Rain and "full-time AWD"

What did multimode do, and was that on 4runners?

Now I feel better about the part time system. Off-Road trim is officially redeemed! No longer second best

 

A lot of people here say that. But, I wonder how many would actually buy a SFA 4Runner.

As much as SFA rules for rock crawling, the IFS setup is better for the vast majority of what these vehicles get used for.

That said, if it were an option on the 6th gen, I'd be pretty tempted to get one.

 

Good conversation here, guys.

Does anyone know what type of 4wd or AWD the last gen Honda Pilot has (say ~2014)? My buddy has one and I always assumed it was front wheel drive. But then I looked down and saw a 4wd button. Intuitively, I knew it wasn’t the same type of 4wd that the 4runner has. So I got to wondering what exactly was going on there.

 

I could be confused here, but I thought it was basically like the current limited setup, but with a 2hi option as well. It seemed to combine all of the possible options.

 

I much prefer the OR system over the limited for that reason alone.

 

First Best is really RWD with a manual trans

 

Maybe it's like a typical AWD with the option to keep the rear wheels engaged.

I thought the RAV4 might have had an option like that at some point. Now I'm curious.

 

Absolutely! When I was looking for a 3rd gen a few years ago, I thought multi mode was the coolest thing when I learned about it. So lame that Toyota stopped offering it. Pretty crazy that 25 years ago they had a more advanced 4WD system than what they have now.

 

Damn, that's a good looking car! I initially wasn't sure about the new style, but that's hot! I'm going to have to go oggle one at a dealership sometime.

 

I wonder if they had issues with reliability? It would have been more complicated than either of the systems we have now.

True!

 

My girlfriend's sister has a new Chevy Equinox that has an "AWD" button. The way she explained it to me was that it's front wheel drive, then when you push the AWD button it allows the rear wheels to be activated if necessary. Hitting the button is not like shifting into 4WD, you can't manually control it to keep it in AWD.

As far as the Honda Pilot, I have a co-worker that has a first gen pilot, and I did notice that it has a 4WD badge on the rear of it. I think it's just marketing speak, I would consider a vehicle like that AWD.

Apparently the AWD system on the newest gen pilot and passport are fairly capable for crossover type vehicles. There's that channel Jon DZ Adventures, he does some pretty gnarly stuff in a modded Passport.

 

I don't know, I think they'd be excited when they learn that they could lift it over 3", while adding even bigger tires.

I doubt we'll ever see another legit 4WD vehicle under 30k, these days doesn't even a freaking Corolla approach 30k?

Too bad Suzuki didn't sell the Jimney in this country. That would be a cool little solid axle wheeler.

 

I'd rather see something more like the original 4runner. But, I agree.

 

It's a freakin blast to drive! I can hardly believe this thing exists in 2022. A unicorn -- no active safety nannies like automated braking or lane keeping, no auto start/stop, no electronic settings for steering weight, suspension or throttle response, one button to turn down stability and traction control and another button to turn it off completely, easy to put the tail out -- and tuck it back in -- only 2800 pounds (!), revs to 7500 rpm, incredibly low center of gravity, feels fast (which to me is what counts) and is no slouch in the numbers (quarter mile in 13 something at 102mph), 70-0 in about 150 feet, seems well put together and yet costs 30K. The thing is unbelievable.

 

The Jimney looks super cool! I'd love to see something like that in the US market.

Yeah, even a frickin economy car is $25K these days!

 

Hell, yeah!

Imagine something with the off-road chops of a Jeep, and a Toyota drivetrain. Sounds like a dream vehicle... Or, it sounds like some of the Toyotas we don't get in the US.

 

And wait till somebody catches a full on death wobble lol! Although, I’m assuming… do all solid axles suffer from that? Did the land cruiser 90s wobble?

I honestly would not mind a solid axle. Ive driven modern 4 door jeeps and dont get what’s so uncomfortable about it. The two doors are a little trotty, but they’re short.

Wait, what???? It just came out! They already changed it??

 

We got beaters for hard stuff that remodels body panels, 80 series LC, 2nd gen SAS Tacomas on 40s.

Honestly, even with IFS drivers run out of skill before the vehicle runs out of capability.

I was in Hot Springs Off Road park last weekend and did some level 3 trails with a LC200 and my friends ORP (it used to be mine, sold it to him a few years ago). He put on the locker in a few places, so I tried his line with just MTS cause I have only a center locker. Made it up. A lot of people pine for a bunch of gear that they don't need if your wheels touch the ground, and that starts with the driver usually. Hmm, odd rant, didn't mean to rant...too lazy to backspace.

 

Any solid axle will wobble if you let the bushings for the tie rods go to poop.

 

Ouch, yeah, it wouldnt leave much for jeep to set itself apart. Jeep might even sue anybody trying to do go full solid axles because they’ll argue they own the intellectual property since everybody else abandoned it haha. Hmmm, better check patent filings lol

 

What's interesting about this argument is that you assume consumers are rational. I'll agree they would make a better Jeep, but you won't convince BroDozer22 that he can't get mega ladies on the beach in anything but a Jeep. The people buying Jeeps know they are bad and still don't care.

 

To be clear I agree with you, but market research unfortunately puts us in the minority in the corner of "buys vehicle for a purpose." The "buys vehicle for flex, put $7,000 of lights on it" is a much larger category

 

oh I thought you meant the new Jimney that isnt imported to the US. That came out as solid axles. We can hope. Although, it probably rides like crap lol

 

Thanks for the general stereotype
TJ drivers are pretty cool too.
Here's my other ride


BTW- Back to the original topic of this post
I miss the full time 4WD in my 06 4Runner. I also miss the V8. You could drive it like you stole it in the rain.
I also miss the AWD setting in the 2015 Silverado I had for the same reason. However, that is the only thing I miss about that truck.

 

Me too. But this is the semantic issue we are debating. On the Toyota website the term AWD is used to describe any vehicle that has 4 wheels driven by ant means.

Nope. It’s 40/60 when there’s no slip.
Again, see this.

Thats the first time I’ve heard that. There are full-time 4WD vehicles with a center differential that doesn’t lock. I always thought AWD referred to vehicles that relied on computer controlled viscous couplings and clutch packs and abs-based traction control.

There are full-time 4WD vehicles with a center differential that doesn’t lock.

This is the most cogent summary of the issue so far. I guess I’m reticent to apply the AWD to the 4Runner because doing so lumps it in with so many lesser vehicles.

 

Which vehicles? Do they also have a 2 speed transfer case?

 

Oof - 2 door TJ with the 4.0L and the family rollbar and half doors. Tastefully done too, not too tall. A little jelly.

 

A lot of Jeeps and GM products. Cherokee SRT and the Trailblazer SS. They don’t have a low range.

 

Thanks. Also has the AX-15 5 speed manual tranny. I completely restored it with all new Mopar parts (except suspension and wheel/tire combo) over the pandemic. Didn't want a crazy lift but springs and larger tires give it about 2" over stock.

 

Had the AX-5 in my 4 banger YJ. Absolute garbage. AX-15 = $$