Why did you pick the 4Runner?

Hey, that’s my line!

 

Having a family I'd been stuck for years driving jalopies where you crossed your fingers everyday going to work and back. I wanted durability and dependability. I retired in 2017 and bought a 2015 Tacoma OR and have never looked back. Wife was in the market for a new vehicle so we got a 2020 4 Runner OR last August. This winter we kept the 4 Runner in the garage and used the Tacoma for daily driving. Come nice weather we'll take our long driving trips in the 4 Runner. My Tacoma can traverse the tractor paths out in the woods for me to cut up logs for firewood and haul the wood back home. Another month or so we'll get the 4 Runner undercoated and be set.

 

At the risk of stealing everyone's lines, Land Cruisers were too expensive and not tough enough (I've had two but they were FJ40's). We've had 2 RAV4's (wife has one AWD and it's perfect for city and highways in snow country). Several pre-Tacos. Just (1) Toyotas reliability, (2) durability, (3) Experience with Toyotas! For trips and more space, the 4Runner is the perfect compromise (2019 SR5 Premium).

When I retired and the wife was thinking about it, we wanted 2 cars that we wouldn't have payments for and that would need few, if any repairs (Unlike the one Jeep we had!)

 

R.D.R.W.

roll down rear window

 

4 runner is what the wife wanted.

 

Only because LC and Lexus were expensive and I wanted realibility since I was buying used.
No other Japanese 'SUV' in the market. The older generation Honda Pilot was good but was dated inside out.

 

I think reliability, durability, quality will be on just about every 4Runner owners list. For me, it is the combination of comfort, utility, and drive anywhere, anytime, in any conditions capability. I don't purposely off-road my 4Runner. However, my wife and I love biking, hiking, skiing - the outdoors in general. I've never driven my 4Runner, or the Tacoma I drove for 13 years before it, in any conditions that really tested their capabilities. But, we frequently drive to remote trails, locations, swimming holes, etc... where the road/trail to get there is somewhat sketchy. Not anything that would really get a 4WD vehicle stuck - but could easily rip the muffler off a compact sedan (have seen it happen multiple times in Colorado). We also live where we get cold/snowy/icy winters and have to deal with driving in the snow/ice - not complete snowpack from December through March - but dealing with the aftermath of winter storms multiple times per winter. The 4Runner just works for me. Very comfortable as an everyday driver to-and-from work, around town - and no problem at all when driving down a sketchy dirt/gravel road to get to a trailhead or in deep snow trying to get home or to the ski area. Also, since we live in the snow belt - the roads around here are not the best - lots of potholes in the spring and half-ass fixes to those potholes the rest of the year. I've found that Toyota's suspension on their 4WD vehicles just eats up the crappy roads that eventually wreck other vehicles. We're lucky we can tolerate the not so great gas mileage. We both live fairly close to where we work - 5-7 miles. If I had a 30-50 mile commute to work everyday I'd probably drive something with better MPG - but I'd still have the 4Runner for after work and the weekends!

 

For me it’s a few things:
1. Reliability, like almost everyone says. I came out of a F-150 where the check engine light came on numerous times in four months of ownership. Never buy a F-150.
2. Styling - There’s a reason it looks almost exactly the same as it did in 2010.
3. Ease of use - no gimmicks, tons of buttons, etc. Just get in and drive.

 

I always say "because its reliable"......but I could buy probably 2-3 used reliable Toyota trucks for the same price lol so probably not the real top reason.

Being honest, I'd say yes reliability but also simplicity/minimal tech, high build quality, capability, cool factor (styling, color, trim, options), roll down rear window, and just my irrational love for old school N/A Toyota trucks. This was the best combo for me of everything I wanted in a modern, new, comfortable daily SUV that can also do some off roading when needed.

While I plan to keep this truck for decades, long after my current 3rd gen meets its end, the high resale value is also a big bonus if a rare unforeseen future event forces me to sell.

 

I'd say reliability, not much modern tech and simplicity to work on. Resale value i guess is important, but I don't plan on reselling. Also its offroad friendly enough for me. And its safe for the family.

 

Because I wanted a jack of all trades and 4Runner is one. It is not the best at anything, but does everything.

 

Next best thing for me...

 

Next weekend for sure. This is why I bought the 4Runner and drive the heck out of it to places. Now I will drive it to the bottom of this crater lol

https://youtu.be/1GXvhE_hXW8?si=BlVwABC8vnzk8vZk

 

Grew tiresome of the shitty ride quality from Jeep. Wanted a Badlands but dealers were asking 15K over MSRP so I ended up with the 4R. Couldn't be happier

 

New JLs' ride quality has improved a lot. And you were lucky you dodged the Ford.

 

I was looking for a Land Cruiser (80,100 or 200 series). Couldn’t find one that was in decent shape for a not ridiculous price (I’m a no debt, all cash guy). So chose the next best option. Love it almost every way. Just wish the 4r had two more inches of headroom and about 1.5-2 more inches shoulder room and I’d want it even more than a LC.

 

OP disappeared after one post 4 years ago lol.

 

This is a great answer. Brief - but nails it. Really sums up why I wanted a 4Runner.

 

There also was a much more recent thread on this topic.

 

I was sick and fed up with Ford's crappy engineering and failure to fix known problems over several model years...

Wanted reliability, FWD and plenty of room. Easy peasy! 4Runner!!!

 

How many reliable, well engineered, capable, and comfortable mid-sized SUV's are there with true four wheel drive and a low range transfer case. There's only one!

 

Why not?

 

I don't get the feeling the OP ended up in a 4R after all.

 

This thread is a bit more recent. https://www.4runners.com/threads/why-a-4runner-over-the-other-options.35975/page-2#post-535552

 

1. Legendary Toyota truck reliability. Gives peace of mind. One of the last good old fashioned body on frame, part time 4x4, solid rear axle midsize vehicles with a simple V6. No turbos or hybrid tech to complicate things.

2. Lots of aftermarket support for the platform. Plenty of options to make the 4r more off-road capable.

3. Excellent utility. I’ve towed with it multiple times, have used it to move multiple times, I have a mobile bed platform I’ve built for it that can easily be taken apart for camping trips, and have slept in the back numerous times. I can take on anything from easy forest service roads to “difficult” rated rock crawling trails. It isn’t the most capable at any one thing, be it towing, hauling, or off roading, but it can do all of those things well enough for my intended use.

 

Toyota website now has the specs/dimensions on 2024 Land Cruiser. I was surprised/near shocked when I saw how much LESS headroom and legroom it has compared to the current 4Runner. As in, 2+ inches less headroom. At 6’3”, it’s really my only complaint with my ’23 ORP. My ‘22 F-350 has 2+” more h/r than the 4R and it feels so roomy/big (obviously wider as well). I just can’t imagine how two inches less will feel. The only spec I saw that had more room was about 3/4” more shoulder room, which would be nice. But dang, everything else (head annd leg room for front a rear) was a good bit less/smaller.

All that to say, I love my ‘23 ORP more every day now!

 

Life is too short to drive anything else

 

Hey folks. New here. Former FJC owner and loved it. Thinking of a 2022/23 4runner. Want a TRD Pro but might get the Off Road Premium.

Besides the following what are the differences? 360 cameras and auto HVAC.

I loved the 4.0/AT of my FJC and the current 4R is the same basic setup.

Is there anything I should be concerned about with the 5th gen?

On my FJC I had to do a body mount chop to lift and use bigger than 33” tires. Is the 4R the same?

Lastly I tow. Mostly lightweight but do have a 22’ pontoon with total weight including trailer at 4400 lbs. I would only use the 4R to launch and retrieve not tow long distances. Any concerns? I’m nearly max rated weight.