Retired and Ordering 2023 would like your thoughts - Page 3 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Mark4runnar · 09-20-2022, 08:53 PM

open the sun roof....?

MickeyR · 09-20-2022, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAW89446

From one senior to another, in short I love my ‘18 SR5.

After years of reliable service and hard off roading, I gave my grandson my ‘02 Tacoma TRD 4x4 and got my ‘18 SR5. It does have factory NAV and 3rd row. I’ve just turned over 50,000 miles on it.

A lot of people complain about the ride, noise and handling of the T4R. I find it perfectly fine. Maybe it’s because, like you, we’ve grown up on cars and trucks of the past that someone today would think are abusive and torturous. I’ve had late model (and early ‘60s) Cadillacs and Lexus, but I think my T4R is quiet, rides well and has a quality feel. A friend with a noise level app on his phone measured the interior sound levels on my SR5 and declared it pretty quiet at 70 mph. Any modern vehicle, even a new Jeep Wrangler would put my rough riding, hard shifting, noisy 1970 Ford F-250 4x4 with no power anything, no AC, rubber floors and no padding anywhere, to shame. But I loved that truck and had a lot of fun with it. It taught me all my 4x4 skills.

I live in a rural, isolated area where 4WD gets used a lot in mud, ice and snow; on both dirt and paved two-lane roads. Mountains, canyons and wide open valleys. In all seasons. I use my T4R on my property like a tractor, a pickup (with my utility trailer) and it never complains. I’ve scratched the heck out of it on tight trails that are narrower than the 4Runner. It’s silver but in winter it’s mud ball brown. Makes no sense to wash it, as it would be mud ball brown before I make the nearest paved road. The back liftgate is perpetually dusty in summer.

I think the SR5 Premium is the best value of the T4R line for most, IF you are dead set on a T4R. Based upon your post, there are nice AWD alternatives.

I don’t know about the 2023 models; but in 2018 when I researched all models, it seemed to me that all of them had the same basic specs, tires, shocks, ground clearance as the SR5 except the TRD Pro. I loved my Tacoma TRD, but I’ve just gotten too old and beat up to go out and beat myself up more for recreation, so the TRD Off Road or Pro wasn’t a value to me due to their considerably higher costs. But I did want a body on frame SUV, and I wanted another Toyota.

For me I think I made the best choice for my needs and desires. And I expect it and my 2012 Subaru Outback Premium will be my last vehicle purchases before I end my driving years.

This is a very good watch on 4Runner and plant

ENGINEER EXPLAINS WHY TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS BEST QUALITY IN THE WORLD // STILL BUILT IN JAPAN AT TAHARA - YouTube

CutthroatSlam · 09-20-2022, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyR

Wow! That is more than 5x’s less than I’m paying. Great deal.

Search for a thread here on installing them.

RobS10 · 09-21-2022, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAW89446

On nice spring and autumn days, I roll down the back window. But only on pavement and with all other door glass down. It’s actually quite pleasant, calm and fairly quiet that way. And I’ve not smelled exhaust because there’s enough air coming in and flowing through out the back.

Agree. I almost always have the driver's window down at the same time (at speeds less than 40mph) and thing it creates airflow from front to back that prevents the rear window from sucking in exhaust. I have noticed an odd smell at certain higher speeds with only the sunroof and rear window open, so it must create some kind of suction that 1jzgte mentioned.
LOL on the pavement only! We have 17 miles of dirt road to get into our cabin and the red dust would totally destroy the interior if we left the rear window open! As it is, the dust is able to leak around the inside weather stripping along the top edge of the glass, leaving a red film on the black rubber.

RobS10 · 09-21-2022, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyR

IslandJim thank you for the message.
I want the slider but GST Gulf States Toyota just doesn’t order them at all it seems. They didn’t when i was working and has not started. But i would like it if it was available.
I’m at the other end of Florida in the Destin area from you.

I tried like heck to get the sliding cargo deck on ours, but like you said, some areas just don't get them in their allotments (one dealer said in two years, he had seen ONE, and was on a Trail Special Edition).
Check your local For Sale boards for people selling them as some people don't want them as they jack your floor height up a few inches.
This is a lousy time to buy a new vehicle. Most of the add-ons Toyota shows on their website for "building" a new 4Runner are just pipe dreams in the age of Supply Line Shortages.

DAW89446 · 09-21-2022, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobS10

LOL on the pavement only! We have 17 miles of dirt road to get into our cabin and the red dust would totally destroy the interior if we left the rear window open! As it is, the dust is able to leak around the inside weather stripping along the top edge of the glass, leaving a red film on the black rubber.

Yes, very true. I live on a dirt road with some miles to reach pavement. Though I am not picky about the exterior, I am fussy about the interior of my vehicles and do clean them regularly.

When I drag my driveways and perimeter fences, I use a length of railroad rail behind the T4R, which creates a lot of dust. I do this with the windows up, AC in recirc mode. I still get considerable dust inside, it helps to use my air compressor to blow it out of the upholstery, nooks and crannies. I recently shampooed the interior for the first time, which really got a lot of ingrained dust.

Charles Bronson · 09-21-2022, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyR

This is a very good watch on 4Runner and plant

ENGINEER EXPLAINS WHY TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS BEST QUALITY IN THE WORLD // STILL BUILT IN JAPAN AT TAHARA - YouTube

I agree him that the primary reason the 4Runner is so reliable is because not much as changed in 13 freaking years

As for assembly, it really doesn't matter where a vehicle is assembled anymore. The way the parts go together is all in the engineering of the part itself. Cars now are like Legos and are better for it. Most come apart and go back together quite nicely. I can have 4runner door card entirely off in 3 minutes. I can have the rear floor carpet, foam panels, trim, and back seat out in 10 minutes and stripped to just the carpet and/or bare metal floor. I can have the rear bumper cover off in 5 minutes and a taillight out in 2 minutes. These trucks are incredibly simple by today's standards. They hardly have any noise insulation/suppressing materials either and is probably why they are fairly loud on the highway.

There is no craftsman assembly needed for these trucks at all. My 13 y/o daughter and my 17 y/o son installed new speakers on my wife's 2020 4Runner after I showed them how to get a door card off. They didn't scratch or break anything and it was like no one was there after they were done.

Pedro367 · 09-21-2022, 04:55 PM

People actually use their factory nav?

Charles Bronson · 09-21-2022, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CutthroatSlam

Opinions are like *******s: everyone has one.

Go for the reliability. Get the SR5. If you have a dog, then cloth seats. Japanese leather sucks and does not last.

Most 5th gen 4Runners have SofTex. That stuff is vinyl and is bulletproof. Short of literally stabbing it with a sharp object, it's not tearing. I don't see how it could "wear" either given that it's pure vinyl.

Cloth seating surfaces are only good for track/race cars where you don't want to be sliding around. Otherwise, fabric seating surfaces are the devil because liquids soak into them and can get trapped, pet hair gets stuck in it, they get stained, it wears, fades, etc.

Charles Bronson · 09-21-2022, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro367

People actually use their factory nav?

We only use it to see upcoming street names when needed.

ads2539 · 09-21-2022, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Bronson

Most 5th gen 4Runners have SofTex. That stuff is vinyl and is bulletproof. Short of literally stabbing it with a sharp object, it's not tearing. I don't see how it could "wear" either given that it's pure vinyl.

Cloth seating surfaces are only good for track/race cars where you don't want to be sliding around. Otherwise, fabric seating surfaces are the devil because liquids soak into them and can get trapped, pet hair gets stuck in it, they get stained, it wears, fades, etc.

My grandparents never had leather seats in their cars because they said they were too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter (no garage or pets).

John in NC · 09-22-2022, 09:03 AM

My thoughts with these statements from you in mind-
Your wife has a Sienna but you don't like the looks.
You used 4x4 maybe 4 times and don't go offroad.
You put on a lot of highway miles...

Get a Highlander or Rav4 and use the Sienna for the long road trips.
The Sienna gets better MPG than a 4runner and I'd guess it's a much better highway vehicle, certainly roomier.

Or get another Tacoma and again, use the Sienna for long highway trips. In retirement I'm sure a pickup would be very useful.

My wife has a Highlander XLE, it's like a spaceship compared to my 2011 SR5. Just did a 7 hour each way road trip in her Highlander, we've done the same trip in my 4runner, hers is better suited for it. She and the kids call my 2011 SR5 4x4 an old tin can and always want to take the Highlander.

Her Dad has a 2010 Rav4 Sport with the 3.5 V-6, in a dark teal/ green color and loves it. He likes the smaller scale vs. his prior 3rd gen 4runner that he had.

My Mom drove the new Rav4 and didn't care for it, ended up with a loaded CRV (this was 2021). She really wanted a more compact SUV/ Crossover type vehicle.

Just a few different perspectives.

Auntie Soshul · 09-22-2022, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CutthroatSlam

I added aftermarket seat heaters to the cloth seats in our SR5 for $85 DIY and they work great.

I did the same thing to my 2013 SR5 with cloth seats, but the cost was closer to $90.

Hungryhawk · 09-23-2022, 06:22 AM

Yesterday I was shocked to learn my 2017 SR5 with 48,000 miles requires a new torque converter! The drivability problem started 2 weeks ago and became worse each day. Last month the 5 year 60,000 mile powertrain warranty expired. At purchase in 2017 I fortunately got the platinum service agreement which should cover P & L for “new” transmission. My dealer received Toyota approval for repair and will confirm parts and loaner availability in a couple of days.
I had hoped our 4runners would be reliable for the long term, but I am now disenchanted.
You still have the opportunity to purchase the extended service agreement-I am so glad I did!

RobS10 · 09-23-2022, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hungryhawk

Yesterday I was shocked to learn my 2017 SR5 with 48,000 miles requires a new torque converter! The drivability problem started 2 weeks ago and became worse each day. Last month the 5 year 60,000 mile powertrain warranty expired. At purchase in 2017 I fortunately got the platinum service agreement which should cover P & L for “new” transmission. My dealer received Toyota approval for repair and will confirm parts and loaner availability in a couple of days.
I had hoped our 4runners would be reliable for the long term, but I am now disenchanted.
You still have the opportunity to purchase the extended service agreement-I am so glad I did!

That's the first I've heard of a 4Runner having major transmission problems. Looks like one mediocre year, 2012, for "Major Transmission" problems, according to Consumer Reports. You may have just been one of the few unlucky ones to get the odd bad one.

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