5th Gen Jury Still Out

[smallfry]

Toyed around with a 2014 Trail tonight at the local Toyota dealer and I'm kind of torn if I like the new 4runners or not (looks aside).

1. At 5'8" the drivers seat just felt like it sat too low and the hood seemed difficult to look over.
2. The rear visibility I thought was lacking i don't know if it was the rear head rest that were in way or the smaller rear side windows but it just felt like it was lacking.
3. Glove box door just seemed really cheap.
4. Interior just seemed overly bulky.
5. Window sill height.
5. Kind of wish the rear storage areas actually a door/cover on them so stuff doesn't fall out.

What I did like
1. Was the overall size of the interior
2. Rear seats recline (didn't know that)
3. Adjustablity of the drivers seat, just wish it went up.
3. Material
4. Lights in the lift gate and multiple areas to pull it back down.

Theses were just the main things that stood out to me and there were other little things but these stood out a little more. Granted maybe if I test drove it I might have a different opinion but I'm kind of 50/50 if I like it or not. I kind of like my 3rd gen a little more truth be told.

I'll probable end up looking at another one this weekend and acutally test drive it instead of playing around with it in the parking lot.

 

[Jeremy556]

My seat is height adjustable?
Rear headrests fold down, and can also be removed easily. Backup camera makes it easy.

 

[1engineer]

Don't fool around with the 5th Gen. Everyone knows that the 4th Gen was the best 4Runner ever. Just buy one of those and be done with it and keep it forever. Don't believe me? Go to the 4th Gen section and ask lol.

 

[JohnJerk]

Sounds like you need to grow a little.

 

[adam2562]

the seat DOES go up.. i can make mine make me feel like a giant it goes so high i'm 5'7"

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

As stated above, you can adjust the seat up. Just pull the back of the seat adjust bar up towards you and the seat will go up. It's this way with a few other manufacturers also.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Don't fool around with the 5th Gen. Everyone knows that the 4th Gen was the best 4Runner ever. Just buy one of those and be done with it and keep it forever. Don't believe me? Go to the 4th Gen section and ask lol.

Is that sarcasm I detect senior Engineer? LoL

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

Is that sarcasm I detect senior Engineer? LoL

No, I'm pretty sure God drives a 4th gen....

 

[VoodooTitan]

No, I'm pretty sure God drives a 4th gen....

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Don't fool around with the 5th Gen. Everyone knows that the 4th Gen was the best 4Runner ever. Just buy one of those and be done with it and keep it forever. Don't believe me? Go to the 4th Gen section and ask lol.

You'd think that, but when I bought my 2003.5 4th Gen all the previous Gen owners were biatching (edited to pass forum filter) just as much, how big it was, this and that. The only thing they did like was the V8. LOL.

It's the same old boring crap with every new Gen.

 

[ant-ny]

Jury is not out for me. I get a little bit of a chubby every time I turn the key. Its by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. Are there a few things I would change? Sure, but nothing is perfect and you live with it.

 

[Sublimize23]

I'm the same height as you. As previously mentioned, yes the seat does go up. The truck rides pretty high even stock from what you might be used to, if you came from a sedan and an old XJ jeep like me. I don't have the seat height even close to the max, my head can basically touch the headliner if I want it to. The window sill height did bother me too at first, and I still think it's a little awkwardly high, but it wasn't a dealbreaker for me and shouldn't be for you. That said I absolutely LOVE my truck and it's the best vehicle I've ever owned too. It really feels durable and heavy duty, and it is. I feel like it's a great value for what it costs too.

 

[smallfry]

Where's the height control? I played around with all the electric controls for the seat and couldn't get it to go up.

Jury is not out for me. I get a little bit of a chubby every time I turn the key. Its by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. Are there a few things I would change? Sure, but nothing is perfect and you live with it.

TMI



The only MallRunner I'd consider owning would be an 09 Trail, if I could find one.

 

[bimrunner]

Where's the height control? I played around with all the electric controls for the seat and couldn't get it to go up.

It is the same control that moves it forward and back. lifting up on the back portion of the control lifts the rear of the seat and the front does the front. The seat goes plenty high. I am a little taller than you but can make the seat go high enough that my head touches the roof.

 

[desertred]

smallfry, before you do anything else, test drive the 5th gen to determine if its the right vehicle for you. It drives substantially different from a 3rd gen. I traded my 2001 3rd gen in on my 2010. I actually liked the handling and "driver feedback" of my 3rd gen over the 5th gen and miss the former quite a bit. However, there is a lot to be said about the 5th gen. I find that the greenhouse area in most new vehicles has been greatly reduced (presumably due to safety enhancements?) and that the window sills are high in everything. However, driving the vehicle will probably tell you very quickly if the 5th gen is something that you want to seriously consider.

 

[smallfry]

smallfry, before you do anything else, test drive the 5th gen to determine if its the right vehicle for you. It drives substantially different from a 3rd gen. I traded my 2001 3rd gen in on my 2010. I actually liked the handling and "driver feedback" of my 3rd gen over the 5th gen and miss the former quite a bit. However, there is a lot to be said about the 5th gen. I find that the greenhouse area in most new vehicles has been greatly reduced (presumably due to safety enhancements?) and that the window sills are high in everything. However, driving the vehicle will probably tell you very quickly if the 5th gen is something that you want to seriously consider.

Ya, I'm going to try and do that this weekend when I'm back in Utah.

 

[tarpon6]

I had 2003 4th gen and traded it in April for a 5th gen SR5 4wd. My 4th gen did not have a single issue in 11 years, other than a cracked dash that I lived with the last couple years. I loved it, but I love my 5th gen even more. I'm sure my 4th gen wasn't riding as good as it did in the beginning after 11 years, but I like the ride better in my 5th gen. Overall that handling didn't seem that much different and I adapted very quickly. I'd say the 4th gen seemed lower to the ground and the handling felt a little more "sporty", while the 5th gen rides higher and seems more truck like. I like it.

BTW I'm just under 6' and can raise the seat until I hit the ceiling. Take it for a drive and pull up on the seat adjustment. It seems that I have less of blind spot on the drivers side than my 4th gen.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

You'd think that, but when I bought my 2003.5 4th Gen all the previous Gen owners were biatching (edited to pass forum filter) just as much, how big it was, this and that. The only thing they did like was the V8. LOL.

It's the same old boring crap with every new Gen.

Do you think when the 3rd Gens came out, all of the 2nd Gen guys complained about how ugly and sucky the 3rd gens are?

 

[Sac State]

For a fat a$$ like me, my 3rd gen seats were medieval torture devices. I could only drive it for about an hour before the circulation in my legs stopped. I sold my '02 because I couldn't stand the pain anymore from the seats (too narrow).

The 4th gen was a welcome addition, especially the wider seats/cab and V8. I only sold the 4th gen because the FJ was released, no issues. I thought the 4th gen was more station wagonish because it sat so low compared to the previous generations and it looked bloated with a ridiculous rake. I added a lift but the overall look was still lacking in my opinion.

The 5th gen in my opinion returns to the body style of the 3rd gen, which is my favorite, but has the wider cab and seats that I liked in the 4th gen. I don't really miss the V8 as I don't tow, so the 4.0 is perfectly fine for me. I find the seating position in the 5th spot-on for me. Lots of headroom (no sunroof) and the overall experience awesome.

I think you should actually drive it before casting judgment. :fishing:

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Do you think when the 3rd Gens came out, all of the 2nd Gen guys complained about how ugly and sucky the 3rd gens are?

Some did but that was soooooo long ago that the Internet was nicer and more respectful (except on Pirate4x4). :smashputer: