5th gen may be last 4runner?

[CutthroatSlam]

Great point and I guess this is the right time to disclose that we also have a 2017 Highlander LE and the wife loves it.
She drove a 2000 4runner SR5 before that for 275k miles.

My wife has put 122K miles on her 5th Gen bought in September 2014. Based on her needs, a crossover unibody construction SUV was not going to cut it. She is an active offroader, geocacher and fly fisher in retirement. I'm still working and I get photos and texts from her while I'm on business travel. Last time she was sending me photos of moon rise in area 51 of Nevada where she was geocaching and camping with the dogs, while I was working on an assignment in NY. Tomorrow she takes off to Missoula, MT to look at a possible retirement ranch home for purchase. Dogs and fly rods going with her. I'm back to work on Monday.

 

[TrDpRo_J]

Totally don't care. Just bought a 2018 BOF with a bullet proof 4.0. 5th gen has been in production for 8 years now with one refresh. Parts will be available for the rest of my life. So as long as I don't total it and as long as it doesn't get stolen I am good. This runner will do everything I want to do for as long as I want to do it.:rockon:

Amen to that!

 

[DZNUTS]

I think she's a toyota sponsored athlete and probably got that thing for free. I wish my wife got a PRO for free.

All of the ‘Toyota athletes’ have their cars loaned to them. The pictures on the Toyota page note that [emoji6]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GatorFL]

My neighbor has a 16. Other than no off road ability it is a much easier, smoother, quieter, quicker drive for normal use though.

Disagree on most of the above.

We bought a Highlander a year ago and sold our 2010 4Runner Limited. My first drive in the Highlander, I turned to the wife and said "this doesn't drive as good as the 4Runner" and she agreed. It's not as smooth or as quick, it's probably quieter.

I get my new 4Runner next week.

 

[VTOL_Yoda]

Quotes from dealership discussions I heard yesterday:

"The 5th Gen may be that last 4Runner ever...
"Better buy one now, because this may be the last of its type"

So now the dealer's are using these what-if rumors as sales tactics.

 

[Jetboy]

People who rode around in child seats in a 4th gen will be old enough to drive and even BUY the 6th generation which would share the same architecture and even maybe the same damn engine.

What part of the suspension would you change. It's still the best design out there. It could use a few tweaks, namely rear coilovers. Otherwise, what else would you change?

WRT engine the only thing the current 1gr shares with the old version is crank shaft bearings. 2010 was a new block, new heads, new crank, new pistons, etc. Imo it should have changed name. Nothing about it other than size is the same. Not even the casting.

The transmission - yeah. It has to go.

Edit: I'm not being argumentative, just curious what people really want. I was generally in the same thought that its outdated, but after considering the world of options, the changes I'd want are all incremental. Nothing significant is realistic even with a blank canvas. The only real changes I'd like is a higher gear count transmission with more range - specifically the 8at with the 4.5 first gear. And maybe a little better balance in the engine. Possibly add one or two inches to the front control arms and extend the wheel base closer to the corners. But those are mostly minor edits. You can't do much better in the rear suspension or the front design overall without sacrificing the road manners.

 

[00Sebby]

We looked at the FJ and settled on the 4Runner. You give up nothing in performance with the 4Runner, yet grab a ton more space and function without the stupid suicide doors and blind spots.

I loved the FJ from the driver's seat forward. I hated the back seats, suicide doors, lack of rear visibility and any rear roll down windows, etc. Therefore, 4Runner won.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

I'd love to see a solid front axle again but that's very unlikely. Would also love to see a V8 as an option again but who knows. I highly doubt the 4R will go away any time soon.

 

[rkwfxd]

My wife has put 122K miles on her 5th Gen bought in September 2014. Based on her needs, a crossover unibody construction SUV was not going to cut it. She is an active offroader, geocacher and fly fisher in retirement. I'm still working and I get photos and texts from her while I'm on business travel. Last time she was sending me photos of moon rise in area 51 of Nevada where she was geocaching and camping with the dogs, while I was working on an assignment in NY. Tomorrow she takes off to Missoula, MT to look at a possible retirement ranch home for purchase. Dogs and fly rods going with her. I'm back to work on Monday.

I have similar plans. I will be retired May of 2019 if not a few months sooner. I bought this vehicle to have fun in retirement. My wife says she is going to keep working but once I start sending photos of moon rises and fun stuff like that, I am sure she will see the light.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I have similar plans. I will be retired May of 2019 if not a few months sooner. I bought this vehicle to have fun in retirement. My wife says she is going to keep working but once I start sending photos of moon rises and fun stuff like that, I am sure she will see the light.

She is older than me (15 years). I continue to work, even though financially I could have retired years ago. I like my job (Large Bank Credit Specialist -Federal Reserve) and mentally have committed to working at least 5 years (3 years left). I would have to work 8 more years to get lifetime medical. Not sure I want to do that, though they have indicated that I can work remote when I'm done with the current 5 year assignment. That remote could be from Missoula Montana. Just need to be near an airport. Would be nice to clock Los Angeles pay while living in Montana.

You're in Whittier, CA which is just North of me. I am just below Harbor and Imperial. Got an old horse property in Sunnyhills part of Fullerton.

 

[rkwfxd]

She is older than me (15 years). I continue to work, even though financially I could have retired years ago. I like my job (Large Bank Credit Specialist -Federal Reserve) and mentally have committed to working at least 5 years (3 years left). I would have to work 8 more years to get lifetime medical. Not sure I want to do that, though they have indicated that I can work remote when I'm done with the current 5 year assignment. That remote could be from Missoula Montana. Just need to be near an airport. Would be nice to clock Los Angeles pay while living in Montana.

You're in Whittier, CA which is just North of me. I am just below Harbor and Imperial. Got an old horse property in Sunnyhills part of Fullerton.

That's a great area. We are over by the Chiropractor college Imperial / First.

I'd actually like to stay here in retirement but my daughter and her boyfriend/future husband keep talking about moving to Oregon. I personally really like Tennessee.

OK back OT - One reason I pulled the trigger and bought the 2018 Runner is that I am concerned the next gen will have some sort of forced induction and/or a smaller 3.0 engine to meet the tariffs in China. I personally think the current 4.0 5 speed is a batter platform than the 3.5 in the Taco and at the very least, I fear them going to that power plant.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

That's a great area. We are over by the Chiropractor college Imperial / First.

I'd actually like to stay here in retirement but my daughter and her boyfriend/future husband keep talking about moving to Oregon. I personally really like Tennessee.

OK back OT - One reason I pulled the trigger and bought the 2018 Runner is that I am concerned the next gen will have some sort of forced induction and/or a smaller 3.0 engine to meet the tariffs in China. I personally think the current 4.0 5 speed is a batter platform than the 3.5 in the Taco and at the very least, I fear them going to that power plant.

Is it the current generation Taco that has the transmission that people hate?

 

[DesertCanyons]

4Runner here for a while yet

What part of the suspension would you change? It's still the best design out there. It could use a few tweaks, namely rear coilovers. Otherwise, what else would you change?

Edit: I'm not being argumentative, just curious what people really want. I was generally in the same thought that its outdated, but after considering the world of options, the changes I'd want are all incremental. Nothing significant is realistic even with a blank canvas. The only real changes I'd like is a higher gear count transmission with more range - specifically the 8at with the 4.5 first gear. And maybe a little better balance in the engine. Possibly add one or two inches to the front control arms and extend the wheel base closer to the corners. But those are mostly minor edits. You can't do much better in the rear suspension or the front design overall without sacrificing the road manners.

Interesting comments [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION]
I'd agree with extending the travel of the front control arms, if it's possible without detracting from the street ride quality. Toyota is not going to sacrifice street performance for us off-road junkies.
I would be happy with a 6 speed manual trans' option. I'd buy an 8 speed automatic if I could have the sport mode to control shifting, if it works like what we have now. Being able to set the highest gear and let it downshift as needed is better than what most cars offer in sport mode.
I don't see coil over shocks for the rear so log as we have a solid axle. It's not an advantage, IMHO.
If you push the axles outward, fore and aft, then the break-over angle gets lower. I scrape the center more than I do the front or rear. No thanks.

I don't see the 4Runner going away any time soon. It may change and add features but a BOF off-road vehicle is a rare animal today. Only a Jeep Wrangler can compare to the 4Runner in off-road capability and the T4R is a much better DD, camping and travelling vehicle. The T4R bridges the wide gap between the Jeep and a more expensive Land Cruiser or Range Rover.

I looked long and hard at the Jeep before deciding it was only slightly more capable but a rough, noisy ride and that the 4Runner was much better. I made the right choice for me.

 

[rkwfxd]

Is it the 5th generation Taco that has the transmission that people hate?

I believe so, the latest edition which I think they refer to as the 4th. But don't quote me on that.

 

[rsimi72]

I believe so, the latest edition which I think they refer to as the 4th. But don't quote me on that.

3rd gen Tacoma is the latest version. With the 6-speed.

 

[Jeffy]

Is it the 5th generation Taco that has the transmission that people hate?

I believe so, the latest edition which I think they refer to as the 4th. But don't quote me on that.

The current gen Taco is the 3rd gen. Yes, that's the one with the tranny everyone hates.


I highly doubt (and sincerely hope) Toyota never stops making 4Runners. It has been an iconic vehicle since day 1, continues to fill a corner of the market, and the sales numbers are very high for a vehicle that is inarguably outdated in many aspects. If Toyota drops a solid and reliable engine/ transmission combination into the 6th gen, they'll guarantee themselves at least another 6 years of good sales, especially if they throw in a popular redesign to the body and interior. If they drop in the Tacoma failures, I'll just be happy that my 5th gen will last long enough for them to (hopefully) fix their mistakes by gen 7.

 

[Dalko43]

WRT engine the only thing the current 1gr shares with the old version is crank shaft bearings. 2010 was a new block, new heads, new crank, new pistons, etc. Imo it should have changed name. Nothing about it other than size is the same. Not even the casting.

The transmission - yeah. It has to go.

No, they were absolutely right to call it the same engine. I understand that Toyota may have updated certain parts of the engine, but the fundamental platform, design and output characteristics (to include the crappy fuel economy) is pretty much the same.

The 4.0l v6 in the 5th gen is extremely similar that in the 4th gen, to the point where it would require nit-picking to highlight the real differences.

IMHO, the gasoline engines are the main drawback to these otherwise stalwart and rugged vehicles. They offer mediocre fuel economy, mediocre towing, mediocre acceleration (compared to other 4x4's and trucks). You start putting any amount of load/modifications into the 4runner and the already crappy mpg goes down even further.

Toyota needs to figure out a way to bring emissions-compliant diesels into the North American market or they need to follow Ford's example and put some fuel efficient turbo gasolines into their platforms.

Everything else about the 4runner and LC 200 is great. The engines, though reliable, are outdated and mediocre compared to what the competition is offering.

 

[LandCruiser]

What part of the suspension would you change. It's still the best design out there. It could use a few tweaks, namely rear coilovers. Otherwise, what else would you change?

WRT engine the only thing the current 1gr shares with the old version is crank shaft bearings. 2010 was a new block, new heads, new crank, new pistons, etc. Imo it should have changed name. Nothing about it other than size is the same. Not even the casting.

The transmission - yeah. It has to go.

Edit: I'm not being argumentative, just curious what people really want. I was generally in the same thought that its outdated, but after considering the world of options, the changes I'd want are all incremental. Nothing significant is realistic even with a blank canvas. The only real changes I'd like is a higher gear count transmission with more range - specifically the 8at with the 4.5 first gear. And maybe a little better balance in the engine. Possibly add one or two inches to the front control arms and extend the wheel base closer to the corners. But those are mostly minor edits. You can't do much better in the rear suspension or the front design overall without sacrificing the road manners.

Suspension is fine, the damn body mounts aren't. I never liked the stock shocks and springs compared to my Eibachs and Bilsteins, my lifted truck actually rides better than stock.

I really hate the engine and transmission. At 10000 feet and loaded with crap, you really wish that Toyota at least offered the option of an engine with balls.

 

[Jetboy]

I'm not sure where the break in naming is, but changing almost every part, moving to a dual vvti head design, changing compression ratio, rotating assembly,etc would warrant a new name. The 6gr is a lot closer to 1gr(b) than 1gr(b) is to 1gr(a).

Either way the writing is on the wall. Either some 3.5l version or the 2.0 turbo are the likely options. Since the prado has the 3.5, and its the same assembly line, imo the probability is high.

 

[jsun_2k]

The Highlander is within an inch or so of 4runner dimensions.

But the highlander looks ugly