4Runners in the UK

Hello All,

Has anyone shipped a 4Runner to the UK?

Looking to get an idea of shipping cost and what was required to make it road legal in the UK.

Thanks,

 

This website wants you to email them for a quote (It varies on weight, location, etc...), but they also tell you what is required to make the vehicle road legal in the UK:

https://mycarimport.co.uk/?gad_sour...S9NkHdqFf1ZQ93LpzFhsRiTSmLrv3XyYaAnPyEALw_wcB



This is the biggest thing to take note of:

 

There's guy on the "other" 4runner forum that had a 4runner shipped to the UK from Japan.

 

Japan is right hand drive, like the UK.

Left hand drive vehicles are VERY dangerous in right hand drive countries.

You have to pull completely into the oncoming lane to see if it is safe to make a pass on a two lane road...

 

I don't know about 4Runners, but HiLux trucks are very popular in rural Scotland. I only saw a couple 4Rs and a couple Land Cruisers. Is it not possible to buy a 4R in the UK?

Here's a Land Cruiser in Tarbert on the Isle of Lewis and Harris in '23

 

You are much better off buying a used Prado, or the new Land cruiser or Hilux.
The left hand drive 4runner would be a pain to drive in UK not to mention the exhorbitant import costs which will make it unviable. Plus it's a 4runner, not a limited edition LP670 Murcielago.

 

I don’t exactly agree with that as my wife and I drove a left hand drive GMC Jimmy and Honda Accord there for about 3 1/2 years. All over from the South around London and Portsmouth to the very North of Scotland and in Ireland. Even negotiated the “Mother of All Round-a-Bouts”.

https://99percentinvisible.org/arti...circumnavigating-worlds-complex-intersection/

 

I drove a right hand drive Jeep wrangler in the US for a while. No issues other than feeling awkward for the first few weeks. You get used to it, and people loved seeing a dog on the “driver seat”.

 

or someone asleep in the “driver seat”

 

I think you might need rear fog lights?!?! https://www.4runners.com/threads/rear-fog-light-jdm-edm-style-oem-factory-look.13236/

 

Thanks Team.

Will give it some more thought. My wife also drives it and she is not used to driving in the UK, so the additional stress of the left hand drive might be unsafe.

 

I always wanted a RHD, until I drove my friends R32 GT-R. Was turning left at an intersection and there was a large box truck in the turn lane in the opposite direction. I could not see past him and people were honking at me to go. Not something I want to do.

 

Wow scary. Lucky to have survived that situation

 

There are no RHD 5th gen 4runners. The last 4runner to be sold in Japan was the 4th gen, so the 5th gen was exclusively made for LHD markets as far as I know.

The Prado is your best bet

 

Ah, that answers my question.

 

I just got back from two weeks in the UK. I saw a bunch of old Defenders and a few new ones, but only one LC Prado. I really wouldn't want to drive anything that big on the narrow, winding country roads there. The most tempting off-road vehicle I saw was a Suzuki Jimny.

 

No problem with left hand drive. You can easily judge how close you can get to the wall/hedge on left. About 3.5 years experience in mid 90s with a GMC Jimmy left hand drive in the Lake District, near Scottish border, with lots of narrow curvy walled/hedged roads. The look on the Red Coat coming toward you in Morris Mini is priceless

 

So just don't pass on Two lane roads??

 

The Jimmy was a small SUV. It would be over 10 inches narrower and a foot or more shorter than a new 4runner/Prado (5th gen). So I don't think that is representative of what OP wants

 

The Jimney is a pretty cool vehicle.

 

I had a Suzuki Gypsy that was based on the long wheel base version of the Jimny. This was late 80s early 90s.
It was a phenomenal off roader with a 1 lt carb engine. A Soft top with a 4 speed transmission and a 2 speed transfer case. Eventually a 1.3 lt mpfi engine was added with about 60 bhp. Yes, 60!
We used to call it the mountain goat. It was very nimble and due to its size could squeeze into corners a pajero or a patrol could only think about. Nothing could touch it when the road ended.
Extremely utilitarian inside and horrendous to drive on road but never failed at its intended purpose.

 

SalvoJimmy was talking about the GMC Jimmy. I agree the Jimny is cool, it's the antithesis of what automakers want this market getting a taste of, small and fun and cheap

 

You are thinking of the S15 Jimmy. I was talking Full size 1986 Jimmy

 

"

Great idea!

Last time I was in the UK farm equipment was making 15 miles an hour on the A and B roads.

Great way to get a GOOD look at the country...

 

as long as it’s not a slurry wagon, ggggaaaaggggg LOL