domestic dispute - 5th gen vs new Pathfinder

[Dusty Driftwood]

This sounds like a good opportunity for some reverse psychology. Whatever she decides she likes, you just need to jump on board and say, "yeah, that is really nice. In fact, it's so nice I may just steal it and use it for myself."

Then, when she realizes that she may be stuck with an "older" 4Runner with a V8 she'll be turned off by that particular choice. At this point, you can swoop in and say, "I already have a 4Runner, so I wouldn't have any need to steal yours in you got a new one. We already know how reliable they are and have a great online resource for any questions that come up."

If that fails, I'd try and steer her towards a Higlander, Pilot or Forrester. I don't particularly care for the Highlander, but they are nice. The new Forresters looks pretty sweet - though I don't know if they have a 3rd row? My dad is on his 2nd or 3rd Pilot and he really seems to like them and he keeps his vehicles 100% bone stock.

 

[Greg_Canada]

Why not a highlander hybrid?

 

[jediwebdude]

If that fails, I'd try and steer her towards a Higlander, Pilot or Forrester. I don't particularly care for the Highlander, but they are nice. The new Forresters looks pretty sweet - though I don't know if they have a 3rd row? My dad is on his 2nd or 3rd Pilot and he really seems to like them and he keeps his vehicles 100% bone stock.

Current Highlander is too small. Next door neighbor has one and she checked out the interior. Cargo space is an issue. for hauling our kids and luggage. The new 2014 Highlander is bigger and she really likes it, but we need the new vehicle soon before we travel.

She does not like the look of the current Pilot.

Seriously...she had settled on the 5th gen 4R last night until she saw the absence of the memory seating. It also didn't help that none of the dealers within a 250 mi radius have a shoreline blue Limited.

 

[Paisano]

So what's left in the running after the elimination of the Jeep, Ford, and Nissan?

Per her criteria it seems like the Pilot, 4Runner, and Highlander are the only choices left. Although I don't know much about the 3rd row in any of those.

The Stellar Reliability piece only leaves Toyota, Honda, and Subaru IMHO. And that Forrester looks terrible, like a Hyundai CUV, sorry Jeff!

 

[Paisano]

Current Highlander is too small. Next door neighbor has one and she checked out the interior. Cargo space is an issue. for hauling our kids and luggage. The new 2014 Highlander is bigger and she really likes it, but we need the new vehicle soon before we travel.

She does not like the look of the current Pilot.

Seriously...she had settled on the 5th gen 4R last night until she saw the absence of the memory seating. It also didn't help that none of the dealers within a 250 mi radius have a shoreline blue Limited.

Can you rent a vehicle for your summer trip, if it's a one time deal?

Then hold out for the new Highlander or 4Runner MCR.

 

[Natey]

I'm gonna toss this out there because I noticed it and kinda got a chuckle.

When we bought our 2012, we shopped around a little bit to see what else there was in the price range. We looked at Grand Cherokees, Pathfinders, and Explorers before settling on what we knew we wanted in the 1st place.

Every dealership we went to compared their truck to the Toyota 4Runner. The Nissan guy raved at how much more power the 'finder had than the 4runner, and how much nicer the stereo was. The Jeep guy couldn't get over how much better the headlights and interior materials were than the Toyota. The Ford guy pounded "ford tough" and "domestic" into our heads.

The Toyota guy never mentioned any other brands. He just showed us around the (much more desirable to us) 4Runner, and let us make our decision. The 4runner has NO real competition and we made the obvious choice.

TLDR version:
Every other brand compares their SUV to the Toyota, the benchmark, and Toyota doesn't seem to be worried. For good reason, too, because they have been making better trucks since day1.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

Current Highlander is too small. Next door neighbor has one and she checked out the interior. Cargo space is an issue. for hauling our kids and luggage. The new 2014 Highlander is bigger and she really likes it, but we need the new vehicle soon before we travel.

She does not like the look of the current Pilot.

Seriously...she had settled on the 5th gen 4R last night until she saw the absence of the memory seating. It also didn't help that none of the dealers within a 250 mi radius have a shoreline blue Limited.

The current highlander with 3rd row and seats up has more space then the current 4runner with 3rd row and seats up.

I have 3rd row on my SR5, and with both rear seats up, there is barley enough room to fit a grocery bag. For me I plan on only using one of the 3rd row seats, and keep the other side down for some space, but even then it will be hard to even fit a stroller back there.

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

So what's left in the running after the elimination of the Jeep, Ford, and Nissan?

Per her criteria it seems like the Pilot, 4Runner, and Highlander are the only choices left. Although I don't know much about the 3rd row in any of those.

The Stellar Reliability piece only leaves Toyota, Honda, and Subaru IMHO. And that Forrester looks terrible, like a Hyundai CUV, sorry Jeff!

I agree, there's going to have to be a sacrifice somewhere. I hate to say it but if it comes down to size vs looks vs memory seating, the memory seating is what I'd sacrifice. But, I don't have to contend with 2 other drivers...

I kinda like the Forrester for what it is, a street machine that is good in all conditions and has room for more cargo than a sedan. What kills that for me is the limited 4cyl/towing and the fact that their turbo engines require premium fuel. Seems silly to me. If it came down to that and the Santa Fe or Sorento, I'd probably choose one of the later for the V6 option. Luckily, I won't need to buy a new car for a long time and

 

[crunchcity]

The current highlander with 3rd row and seats up has more space then the current 4runner with 3rd row and seats up.

I agree, having had a '12 Highlander and a '12 Runner with 3rd row.

Regardless with the OP's criteria there isn't much choice and have already eliminated everything else pretty much lol unless they wait for the 14's or sacrifice some options.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

For a wife car once they get used to a powered rear hatch they never want to go back to have to pulling the rear hatch down manually especially since the 5th gen eliminated the pull down strap that was on the 4th gens. I can tell you that if you are driving long trips you feel less tired at the end of a long day driving a Highlander than you do a 4runner. Its the truck thing.

 

[Hellamatic]

This is an apples/oranges debate. If you want a real SUV and don't mind it being a little rough around the edges due to it's tradeoff of creature comforts for offroad capability, buy a 4Runner. If you want a vehicle to coddle you while driving on pavement and picking up the occasional load of Swedish modular furniture, an Explorer or Mallfinder is what you need.

 

[Greg_Canada]

Sounds like you need a Sienna.

 

[gwcpa]

Is this a pull down strap on the 2014 TE? Sure wish they would put a power rear gate on it. The effort to close it is more than my wife weighs!


http://www.toyota.com/content/future-vehicles/4runner/full/4runner-4.jpg

 

[M1911]

Current Highlander is too small. Next door neighbor has one and she checked out the interior.

The current Highlander has more interior room than the current 4runner and its 3rd row seats are more usable than the 4Runners as well.

 

[crunchcity]

Sure wish they would put a power rear gate on it. The effort to close it is more than my wife weighs!

One more thing to break/wear out imo.

I actually deactivated the power liftgate on my Highlander because of a TSB where the motor was torquing the gate so it was slightly off center and the motorized "catch" that pulled it shut at the bottom wouldn't activate properly.

There was also a TSB where one of the gate hinges would bend from motor use as well, and in later model years they had to beef up the hinge.

I was paranoid it might happen to me so I turned it off and used the gate manually lol.

This stuff is a nightmare for people that don't trade in every few years imo.

 

[Paisano]

I agree, there's going to have to be a sacrifice somewhere. I hate to say it but if it comes down to size vs looks vs memory seating, the memory seating is what I'd sacrifice. But, I don't have to contend with 2 other drivers...

I kinda like the Forrester for what it is, a street machine that is good in all conditions and has room for more cargo than a sedan. What kills that for me is the limited 4cyl/towing and the fact that their turbo engines require premium fuel. Seems silly to me. If it came down to that and the Santa Fe or Sorento, I'd probably choose one of the later for the V6 option. Luckily, I won't need to buy a new car for a long time and

If it came down to that though we wouldn't be 4Runner people. If it came down to those options I would get a sport sedan or something to add to a 4Runner.

This is a fascinating thread though, w/ the whole wife dynamic.

 

[adam2562]

tell her that if she wants a mall suv to get the new Highlander!! i'd get it over the pathfinder too

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

If it came down to that though we wouldn't be 4Runner people. If it came down to those options I would get a sport sedan or something to add to a 4Runner.

This is a fascinating thread though, w/ the whole wife dynamic.

I don't know, my wife drives an Accord and every time I have to drive it I feel like I'm climbing into/out of a hole. Even at 33, my knees aren't what they used to be so it is a PITA for me to drive her car.
If we were shopping for a new car for her (which we aren't) I'd be pushing a 5th Gen or something like the Venza, Outback or similar. I prefer to step across into a vehicle rather than step down into it. She (unfortunately) has no interest in an SUV/Crossover though. Maybe as our son gets older and gets into more sports and things she'll change her tune, but for now she is holding onto the sedan.

 

[jediwebdude]

** UPDATE **

We test drove the Honda Pilot Touring tonight. Yawn.

The pros:

- lots of cargo space
- lots of upfront space and shelves
- big cupholders for rear seat occupants (I'm sure these large cupholders are illegal in NY)
- large hidden storage compartment in rear
- red/wh/yellow inputs for gaming system to appear in rearview ent screen
- Nav screen is nice and sheltered from sun (something we hate about our CX-9 is the screen being flush and washed out by sun, esp when rearview cam comes on)
- drives sort of car-like
- AWD version we test drove didn't have torque steer issue
- 3rd row seat can seat 3 people, so it is an 8-seater vehicle
- fleet sales guy quoted us $700 below invoice, so pricing is nice

The cons:

- weird shifter
- weak engine...very weak
- boxy looking (sales guy tried to tell us "boxy" is in style...lol)
- ignition requires a key...no quick-start mechanism
- audio system is mediocre

How I summed it up is if I wanted a reliable family-friendly vehicle for long trips, or for hauling around our 3 kids and their friends, this is the perfect SUV/CUV. Told her if it is what she wants, I am fine with it. She didn't care for the lame acceleration, and cannot get over the boxy styling.

4Runner test drive will occur either Fri or Sat. Basically it is down to the Pilot and the 4Runner. Nothing else meets the criteria. Hoping the 4Runner wins.

 

[Viper45]

Me too! opcorn: