5th gen 4Runner: What did Toyota delete from the 4th gen?

[ToyTech99]

Anybody want to make a wild guess as to what the grand total $$$'s of deletions would be? How much do you think Toyota left off the 5th gen as compared to the 4th between the small cheap items like the cable release gas filler door, the mid priced items like the matching alum alloy spare wheel, and the higher priced items like the Torsen CD (I presume this deletion was fairly costly)??

That's sorta the reason I started this thread. I wanted to gather info on all of the things that Toyota got rid of, apparently to save $$$. It's bad enough that they got rid of the in-the-glass antenna and the remote fuel filler door release, but now I learned that the matching spare wheel is gone too? I just think Toyota went a little over the top in their efforts to keep the 4Runner's price low. Almost to the point that they are cheapening the vehicle. I now see the 4Runner almost as a Toyota version of an Nissan Xterra, whereas before I would put the 4Runner above the Xterra in terms of features.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Running boards

Yet another reason to like the 5th gen. I couldn't get the running boards off my 3rd gen fast enough.

 

[M1911]

Yet another reason to like the 5th gen. I couldn't get the running boards off my 3rd gen fast enough.

I actually like mine. The Mrs. uses them to get in. I would never have been able to get her in-laws into the truck without them. I also find them convenient when I'm on the beach, getting my surf rods down off the roof rack without opening the door and tracking sand into the truck.

I don't do rock hopping, so the lost ground clearance isn't a big deal for me -- offroading on the beach is my main activity with the truck.

 

[PredBlue]

Yet another reason to like the 5th gen. I couldn't get the running boards off my 3rd gen fast enough.

True enough, except that's another roughly $200-300 (??) less of equipment left off eventhough you are still paying for it with the new 5th gen pricing.

(Oddly enough other than for the less agile/flexible "seniors" in the family who do use it, my main use of the running boards is for loading things on the roof rack. Of course with Toyota getting rid of the roof rack cross bars, I guess I wouldn't really need the running boards as much).

But back to the main point, Toyota is holding the prices---just giving you less.

 

[Co.Ag.2005]

Those two items were on all 4th gen 4Runners.

3- LED taillights
4- Projector headlights

I thought these items were just on 2006-2009 4runners, not all 4th gen? regardless, I wish they were on the 5th gen 4Rs

 

[Co.Ag.2005]

my main use of the running boards is for loading things on the roof rack

same here. I'm 5'7" and need the running boards to put my skis in my Yakima ski rack (especially after I put a spacer lift on this winter)

 

[alaskaman]

Dang. good thing I got the 07 SE with back mirrors, running boards, Torsen diff, etc etc etc............:wtf:

 

[peter78]

Wow this topic is depressing.

It does look like there are some changes to cut cost, but there are a few things on my 3rd that are not on my 4th gen.

1.) I have a door lock for my key on the passenger side front door on my 3rd gen. It is not on the 4th.

2.) I have heated rearview mirrors that are color coded on my base model 3rd gen. On my base model 4th gen. the mirrors are black and not heated.

3.) I have three plug ins for 12 volts items in the front and one in the back of the car in my 3rd gen. My 4th has one 12 volt plug in in the front and one in the rear.

But the 4th has better seats, also the rear seat is 60 / 40 split intead of the 50 / 50 split in the 3rd.

The 4th has adjustable cup holders that have a built in light. Ok, not a big deal, but some things are different, not better or worse, but different, like the powered antenna on the 3rd, but in the glass antenna in the 4th.

My guess is there are some changes for the worse or cheaper in the 5th, but some things will be better.

 

[4Funnr]

What? So you're saying that only the Limited models now have a fullsize matching spare? Did Toyota put a generic steel wheel on the rest of the 5th gen models?

All 4runners still have underbody mounted full-size spares. This is listed in the specs at Toyota.com and you can see them in the photographs as well.

 

[progress4m]

Wow this topic is depressing.

:iagree:

 

[GMZ]

All 4runners still have underbody mounted full-size spares. This is listed in the specs at Toyota.com and you can see them in the photographs as well.

Ok fullsize but is it a matching wheel (alloy) or is it a steelie?

From cmar's Atl pictures it looks like the rear wiper was deleted unless its mounted up high under the spoiler now.

 

[noonan28105]

The spoiler is now standard and part of the truck with the guts to the rear wiper system up under neath it.

Yes the wiper is still there it just hangs above the window now

 

[ToyTech99]

I thought these items were just on 2006-2009 4runners, not all 4th gen? regardless, I wish they were on the 5th gen 4Rs

Yeah, that's what I said. You must have misread my post.

 

[ToyTech99]

It does look like there are some changes to cut cost, but there are a few things on my 3rd that are not on my 4th gen.

1.) I have a door lock for my key on the passenger side front door on my 3rd gen. It is not on the 4th.

.

That's not surprising at all. Most new cars don't even have locks on the passenger side door anymore. And that makes perfect sense because nobody uses the key to get in these days. My 4Runner key has only been used in the ignition, never once in any of the doors. So as far as I'm concerned, they can eliminate the locks altogether. Well, maybe just leave one so that if my keyfob battery dies, I can still get into my 4Runner.

 

[ToyTech99]

The spoiler is now standard and part of the truck with the guts to the rear wiper system up under neath it.

Yes the wiper is still there it just hangs above the window now

Well, that is definitely an upgrade in my book. I like the idea of a rear spoiler being standard across the board, and I love the idea of the rear wiper being hidden up under it. That's just like the Land Rover Range Rover's rear wiper. You can't even tell it's there until it is in use.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Wow this topic is depressing.

Depends on your viewpoint, I guess. I don't find it depressing at all. :shrug:

Seems to me like Toyota is getting the 4runner back to its roots as a rugged, off-road capable SUV.

If you don't go off road and want full time 4wd plus the 3rd row seat, Toyota will be happy to sell you a Highlander or a RAV4.

If you pull a big trailer and need that V-8 power, Toyota will be happy to sell you a Sequoia.

If you demand all the bling and are willing to pay for it, Toyota will sell you a Lexus GX (AKA Prado) or a 200 series LC.

As for the price, we won't really know what the price is until they start selling. Few vehicles sell at MSRP unless they're in high demand. My guess is that like the FJC the 5th gen 4runner will be in high demand for a while and then as demand tapers off we can expect prices to fall.

Also, depending on whether the economy rebounds and/or gas prices stay low, I could see Toyota introducing a V8 option in a year or so. Ditto for the multimode T-case.

My only gripe would be that the rear locker will apparently only be on the TE model which will account for a small portion of the total made, meaning that when these vehicles hit the used market, the vast majority will be SR5s without the rear locker. Of course, for most of its life the 4th gen wasn't even available with a rear locker, so it's not like that's a huge negative. And obviously anybody who really wants a rear locker can add an ARB unit for around $1k, so, really that's a minor quibble.

It will be interesting to see how ARB and the other aftermarket companies figure out how to outfit the 5th gen.

 

[4Funnr]

Ok fullsize but is it a matching wheel (alloy) or is it a steelie?

From cmar's Atl pictures it looks like the rear wiper was deleted unless its mounted up high under the spoiler now.

I think it's just a steel spare wheel with a matching stock tire.

Also, all 4runners have rear windshields but they are tucked up top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ3n11WCwCE

 

[Co.Ag.2005]

Yeah, that's what I said. You must have misread my post.

I did misread it. I read the "these 2 are on all 4th gen" and then associated it with the bullet points below the statement (when it applied to the bullets above). I posted early this morning with not much sleep last night

my bad

 

[GMZ]

The spoiler is now standard and part of the truck with the guts to the rear wiper system up under neath it.

Yes the wiper is still there it just hangs above the window now

Well thats pretty damn cool!

I think it's just a steel spare wheel with a matching stock tire.

Also, all 4runners have rear windshields but they are tucked up top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ3n11WCwCE

Bye bye to 5 tire rotations.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Depends on your viewpoint, I guess. I don't find it depressing at all. :shrug:

Seems to me like Toyota is getting the 4runner back to its roots as a rugged, off-road capable SUV.

If you don't go off road and want full time 4wd plus the 3rd row seat, Toyota will be happy to sell you a Highlander or a RAV4.

If you pull a big trailer and need that V-8 power, Toyota will be happy to sell you a Sequoia.

If you demand all the bling and are willing to pay for it, Toyota will sell you a Lexus GX (AKA Prado) or a 200 series LC.

I agree with those points;it seems Toyota might be narrowing the target buyers with the 5th gen since they already have 5 other SUVs and a minivan to fill pretty much every need. I also think the rumors will be true that Toyota will discontinue the FJ in the next couple of years which will send alot of those potential buyers to the 4Runner.
I'm sure Toyota will lose some buyers to other brands but it's the risk they are willing to take considering the uncertain future of the economy.