end up with some two-bit warlord who’s gonna mount an an anti-aircraft gun on it, and that’s gonna be on their consience

In seriousness though, it’s good to not be in immediate need of a replacement. Much easier to make clear headed decisions that way.

 

They won't budge on the salvage price. I asked. I'm sure they've got those values pretty dialed. Even then, the body shops I talked to were pretty clear that I could be going down a dark path if I tried to rebuild it.

I am indeed lucky that I'm not over a barrel. I have studded tires for my Ridgeline ready to go next month and I can hunker down for the winter. Trail season is just about over and the mountains will be off limits until spring anyways. I definitely don't want to make a rash decision. I can wait, but I can also buy if the right opportunity presents itself. It looks like there is a mania going on right now for late model 5th gens, not a good time to buy. And the new ones are gone. I have banged my head against that wall enough now I think.

 

Take a look at the tires they put on the new Ridgine Trailsport in 2024. They may work for you? General I believe made that tire specifically for that truck. Personally I think they look great but not sure about what your needs are.

Man my heart goes out to you. I feel so fortunate to get one of the last 24s. It took six months of waiting and I stayed on top of it for that long as well. Who would ever think we would have to put so much effort into buying a vehicle while paying big bucks.

 

Deactivation is a huge red flag, if it can't be disabled (mod or setting) I would blacklist that vehicle. Cylinder deactivation is how you take reliable engine and make it problematic.

 

I know you are looking for a brand new truck, but have you considered used 2021 Land Cruiser?

 

Yes there are aftermarket devices to disable cylinder deactivation.

 

2nd that. I'm the same 6'7" 290 lbs. Sadly not all muscle. With my seat all the way down and back and slightly reclined I fit ok. Guess it depends on your seating position. My head doesn't hit the roof. With the slide cover open I feel like I have more clearance than one without moonroof.

 

OP please see my private message if you are on this board

 

Well, after two weeks of angst I sucked it up and got myself a used '24. No KDSS. With a sunroof. I drove it for a long while and decided I could live with it. My head doesn't quite touch the top unless I bounce around a lot. It is fine. I like the light it lets in. The silver color is probably better for me given the abuse I dish out. The predator steps will have to go.

Found it at the local dealership, a trade in with only 9500 miles and it is certified. I paid more for it than I paid for mine brand new a year ago, but such is life. I am getting enough from the insurance for it to be a wash.

Thanks everyone for you input and empathy! Time to change my avatar photo.

 

Congratulations!

 

Glad to hear a happy ending. Current year model, very few miles. Sounds like you did ok after all.

 

Hey Congratulations glad you found something and I’m glad you’re finding the sunroof to work out ok. I have silver myself and personally I like it due to it not showing dirt or imperfections as much. That’s just my opinion though. Glad you found another 5th Gen. Enjoy buddy

 

Congrats!