Any Gen 4 Owners Upgrade to Gen 5?

[4dailyRunner]

Hello:

Any Gen 4 Owners Upgrade to Gen 5 AND

1 - wish they did NOT upgrade?

2 - are HAPPY with the new vehicle design?


Please elaborate about why you gave the answer you did?

 

[Colemanfu]

3 - Never.

 

[Flyer]

Interested in this thread. I love my V8 but could be convinced to switch if I were happy with the torque. However, I did primarily buy the 4R for that specific V8. Still, am curious to see what others think. I think the 5th Gen looks pretty good and has good clearance.

 

[scojoe]

When my 4th gen dies I'll rebuild it...... When it rusts to the ground ill find another 4th gen.
;-)

 

[4dailyRunner]

Thanks for the input

I will reveal my opinion.

I got the 4runner V8 version and love it. I DO NOT like anything that doesn't have a REAL frame. I do LIKE LIVE axles. One is good. Two would be better.

I plan to keep my 4th generation 4runner for a while.

I might consider a Tacoma or maybe a Tundra before the 5th Gen 4runner, if I had to... unless they re-design and SCREW those up too.

arty:

 

[Tengu]

I've had 2 forth gens and now a 5th gen.
A little back ground. A few years back I had to drive my step dad's 2000 tundra with 140k+ miles on it. I was amazed at how much smoother, tighter, well everything was more than my 2000 F150 with 60k on it. It was about the time the tundras were hitting the dealerships so we went to look. Somehow, we ended up in a 2005 SR5 4x4 4runner as they had no tundras. No regrets there, it just means I don't have to help others move as much. After getting too many tickets in our Maxima, we traded it for a 2006 sport edition. Fast forward a year or two, wife and I divorced and she got the 4x4 (which she traded for a camry.. to save money) and I got the sport. I was not as happy with the sport because it was not 4x4. Last year I went in search of one like my old sr5. Who knew it would be so hard to find a used gen 4 V8 4x4 in Houston Texas. I started looking at the gen 5's. At first I hated them. But they grew on me. (particularly without the granny style running boards) I ended up with an SR5 4x4 and am totally happy. I would have been happier if i could have found a trail, but I'm happy with my sr5. I salt water fish, wade fish, and go off road, so limited was too refined for me. I would have liked a few more bells and whistles, but I can add those.

Okay, to the meat. Things I miss about my gen4. The lack of the apocolyptic seat belt alarm. I know this is dealer programable, but come on, the vehicle is not about to explode if I don't put my seat belt on in the few seconds.

Lack of V8, both my Gen 4s were V8. I would have liked to have that option. The V6 in the Gen 5 took a break in period, but now either I'm used to it, or if it just needed to the break in period. But it does have more get up and go now than it did when I bought it. I do wish it has more sound to it though.

Simple refinements the gen 4 had that I miss. The gear shift knobs HAD to go. (bought some Icons) The storage areas in the back around the wheel well used to have covers and straps to hold the stuff in and or in place. It also hid stuff. Gen 4 had the automatic lift hatch closer thingee. You knew it was closed. Now I'll slam it down and not know until I go to drive that it was obstucted and not fully close. (plus I almost took off the bridge of my nose closing it down the other day, more forcful closure means more chance of mistake) I guess that stuff was axed to add the back up sensors that are in the Gen 5. Also there was a noticable downgrade in the speakers for base SR5. Just adding the Kappas up front helped greatly.

What I like a bout the Gen 5. Well, now I love the looks. (again without running boards) Interior, is SO much more roomy. It feels like it is americanized. Not huge, but not made for a smaller framed asian. The wind shield is angled higher, so it gives a more open feel. The knobbs and buttons are bigger. (I dig em) I guess they took some of the cool FJ stuff and put it in, but added some refinement. When you put it up next to the old sequoia it seems as big, but somehow not. It seems to me the right size. Putting the seats down no longer means having to remove the headrests for potencial loss. They angle down. What else???

Do I regret going Gen 5 from 4. Nope... Not at all. I love it. If I would have had gotten to keep my gen 4 4x4 I wouldn't know this though as I loved it as well. In the end, I will probably keep this one until it dies. But I could say the same about my Gen 4 as well.

Hope this helps. If I think of something else I'll add to it. If you have questions or need clarification, you know what to do.

 

[Tengu]

Oh, and no cross bars for the luggage rack? WTF? why have it. I know you can buy them, but I'm not going to but them to replace the rack with aftermarket. It would have been nice to have something there until I get the rack i want though.

 

[GW17]

I had an '07 and just bought a '14 SR5 Premium.
The new one rides nice and is comfortable but that's about it.

I thought I had done my homework on the '14, but now wish I had my '07 back.

'07:
Locking gas door
Storage in the cargo area has doors
Set temp and not get cold air until it warms up
Hidden area in glovebox
Fold out tray on console
Active rear spoiler
Oil change--1/2 hr (including clean up)


'14:
None of the above.
Has back-up camera and nav.
Can't get running boards for 4 months
Mushy suspension when stopping.
No active rear spoiler to keep back window clear
Oil change requires pulling 3 bolted panels and oil all over.
Dumbest design I've ever seen. Dealership mechanics hate it too. They're breaking bolts like crazy.

Had I know what I do now, I never would've bought a '14.
I would rather have other options than puddle lights,.,.,.,.,
I guess I have to get used to it.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

I had an '07 and just bought a '14 SR5 Premium.
The new one rides nice and is comfortable but that's about it.

I thought I had done my homework on the '14, but now wish I had my '07 back.

'07:
Locking gas door
Storage in the cargo area has doors
Set temp and not get cold air until it warms up
Hidden area in glovebox
Fold out tray on console
Active rear spoiler
Oil change--1/2 hr (including clean up)


'14:
None of the above.
Has back-up camera and nav.
Can't get running boards for 4 months
Mushy suspension when stopping.
No active rear spoiler to keep back window clear
Oil change requires pulling 3 bolted panels and oil all over.
Dumbest design I've ever seen. Dealership mechanics hate it too. They're breaking bolts like crazy.

Had I know what I do now, I never would've bought a '14.
I would rather have other options than puddle lights,.,.,.,.,
I guess I have to get used to it.

Dealership mechanics break bolts like crazy because they use impact guns on EVERYTHING.

I will agree that the new cartridge filter is more of a pain to replace, but really, it only adds 10min to the oil change process, and that is if you are taking your time. And are you really going to complaining about running boards not being available immediately upon release of a model refresh?

 

[kaatahdin]

Gen 4 To Gen5

I just did the upgrade before I dumped mod money into the gen4. I miss the V8 a little, but the extra room and 3rd row is great for the family.

Also, the v8 got about 17.5 in the city when I was good, the gen5 is doing around 22.5 city.

 

[Leftseat]

2008 - 2014

My '08 just seemed more solid. SR5 - 4WD. Now in 2014 SR5 - 4WD.
More refined, NAV, deck, etc. Add new Michelin LTX/MS2's soon. Can't beat the resale or trade in value. Why did they take the 4WD emblems off the doors ? They won't make it go faster, just curious.
V

 

[TOY2G]

Went from two 4th gen V8s to two 5th gens.

The 4ths were really better in about every way, and the people that say the v6 is about the same as the V8 never owned both at the same time.

In the end I miss my 4th gens and would love to have them back......but I like the looks of the 5th gen batter and I like having warranty again.

 

[cdoyle]

I'm going to wait for the 6th gen, and see what they do with that.

I just don't like the looks of the 5th gens at all, plus they just took away too many things that I have on my 04. (air suspension, and the V8 for example). Doesn't make sense to sell mine, pay a ton of money for new model that has less features.

Hopefully Toyota can put out a nice looking 6th Gen, that will be a worth while upgrade.

 

[Lineman]

3 - Never

 

[RandyDaytona]

I kinda did the opposite.

I was a long-time Toyota truck guy and my first 4Runner was a 5th Gen. I missed the IForce V8 enough that I let my wife 'take over' the 5th Gen and found a 4th Gen V8 for myself.

Other than having the V8, the main difference I notice between the two is that the 5th gen seems to have more interior room.

As far as engines, I definitely notice the difference from the V8 to the V6 as far as power. But ironically, I get comparable (even slightly better) gas mileage in the V8 than my lead-footed wife gets in the V6. Even with larger tires.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I'm upgrading to a 5th gen (specifically a 2014 TE premium) but I'm keeping my 4th gen. My 2008 has treated us great so far and I enjoy driving it so I see no need to get rid of it. I'm trading in my 2012 f150 which lately has been less than stellar. Down the road I plan on picking up an older 3/4 ton diesel or older tundra.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Why did they take the 4WD emblems off the doors ?

So the 2wd owners wouldn't feel inferior?

 

[Threev8s]

In my case it's an addition and not an upgrade, as I plan to keep my 4th gen for as long as I can.

I posted more or less the same as what I have typed below in response to a similar question in the 5th gen forum a little while ago:

I have an ’03 V8 Sport Edition and a ’14 Limited. From my perspective, other than the decrease in low end torque going from the 8 to the 6, it rides bigger and you sit higher, but handling feels crisper. The best analogy that I can come up with is that my ’03 drives like a previous gen Lexus sedan and my ’14 (with X-REAS) drives like an Infiniti sedan. Both handle and ride well, but the ’03 feels a little cushier and the ’14 stays flatter through turns and feels as though it’s ready to handle a quick maneuver better. All said and done, in my opinion, they're probably fairly equal in handling when pushed to the limit. Otherwise, the rest of the differences are based on the obvious changes you’d get going from a sport edition to a limited along with the new features that have come out in the past 11 years…heated and vented seats, rear back-up camera and parking sensors, nav, better stereo, etc. You also get the ability to cut off traction control without going under the hood. You lose the soft close rear hatch, locking fuel door, convenient wheel size, and a few other things.

My ’03 is without a doubt my favorite of all vehicles I have owned. But, considering I’m not truly sold on anything until I’ve had it for a while, I really like the ’14 Limited a lot more than I thought I would and will definitely be getting a 5th gen 4Runner (TE with KDSS) for my next primary vehicle purchase (the ’14 is my wife’s vehicle but it’s our primary family vehicle and I always drive).

I'm not going to pretend that I'm the first guy to own both a 4th gen and a 5th gen and there is a lot of feedback on this forum about this scenario. But, if the 4runner (any 4runner) is your weapon of choice, there's no better replacement/addition to a 4runner than another 4runner.

 

[telum01]

I bought my 4th Gen a year and a half ago from a guy who was in the process of trading it in for a 5th Gen. I ended up seeing him a few weeks ago and we chatted for a while. He said he loves his 5th Gen and is happy he made the move.

For myself, I'm so-so on the 5th Gen. I think I'll just rebuild my 4th Gen if the need arises.

 

[toy4xchris]

My wife and I were seriously thinking about getting a 5th gen in the future and rented one while we were out of town visiting friends and we were not really impressed.
There was more space inside which was nice.

If we ever actually do get one I wont be getting rid of the 4th gen that will become my full-time play toy.