2017 4R Press Release

[qs933]

I think the general consensus is that they painted the inside of the wheel, not the spokes.

It's the same wheel as yours, and mine, but the center caps, and the "barrel" of the wheel is painted black.

Same thing they did with the 2014+ Limited wheel: same design as the 2010 - 2012, but the inner surfaces are painted black.

 

[LawnDart]

The badge looks so bad in person. Where is your god now!!!!???

 

[Knight-Errant]

Well... let's give them credit where credit is due. The Trail had no extra badging (unlike the SR5, LIMITED, and TRD PRO models).

The TRD Off-road will have a TRD badge. Huge difference!!! :banana:

I really liked the fact that the Trail had no extra badging. I'm sure I'm probably not the only one (although many have felt the need to add a "Trail" badge).

 

[hayde89]

Same same but different...

The badge looks so bad in person. Where is your god now!!!!???

LawnDart since you've seen it can you clear up everything. The wheels are the same, the suspension is the same (bringing this up because a couple articles are stating that the suspension is different than the current trail Toyota Reveals 2017 4Runner in TRD Off-Road Trim), and that the only change is a couple badges?

 

[LawnDart]

It is the same as the trail but with horrible badges. The head rests in the front have TRD stitched into them. Which admittedly I would love to add to my build but knowing Toyota they're 200 each.

It even uses the same shift knob. As I said in another thread the reps seemed to indicate this was a move by marketing rather than the designers. I think it's dumb. The badge looks terrible.

 

[hayde89]

It is the same as the trail but with horrible badges. The head rests in the front have TRD stitched into them. Which admittedly I would love to add to my build but knowing Toyota they're 200 each.

It even uses the same shift knob. As I said in another thread the reps seemed to indicate this was a move by marketing rather than the designers. I think it's dumb. The badge looks terrible.

Completely agree. I think it's hilarious how much hype it's getting. Owning a trail I admit that I do have some TRD envy but not enough to want badging everywhere. The only real reason I even put the TRD garnish on mine is because of my Land Cruiser lust. But hey I guess if it puts more 4runners on the road then good for Toyota!

 

[Knight-Errant]

If the Toyota team wanted some awesome marketing, all they would need to do is approach the members of this forum who do off-roading, camping, mountain biking, etc., ask them to submit videos, and make a commercial of actual owners enjoying their vehicles. That would be interesting and add a real human element.

That would get my attention at least...more so than slapping a new badge on the side.

 

[hayde89]

If the Toyota team wanted some awesome marketing, all they would need to do is approach the members of this forum who do off-roading, camping, mountain biking, etc., ask them to submit videos, and make a commercial of actual owners enjoying their vehicles. That would be interesting and add a real human element.

That would get my attention at least...more so than slapping a new badge on the side.

It works. I watched a couple episodes of expedition overland and i was sold.

 

[LawnDart]

If the Toyota team wanted some awesome marketing, all they would need to do is approach the members of this forum who do off-roading, camping, mountain biking, etc., ask them to submit videos, and make a commercial of actual owners enjoying their vehicles. That would be interesting and add a real human element.

That would get my attention at least...more so than slapping a new badge on the side.

99 percent of 4Runner owners don't wheel so that wouldn't sell vehicles for Toyota.

Also last time they tried to borrow marketing from their end users they stole a bunch of photography from me and I had to bust out the legal smack down. Good times.

 

[LawnDart]

LawnDart since you've seen it can you clear up everything. The wheels are the same, the suspension is the same (bringing this up because a couple articles are stating that the suspension is different than the current trail Toyota Reveals 2017 4Runner in TRD Off-Road Trim), and that the only change is a couple badges?

 

[Knight-Errant]

99 percent of 4Runner owners don't wheel so that wouldn't sell vehicles for Toyota.

Also last time they tried to borrow marketing from their end users they stole a bunch of photography from me and I had to bust out the legal smack down. Good times.

Stealing/"claim to borrow" I wouldn't support at all.

I do think that the deception of more mainstream activities would sell (camping, light off roading, fishing, kayaking). Other than Jeep and Subaru, I can't think of any other recent "active/rugged" life-style automotive marketing.

Actually I vaguely remember some when they first launched the Chevy Colorado.

I do remember all those X-Terra commercials playing Lenny Kravits! I just graduated from high school and it really made me want one of those.

Edit: but yes, the heavily modified stuff, would likely scare many people away.

 

[Brandonium]

For those complaining about the badging.. can you not just remove it and/or put the trail badge on that you see here and there in these forums?

I do like the floor mats.. not in love with the badge and 50/50 on the headrests if we're being honest.

Someone earlier spoke to the exclusivity of the 2016 Trail as it is obviously the last year of the trail but doesn't that make the 2017 Gen 5 also exclusive as it's the only Gen 5 TRD Offroad ever made?

 

[1engineer]

For those complaining about the badging.. can you not just remove it and/or put the trail badge on that you see here and there in these forums?

I do like the floor mats.. not in love with the badge and 50/50 on the headrests if we're being honest.

Someone earlier spoke to the exclusivity of the 2016 Trail as it is obviously the last year of the trail but doesn't that make the 2017 Gen 5 also exclusive as it's the only Gen 5 TRD Offroad ever made?

It doesn't matter. All 4Runners will hold about 70% of their residual value after 3 years. Very few people out there that are looking for late model used 4Runners will pay more for a "rare" model lol. Now, they might be LOOKING for a rare model but they won't pay more for it.

As far as keeping it and thinking that it's worth more because it's "rare?" The value you think it's worth is immaterial unless you sell it. For example, I think my 4Runner is worth $100K. I can think that all I want but until I SELL it then my value is meaningless.

 

[Brandonium]

Oh yes, almost everything I have has a higher emotional value than it does material. I never buy something thinking 'How well will it sell later'. I just want my next vehicle to last 7/10 years and I enjoy it. My friend has 250k on his Gen4 and it looks brand new. He loves it despite little issues it has developed with age. Every time I see something labeled as 'RARE' on ebay I roll my eyes.

It doesn't matter. All 4Runners will hold about 70% of their residual value after 3 years. Very few people out there that are looking for late model used 4Runners will pay more for a "rare" model lol. Now, they might be LOOKING for a rare model but they won't pay more for it.

As far as keeping it and thinking that it's worth more because it's "rare?" The value you think it's worth is immaterial unless you sell it. For example, I think my 4Runner is worth $100K. I can think that all I want but until I SELL it then my value is meaningless.

 

[Jernik]

Stealing/"claim to borrow" I wouldn't support at all.

I do think that the deception of more mainstream activities would sell (camping, light off roading, fishing, kayaking). Other than Jeep and Subaru, I can't think of any other recent "active/rugged" life-style automotive marketing.

Actually I vaguely remember some when they first launched the Chevy Colorado.

I do remember all those X-Terra commercials playing Lenny Kravits! I just graduated from high school and it really made me want one of those.

Edit: but yes, the heavily modified stuff, would likely scare many people away.

I can see the commercial in my mind... could be a series of them (if Toyota uses these, that is OK, just please remember who gave you the idea! Although, I think it may have been done before? lol).

Anyway, commercial starts with 4Runner somewhere like moab in a very technical, dangerous offroad situation, Dad calmly at the wheel while the wife and kids are all screaming/freaking out. Fade out (dad snapping out of daydream) back to family calmly sitting in rush hour traffic - or at stopsign in nice subdivision. Then voice over something like "Not that you'd ever do it, but it's nice to know you could".

For the series, just swap out the location/fantasy (like the Allstate "Mayhem" commercials).

 

[007Tacoma]

...Anyway, commercial starts with 4Runner somewhere like moab in a very technical, dangerous offroad situation, Dad calmly at the wheel while the wife and kids are all screaming/freaking out. Fade out (dad snapping out of daydream) back to family calmly sitting in rush hour traffic - or at stopsign in nice subdivision. Then voice over something like "Not that you'd ever do it, but it's nice to know you could".

For the series, just swap out the location/fantasy (like the Allstate "Mayhem" commercials).

:iagree:

I love that! Except my wife and son would be egging me on to take the 4R somewhere I don't want to go because I haven't put on enough armor (skids/sliders) yet. My dog would be the only one freaking out because she can't sleep.

 

[Knight-Errant]

I can see the commercial in my mind... could be a series of them (if Toyota uses these, that is OK, just please remember who gave you the idea! Although, I think it may have been done before? lol).

Anyway, commercial starts with 4Runner somewhere like moab in a very technical, dangerous offroad situation, Dad calmly at the wheel while the wife and kids are all screaming/freaking out. Fade out (dad snapping out of daydream) back to family calmly sitting in rush hour traffic - or at stopsign in nice subdivision. Then voice over something like "Not that you'd ever do it, but it's nice to know you could".

For the series, just swap out the location/fantasy (like the Allstate "Mayhem" commercials).

Hahaha! This had me laugh out loud! I want to see this commercial made!

 

[CoolMax]

How about that roof basket?

 

[05Rrunner]

The seats look like two tone , grey and black

 

[jwkilgore]

:iagree:

I love that! Except my wife and son would be egging me on to take the 4R somewhere I don't want to go because I haven't put on enough armor (skids/sliders) yet. My dog would be the only one freaking out because she can't sleep.

I'm the opposite. My wife would be freaking out, thinking I'd break "her" vehicle (it's "mine", but I drive our older vehicle because I have the longer commute). Because she is freaking out, my kids would be feeding off her freak-out. I'd be the one trying to convince them that I know my vehicle can climb that hill/ford that river because I drove this trail alone last week! And my wife's no-training spoiled fluff-ball of a mutt isn't allowed on my trips.

I've learned that if I want to enjoy an outing with my kids I have to take only one at a time. My oldest is really scared of heights (like a narrow road cut into the side of an extremely steep hill), but he is also brave and can be convinced that things are safe if I take it slow. My youngest is a real dare-devil, but he is quick to feed off fear generated by others.

I'd love to see that commercial.