Anyone go from 4Runner to Tacoma?

At first they said it wasn't normal and did the tsb. And when that didn't fix the problem they said it was normal. There are threads over on Tacoma World with hundreds of guys with the "diff howl". Whether it is actually a diff howl I don't know. I just know the truck shouldnt be making that noise. And I felt like I got screwed. I think they have a big problem on their hands with that one.

 

If they dropped the 4.0 back into the Tacoma I'd go back to it just because I like the utility of a pickup. But as it stands now, not a chance.

Unfortunately, vehicles aren't moving in that direction.

 

It was the seats that did me in. Couldn't drive for more than 30 mins without my back crumbling. I was also one of the unlucky few who had the hood adhesive problem. At 75 mph it looked like a parachute trying to open. Filed a claim and nothing ever came of it. Traded it in at 1.5 yrs.

 

The seat was too low for me (I'm only 5.5"). I had to sit on a memory foam pad. Wish the seat had a height adjustment. I LOVE the 4runner seats in comparison. Night and day.

 

I went the other way. I went from a 2007 Tacoma Pre-runner 140k miles to a 2004 4runner limited 4wd 165k miles. The 4runner is more comfortable to drive than the Tacoma. I am also getting better mpg in the 4runner . No regrets on my swap .

 

Did you ask this question in Tacoma World? Interested in the responses there. I had a 2010 Tacoma OR and test drove a 2017 OR. I thought it was OK. Problem was that I test drove a Tundra too and after driving that a Tacoma felt like gerbils for an engine. Wife has a 2016 4Runner and I have the Tundra. 4Runner is much better off-road than the Tacoma was. My buddy has a 2017 Tacoma OR (came from a Jeep) and he loves his.

Not sure if any of this helps you lol, but good luck!

~Stew

 

I had a 2016 Tacoma for 5 months before I traded it in on my 4runner. Worst truck Toyota ever made. Brakes, transmission,engine and rear-end problems from the first week I owned it. 4runner blows it away!

 

It’s hard to beat a ZR2 on paper, at least. It’s not a Toyota, but it’s a good machine, with a modern suspension design, front/rear lockers and a diesel option.

 

I have both and have to agree the 4Runner is “archaic” but damn nice archaic. I like the change up cause it just reinforces how damn nice the 4Runner is lol. And is incredible how different the two are for sure.

 

It’s remarkable the 4Runner even exists in this day and age. What passes for an SUV these days is pretty feeble no matter how many electronic features they load them up with. It’s hard to believe that you can still buy such a high quality vehicle at such an affordable price. So what if it doesn’t have forward braking or side radar mirrors etc. That stuff is strictly 1st world gizmos, and not needed by someone who enjoys driving and loves off roading.

 

I did look pretty hard at those when I was buying... I really liked the diesel option and the new suspension.

 

Dayam.! that is one sweet lookin Taco..!

 

The new tacos do look good. I need more than looks and would choose either the Colorado or the new Ranger before buying a taco. Toyota needs to update it badly and stop trying to make it a car. Full disclosure, I have had two 1st gen and two 2nd gen Tacos. You can keep the 3rd gen.

 

wurd

 

My 2018 Taco had the "safety package" or whatever they call it, and you definitely don't want it. A couple things were nice like the blind side detection at the rear, but the rest was mostly useless. The BSM mirrors, you can't see the yellow warning at night because of headlight glare, so what's the point? The auto headlights blinded people. And the forward radar in mine acted crazy now and then. Wouldn't let me pull into my favorite car wash? Also left me hanging out in an intersection, turning left with traffic bearing down on me, because it didn't like something. Truck just wouldn't move, full throttle!! The service manager admitted that the system was "very underdeveloped." That was the final straw for me.

It's too bad because I think if the 3rd gen Taco had the newest version of the 4.0 engine, it would still be a good truck. I couldn't get past the hamster wheel engine/trans combo that the 3.5 is.

 

I had a 3rd gen for 15 months. At first it was great, then at about 750-800 miles in, stupid problems started showing up. After much headache and spending too much time at the dealer, I completely had it and went and hashed out a deal for my pro 4runner. Couldn’t wait for it to show up. Couple months later, I was so glad to hand over those keys and drive off in my runner. For truck duties, I got a Pickup, might get a trailer at some point too. If you really have to have a truck, I highly suggest keeping the runner and buying a cheap beater for truck duties. My .02.

 

I agree, if it had the 4.0 still I prob would have bought one instead of the 4.

 

I liked the truck itself, but hate the 3.5 and the transmission. A lot of people say you need to learn to drive it, but when you're on a flat highway doing 70mph with a slight headwind and it doesn't have the power to stay in 6th gear, it isn't my driving it's the lack of bottom end power. Going boarding in CO, up high in elevation around 9000 feet, flat road, headwind, it couldn't even hold 5th gear and was driving in 4th. That motor sucks for power down low.

Plus it came low on transmission fluid after having them manually check it, not with the Techstream. And it had numerous TSB transmission flashes. Just not well done.

 

That mirrors my experience. The last road trip I took in the 2018 Tacoma before I traded it was 3 hours on the interstate. I averaged 12-13mpg. Flat ground with about a 15mph headwind.

Actually, that's how most of my trips were on the interstate. It ran in 4th most of the time. It would try to hold 5th but just couldn't do it.

My all around mpg never topped 18mpg. Slightly less than my 2nd gens. It came as a real surprise when all I heard was how the new Tacoma's were supposed to be so much better on gas mileage. All I could surmise was that my typical driving routes and habits were just not a good match for that vehicle.

I was literally dumbfounded that a $38k truck performed that way. I'm still in disbelief. And I'd been driving Tacoma's for 20+ years. It was like driving a 4 cylinder.

 

no but I came from a 3rd gen taco to 5th gen 4runner. T4R is WAYYYYY better in my opinion. rides a lot better ,transmission isn't hunting for gears, you have way more room. although I only had my 2019 taco for 3 months and 2400 miles since it was totaled id tell anyone looking between the 2 go 4runner

 

I liked my 2015 Tacoma but like my Pro 4Runner better more room.

 

More room up in the seat or in general?

 

both. im 5'10 and when we had my son in his infant carseat we couldnt put him behind my seat. he had to be in the middle in the back. we now just got him his graco 4 in 1 carseat which is huge and grows with him to a booster and that is able to be behind my seat to where im also very comfortable.

 

4runner seats are much more comfortable than the Tacoma seats.

The seats in my 2018 Tacoma were awful. A weird angle to the seat bottoms in the front so my thighs behind the knees didn't rest on the seat. The seat felt low. If I moved the seat back far enough so that my thighs DID rest on the seat, then my arms were stretched too far to the wheel.

Lots of people are adding spacers under the seats in their Tacoma's. I didn't like the idea, for fear of bolt shearing in an accident.

Definitely something to look for if you get a used 3rd gen Tacoma. There's a guy on Tacoma World selling hundreds of spacers to the forum members.

 

More room in general. Especially if you are going with friends or I take our dogs. Put the back seats down and nice and roomy for the pups. Also I’m not worried about needing a bed for the pickup. If I need to haul anything I will rent a open trailer. There cheap to rent. I’m not knocking the Tacoma I have had a lot of Toyota trucks. The only difference in our life now the 4runner makes more sense.

 

Went from a 2017 Taco OR after 6 months to a 2018 4R OR. Zero regrets I like the 4R more and enjoy the space inside the vehicle more.

 

Just picked up a ‘19 T4R OR... Have had a ‘17 Taco OR. They are both awesome and very different vehicles.

I think the T4R is more of a family oriented vehicle, the Taco is more for the lone wolf.

The T4R seems like the more civilized vehicle. The Tacoma is the more on the go vehicle.

In my experience, the 4.0L is a little winded compared to the 3.5L on the taco; however, I do prefer the T4Rs manually operated 4x4 and interior.

You can’t go wrong either way, both solid vehicles.

 

I am on both Forums. Was on T4R old forum before I owned my Taco, although I am a late 2nd genner. I had an 04 4R Sport v8 and now have 5th gen 4R And 2nd gen Taco with the 4.0.

The 4R is a better all around vehicle and the build quality is way better IMO, even on my 04 vs the 13 Taco. A great family vehicle as stated above.

In hindsight I would own the 04 4R Sport with the v8 and would have the wife in the 5th gen with 3rd row.

Buy a cheap trailer and keep the 4r

 

I currently have a 5th Gen Off Road Tacoma and a 4Runner Pro. 4Runner seems like a tank compared to Tacoma. IMO 4Runner is the way to go!