difference in gens

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Paulie6909

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well i parked my white 4th gen beside a white 5th gen today...the size difference in the body is pretty significant and the height difference is noticeable also...what are the main difference between the 4th and 5th gen, other than what i just pointed out? kinda makes me wanna go look at a new one
 
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Paulie6909 said:
well i parked my white 4th gen beside a white 5th gen today...the size difference in the body is pretty significant and the height difference is noticeable also...what are the main difference between the 4th and 5th gen, other than what i just pointed out? kinda makes me wanna go look at a new one
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This link has a nice breakdown of generations and years.

Toyota 4Runner History 1984
 
Due to the decline of the US$ against the yen, the 5th Gen has a fairly long list of standard items that were de-contented from the 4th Gen. As a result, many of us with 4th Gens are planning on driving them for a long time.
 
knightsfs4 said:
I personally like the interior of the 5th better, but I wouldn't trade my 4th for any year of T4R.
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5th gen is all hard plastic-y inside, I don't like that. I think toyota also saved a little cash on the entire build... a bit Americanized if you ask me.

My grandfather is a designer and head engineer for toyota, and he even agrees with me that the 5th gen really isn't a great vehicle. The engine in still bullet-proof like all toyota engines, but the 5th gen also doesn't have the option of a v8... only a v6 or a tiny 4 cylinder. Stay with a 4th gen if you are questioning yourself.
 
5th Gen sux -no offense to 5th gen owners

I took a long hard look at the 5th gen while I was getting my oil changed at the stealership. I sat in the front and the back and quickly noticed a few things that totally pissed me off.

1. The sun visor does NOT shift left or right when you use it to block the sun from the driver door window- and there is no second (smaller visor) - the sliding visor was one of the cleverest things I’d seen on the T4R and I’m shocked that it didn’t migrate to the 5th gen. STRIKE-1

2. There is no slide out tray from the cup holder in the back seat- minor to some major to father with kids. STRIKE-2

3. There was no suction closure on the 5th door! Maybe it was the SR5 I was looking at but I assumed that if my 2005 SE had it, maybe all 4th Gen T4R's had it. STRIKE-3

Anyhow, these issues plus no leather for the TE and the presence of an antenna are big turn-offs for me. I really wanted to like this Gen but instead it makes me appreciate and love my 4th Gen even more. I am looking forward to the 6th Gen (God willing) and the resurrection of clever and innovative little gadgets that make this SUV sooo COOL!
 
I kind of like the plastic interior... but things like the Tundra Shift knob, akward placing of the door armrests and window buttons, turn me off...
 
Absolutely HATED the back end of the 5th Gen. Looks "truncated", like they ran outta money! ;): I'll be keeping my 4th Gen a while thank you!
 
Oh no,not another 4th gen owner hate thread on 5th gens. :p

There were tradeoffs but the 5th gen added a few things and lost a few things to keep costs in check so really it boils more down to opinions. I see plenty of 5th gen owners that would never go back to a 4th gen but the only real losses I can see looking at it unbiased is the lack of a V8,LED tails,projection headlamps which can turn away buyers but the loss of a sliding tray and visor issues seem pretty ticky tack plus sales on the 5th gens are pretty strong so for every 4th gen owner keeping his there's plenty of 5th gens leaving the sales room floor.
 
RonMAIDEN said:
Oh no,not another 4th gen owner hate thread on 5th gens. :p

There were tradeoffs but the 5th gen added a few things and lost a few things to keep costs in check so really it boils more down to opinions. I see plenty of 5th gen owners that would never go back to a 4th gen but the only real losses I can see looking at it unbiased is the lack of a V8,LED tails,projection headlamps which can turn away buyers but the loss of a sliding tray and visor issues seem pretty ticky tack plus sales on the 5th gens are pretty strong so for every 4th gen owner keeping his there's plenty of 5th gens leaving the sales room floor.
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This isn't a "hate thread", so you don't need to get your knickers in a wad and call the DOJ to complain. It's on the 4th Gen forum, not the 5th Gen, so no one here is trying to start a flame war with 5th Gen owners. It's a discussion, pure and simple. Wise men discuss, fools argue.

In addition to the items you mentioned, addional Decontented items from 4th Gen to 5th Gen you missed seeing (not a complete list -- others can probably add items I am forgetting:

1) Torsen differential on all 4WD models in 4th Gen -- only on Limited in 5th Gen
2) Mast Antenna on 5th Gen
3) Elimination of self-latching rear gate
4) Elimination of remote gas release
5) Elimination of auto-start after release of ignition key
6) Soprano horn in 5th Gen
 
Well then how about a little less biasness since the guy asked what the differences were not what the 5th gen lost;this discussion is all one sided and not pointing out what the 5th gens gained while losing a few things. This is all negatives toward the 5th gens and it would be nice to hear 5th gen owners chime in with their opinions.
 
RonMAIDEN said:
Well then how about a little less biasness since the guy asked what the differences were not what the 5th gen lost;this discussion is all one sided and not pointing out what the 5th gens gained while losing a few things. This is all negatives toward the 5th gens and it would be nice to hear 5th gen owners chime in with their opinions.
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Everyone is biased by our experiences, sir, ... me, you, everyone. It's not my responsibility to sell the OP on a 5th Gen, when I looked and them and rented one for a long weekend trip, could have afforded a new 5th Gen, but chose instead to buy a late model 4th Gen. I just gave my honest opinion.

There is no prohibition on 5th Gen owners offering up their opinions on this thread. Plus obviously if the OP wants more opinions from 5th Gen owners, he can start a thread on the 5th Gen forum. But he started this thread on the 4th Gen forum, so it is obvious that he is going to hear mostly from 4th Gen owners here.
 
Daron-t4r said:
5th gen is all hard plastic-y inside, I don't like that. I think toyota also saved a little cash on the entire build... a bit Americanized if you ask me.

Stay with a 4th gen if you are questioning yourself.
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I agree, like the look of the 4th gen much better.
 
As someone who has literally owned every generation of toyota vehcile.
84 Runner/90 and 91 Runner. 99 Tacoma and now a 2005 4runner..

I can tell you that the 5th gen looks odd, but I thought the 4th Gen looked odd when it first came out. :) Things change. Change is a universal constant.

I loved my 99 TRD tacoma with built in E locker! I LOVED IT and I am sad that the 4th gen runners did not get it. The 5th Gen did.

In terms of offroad performance, a locked rear is almost the single best thing you can do. If fact, I would almost take a elocker over larger wheels. Honestly, I want them both; but the point is that the ability to lock the rear diff is very important offroad.

I love my 4th Gen and I love the V8. I happen to thing the ass on the 5th gen looks HUGE.. like someone wanted to throw mom jeans on it. But, then again, you have to admit that the backside of the runner has gotten larger every generation.



Now. My end all personal opinion? The single sexiest 4runner they ever made? 1990 4runner with the old, original TOYOTA badge. I loved that sexy beast. It had a very aggressive stance. If I could get that body with todays Technology.. I would be in 4x4 heaven!

Just my opinion.
 
The 4th gen did take time for me to warm up to it. About six months. I didn't like it when the 4th debut cause of the gray cladding on the SR5 and SE, but now I actually like the gray cladding and it makes those early 2003 models unique in the 4th gen family.

The 5th's been out for almost 2 years. I haven't warmed it up to it, the back is still hideous with no style to it.

The 5th has picked up auto up/down for all windows. It has smart key entry system. The 4.0 V6 makes more HP and torque, at same time it went from one of the cleanest and easiest oil changes to a sloppy mess.

At the end of the day, if it makes you happy, go for it. It doesn't do anything for me, so maybe Toyota will get it "right" on the 6th.
 
Is it just me or do the 5th gens look top heavy? The wheels looked to be tucked about 4-5 in. inside the wheel well. I'm just very picky my trucks/suv' having a wider than stock looking stance, and it looks like one would have to put huge spacers or a really negative offset wheel to fill out the gap. Doesn't look ready for the mountains IMO.


Other than that, I like the overall design of the body (has an aggressive look to it!). I thought the interior kinda felt similar to the FJ Cruiser (shoulder shrug).
 
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