4th Gen better than 5th according to Consumer Reports

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It was supposed to be a christmas present for the family(5th gen) last 2010. We are due for a replacement outing vehicle. For me, I just wanna look badboy as the 5th gen looks rugged than the 4th. When wifey feel the difference right after first test drive...yes ofcourse i know..

Consumers, feel it..you will not be talking to them about tourqe, moon tracktion control, super rear locker, ninja crawl contol etc.

But here and other forums..I salute the 5th gen, being the most capable in the 4runner lineup...that if we are talking about purely vehicle features and not including driver skills.
 
Yota is just trying to save money, what do you expect? When they removed the auto start & integrated antenna, I knew things were going downhill. Well expect the 2012 to be lower and 2013 even lower especially given the tsunami...
 
I have always greatly preferred the look of the 4th gen to any other truck. The 5th gen just doesn't do it for me. To be fair, I have never driven one. I have a good friend who is a service manager at a Toyota dealership and off the record, he is worried about Toyota's quality during the last couple of years. My 2003 only has 49,000 miles, so I plan to keep it for a very long time.
 
rockwall said:
I have always greatly preferred the look of the 4th gen to any other truck. The 5th gen just doesn't do it for me. To be fair, I have never driven one. I have a good friend who is a service manager at a Toyota dealership and off the record, he is worried about Toyota's quality during the last couple of years. My 2003 only has 49,000 miles, so I plan to keep it for a very long time.
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+1.

100% Agree. The fifth generation is a terrible looking vehicle. And the Fit Finish is not near the 4th Gen. Sorry 5th Gen Owners!

I hope For the 6th Gen Yota gets it Right.
 
A year ago my 2008 sport got totaled. well I went to test drive a 2010.. I ended up with another 2008, but limited this time. I was not impressed at all with the 2010.. and I really wanted to like it. Felt weak compared to the V8 I had, and just didn't feel as well built.
 
Hate to say it but Toyota needs to move production of the 4runner to NA. The weak yen combined with the import taxes on Japanese manufactured trucks must be eating into their margins and the only way to counteract that is to decontent and cut corners on materials, the first of which we have seen and the second of which I fear may become evident down the line. I wonder if recent events in Japan may drive Toyota to make that decision sooner rather than later.
 
borgzman said:
It was supposed to be a christmas present for the family(5th gen) last 2010. We are due for a replacement outing vehicle. For me, I just wanna look badboy as the 5th gen looks rugged than the 4th.
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"looks rugged"? It looks BOX-Y and has lost a LOT of features. One of the guys at my place of employment has one, and i dont see it as rugged. Perhaps im biased, but understand that i was super-excited when Toyota was going to unveil the 5th gen....but i was very disappointed. I test drove a Limited and a Trail Edition.

Im not surprsed at all by the Consumer Reports article. I know that some in here offer a retorte of "those CR jerks dont know anything!" Umm....if they didnt know anything, they wouldnt have one of the more trusted and knowledgeable resources for consumers.

To those people i ask, "what's next? Your dad can beat up my dad?"
 
zerowkul98 said:
"looks rugged"? It looks BOX-Y and has lost a LOT of features. One of the guys at my place of employment has one, and i dont see it as rugged. Perhaps im biased, but understand that i was super-excited when Toyota was going to unveil the 5th gen....but i was very disappointed. I test drove a Limited and a Trail Edition.

Im not surprsed at all by the Consumer Reports article. I know that some in here offer a retorte of "those CR jerks dont know anything!" Umm....if they didnt know anything, they wouldnt have one of the more trusted and knowledgeable resources for consumers.

To those people i ask, "what's next? Your dad can beat up my dad?"
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This is how I feel also. I test drove three 5th gens over the last 2 years trying to convince myself to buy one and was disapointed everytime. I kept trying to tell myself to test another one with a open unbiased mind but at the end of the test drive I was glad to get back in my V8 4th gen. When I buy a new vehicle I feel I should be gaining features,power etc. not loosing them. Man I love my V8!
 
zerowkul98 said:
"looks rugged"? It looks BOX-Y and has lost a LOT of features."
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The Trail Grade 5th Gen IMO looks rugged, with the "angry look" headlight
(my 2003 with unpainted fenders and claddings also looks bad boy LOL!)

Once we parked our V8 4th Gen and 15 mins later, we're behind the wheel of a 4x4 SR5 5th Gen...so "this is it!".. 1st stop, the quickness and the solid feel is not there! wifey with a faint smile stared at me LOL! 2nd stop, U turn back to the lot.

2-3 mpg difference? ammm NO. Space? ahem..NO..I'll just pass..pass
:)

I do admit I love the look of the 5th Gen trail.
 
borgzman said:
The Trail Grade 5th Gen IMO looks rugged, with the "angry look" headlight
(my 2003 with unpainted fenders and claddings also looks bad boy LOL!)

Once we parked our V8 4th Gen and 15 mins later, we're behind the wheel of a 4x4 SR5 5th Gen...so "this is it!".. 1st stop, the quickness and the solid feel is not there! wifey with a faint smile stared at me LOL! 2nd stop, U turn back to the lot.

2-3 mpg difference? ammm NO. Space? ahem..NO..I'll just pass..pass
:)

I do admit I love the look of the 5th Gen trail.
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I liked the looks of the trail edition I tested also but no auto temp control or torsen dif killed it for me. My wife complained about no running board, hamburger tray and they even took away the pull strap to lower the hatch. She is short and cannot reach the hatch without the strap.
 
I get to test drive lots of 4Runners working at a Dealership and honestly, I like the 5th Gen as a city going SUV, maybe some dirt roads... but I just can't see the vehicle really holding up on the trail as well as its previous itinerations. The 5th gen has grown on me in terms of apperance, but the lack of the V8 option makes me sad. Also the fit and finish of the vehicle is okay... but honestly for $40k I would expect a little better from Toyota in terms of features...
 
Items Deleted:
1. Gas door cabin release
2. In-glass antenna
3. Storage lids in the back
4. Armrest tray
5. Double din head-unit
6. Functional running boards
7. Turn-key start assist
8. Electronic 4WD actuator
9. And V-8

The value is reduced while the price is the same, which means you get less for your money. What's next cheaper fuel pump, weaker gearbox, smaller radiator or inferior engine? I would not buy less of a car that I already own. I think I'd get a hybrid in 2012 :(
 
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DaveS said:
Hate to say it but Toyota needs to move production of the 4runner to NA. The weak yen combined with the import taxes on Japanese manufactured trucks must be eating into their margins and the only way to counteract that is to decontent and cut corners on materials, the first of which we have seen and the second of which I fear may become evident down the line. I wonder if recent events in Japan may drive Toyota to make that decision sooner rather than later.
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The yen is strong... actually too strong... and the Bank of Japan is trying to deflate it in order to maintain trade.
 
borgzman said:
The Trail Grade 5th Gen IMO looks rugged, with the "angry look" headlight
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I'll respect your opinion on the "looks rugged", but i cant do the same with the "angry look headlights" thing.

You know what else has "angry look" headlights? A YARIS!
2011-Toyota-Yaris-HSD-Concept-front-view.jpg


I'll sum it all up with a quote I like...."Just cuz you pour syrup on sh*t doesnt make it pancakes!"

Another thing about the 5th gen....there is a LOT of surface-area in the front that would knick the hell up, and pretty much requires that 3M clear protective film IMO.
 
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Lincoln named most dependable brand by J.D. Power - Drive On: A conversation about the cars and trucks we drive - USATODAY.com

Vehicle segment winners ranked by quality of 2008 model:

Subcompact car: Honda Fit
Compact car: Toyota Prius
Compact sporty car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Midsized car: Ford Fusion
Midsized sporty car: Ford Mustang
Large car: Buick Lucerne
Compact premium sporty car: Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
Entry premium car: Lincoln MKZ
Midsized premium car: Acura RL
Large premium car: Cadillac DTS
Compact multi-purpose vehicle: Scion xB
Compact crossover or SUV: Honda CR-V
Entry premium crossover or SUV: BMW X3
Midsized crossover or SUV: Toyota 4Runner:trophy:
Midsized premium crossover or SUV: Lexus RX
Large crossover or SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Large premium crossover or SUV: Lincoln Navigator
Midsized pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Large pickup: Toyota Tundra
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
 
Buying a 2008 4Runner, 2wd Limited

I agree with the report. I recently drove the 2011 4runner and was really disappointed by how big and uncomfortable it felt inside. I was evaluating 4runners because I had an accident and needed a new car. After driving the 2011 I decided that I wanted to go with an older model and after much research found a great 2008 Limited Runner with 27K miles, one owner. I went with this one because it still has the look and feel of what I would consider a 4runner. The 5th generations look and feel totally different IMHO.

I am glad to see that the 2008 4 Runner was voted as the most Reliable in it's class because that is exactly why I am buying it. I need something that will not breakdown or be in the shop every other month and to be honest I want to drive it until the wheels fall off.

Thanks for all the information. I pick up my new 4Runner tomorrow and will post pictures when I get them. :biggrin2:
 
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