Don't mean to offend but I hate the 5th gen body style

[Carsonsmom]

I don't know about everyone else, but I cannot stand the 5th generation Transformer looking 5th generation body style of the 4Runner. Does anyone know why Toyota changed it so radically?

Don't understand why car companies decide to make such a big change when they have a good thing going for them.

 

[Atlanta_man]

agreed

 

[berettashot117]

coolstorybro

 

[bimmage]

.brostorycool.

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

Its a matter of opinion. I didn't like them at first, but they've really grown on me. And, now I love to look through the 5th Gen section of the forum
Even though you think Toyota "had" a good thing going, there are a ton of 5th Gen guys here that would say they "still" have a good thing going.

 

[Jeff T]

You haven't figured out change is constant?

 

[Lowboydrum]

Im with Dusty its a matter of opinion. At first I thought they were hideous but the more I look at them and now that I have driven one I think they are beast. Now I only dont like them becasue I dont have one.

 

[berettashot117]

sometimes, after eating dark chocolate, I fart a lot.

 

[black_120]

sometimes after farting i eat dark chocolate a lot

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Someone told them that boxy was in, so they went with it. I'm not a fan of it either which is why I bought a newer 4th gen to replace my 03 instead of going to the newer body style

 

[Martinjmpr]

What I hate about the 5th gen is the "high beltline." This trend started a few years ago with the Chrysler 300 and it's just gotten worse. It makes vehicles look fat because the lower body is huge and the 'greenhouse' (i.e., the part with the windows) is much smaller.

To me it makes cars look like they are in a comic book or cartoon.

Now, having said that, one thing about 4runners is that with factory-sized wheels and tires, they look odd. I guess Toyota must have realized that a lot of people put bigger tires on, so they make the fender wells extra large. Which is fine, but if the owners keep the stock, small wheels, they just look weird.

I saw a 3rd gen yesterday with stock sized wheels and even it looked odd to me, whereas a 3rd gen with a nice, slightly oversized wheel/tire combo looks awesome.

And I've noticed the same thing with the 5th gens. The ones with stock sized wheels look terrible (especially the limiteds with their hideous 20 inch "wagon wheels." Seriously, that's marginally OK on a car but on an SUV it just looks awful.)

But put some meatier tires on it and it looks pretty good, especially with a mild lift and an ARB or similar bumper.

 

[<<<<]

Box...

Designed by same person that gave us new FJ Cruiser. Need I say more?



.

 

[zimdba]

What I hate about the 5th gen is the "high beltline." This trend started a few years ago with the Chrysler 300 and it's just gotten worse. It makes vehicles look fat because the lower body is huge and the 'greenhouse' (i.e., the part with the windows) is much smaller.

I agree. I can't stand it either. How do people even see out of these vehicles? I'm sure little kids in the back seat love looking at door handles instead of the scenery going by.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Last year sales of the 4th gen were pretty poor and the worst sales year for the 4Runner since it was new so obviously it was time for change and with sales up on the 1st year 5th gen 138% from the last 4th gen model year I'm guessing Toyota is quite happy with the reception of the 5th gen.

 

[JDSupreme]

I didn't like them at first but after seeing some modded ones they kinda grew on me for sure. I don't love them enough to even consider the thought of upgrading from my 4th gen tho.

By the time I'm ready to upgrade from the 4th gen, then we will probably be talking 6th gen, which I feel will either be totally awesome or totally ugly.

 

[rockwall]

I also hated the 5th gen at first, but have softened my opinion. I still think that the 4th gen Runner is the best looking truck ever. Lucky for all of us we have one!

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I didn't like them at first but after seeing some modded ones they kinda grew on me for sure. I don't love them enough to even consider the thought of upgrading from my 4th gen tho.

agreed, seeing mod ones definitely makes me like them more, seeing stock ones around here, I'm just not impressed with the looks

 

[Carsonsmom]

I just think it looks like everything else out there now. I always liked the 4Runners because they had a different look from all of the rest. I am not a fan of how the tail lights and headlights stick out from the body of the 5th gen. Looks like they would get hit and broken a lot.

I never had a Pathfinder, but I thought the same about it. They never should have changed the body style to that big box.
:repuke:

 

[JB.]

Being a function over form type, I mostly don't care.

If the high belt line reduces visibility, for instance, then I don't like it.

Always cracks me up, though, how often it gets mentioned that looks are an opinion. If that needs to be pointed out then we are truly near the end of civilization as we know it.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I never had a Pathfinder, but I thought the same about it. They never should have changed the body style to that big box.
:repuke:

Now, see, I couldn't disagree more. I love the 05+ Pathy. In fact, if the 05+ Pathfinder had come with multi-mode 4wd I'd probably be driving one now. Honestly, the only thing I don't like about the Pathy is the lack of multi-mode, and the independent rear suspension. But the IRS thing I can live with. Actually, I could live with lack of multi-mode, too, but I figure, if it costs the same, why should I have to?

So dumb that Toyota dumped multi-mode on the 5th gen.