Wondering if any 5th gen owners regretted trading/selling their 4th gen...and why the regret(s).

Personally I hate the 4th Gen's styling, so I'd have no regrets. However, I must say that I'm slowly starting to change my views on the styling issue. If I had to drive any vehicle from between 2003 and 2009, it'd be the Runner.

I have no regrets - while I did enjoy the 2004 we owned it lacked available headroom when I was driving. I found myself sitting at an angle to get the few cm of added height where the sunroof is.

While in the 5th gen I do not have that problem. Maybe that's becuase this one is a limited and the 2004 was an SR5, so now I can adjust the seat height - but, it just feels like it has more room.

I also enjoy the way the controls have been organized, it's not perfect, but I like it better than the 4th gen.

One dislike so for is the way the body has been built does not feel as solid as the 4th gen - there have been lots of comments regarding the hood flexing while driving, and I know the 3rd gen experienced this. I can't recall if the 4th gen did. Anyway, I notice that when I close the drivers door it sounds more hollow, sort of like you hear the metal go "Dong" when you close it hard (not a slam) - again, when I closed the door on our 4th gen it felt and sounded solid.

Overall I am extremely satisfied with the 5th gen and would not go back to the 4th - or my 2nd gen that I am getting ready to sell this weekend (hopefully, although I'll hate to see it go). Here's a pic of them side by side:

Attached Images

       

Side-by-side, the 2nd Gen is definitely sexier. I'd take the 5th because it's NEW, though.

I have been watching the 4R since it first introduce in 1985 but until now i got my first 4runner. As far as styling go, i like the front look of the 2009 4th Gen but not the tail and the interior, i think the 5th Gen tail gate and interior look a little better than its predecessor.

Maybe so, but it's all about the room and technology. The 2nd gen still gets up and goes without a problem, just has a minor oil drip (as shown in pictures) - nothing major, just old age and 185,000 miles catching up to it.

For sure. I sat in a 2010 Limited at the dealership, and I didn't want to get out. And the list of its capabilities down under is impressive.

Nice...2 blue runners...nice...

I don't think I could have said it any better than timothy and I've noticed the more hollow sounding doors myself. I've always thought the 4th gens were really beautifully styled on the outside and had good lines. However, the 5th gen is so much nicer in the inside. At 6'2" I fit much better in the 5th gen and long trips are much more pleasant. With that said, I am fully happy with my 5th gen. They've all been great vehicles.

Here's a pic of all of them.

Great fleet of 4Runners!

Do SR5 and trail owners miss the center diff? What about the lack of height adjustment in the limited?

Mine is an SR5. I've had several vehicles with full-time 4wd (Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Expedition, Jeep Commander). I prefer part-time 4wd. And I love the shifter. It is way better than the dial I had on my Nissan Titan.

Yeah, I'm not so keen on the dial in the 4th gen either.