Considering my niece's older 4Runner, should I gift her my new ORP or Subaru OB Wilderness?

My niece in South Dakota has a 2003 SR5 V6 4WD 4Runner and since it's getting pretty old, I was planning on giving her my '22 ORP. Reading about the '03 V6, it has a center diff like the 5th gen Limited so she could just leave it in 4WD with no binding so would the ORP be a bad idea? She would have to shift in and out of 4WD on the paved roads unlike the '03. Maybe I should give her my Subaru OB Wilderness instead?

 

Something she doesn’t have to mess with would be better. Subaru, Rav 4, Highlander…

 

Need more info: Where in SD, much off-road travel, etc. etc.

 

We have our 4Runner and a RAV4 AWD. RAV4 handles moderate snow very well around town. If it gets really gnarly, we have the 4Runner.

 

I'd give her the Subaru. The Limited I own is for my wife. I bought it for many reasons but one of them was the full-time 4WD. She's aware of the knob to put it into 4hi/low but I told her she should almost never have to mess with it.

 

Just driving on pavement so AWD looks like the winner. Thanks!

 

Driving on pavement? Here in the Cascade foothills, the best/most popular cars seem to be the Subarus and RAV4s (as well as larger AWD or 4WD Toyotas). Lots of Jeeps on the used car lots!

 

On April 1st my daughter was in a car accident. She walked away with stiffness and a little seat belt rash. Her Subaru Forester was totaled but saved her life. I am an enthusiastic fan now.

Also, in my several encounters with the Subaru service department I found the personnel to be eager and sincere, while my experience with Toyota has been more adversarial. Whether by design or coincidence Subaru seems to have captured a large portion of the outdoorsy-women market and now actively caters to it. It’s obvious that their people have received training to deal with female customers in a way that doesn’t make them feel talked down to or taken advantage of.

Coincidentally I’ve been considering a similar choice to @afret, replacing my daughter’s car with another Subaru or giving her my 4Runner. I’m sure that my daughter could learn and retain the information necessary for the proper use of the 4Runner’s part-time 4WD, so that wouldn’t be the deciding factor for me. Really, the Forester and 4Runner are vehicles with different missions. I think that would be more heavily weighted.

 

I identify as a niece


Subaru for the win buddy she is used to it

 

Lucky niece.

 

I've owned Subarus since 1982. I got t-boned by a lady on her phone who ran a red light going 55 MPH and hit my driver side rear door. My mom was in the passenger seat and we both ended up in the ER but luckily with only bruising and severe muscle aches. I was driving a 2002 Subaru Outback Sport which was totaled.

Anyway I think I'll see if she wants my OB Wilderness instead. Wonder if Toyota got rid of the center diff to saves some pennies. I call her my niece but she's actually my best friend's daughter.

Thanks guys for all the great replies!

 

Lol! Reminded me of this scene.

 

Yeah, for whatever reason (probably cost) Toyota has actually gone backwards with the sophistication of their 4wd systems over the last 20 years.

Subaru is the right call, with the other advantage of it being more fuel efficient. I'm sure she'll appreciate the fuel savings along with the new ride.

 

Glad she is okay!

 

Thanks.

 

Another option I guess would be to trade in the ORP for a Limited if she really likes 4Rs. The ORP only has around 1200 miles on it. I've been driving the OBW last winter so the 4R won't get any rust with the salt on the roads up here. I haven't been keeping up so is the wait for a new 4R still long?

 

I drive the 4Runner, my wife loves her Subaru Forester. I love her Subaru because she does not have to do a thing to drive it. Summer or Winter ( and we live in Buffalo ), The Subaru does everything for her.

 

Honestly, you're giving her a free 40k+ vehicle, she should be grateful for whatever you choose to give her. Do whatever makes the most sense to YOU.

Actually, if you REALLY want to help her, but her a 10k beater and give her the extra 30k to go towards a house or education, etc. That's what I'd want if I was in the position of needing someone to give me a car.