Drove a 4Runner For the first Time Today

[RichinRidgewood]

Land Cruiser

The same NY dealership had a Land Cruiser with 36 mo $999/mo lease painted on the window. $999 mo ... seriously ?

 

[cb1111]

The same NY dealership had a Land Cruiser with 36 mo $999/mo lease painted on the window. $999 mo ... seriously ?

$999 isn't bad. MSRP is $86k, so the residual is in the $50k range - so about 58%

 

[00Sebby]

I have a '20 ORP ordered but seeing LCs in this price range makes me question if I am making the best choice.

 

[cb1111]

It was completely cloudy, 40° and it had just stopped raining Saturday. The weather I hate the most.

I went up to the NJ/NY border to see a dealership and they had a BBQ going on the patio. I left the house without eating and this was welcome. I didnt have to cook either. Cheese burgers. Nice new dealership. Non-douche bag sales kid. Probably going back to these guys.

Bonus Info:

New York Documentation Fee is capped at $74.

In New Jersey it's normally $489 'Eff that

I hope you put some of the Funyuns on your burger - adds a very nice crunch.

 

[mnex01]

This is my first post on this forum. Having never driven a 4runner of any generation before, I test drove a 2020 SR5 base 2wd last week. I was very impressed.

To the OP, it's a good you were able to fit with the sunroof. For me, the sunroof was a no-go, and I'm only 6'3". I would prefer not to have a sunroof anyway, but here in SoCal, you can't get the premium package without getting a sunroof. Slight bummer, but not a deal breaker.

I kind of went into the test drive with low expectations, but I was very impressed with the ride quality, handling, and quietness for a BOF vehicle. The drivetrain is very smooth and quiet. Engine power is fine, but nothing to get excited about.

I love the ride height and simple, yet very functional interior. The overall utility value is quite impressive considering the 4runner's foot print is about the same as my Acura TSX wagon, just a few inches wider.

I need a simple, yet reliable vehicle for commuting, road trips, hauling my bikes, and towing a single axle dump trailer or small camper trailer. The plug-n-play capability for a trailer brake controller is a must. I love the simplicity of 2wd/rwd trucks and don't plan on any off-roading except the occasional dirt/gravel road. The 4runner just checks off all the most important boxes.

Other than no option for a manual transmission, the gas mileage is the biggest negative for me. I work 3-12hr shifts per week and have a relatively short commute, so the gas mileage is tolerable.

I will definitely purchase a SR5 in the next month or two.

 

[Steamfitter]

The interior of the 5th gen is actually quite nice, especially the Limited which offers more than the others.

If you contrast that to other trucks like the Tacoma, I think the 4Runner interior and comfort is ahead of their other offerings.

I’ll agree the truck isn’t perfect, but its better than pretty much anything else in that class I would consider driving. It’s an easy truck to fall in love with… mine has taken me to some pretty amazing places on or off-road. I find them to be wildly capable and reliable which makes it easy to overlook any of its shortcomings.

Well said. The T4R hits the sweet spot on some very important things, and it's hard to find a better overall vehicle that's anywhere close in price.

What I like about mine, 7 years in...

-comfort/leg room
-it's relatively quiet, little to no wind noise on the highway
-reliability
-spacious, but not too big
-easier to park than a full size SUV/half-ton
-gas mileage is not great, but not abysmal either
-styling that ages very well

 

[RichinRidgewood]

I hope you put some of the Funyuns on your burger - adds a very nice crunch.

I just saw a TacoBell Buffalo Chicken Nacho Cheese Fries commercial on TV and I could feel my heart veins plugging up.

 

[ryguytheman]

To the OP, it's a good you were able to fit with the sunroof. For me, the sunroof was a no-go, and I'm only 6'3". I would prefer not to have a sunroof anyway, but here in SoCal, you can't get the premium package without getting a sunroof. Slight bummer, but not a deal breaker.

I have a hard time understanding how anyone under 6'5" can have this complaint. I'm 6'7" with a sunroof, and I make it work fine (though it is tight). Not trying to argue, I just don't see the issue for 99% of people who say that the sunroof eats too much headroom.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Now I’m thinking a 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium is a better idea. It’s not much more compared to the SR5 Premium for the added features.

The only problem is it doesn’t come with a light colored interior so I’d probably do the leatherseats.com or Katzkin etc.

I watched a video and it didnt seem like it’s difficult to do.

 

[JsinLegacy]

I have a hard time understanding how anyone under 6'5" can have this complaint. I'm 6'7" with a sunroof, and I make it work fine (though it is tight). Not trying to argue, I just don't see the issue for 99% of people who say that the sunroof eats too much headroom.

I think a lot of it has to do with body types, longer legs vs longer torso, and how a person sits in the vehicle overall.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

I Found This Comparison MDX to $Runner

2019 Toyota 4Runner vs. 2019 Acura MDX


I'm leaning more towards the Limited because of the leather seats, automatic temperature control, JBL, more shiny and chrome things etc.

To add leather to a Off-Road- Premium is $1400 and I have to do the work.

This link compares the more recent vintage MDX to the 4Runner. 4Runner FTW.

Here are a few highlights ... maybe the lights are not so bad. My wife's TLX has the MDX headlights and I think they are great but they are not as good as the 4Runner's says Consumer reports.

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the 4Runner’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the MDX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Economic Advantages

The 4Runner will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4Runner will retain 64.99% to 80.19% of its original price after five years, while the MDX only retains 42.09% to 45.69%.

 

[RoamingScott]

I have a hard time understanding how anyone under 6'5" can have this complaint. I'm 6'7" with a sunroof, and I make it work fine (though it is tight). Not trying to argue, I just don't see the issue for 99% of people who say that the sunroof eats too much headroom.

I’m 6’3” and the sunroof was a no-go. The lack of one makes a huge (positive) difference for me.

 

[bamma]

Can you show me a 16+ LC for the cost of a new 4R?

The least expensive LC I can see is in the mid $53k range with 45k miles. For that price you can buy a new GX.

Agreed. I bought my 2016 LC with 30k miles in September for $53k, and it was a steal from a former NBA player. My friend is a hobby dealer and gave me access to his login to auctions, and I couldn't find one sold at auction that low with similar mileage. And it came with extended Toyotacare and a Toyota platinum 100k mile warranty.

Most 16+ I am seeing are listed closer to $58-60k.

My wife's 2020 Limited 4R was $42k before TTL. Quite a price difference, but I still tried to talk her into a LC.

Now a 2015 LX570 can be had for a great price, the the pre 2016 LX has a decent front end (and the 16+ has a godawful joystick for the nav/entertainment).

For whatever reason, (more availability, lacking the Land Cruiser name) the LX570s, especially pre 2016, can be found for very good pricing. Definitely worth looking at.

My wife is loving her 2020 4R. The Android Auto is great (which the 2020 Land Cruiser is lacking btw). Wish it had the birdseye camera, but the 2020 4R was a big upgrade over her 2012 with the updated safety and tech.

And while you can get a GX for low 50's the best packages are 60+, and they aren't nearly as nice as a LC or LX.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

After looking more closely at the cost vs need I put together I think the SR5-Premium 4x4 with the light colored interior is best suited for me.

The TRD Off-Road Premium only has a black interior and it has several shiny pieces blacked out. I don't care for that. I prefer the shiny pieces the SR5P has for example, the piece above the rear license plate is painted, the roof rails are silver, the emblems are "chrome" and the interior has silver trim. I don't think I will need the locker or terrain select any time soon. I've read the ride is stiffer on the TRD as well but I haven't driven one. I did drive an SR5P and I liked it.

I'm not particularly thrilled with the low profile tires or the XREAS the Limited has. I-95 here in New Jersey gets these trenches in the winter in-between the lanes where the painted lane divider should be and hitting one of those in the dark while changing lanes can blow out a tire or two no problem. The same with the clownish drain grates they have a the tole booths. Those turn into square edge trenches during the winter too.

 

[Bumbo]

2019 Toyota 4Runner vs. 2019 Acura MDX


I'm leaning more towards the Limited because of the leather seats, automatic temperature control, JBL, more shiny and chrome things etc.

To add leather to a Off-Road- Premium is $1400 and I have to do the work.

This link compares the more recent vintage MDX to the 4Runner. 4Runner FTW.

Here are a few highlights ... maybe the lights are not so bad. My wife's TLX has the MDX headlights and I think they are great but they are not as good as the 4Runner's says Consumer reports.

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the 4Runner’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the MDX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Economic Advantages

The 4Runner will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4Runner will retain 64.99% to 80.19% of its original price after five years, while the MDX only retains 42.09% to 45.69%.

I get that we can really compare anything these days, including apples and oranges.

Body on frame 4WD truck with a low range transfer case IMO is what makes it impossible for me to compare it to the MDX.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

I think this is a really good looking SR5

 

[JsinLegacy]

I think this is a really good looking SR5

The more I see the red the more I like it.

 

[ryguytheman]

The more I see the red the more I like it.

Red wasn't my first choice, but it's grown on me.

 

[JsinLegacy]

Red wasn't my first choice, but it's grown on me.

I tend to always stick to darker colors. The brighter colors just never appeal to me. But for some reason the 4runner in red just seems to look so good. Especially once you change out the tires and rims.

Nice rig by the way.

 

[kiwiflavored]

I was also hesitant in the red but then I saw one in person and it looks so much better. But then I caught a nautical blue from the corner of my eye and fell in love