car and driver?

[Guest]

I was pissed off that they test drove the sport. With those sucky wheels, tires and that stupid moonroof on there, no wonder we came in fifth. I got a limited, but If I was in a cash bind I would have got the SR5. I think the sport kinda looks like a girly mobie. JMHO.

 

[Hitman]

I was pissed off that they test drove the sport. With those sucky wheels, tires and that stupid moonroof on there, no wonder we came in fifth. I got a limited, but If I was in a cash bind I would have got the SR5. I think the sport kinda looks like a girly mobie. JMHO.

Hahahahahaha

 

[Hitman]

Rupert,

You should post some pics of your Limited.

I'm sure everyone would love to see it.

 

[Northof49]

Are you serious?

I've subscribed to Car and Driver since I was just a kid, and the one thing that I usually don't even bother reading is Yate's column.

The editorials in Car and Driver are second to none, except for the one that Yates writes. I hope he retires soon.

I find his column hilarious. Although I don't agree with everything he says (not at all actually), I like his matter-of-factness....and he basically started the original Cannonball Run, I find anything pertaining to that entertaining

For automotive columns in general, Peter Egan from R&T is my all time favorite...his writing is just awesome.

 

[Mark86]

How does the sport look like a "girly mobile"? It looks the same as all of the other trims, except with a hood scoop. Also, the moonroof is an option on all the trims. It is not only the Sport's that have them. Oh, and the tires that come on the sport can be on your Limited too. The only difference is they don't have the raised white lettering.

I have to go take a ride in my girly mobile now!!

 

[Guest]

I am telling you if they would have test drove the limited, instead of that pu$$y sport. We would have won.

 

[Northof49]

I am telling you if they would have test drove the limited, instead of that pu$$y sport. We would have won.

Actually, I drive a Limited and think the Sport's wheels and hood look better than mine.....

 

[Hitman]

I find his column hilarious. Although I don't agree with everything he says (not at all actually), I like his matter-of-factness....and he basically started the original Cannonball Run, I find anything pertaining to that entertaining

For automotive columns in general, Peter Egan from R&T is my all time favorite...his writing is just awesome.

Well, there's no doubt that Yates is a good writer. He uses eloquent language in his column, but I find myself disagreeing with him often. Even to the point that I usually skip his column, unless it's about a subject that really interests me.

Egan is definitely good, but my favorite is definitely Patrick Bedard (C&D)

 

[Mark86]

I am telling you if they would have test drove the limited, instead of that pu$$y sport. We would have won.

I don't think it would have mattered if they used a fully loaded Limited. Their minds were made up and that is the end of it.

How is the Sport a pu$$y model? It comes standard with XREAS and bigger brakes, which is exclusive to only the sport. I know you can get XREAS on a Limited, but it is an option. I really don't care what trim 4Runner you have, they are all equally as great. It is just what features each person wants in their vehicle. I don't think any 4Runner is a "pu$$y" model.

 

[Guest]

How many people on this forum have complained about the sport tires? They seem down right scary to me. I am just saying that if they would have got the limited or even the SR5 it would have come with a lot better tires and maybe we would have done better in the ratings? You gotta admit, that the non functional hood scoop is kind of cheesy. I mean the 4runner is no sport car. Personaly, I think C&D was right about the hood scoop. It is cheesy.

 

[Guest]

I think the XREAS has become more of a pain in the @ss, than a convinience. I don't have it on mine. Just from the posts though, if you are trying to lift it, well then good luck. I would have to drive a 4runner with XREAS to see if it makes a world of difference? I think the only thing the sport has going for it, are the bigger brakes.

 

[Mark86]

Those tires were not bad when they were new. They start getting bad after 10,000-15,000 miles, which I agree is unacceptible. The Dunlop AT-20's are on all sports, but they COULD be on the SR5 and the Limited. It all depends what tires they have at the factory when they build your 4Runner. The other tires you can get are the Bridgestone's (a little better than the Dunlops) and the Michelin's (excellent tire). I have seen many SR5's and Limited's with the same tires as the sport, minus the white letters. Personally, I think the hoodscoop looks good on the 4Runner.

 

[Hitman]

I think the XREAS has become more of a pain in the @ss, than a convinience. I don't have it on mine. Just from the posts though, if you are trying to lift it, well then good luck. I would have to drive a 4runner with XREAS to see if it makes a world of difference? I think the only thing the sport has going for it, are the bigger brakes.

The first and second 4Runners I test drove were both Sport Editions (obviously with XREAS) and I remember thinking to myself, "what's all the hype about this XREAS suspension?" after my test drives.

Then I went to a third dealership and drove an SR5 (they didn't have any Sports on the lot) and after taking the first sharp turn, I was like WHOA! The thing felt like my Grandfather's old Caddy around turns.

In my opinion, the XREAS suspension makes all the difference in the world, especially if you like spirited driving. With the standard suspension, I'd have to take it much easier around bends/offramps etc....

 

[Lone Ranger]

It's not so much that the 'Jeep sucks' but the advertising style of the reports sucks. That's all the comparo was, an ad, like an info-mercial on paper. If the only thing they could tell me was that the 4Runner had a hood scoop, head room and lousy a/c controls (ones I really like), I did not learn anything I couldn't get in the showroom. If this was really an offroad comparo then why not have a series of real driving tests. An example, ok, how 'bout going down a very steep and dangerous long downhill, loaded, to test how save the vehicles braking systems and downhill decent systems are, not just a short drop to see if they are connected. That's information I can't get in the showroom or on a test drive around the block and down the freeway. The report felt, to me, like they did not go into areas that would have pointed to a winner, other than the one they choose, instead. They have some smart people on staff, but I guess, like other magazines, the bean counters run the show. And that must take writers and not testers. In the end they must balance something to read with something to sell and a paycheck from their advertisers.

I happen to agree with this a lot. C&D, while one of the best car magazines in general, put out a pretty poor piece of work here. We can argue about the proper order of the vehicles (ok, if you want to know - Nissan/Toyota or vice versa, VW, Ford, Xterrra (could have been in the test), Trailblazer (should have been there), Jeep, and Mitsu), but the real issue is how poor the article was. Little substance at all. Let's face it, the Ford's review was about as useful as the review of the 4Runner. There was only a modest amount of substance in each of the six reviews. Given the popularity of this segment of the SUV market, they should have put the effort into producing a quality piece.

It would have been nice if they focused on whether the XRES made a difference on or off road as compared to the other suspensions. More on how well the VW's air suspension worked. Whether any of the vehicles exhibited any inclination at tilting (rollover). Also, I would like a real explanation on how useful the additional hp and torque of Jeep was. It sure has gobs of both and probably contributed a lot to how fun it is to drive, but I wonder how useful it is over 275 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque.

I can't for the life of me see how the hood scoop on the 4Runner has any material impact. Mine is not even particularly in the driver's line of sight, let alone likely to obscure any meaningful vision. The brakes aren't overboosted, so they must have had a problem vehicle.

They didn't focus on other flaws, like how (I think) the 4Runner seats leave a lot to be desired from a comfort standpoint (ignoring how low they are to the floor, which you get used to). Also, the lack of meaningful lighting on the door panel controls is unacceptable.

You ordinarily can get something useful out of the C&D articles. This one left a lot to be desired. Their output is starting to look quite a bit like the Motor Trend and Road & Track articles - too much fluff, little to no insight that an experienced user would bring to the table.

 

[Guest]

Hitman. A 4runner is not a sports car. I kind of like the fact that the non-XREAS 4runners still give you that little bit of WHOA feeling. It reminds you that you are in an SUV.. I highly doubt that X-REAS would make any difference in whether you rolled your 4runner or not. You probably have too much confidence in the X-REAS>

 

[Hitman]

Hitman. A 4runner is not a sports car. I kind of like the fact that the non-XREAS 4runners still give you that little bit of WHOA feeling. It reminds you that you are in an SUV.. I highly doubt that X-REAS would make any difference in whether you rolled your 4runner or not. You probably have too much confidence in the X-REAS>

I don't treat my 4Runner like a sports car. I drive it like an SUV... but with the XREAS suspension, the 4Runner handles more like an average 4-door sedan, not like a typical top-heavy SUV.

When I feel the need to drive something that handles, I'll hop in the M3

Besides, it's not just the handling that makes the XREAS nicer to drive, it's the slightly firmer, non-floaty feeling of the suspension. If XREAS was not available on the 4Runner, I probably would be driving a different SUV.

 

[daveman]

There is an existing thread explaining the mechanical workings of X-REAS, it's either in the performance area or maintainence, search for it.

X-REAS not only makes the vehicle "feel" more planted during cornering, it DOES make it less prone to roll overs. Is its diagonally linked suspension which compresses the rear shocks when the vehicle's weight transfers during a hard cornering, which does raise it's lateral speed tolerance. Unless you corner backwards, which in an X-REAS vehicle will make it very dangerous to roll over, the X-REAS 4runner is remarkablly agile.

 

[Thai]

Don't bother responding to Rupert...he's just another creation of Toyotadude77. I banned him for whining too damn much (forum rule) and just being an ass in this thread against other members.

Now, if you want to feel top-heavy, testdrive a G500!!

 

[Koz]

C&D obviously had an AGENDA to help the sales of the GC, which is OK. The problem is the way they did it, and justified it. Almost every other test/comparison has the 4Runner/GX470 the class leader (look at CR's review of the 4Runner). I know you can't take any one test/comparison to heart but when a vehicle is consistently picked as the class LEADER you can safely assume that vehicle is one of the best (or the best) in that class. Anyone who has done their homework and test drove these vehicles knows C&D simply has NO concern about which vehicle is better; they ONLY wanted the GC to look exceptional. They did this by not only praising the GC but also throwing the class LEADER under the bus. They are so stupid; they used ridiculous reasons like the hood scoop and heater controls (which are REALLY nice). Again, my way of expressing my feelings is to NOT read their STUPID opinion. What sense/reason would it make, to continue reading information that is based on a hidden agenda?

If I had the choice I would have optioned my Limited with the hood scoop and the sport wheels. They look GREAT!

Koz

with the way they tested and rated these vehicle.

 

[PA 4Runner]

Upon further review

After studying the article a bit more I have determined that:

1. The 4Runner, Touareg & Jeep were penalized for not having a third row option, where the Explorer was given an additional 8 points & the Montero & Pathfinder an additional 4 points.

2. Despite their observation that: