After 3 months of ownership

[skategoat]

Likes:

Handling and ride - superb
Quiet on the highway - helps that I have no sunroof
Towing capability - pulls my boat like it's not even there
Interior space - plenty of it
Styling - still love looking at it
Visibility - pretty darn good for a truck

Dislikes:

HVAC controls - not intuitive, can never seem to get it just right
Seat adjustments - would like better height control
Brakes - bigger brakes like on the Sport would be great
Stock radio - sucked big time, Scion is a bit better
Stupid "bumpers" - breathe on them and they scratch

2004 SR5 V8 4WD

 

[peter78]

Dislikes:

Stock radio - sucked big time, Scion is a bit better
2004 SR5 V8 4WD

I have a third generation model with 6 speakers, CD & cassette player and it SUCKS big time. I honestly think car companies can not make a good sound system, let alone a great one.

 

[Cliff s]

I agree on the radio, I have the JBL 10 speaker model and it is unimpressive
to say the least. Poor highs and the sub is so far in the rear that you really
have to crank it to hear it.. The balance in the speakers is really poor.

I have been trying to find a place to add a good 10 band eq. which should really
help, but the way the modules are interconnected it will take a special
plug and since they are only made in Japan getting the proper plugs to make an
adaptor will be hard to find, I supposed I could just hack the wiring, but I'd rather not.

Cliff s

 

[ice2000]

Likes:

Handling and ride - superb
Quiet on the highway - helps that I have no sunroof
Towing capability - pulls my boat like it's not even there
Interior space - plenty of it
Styling - still love looking at it
Visibility - pretty darn good for a truck

Dislikes:

HVAC controls - not intuitive, can never seem to get it just right
Seat adjustments - would like better height control
Brakes - bigger brakes like on the Sport would be great
Stock radio - sucked big time, Scion is a bit better
Stupid "bumpers" - breathe on them and they scratch

2004 SR5 V8 4WD

I agree about the bumpers. Our 04 4unner bumper paint is peeling.

 

[gonzo]

i thought that in '04 all the 4runners stepped up to the larger brakes?!?

 

[sharp4runr]

The bigger discs on the SE doesn't help much with initial stopping. They do help if your doing constant braking (like towing a trailer downhill) because they won't fade as much as the smaller discs. As far as I know the brake pads are the same size as the SR5/Limited.

I've got the 10 SPR JBL and I added two 10" subs and amp and it made a world of difference.

 

[DaveS]

I've got the 10 SPR JBL and I added two 10" subs and amp and it made a world of difference.

To the braking ?!

 

[sharp4runr]

To the braking ?!

LOL, yes when I crunch into the back of the car in front of me I don't feel it over the Bass :arrow:

 

[Shark]

I too have had mine 3 months (3,100 miles) and just returned from a 1500 mile trip to the beach. Similar positives and negatives. It was very comfortable and smooth on the trip, especially through the mountains. Really do enjoy the ride, power and x-tra room.

The sound system is marginal at best (JBL system), My wife has "hot flashes" and is constanly adjusting the HVAC controls. They are really not user friendly. My biggest complain is still the ornamental cup holders ! They are pathetic. I have an 04 Tacoma and the cup holders work great. Not sure what promoted this design on the 4R.

Overall, if my main complain is the cup holders then I must be pretty satified with this vehicle and I am! It has been a great vehicle thus far.

BTW, I really do appreciate this web site. Lots of valuable info obtained here. Thanks to all!

 

[skategoat]

Oh ya, the cupholders. Have you noticed that standard stainless steel travel mugs don't fit? They kind of tip over to the side. They are a lot better than on most German cars so I don't complain.

Whoever designed the HVAC controls should be fired immediately. How about nice sliders and maybe a fan lever? The low, small dot, big dot, high fan buttons are the stupidest designs ever. I also notice that when I set it to Auto, the A/C comes on whether I want it to or not. How do I get simple fresh air venting? I haven't figured that out yet.

One thing I loved on my Audi was the HVAC. The rest of the car sucked but the HVAC controls were superb.

 

[slowginjoe]

I also notice that when I set it to Auto, the A/C comes on whether I want it to or not.

this happens in my honda accord as well, takes two press for auto heat, press auto then ac off! :arrow:

 

[boston_kevin]

A/C doesn't necessarily mean cold air

if you read through the manual about this, when you press auto, the A/C is automatically turned on to reduce humidity in the cabin. If you don't want the A/C turned on, just push the fan on, and set the temp to something warm. Defog setting, Auto will automatically turn on the A/C to maintain temperature and humidity.

 

[PMac]

What's the complaint on the cupholders? I think they work great. I can fit any size beverage in there, and it never spills.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yup, I like the cup holders and the fact that they adjust. Maybe try to flip them so that the hinge is on the other side. I have the Hinge furthest away from me, you can have it so it can be closer.

 

[00void]

How do I get simple fresh air venting? I haven't figured that out yet.

if i'm driving and have the HVAC off, i press the Recirculate button (on) to stop the flow of air coming in and hit it (off) to let air come in. the only that's annoying is that you have to hit a fan speed to adjust the temperature… wasn't so in the Gen 3 T4Rs…

 

[Expat]

If I may....a few other annoyances (IMO)

The window buttons are too low and recessed into the door, you sort of have to reach down and inwards which is not so easy if driving in traffic.

Need better placement of plug-in power for the front of cabin and also at least two. Would be good to have some in the rear passenger area also for portable devices for the kids eg DVD, CD players.

Centre arm rest needs softer padding.

My park brake doesn't hold in steep angles very well. Yes it has been adjusted.

Front cross rail of roof rack needs to be further forward. Can't open the tail gate with surfboard on the roof.

Should come standard 1-1.5" higher clearance.

Still....love it all the same!!!

 

[DaveS]

If I may....a few other annoyances (IMO)

The window buttons are too low and recessed into the door, you sort of have to reach down and inwards which is not so easy if driving in traffic.

Need better placement of plug-in power for the front of cabin and also at least two. Would be good to have some in the rear passenger area also for portable devices for the kids eg DVD, CD players.

Centre arm rest needs softer padding.

My park brake doesn't hold in steep angles very well. Yes it has been adjusted.

Front cross rail of roof rack needs to be further forward. Can't open the tail gate with surfboard on the roof.

Should come standard 1-1.5" higher clearance.

Still....love it all the same!!!

I agree absolutely with the need for softer padding on the centre arm rest - my elbow seems to just catch a hard edge somehow.

On the park brake - I read somewhere else that if you push down on the foot brake when applying the park brake it applies more firmly - I am still experimenting to see if this is an act of faith or really works but it does seem to improve things in fact.

I actually like the window switches from the perspective that they are child safe - ie pressing down takes the window down not up - something I believe US standards are looking to make mandatory in the next few years. I agree the placement is little awkward however - sounds like you are about the same height and arm length as me and suffer all the same issues!!

 

[cdoyle]

I like the cup holders, way better then how the setup was on the 91 (right in front of the vents)

The HVAC controls themselves are fine (how they look and operate), my problem seems to be everytime it rains, the interior glass fogs up. So I have to either have the defrost on all the time, or turn the A/C on. I just don't like driving around in Dec, with the A/C on. Just doesn't seem right.

One thing I wish they would improve would be the homelink. I wish the buttons were illuminated. I hate at night, trying to find the right button for my garage door. I usually end up hitting all of them, because I can't see where they are.

 

[4route]

Should come standard 1-1.5" higher clearance.

i agree, should've come stock with more ground clearance, but the nice thing is, you can easily add this or any height you want with a lift. i like my 4.5"

 

[Cliff s]

Further comments: I do like the brakes on
the SE, when you press on them you get some action.

I really like the quiet ride and it does seem to handle well.

I really on have 2 gripes, the front drivers seat, it is hard and
not the right shape for my backside. I suppose that it is great
for a 140 lb person, but I am 225 and 6' 2".

The second for $625 for the JBL it just is not very good. The speaker
over the radio has all the volume and the balance between it and the side speakers is poor.
There is no way to adjust this. The tone control is just a simple high and low. I think
we paid a huge amount for the JBL lable.

There seems to be very little highs and few lows out of the door speakers.

My complaint is the system sounds like a cheap table radio. No depth.

I think I found how to connect a equalizer, but it won't be easy.
I didn't really want the JBL, but I had no choice there were no SE's without it.

I think the replacing the JBL with a decent after-market HU and amp would
be a big improvment. At least you would have a built-in equalizer.

Another addition is going to be a Rhino bar for the rear, the painted bumpers
look like if you just touch something with them they will scratch.

Cliff s