New Guy - 2020 Venture

Hey everyone! Obviously new to the forum but not to 4Runners. I had a 2001 that I had for 9 years and it then got totaled in front of my house. If you saw where I lived you would never believe that could happen but it did. Anyway, that was when the Venza was coming out and it was different at the time so I got one of those. Great car but it didn't take long for me to realize it just wasn't the right car for me, even though I had it for 11 years.
So last month I picked up a 2020 Venture and I feel like I'm home again! I couldn't be happier and I've already started with the mods.

 

Welcome!! Good choice!!

 

Alright...so I live on a small quiet street in NJ. There is literally no reason to be on my street unless you live on it and the ONLY people that use my street, especially at night, are the people that live on it. So my truck was parked in the street at 11:30 at night, and I was asleep. A few blocks away is the town pool. Apparently they rent out some spaces for people to park vehicles. So this guy goes there and pick up his box truck. Why he decided to weave in and out of the block to get to the main drag instead of pulling straight out of the pool exit and just go straight up for 2 blocks, I have no idea, but I guess a bunch of useless turns was more appealing. So he turns on my street drives 200 feet up the block and took out the entire side of the car, enough to get it totaled. He claimed he slipped in the leaves... there was a small pile at the very corner, 200 feet away, the rest of the street was completely clear. He had to be on his phone. The crazy thing about it was he had a diesel and after he hit me, he stopped and just sat there idling. then he left! I kind of live in the woods and it had just rained and it was a very still evening so everything was echoing under the tree tops. I could hear him driving around and he came back. then he left again after stopping out front. then he left again and came back! My wife called the cops because it was really loud and unusual behavior and while she was on the phone, he left again! Just as the cops pulled up, the guy returned and my wife heard him through the window telling the cop he hit my truck and didn't know what to do because he didn't know who's it was and it was too late to start running door bells. Luckily the guy didn't just run. The unfortunate thing is there was almost nothing on the driver side he didn't hit. Back gate, both doors and frames, wheels, front fender, mirror, he even somehow dented the hood!
I loved that truck and I remember I was actually growing more fond of it at the time, feeling like when I had originally purchased it. I was always getting complements on it and people, including mechanics, were always shocked at its age because they thought it was almost new. I remember in particular having a mechanic ask me when I had changed the exhaust system on it because it looks so good and it was the same one that came with it from the factory.

 

Sorry.I couldn't resist it. That's a real shame especially since you obviously took good care it.

 

Very nice and welcome back!

 

Just picked up a black venture Monday. Congrats!

 

same to you!

 

BTW, I'm on some other forums specific to the 4runner and you guys are already way more friendly after just a day.

 

Welcome!

I had a similar experience. I had a vehicle I owned since 2003. It was time to invest in a new vehicle. I made a "practical" decision and didn't buy the vehicle I really wanted. After a couple of years of ownership I decided that I no longer wanted to sacrifice happiness for the sake of practicality. That when I purchased my 2020 Venture Edition, not an ounce of regret since then.

Your Venture looks great!