STX4Runner
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Troll or joking? Thanks for contributing something useful to this thread. I wish there was a dislike button.
4x4 or 4x2
- Thread starter Kinetic
- Start date
Troll or joking? Thanks for contributing something useful to this thread. I wish there was a dislike button.
delloro
New member
it's called "ignore" and it's awesome.
Lester Lugnut
New member
Most automotive forums require participants to be at least 13 yrs. of age.
It would appear that you somehow managed to bypass that requirement.
I don't understand the point of a 2WD 4Runner. I truly don't.
I have an '03 V8 4x4 Limited that I bought new, and have put about 160k on it. I've also test driven a 5th Gen Limited. My 4th gen drives pretty well, for a truck. It handles pretty well, for a truck. It rides pretty well, for a truck. It brakes pretty well, for a truck.
But there is no disguising the fact that it is a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. For about two weeks last year, I was driving a 2013 Camry loaner, while Toyota replaced the frame on my 4th Gen. Now a Camry is not a good handling car. But every time I got into that Camry, I remarked about how much easier it was to drive than my 4Runner, how much better it braked, how much better it handled, and how much better it rode. And that was just a plain-vanilla, low-spec Camry.
I put up with the 4Runner's terrible dynamic behavior because I take it offroad for two weeks ever summer. And I don't have to worry about the 4Runner while bouncing around on the dirt roads at the gun club. Nor do I have to worry about getting around in the frequent snow storms here in Boston (I do run snow tires in the winter).
But if you don't need need the 4Runner's 4x4 capability, why would you put up with its horrible dynamic behavior? If all you want is a big, tall station wagon, then get a front-wheel-drive Toyota Highlander. It will drive better than the 4Runner and has more room. Or swallow your pride and get a minivan.
Last winter, while I was expecting to have to replace my 4Runner due to frame rust, I test drove a number of vehicles. One that I test drove was a Mercedes ML350. It is a much different vehicle than the 4Runner. Like the Highlander, the ML350 is a unibody crossover (though it can be ordered with a center diff and a low range). That ML350 drove so much better than the 4Runner. It was remarkable. I'd bet that the Highlander drives much better than the 4Runner as well. Now, if you plan to do a lot of offroading, then I think the 4Runner is a far better vehicle than either the ML or Highlander. And both the Highlander and 4Runner are likely more reliable (and far cheaper) than the ML. But since you are looking at a 2WD 4Runner, then you aren't interested in going offroad.
So why aren't you looking at front-wheel-drive crossovers?
I have an '03 V8 4x4 Limited that I bought new, and have put about 160k on it. I've also test driven a 5th Gen Limited. My 4th gen drives pretty well, for a truck. It handles pretty well, for a truck. It rides pretty well, for a truck. It brakes pretty well, for a truck.
But there is no disguising the fact that it is a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. For about two weeks last year, I was driving a 2013 Camry loaner, while Toyota replaced the frame on my 4th Gen. Now a Camry is not a good handling car. But every time I got into that Camry, I remarked about how much easier it was to drive than my 4Runner, how much better it braked, how much better it handled, and how much better it rode. And that was just a plain-vanilla, low-spec Camry.
I put up with the 4Runner's terrible dynamic behavior because I take it offroad for two weeks ever summer. And I don't have to worry about the 4Runner while bouncing around on the dirt roads at the gun club. Nor do I have to worry about getting around in the frequent snow storms here in Boston (I do run snow tires in the winter).
But if you don't need need the 4Runner's 4x4 capability, why would you put up with its horrible dynamic behavior? If all you want is a big, tall station wagon, then get a front-wheel-drive Toyota Highlander. It will drive better than the 4Runner and has more room. Or swallow your pride and get a minivan.
Last winter, while I was expecting to have to replace my 4Runner due to frame rust, I test drove a number of vehicles. One that I test drove was a Mercedes ML350. It is a much different vehicle than the 4Runner. Like the Highlander, the ML350 is a unibody crossover (though it can be ordered with a center diff and a low range). That ML350 drove so much better than the 4Runner. It was remarkable. I'd bet that the Highlander drives much better than the 4Runner as well. Now, if you plan to do a lot of offroading, then I think the 4Runner is a far better vehicle than either the ML or Highlander. And both the Highlander and 4Runner are likely more reliable (and far cheaper) than the ML. But since you are looking at a 2WD 4Runner, then you aren't interested in going offroad.
So why aren't you looking at front-wheel-drive crossovers?
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wfo9
New member
It's all opinion.... Using my wife as an example. She hates the feeling of driving a Camary. We tried a crossover and she hated it also. She had a 2wd Tahoe and now a 2wd GMC Denali crew cab. She loves the way those type of full size trucks drive. Plus they have fantastic utility and can tow very well.... Although a 2wd 4 runner lacks a bit on the power, it still has great utility and feels rock solid and safe on the road. There is obviously a good amount of demand for them. Not my personal choice, but I can see the point and value.
Funny how this really grates on some guys who have 4WD and would like to deport all of us who own 2WD 4Runners.
I have a 2WD Limited and don't have any issues with "horrible dynamic behavior", whatever that is. In fact, the XREAS in the LE makes it a great vehicle for cornering, driving on pavement, etc. It's a great looking vehicle, has terrific options available, and is an overall awesome vehicle no matter whether you get 2WD or 4WD. It's a PERSONAL CHOICE.
Jeez...c'mon guys not everyone has the same tastes. Some of us like our stock 4R without all the over the top MODS. Not everyone likes to offroad in their 4R with a gun stuffed in the center console.
OP, you made a sound decision. The 2WD will serve you well and you will have no issue with resale here in TX.
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This is kind of like Limited owners saying " Oh you only bought an SR5". I went 2wd and sure every now and then I think I should have gotten 4WD but heck, I have a big truck for towing, and when it's time to replace it I will be getting a big 4wd truck. I don't want to mess up my limited.
Mine is a Limited. It used to have XREAS. Every time I drive a car, it reminds me how much better a car handles than a 4Runner. No, a Limited is not a great vehicle for cornering. It's limits are quite low, in the region of 0.71g. Even a Toyota Camry, which is not in any way a sporty car, will pull 0.8g on a skid pad. The 4Runner corners well for a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. But it doesn't corner well in comparison to a car. It can't. It has a much higher center of gravity, all-season SUV tires, and a soft suspension.
The 4Runner drives well, for a truck. But it is a body-on-frame truck, with a solid rear axle. It has a high center of gravity. It has very low cornering limits. It doesn't change direction well. It doesn't ride that well, as it has a great deal of unsprung weight in the back due to the solid rear axle. Braking distances are long.
All of those are facts. That dynamic behavior is what comes with a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. Now, if you need a body-on-frame, solid-rear axle truck, then you accept that behavior. But if you don't need a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck, there are better alternatives.
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No, actually, much of it is not opinion. The low cornering limit of the 4Runner is not an opinion. The long braking distances of the 4Runner is not an opinion. The fact that a solid-rear-axle vehicle has higher unsprung weight than an independent rear suspension, and thus has a worse ride, is not an opinion. The high center of gravity of a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck is not an opinion.
Now, if you need the capability of a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck, for something like towing, then you put up with that behavior. Of course, a 5th gen 4Runner doesn't exactly have a high towing limit -- only 5,000 lbs, IIRC.
As for it feeling "safe on the road", a 4Runner has a higher center of gravity than most any crossover, and is thus more likely to rollover in an accident. And rollovers are very dangerous accidents. That is why the 4WD 4Runner has a 3 star rollover rating and the Highlander has a 4 star rollover rating.
If you like to drive a truck because you like trucks, that's fine. But don't kid yourself that it drives better than a car or a crossover -- it doesn't.
It's your money. Buy what you want. But I suggest that you also test drive a crossover. It may not be as "manly", but it will most likely drive better.
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wfo9
New member
Do you understand the concept of consumers voting with their money. It is called a preference. Just because they don't value the same things you do does not make them ignorant... Wake up and step out of your myopic world.
Lester Lugnut
New member
Toyota's marketing people understand it very well. They exist because they sell. Not everyone wants a 2WD SUV that rides like a car. Some of us like the look and feel of a big SUV. We get that in a 4 Runner.
LAB4US
New member
Wow, this is a really odd group of owners here...almost like the mustang v-8 vs v-6 snobs. I would think the fact that any 4Runner owner is supporting future 4Runner R&D would be enough.
Why did I get a 4x2? Because it's what "I" wanted, not to appease others. And having traded in a 370Z on my 4R I can unequivocally state that this 4R rides 1000% better, is 1000% quieter, (Both road noise and I don't hear every pebble and rock hit the bottom of the vehicle), and it is MUCH easier for both my wife and I to get into and out of. I will also verify the 370Z was much faster and cornered 1000% better...but that would be said of any SUV it ran against.
I also know I will likely never off road, I wanted an SUV, Japanese build quality, reliability, and resale value. I could be mistaken, but the other options are all US made (or German or other countries not Japan).
In the end, OP, buy what you want to buy...while others can offer opinions, they are not you, don't know what will truly make you happy, and, as you can see, they are going to fall into the camps of defending what they own as "the better choice". Plus, as a final observation, "they" won't be paying your car note!
Caveat...I reserve the right to decide if I want a 4WD in the future, should I want one. :driving:
Why did I get a 4x2? Because it's what "I" wanted, not to appease others. And having traded in a 370Z on my 4R I can unequivocally state that this 4R rides 1000% better, is 1000% quieter, (Both road noise and I don't hear every pebble and rock hit the bottom of the vehicle), and it is MUCH easier for both my wife and I to get into and out of. I will also verify the 370Z was much faster and cornered 1000% better...but that would be said of any SUV it ran against.
I also know I will likely never off road, I wanted an SUV, Japanese build quality, reliability, and resale value. I could be mistaken, but the other options are all US made (or German or other countries not Japan).
In the end, OP, buy what you want to buy...while others can offer opinions, they are not you, don't know what will truly make you happy, and, as you can see, they are going to fall into the camps of defending what they own as "the better choice". Plus, as a final observation, "they" won't be paying your car note!
Caveat...I reserve the right to decide if I want a 4WD in the future, should I want one. :driving:
So I'm going to keep my 2012 4WD SR5. I like knowing I have the option of 4WD and hopefully will get into the off-roading scene in the near future.
It's interesting to hear all of the varied feedback. Apparently there are some VERY different 4Runner owners out there. And like someone else said, as long as we're all buying them, they will hopefully keep improving them!
It's interesting to hear all of the varied feedback. Apparently there are some VERY different 4Runner owners out there. And like someone else said, as long as we're all buying them, they will hopefully keep improving them!
