Drove a 2013 4runner and didn't like it

[toyo]

The 5th gens have some oomph to them but they seem to have some laggy spots in acceleration and performance, I suspect the "lag" many people feel has to do with "Eco" tuning to squeeze better MPG for the upcoming CAFE Standards (I swear turning ECO off does nothing but turn the light off...)

I love the exterior styling of the 5th gen and even don't mind where they put the 4WD knobs and stuff on the TE (I don't really use that area much on my 4th gen anyways.) But I don't like them as much as my 4th gen (was debating to trade the 4th gen in for a 5th gen when they first came out, since I had barely bought the 4th gen at the time.)

My biggest complaints with the 5th gen are as follows:

-Lack of a V8, coming from a '93 S10 Blazer with that pitifully excuse of a 4.3L V6 I swore I would never get anything mid-sized or larger without 8 cylinders (this was more than likely due to impending CAFE Standards and low sales of the V8 as the vehicle was built as the GX460 and all they'd have to do is put 5th gen body on the frame; the other reason I suspect CAFE Standards is because a 2.7L I4 option was offered at the launch of the 5th gen (though it was only for a year before dropping it completely due to lack of interest and sales.)

-Interior is awkwardly uncomfortable; the window sill buttons feel awkward, the windowsill is too tall and puts my arm above 90* when cruising which causes fatigue, the interior layout is just a hair out of comfortable reach for the most part, that god awful Tundra shifter, ect. Its not horrible, but is "off" just enough that I never feel comfortable driving a 5th gen as compared to say a 3rd or 4th gen.

-Decontenting core features vs. hiked up price, only the Limited gets a T3 Torsen Center Diff, Flick Start was removed on all trims (Limited get a push button, which I am not partial to), roll down rear window button is gone, ect Basically they are progressing further into a Mall Crawler and less into its 4WD Heritage (the TE is a nice vehicle, but still feels more like what the 4WD package should have standard and that still doesn't have the T3 Torsen, I personally feel the 4WD system in the V6 4th gens was the best IFS system, I even like my V8's all-time 4WD which is basically the same components minus a 2WD shift fork), they could have kept this as their mid-size semi-luxury off-road capable SUV like the 3rd & 4th gens represented, but instead they've started the inevitable process of turning the 4Runner into another Highlander much like Nissan has done with the Pathfinder.

-2014+ Models are horribly re-designed, the headlamps and tail lamps are great; but the front bumper design is just a travesty on both SR5 and Limited models, the designer who drew that and approved it should be shot for such a poor job

-Giant Wagon Wheels are a big turn off, they seem to ride far more stilted than my 4th gen even with fancy KDSS and such

I know the thoughts here a bit disjointed, the heat is frying my brain... but I guess you guys get the gist of it? Basically as someone who wants a nice, reliable, quality built, but off-road capable vehicle for a good price; the 5th gen is the downward slope of the progression when compared to the 4th gen.

I couldn't have said it better myself. IF the 5th gen had a V8 I might be able to overcome some of the deficiencies.

 

[toyo]

My wife drives a 2006 LS430. It is so shy of being just about perfect for it's intended purpose. I was up at the Lexus dealer one day picking up some parts. A good friend of mine is the sales manager and I mentioned I would like to drive a new LS460. The difference to me was quickly noticeable. The difference between the two is kinda like the 4th gen and 5th in certain areas. The 430 is so much more planted, a tomb like interior in regards to NVH, smoother, more comfortable seats etc. This is not to say the 460 is a slouch by any means, it's a wonderful car. If I had not been comparing it to my 430 I would have been drooling. I feel like if someone is not comparing the 5th to a 4th gen 4R they would not see the weaknesses in the 5th.
However, this is such a personal choice for everyone. No car or truck is perfect for any one person.

 

[hikenbike]

I have the 08 and 11 and ill say it like this the 08 is over 200,000 on the miles and the 11 is just under 13k sports car vs limo. braking, gas, suspension, cornering, all feel like shit to me in the 11 vs. the 08 I to this day wish I had not bought it went. and don't do a 7 hours drive in it your ass and legs will be screaming for a nap. and I HATE ABSOLUTELY HATE the oversize knobs on the days must be an asians sick joke to americans because you would never find that in the version overseas

Anyone driving a truck for 7 hours will be screaming. It's a truck.

Did you ever sit in or test drive the truck before you bought it?

 

[Code2]

Anyone driving a truck for 7 hours will be screaming. It's a truck.

Did you ever sit in or test drive the truck before you bought it?

Do you really think anyone would buy a vehicle and not do either of the two lol. problem is you cant do a 7 8 9 hours test drive, nor can you really drive it like you normally would with the car nanny in the passenger seat thus you cant really get a feel for how everything will work. Now when i bought my mustang that salesman was like this isnt a soccor moms car see what it can do. I think he crapped his pants a bit

As for driving long periods I can do 12 to 14 in my 08 without a issue. for some reason i discovered there really isnt a ample spot to rest your leg against the center like the 4th gens. and the seat feels almost like its shorter to me just doesn't sit like the 4th gen needs to wrap around a person more than it does.

Its all good live and learn the 5th gen's new duties are to sit in the garage undriven and protect the motorcycles in there :lmao: till i decide to start beating on it until then it can sit with the 13000 miles on it till when ever

 

[c_mack9]

Touche sir, now my question to you is, did someone build that or buy it?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Touche sir, now my question to you is, did someone build that or buy it?

They are all custom made vehicles. More than likely they got in bad rear end collisions of some kind, that's typically why you see those 4th gens with the itty bitty truck beds.

 

[toyo]

A company in Portland called SDK Conversions does these.

 

[toyotatech84]

I have a 07 sport v6 and last summer when i nailed a deer out in John Deere land (quad cities) we happened to have a 2013 4runner TE as a loaner so i was driving that for a month. I can easily pick apart the bad of the 4th and the 5th gen. As quickly as the positives from the 4th and 5th gen. It was literally identical apperance. My black 4th gen with the black 5th gen not very many friends picked up the difference they just said "were are your f'n running boards!!!"

 

[toyo]

You mean you or your friends could not tell the difference between a 4th and 5th Gen in appearance? Don't you work at a Toyota dealer?

 

[toyotatech84]

You mean you or your friends could not tell the difference between a 4th and 5th Gen in appearance? Don't you work at a Toyota dealer?

Oh i knew the difference right away. But my 60yr old mom took the 5th gen to church one day and said to me "i thought you had tinted windows and the step things on the side" i laughed and told her what happened.
Yes i work at the Steal-ership

 

[preacher35]

I have the 08 and 11 and ill say it like this the 08 is over 200,000 on the miles and the 11 is just under 13k sports car vs limo. braking, gas, suspension, cornering, all feel like shit to me in the 11 vs. the 08 I to this day wish I had not bought it went. and don't do a 7 hours drive in it your ass and legs will be screaming for a nap. and I HATE ABSOLUTELY HATE the oversize knobs on the days must be an asians sick joke to americans because you would never find that in the version overseas

I couldn't agree more. I rented a '13 while on vacation and was extremely disappointed in it. I couldn't wait to get back home to my '05 w/106k on the ODO. Sports car vs. boat IMHO. I am, at this very moment in the market for another SUV, in addition to what I already have and I am very confident that I am going to purchase an '09 with low miles. BTW, the wife absolutely hates the 5th gen. She said it looks to boxy.

 

[dropspace]

For those that don't like the 5th gen, here's an 05 4WD V8 Limited with 12k Miles

Toyota 4Runner Limited V8 AWD 4Runner | eBay

That's some way low miles, looks new...

 

[Code2]

Oh i knew the difference right away. But my 60yr old mom took the 5th gen to church one day and said to me "i thought you had tinted windows and the step things on the side" i laughed and told her what happened.
Yes i work at the Steal-ership

You sir are my new mechanic outside of the stealership I hate working on cars you would think they would have figured out how to build like motorcycles where everything was thought out logically we exclude ducatii of course