Originally Posted by repo

I don't want any of that soccer mom crap. , not as rolling living rooms.

Originally Posted by CougarHound

Once my 3rd Gen dies (probably never gonna happen) I'll probably buy the VW Atlas. For me safety has become a priority over offroad and the laser welded Atlas is the safest thing you can get now. I figure I'll get used to the VW reliability....Especially with all the crazy ass Boston drivers around here.

Originally Posted by borfoo3

low tech also means more profit margin for Toyota

Why else would you take a base model vehicle, splash on some colors and shiny bits, then market it as a 'TRD PRO' and sell it with the highest price tag?

I believe the 4Runner will be gaining tech at the slowest rate possible that keeps sales figures going well

Originally Posted by Jetboy

The RX350 is statistically the safest SUV based on the empirical data of driver deaths per mile driven. You can look it up on the IIHS website. They collect and publish that data. The Atlas isn't old enough for enough years of data to show up yet though.

What really stands out is that SUVs in generally are a lot safer than cars of any size, configuration, or price range. And that luxury SUVs are usually a significant safety increase from non-luxury models. And basically all newer vehicles are significantly better than the mid 2000's or earlier. So safety can vary a lot between various years and models. The other standout to me just browsing through is that FCA products are pretty terrible in almost every category.

Incidentally I remember when these statistics first came out the 3rd gen 4Runner was a headliner because it was compared to a Jimmy /s10 blazer and for every single death in a 4Runner there were 25 in a Jimmy/Blazer after adjusting for miles driven. It was the largest variation in vehicle safety in a class in the study.

Originally Posted by CharlesNellis

At least we get rear disc brakes.

Originally Posted by CougarHound

Yes that's true...But it's also true that the Smartcar has really high safety ratings. If you compare side impact intrusion neasurements you'll see that the VW has about 32cm of space left after getting tboned. Which is the highest number ever recorded. I think side impact numbers and weight will tell you the most about how safe a car is. The statistics may just indicate that only old people like RX350s which is why nobody dies in them.

Also, I think the introduction of traction control reduced rollover deaths by a significant amount....I try not to drive like an idiot so that doesn't reallybother me so much.

Side Impact Safety: Volkswagen Atlas Safest SUV of 2018 | The Car Crash Detective

Originally Posted by rob_dixon

This post is simply for the sake of discourse.

I think we all have heard how the 5th gens lack of newer tech, buttons, and gizmos is usually followed by the statement "i love it, less to break!" Now with the 2020 model out, nary another review comes out with this mention of lack of tech, only to be followed by such comments.

Sure, maybe with things like air suspension and other complicated mechanics (although 6 gears hardly is new, my 2001 car has 6 gears), but in my personal experience of being a tech guy and car guy for decades, I think this is an overblown statement. Because buttons and dials and electronic features/displays/etc attached to electronics rarely "break" in my experience - automotive or otherwise. Its typically the mechanical components that do.

May I suggest/wonder that it makes owners feel good about lack of these "extras" on a $40-50K truck stuff that comes standard on vehicles $20K LESS (e.g. lack of adaptive cruise control). I am of the camp that WANTS the latest, at least some of it!

Originally Posted by the_fornicator

Same boat.

I restored a 1995 4runner and the only reason I sold it was because the safety ratings on the 2nd gens were brutal -I'd never put my kid in that thing because the doors are a bit of metal piping and sheet metal. Had that thing been safe, I'd still own it.

Originally Posted by catus

Hmmm, so part of the reason I was willing to spend relatively big bucks on my new Runner is that 1. I know it's Toyota reliable unless I do something stupid, and 2. it's going to be worth a fairly good percentage of that cost when it's time to sell it. I'm not willing to spend Lexus bucks for a Gucci'd 4Runner. My seats are fine (heated!), headlights are fine, I don't use Cruise control, and I won't take many multi thousand mile trips in it. I don't claim to be an "overlander", whatever that means. I see way too many 4Runners with aftermarket racks, bumpers, traction boards, shovels, and hi lifts that have never been used...uggh. Most seem to be Starbucks posers with shiny paint jobs owned by people with too much disposable income.

Like I wrote earlier, I enjoy driving. Old cars suck in a fun way to drive. I like the two foot diameter steering wheel on my '64 FJ-40, and bad (not really) drum brakes. Years ago, I drove the 40 from Denver to Moab for a week of wheeling there. Lots of guys trailered their rigs, but I wanted to drive there. Three speed on the column, baby, and I was still able to drive over Vail Pass! Hit rain, snow, traffic. Man, that was fun!

I think of my 2019 4Runner as an evolution of the FJ-60 I used to own, but with a lot more power/torque and some niceties and no carburetor. It's not particularly quick 0-60, but who cares about that? I know I'll be among the first to the grocery store the next time we get hit by a blizzard. My wife's '18 Tuscon Limited Ultimate with all the electronic crap will be sitting in the driveway. And the car's nanny will tell me that it's snowing.