Does the 4Runner make a good family car???
- Thread starter Stangallmotor
- Start date
GiGi's 1996
New member
Welcome to the forum!!
Sounds like you got a nice deal.
IMO, the 4Runner is practical, fun and the best looking 4x4 on the planet right now. Enjoy!!
DannyLlama
Elite Member
Well said. :wink2:
Thanks! I like it more and more everytime I drive it.
To sum it up:
OP asked about SUVs, and bought a pickup.
Stifler went on an Obamarant.
Phillyd2 posted a pic.
That should bring you up to speed.
Not a good family car at all...
we got it for our family of four and after 3 years just sold it and went back to a Tahoe and MAN are we happy. We really wanted to like our 2010 SR5 4runner, but it just missed on many things. The best description my wife came up with is that its like going from economy to business class (going from 4runner back to Tahoe). Our major complaint with the 4Runner was the horrible visibility out the rear....you can BARELY see beyond the seats, even after removing the headrests. VERY DANGEROUS. The seats are not terrible, but NO comparison to the comfort of an American SUV. The engine is WAY underpowered....go-cartish.....The entry height for families is very awkwark (too high), and if you put a toyota city-slicker platform on it then it looks terrible and it has very low clearance. VERY little storage in back for long trips. Windshield is too vertical so gets chips all the time. 3rd row seat barely functional. Gas mileage VERY disappointing....only about 18...similar to Tahoe with big engine. We've been back in the Tahoe for 4 months now and we wonder what we were thinking....Its probably a great vehicle for single folks or couples, but once kids come along go for an American SUV and you will not be sorry.
we got it for our family of four and after 3 years just sold it and went back to a Tahoe and MAN are we happy. We really wanted to like our 2010 SR5 4runner, but it just missed on many things. The best description my wife came up with is that its like going from economy to business class (going from 4runner back to Tahoe). Our major complaint with the 4Runner was the horrible visibility out the rear....you can BARELY see beyond the seats, even after removing the headrests. VERY DANGEROUS. The seats are not terrible, but NO comparison to the comfort of an American SUV. The engine is WAY underpowered....go-cartish.....The entry height for families is very awkwark (too high), and if you put a toyota city-slicker platform on it then it looks terrible and it has very low clearance. VERY little storage in back for long trips. Windshield is too vertical so gets chips all the time. 3rd row seat barely functional. Gas mileage VERY disappointing....only about 18...similar to Tahoe with big engine. We've been back in the Tahoe for 4 months now and we wonder what we were thinking....Its probably a great vehicle for single folks or couples, but once kids come along go for an American SUV and you will not be sorry.
Americas High Five
New member
You make some valid points but you are comparing a Mid-Sized SUV to Full-Sized SUV in 2 different price ranges. A better comparison would be 4Runner Vs Traverse.
DigableKid
New member
Ditto...
^ Yea... the price points and functions are not comparable...
^ Yea... the price points and functions are not comparable...
ic0517
New member
Some random thoughts ...
Your wife is pregnant with one. One does not equal four. It will take some time before you need that third row.
It is a royal pain in the rear trying to get a sleeping kid out of the third row of a minivan and into their bed or crib without waking them. I cannot imagine what it would be like in the third row of a T4R. Woke up kid = kid that needs to be rocked back to sleep = mad wife = no siblings conceived that night.
My youngest, my son, was born in 2002. In 2010 he had a hard time getting into the second row of a TE. He can get into either row of TE now, but he can hardly see anything when sitting in the front row.
Our three three kids across, and that was one of the reason why I bought it, but its still not that comfortable - if we were driving from Chicago to Denver and back, would take our minivan or rent one.
Back around 2002 I looked for a car that could fit three car seats across in the second row, and even a Crown Vic couldn't do it. Didn't check out the Caddy.
Once you get one kiddo, you somehow manage to get more.
In 2012, just about every car I sat in had an uncomfortable middle seat, or I was close to hitting my head on the roof. The only exceptions I found that I was interested in were Toyota Avalon, Nissan Xterra, and 4Runner. The Highlander sucked, but they changed it this model year, it might be better. The reliability listed in Consumer Reports sold me on the 4Runner. Besides that, I always wanted one, starting way back in 1986, finally got one.
Don't fool yourself on the gas mileage. Its sucks compared to say a Subaru Outback with a 4 cyl and CVT. If you drive long distance, might want to reconsider.
Minivans have a secret extraction device that robs you of your testosterone. Somehow you have trick the missus into driving it if you get one.
2013 TE has plastic cloth seats that are easier to wipe down. No clue on 2014. You have three choices. a) kids gets your car dirty, and you get mad. b) kids get your car dirty, and you take it in stride. c) there ain't no third choice.
Personally, I would hold out with whatever car(s) you have, and see if the second kiddo ever comes along, then debate about what vehicle to get.
Your wife is pregnant with one. One does not equal four. It will take some time before you need that third row.
It is a royal pain in the rear trying to get a sleeping kid out of the third row of a minivan and into their bed or crib without waking them. I cannot imagine what it would be like in the third row of a T4R. Woke up kid = kid that needs to be rocked back to sleep = mad wife = no siblings conceived that night.
My youngest, my son, was born in 2002. In 2010 he had a hard time getting into the second row of a TE. He can get into either row of TE now, but he can hardly see anything when sitting in the front row.
Our three three kids across, and that was one of the reason why I bought it, but its still not that comfortable - if we were driving from Chicago to Denver and back, would take our minivan or rent one.
Back around 2002 I looked for a car that could fit three car seats across in the second row, and even a Crown Vic couldn't do it. Didn't check out the Caddy.
Once you get one kiddo, you somehow manage to get more.
In 2012, just about every car I sat in had an uncomfortable middle seat, or I was close to hitting my head on the roof. The only exceptions I found that I was interested in were Toyota Avalon, Nissan Xterra, and 4Runner. The Highlander sucked, but they changed it this model year, it might be better. The reliability listed in Consumer Reports sold me on the 4Runner. Besides that, I always wanted one, starting way back in 1986, finally got one.
Don't fool yourself on the gas mileage. Its sucks compared to say a Subaru Outback with a 4 cyl and CVT. If you drive long distance, might want to reconsider.
Minivans have a secret extraction device that robs you of your testosterone. Somehow you have trick the missus into driving it if you get one.
2013 TE has plastic cloth seats that are easier to wipe down. No clue on 2014. You have three choices. a) kids gets your car dirty, and you get mad. b) kids get your car dirty, and you take it in stride. c) there ain't no third choice.
Personally, I would hold out with whatever car(s) you have, and see if the second kiddo ever comes along, then debate about what vehicle to get.
Ducmonsta
New member
I was thinking the same thing when I rode my Ducati. My 4R sucked at highway speeds. It couldn't go as fast as my Duc would. And no way would it accelerate the same way. Around turns, FORGET IT. My 4R sucked because I couldn't get my knee down to feel how far the 4R was leaning over. I could never get the front tires of the 4R to loft into the air like I could my Duc. And the fuel economy did suck. I had 4 less cylinders on my Duc and it would get 35-40mpg. I just don't understand...
:cry2:
nevada
Senior Member
I was thinking the same thing when I rode my Ducati. My 4R sucked at highway speeds. It couldn't go as fast as my Duc would. And no way would it accelerate the same way. Around turns, FORGET IT. My 4R sucked because I couldn't get my knee down to feel how far the 4R was leaning over. I could never get the front tires of the 4R to loft into the air like I could my Duc. And the fuel economy did suck. I had 4 less cylinders on my Duc and it would get 35-40mpg. I just don't understand...
damn, id love it if my bike still got 40mpg.
I get low 30's, if im lucky, mid 30's. ha
1engineer
Moderator
I was thinking the same thing when I rode my Ducati. My 4R sucked at highway speeds. It couldn't go as fast as my Duc would. And no way would it accelerate the same way. Around turns, FORGET IT. My 4R sucked because I couldn't get my knee down to feel how far the 4R was leaning over. I could never get the front tires of the 4R to loft into the air like I could my Duc. And the fuel economy did suck. I had 4 less cylinders on my Duc and it would get 35-40mpg. I just don't understand...
Dang, I thought the exact same thing when I borrowed my friend's dump truck a few weekends ago to haul mulch! As I was driving it with around 2 tons of mulch in it I kept thinking "Why won't my 4Runner haul like this?" Then I got home and raised the hydraulic dump bed and thought "It would be great if my 4Runner did this!" I mean, it had all kinds of gear shifts and dual wheels and the visibility was great and man, the hauling capability! I could pack a month's worth of stuff in the back for a family of 12! Talk about heavy duty - Running over saplings and rocks with this dump truck is easy! Why can't my 4Runner be more like this? Only gets about 10 mpg but hey, it's a diesel with a 100 gallon tank. The 4Runner needs this!
bimrunner
New member
:lol:
DigableKid
New member
I was thinking the same thing when I rode my Ducati. My 4R sucked at highway speeds. It couldn't go as fast as my Duc would. And no way would it accelerate the same way. Around turns, FORGET IT. My 4R sucked because I couldn't get my knee down to feel how far the 4R was leaning over. I could never get the front tires of the 4R to loft into the air like I could my Duc. And the fuel economy did suck. I had 4 less cylinders on my Duc and it would get 35-40mpg. I just don't understand...
You guys are killing me. Bravo!
dekeman
New member
Hope the dealership serves doughnuts.
RECALL #5: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, 2014 GMC Sierra, 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
These 477 vehicles suffer from a problem with steering system. According to GM, "The tie rod threaded attachment to the steering gear rack in these vehicles may not be tightened to specification. With this condition, the tie rod can separate from the steering rack and a crash could occur without prior warning."
Please note: GM says that owners should NOT drive any of the affected vehicles until they've been inspected by a dealer and repaired. (If you own one of the affected vehicles, you should receive word today: GM sent notices yesterday via overnight mail.) The vehicles shouldn't even be driven to dealerships; instead, owners should call GM and arrange to have their vehicles towed in for service.
GM explains that the number of of vehicles is small because the defect was discovered early in the assembly process. The repair involves inspection of the inner tie rods to ensure proper torque. If necessary, GM says that the steering gear will be completely replaced.
FrontRange4Runner
New member
According to 9 out of 10 mom's in Colorado, ages 25 to 40, the 4Runner is as good family car.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
I was thinking the same thing when I rode my Ducati. My 4R sucked at highway speeds. It couldn't go as fast as my Duc would. And no way would it accelerate the same way. Around turns, FORGET IT. My 4R sucked because I couldn't get my knee down to feel how far the 4R was leaning over. I could never get the front tires of the 4R to loft into the air like I could my Duc. And the fuel economy did suck. I had 4 less cylinders on my Duc and it would get 35-40mpg. I just don't understand...
What's funny is that, I could never decipher your alias for the life of me.
Now I can sleep at night.
This. We are one of those people, only a state away. At least we will use our new 4R for numerous outdoor activities and we live down a long treacherous dirt road so it's useful there daily.
CatskillsRunner
New member
You know, the more I think about this, the more things I realize are really wrong with my 4Runner.
I really like rowing our raft down rivers rather than driving the 4Runner. Here is a short list of why the raft is better than the 4Runner, and you will soon see why I'm just going to sell the thing and commute to work in the raft.
1. Easy access to large cooler, and in it, beer
2. Lots of D rings
3. It might be a Trail Edition, but that thing cant run rapids
4. You can jump out of the rowers seat and make someone else take over whenever you want, or almost
5. Cant fish out of a 4Runner sunroof
6. Cooler = beer
7. Raft has no roof
8. Raft is better on gas
9. You can float backwards with your eyes shut.
10. 4Runner has no oars. What was I thinking all this time? What an overrated truck.
Last edited:
