New Models Going To The Dogs???
 

Hey guys. I have a black Sport Edition 4X4, V8....She has it all. I even removed the letter and working from the sides, bought black front and back lights from Japan and put the chrome fronts and rear in storage. Jbl 10 speaker surround sound , she has it all. I have been very happy with my 2004 V8, getting 18 miles to the gallon and she passes like no other.
Well i used to buy a new car every 3-4 yrs. So i went down to Toyota to test drive the new 4Runners. I was so so so dis-appointed. The front fog lamps look cheap and like an after thought or an after market compared to the real nice ones in the 2004. The side view mirrors look cheaper, and many parts inside look to be made cheaper and less durable to me. Also the 2007 and 2008 i drove today didn't seem to run any where as well as my 2004.
So i am keeping my 2004 and forgoing a new purchase. Is it just me or do you long time 4runner owners see the same trend i am seeing. To me, it is disturbing to see the quality go down and the price tag go up.

I don't know why you found what you did. I don't see the same really. What will be real interesting is what the next model will be as has been discussed. Will it be a rugged vehicle like the one we have now or will it be a soccer mom SUV. The next model will determine probably whether I stay with Toyota or do something else.

Bill3508

I agree. Did you happen to feel the black fabric they use on the door panels? The newer ones have a rough feel compared to the pseudo-suede feel of my 2003.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new one though. My 4Runner has been the most reliable vehicle we've ever had.

Regarding the fog lights-- the earlier 4th gens ('03 - '05) had projector style fog lights and the later ones ('06 & up) do not have projector style fogs. I'm sure that's why you like the looks of yours better. However, the '06 & up have projector headlights, which yours does not.

I prefer the interior trim/colors of the earlier 4th gens also. I like the bright silver on the doors & center console surround more than the black on the current 4Runners. Other than that, everything else seems the same to me.

I don't think the quality went down at all though. Not in any sense. I love my '04, but I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat if anything ever happened to my current 4Runner.

I think the fit and finish of the new Runners is better than the older ones, honestly. Our 2007 is much more solid-feeling than our 2003 was (they were both purchased new, fwiw). I like the additions they've made, and I desperately hope that the next-gen is not "soccer-mommed" like so many other real SUVs have done.

Well, I went from an 02 to an 04 to an 06 and I don't plan on changing to an 08. I absolutely love this truck. Much prefer it to the 04. Might look into an 08 Tundra, though.. :xnuts:

Interior wise, you're probably right... I've never been in a 02-05 so I wouldn't know anything. As for the exterior, I'd say the 06's and 07's have a much better design and the body lines are much more refined. Just my .02

I do think the next gen Runners will lose even more of their off road prowess and they won't have to lose too much to acheive that.
Look at what's just been lost of off road usefulness since '00.

Lowered it over an inch
No manual available
No rear diff lock
No "Oh sh#t" bars up front on the A pillars
XREAS package isn't really off road friendly

And one of the biggest things that point to a 4Runner becoming more of a soccer mom vehicle than ever is that all those lost items are now on the FJ which is the rugged off road SUV in toyotas lineup.

They're still there. The one on the driver's side roof is missing.