What I find most interesting about the reviews of the 4Runner is very few, if any, ever focus on why "I" (aka - a 4Runner Owner) owns a 4Runner in the first place.

Is styling important to me... yes... but not so much as reliability and dependability. Let's face it... the 5th gen is a sharp looking vehicle.

Is modern technology important to me... yes... but so not so much as reliability and dependability. Let's face it... technology becomes obsolete every 6 months.

I dumped earlier Pieces O'Crap for a 2000 4Runner and aside from the normal wear/tear items, I needed only replace a radiator (at 227K Miles).

The most important review to me is the consumer report reliability ratings (not the reviews). These ratings come from you and me during the annual surveys (I look forward to these).

For me the best "new" vehicle to buy is the one with the best "old" ratings. Have you seen the ratings for the Kia, Land Rover vs. the 4Runner? Kia starts to fall apart within the first 3 years... the Land Rover starts to fall apart almost immediately. The 4Runner... it doesn't fall apart. According to Consumer reports, I can buy "any" year 4 runner 2001-2009 with reliability ratings "Better than average".

Why am I a 4Runner Owner.

1. Reliability - I plan on getting 10+ years and 250K+ miles out of my ride. I will accomplish this by maintaining an already exceptionally reliable truck.

2. Capability - I plan on going just about anywhere and everywhere in my 4runner. Its off road capability will get me there with ease AND I will get there in a style.

Well said. I want a vehicle, not a moving living room. The only type of tech that appeals to me are safety features, not comfort and "convenience" features.

Those of us who have owned previous 4Runners especially hate the tinniness of the doors. They went cheap with the noise isolation and the sheet metal.

Otherwise, I have no complaints. I guess the editor of AAA thinks I am behind the times.

Like the saying goes...opinion are like !@#$holes, everyone's got one. When it come s down to it, it's all about personal preference and your own past ownership history. I have had great experiences with my past T4R's, so I am more inclined to overlook some of the little things that bother me (such as shiny interior plastic, wimpy horn, light doors...that's about it).

I will say, however, if you are going to review a truck, you might want to get your facts straight. As many of you have noted, you can shift into 4WD on the fly, just not 4Lo. Also, the review complains about it not having a modern look to it...that was one of the reasons I bought it in the first place, it reminded me of the older gens. I like the old-school look to it, and I have received a lot of compliments on my truck (It's a TE btw), more so than any other vehicle I have owned. In fact, Toyota said it was going back to the roots with this gen, and I think they did a good job. Don't worry about what someone else thinks, it's your truck, and I guarantee you my 4runner will be on the road for a lot longer than the majority of the "SUV's" they review.

Something tells me that douchebag drives a PT Cruiser!