Drove a Jeep as a Rental...

I'm not sure if you read the same 4runners.com I read, but here, lots of people complain that up to the 5th gen, the 4R

-dives under braking(soft springs)
-has excessive body sway(even with KDSS)
-poor mpg(from gearing and weight)
-handles "poorly" since it's a high COG BOF SUV
-road tires are not aggressive enough
-for some its ride is too bouncy(imagine that)
-has road manner issues with aggressive tread aftermarket ATs when used as a road tire
-not enough tech and creature comforts

among others.

And changes made for 6th reflect Toyota's effort to continue to make the 4R, the last real off roader left in their massive SUV/CUV lineup, more commuter friendly.

 

I've read plenty of complaints myself. Yet, here we are on a forum dedicated to 4Runner owners and enthusiasts.

Mine handles like a Ferrari compared to the Wrangler I drove.

If you're confused, go drive a Wrangler at freeway speeds and then get back in a 5th gen. It's night and day.

 

IFS enclosed SUV handles better than convertible SFA SUV with removable doors and foldable windshield. Who would have thunk.

Seems like the only people confused are those who insist on comparing Wranglers to 4Runners in daily comfort and highway manners.

 

Owned a 2015 two door, 6spd manual Willy’s jk until last March, replaced with a 24 Limited. I only have good thing’s to say about the time spent, and truly liked the way it drove. Plenty of power in 2dr configuration.

 

Then again you probably can guess what I would say about people buying either Wrangler or 4runners solely to be high mileage pavement commuters...

 

There's no confusion here whatsoever.

One is a nice overall vehicle that can go off-road. The other is a toy that can go on the road. That's basically what the OP stated, and I agree.

 

Yet here we are, a whole thread of people doing a group hug as 4R owners because it handles better on road based on one guy's rental experience taking one of the few remaining dedicated offroaders on sale for a...pavement rental trip.

Cool.

 

It's wild that today, as we speak, we can still buy a 2 door JL sport with a NA 3.6L V6, standard 4wd, proper manual gearbox for a little over 30k, yet instead of acknowledging the positives it brings to the table, people here are only obsessed with dissing it as a "toy" based on perceived freeway driving characteristics.

When people call Toyota owners Lemmings I don't even get mad anymore. This whole thread sounds like a Consumer Reports writers' lounge. LOL "We recommend the Toyota 4Runner over the Jeep Wrangler for its superior road comfort, more technology for enhanced connectivity and driving assists, updated interior, fresh looks, and road handling at freeway speeds."

 

Seems like this is really upsetting for you.

Everyone here knows that the Wrangler is a superior off-roader. Some of us also realize that we don't need that level of capability.

 

Breaking news: 4Runner owners on a 4Runner forum consider the 4Runner a better vehicle than a Wrangler. Wild!

 

I don't think about the Wrangler all that much even though I have one. It's cute it occupies so much space in all y'all's heads, you just can't stop talking about it. LOL.

 

Oh, I see we've arrived at the part where anything we don't care for is living in our heads rent free.

Some people just like discussing things for entertainment. It's actually a big part of what happens on the internet.

 

Hey, if a kumbaya of Tahara children is what entertains you, go at it

Wake me up when Toyota offers a 2 door Offroader here.

 

I rented a brand new Wrangler Rubicon last summer for a week, while on vacation. Taking the top off was neat. It was my first time driving something with a SFA, and was shocked at how much play was in the steering. It was a free upgrade from a Nissan Versa so I cannot complain, but I could never see myself buying one as a daily driver.

 

Are you open to a used one?

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Use...an-d299_L39661#listing=382738431/NONE/DEFAULT

 

I do not hate that at all. Too bad it was not a LHD!

 

IMO, one is a 5th gen Toyota 4R and the other is a Jeep Wrangler JL/U. All comparisons should stop there.
I don't compare my 4R to either of my '03 Jeep Wrangler TJ's.
If I did, the 4R would be our freeway flier that occasionally goes on smooth dirt roads and is great for our snow and ice covered roads too.

My Blue TJ is a purpose built rock crawler. It's not freeway friendly because of the very pliant suspension (think nose dive under hard braking and extreme leaning going around intersection corners) and 12.50 based tires.

The White TJ is mostly stock except for 10.50 based tires and is a dedicated snow plow (Meyer) rig that has been in constant use for the last month or so.

My Wife calls the TJ's, my girlfriend's and she's not wrong about that.

 

For that price I would just get a low mileage Samurai here on the west coast. Registering that JDM LC in a CARB state is a chore.