Favorite 4runner Generation, why?

[RDN4JC]

It looks as though I am in the minority here, and this is based just on looks but I have to say mine is the 5th gen.

:blabla: I'm not much of a car guy in the first place, and there are not a lot of cars out there on the road that catch my eye. The first car I said I had to have was the Durango when it first came out in 98. In 2005 I was able to buy a used 98 Dodge Durango with I think it was 156k miles on it. I loved it. But as the body styles for the Durango changed, I got more and more disappointed as I did not like the newer styles. I thought there would never be another SUV with a style I liked. Then in 2011 or 12 I was flipping through a magazine and saw a pic of the next vehicle I had to have. (Keep in mind I never payed attention to Toyota, much less the 4Runner before.)

 

[RDN4JC]

I started reading the articular and it stated this was just a concept. My first thought was great another great style that will never make it to production! GRRR :mad2: I know most concept cars never get to production.

Fast forward to 2014 and I see this beast coming towards me on the other side of the highway :jump: it was a 2014 Toyota 4Runner. :jump:

 

[RDN4JC]

I was so stoked. It had made it to production. Then I start reading up on them and Toyota in general. I getting more and more impressed with everything I read. The wife and I talk and decided that we would get one, as soon as we can find a used one in my price range. Then my mom passes away (I love my Mom) and leave me her low mileage Siena. Thanks to her I was able to trade in her van and get a 4Runner a lot sooner than I could have. In a way it makes me feel good to know she helped me. I had spent quite a bit of time talking to her about this new SUV that I wanted and she tried to encourage me to go for it sooner.

 

[RDN4JC]

So this past Dec I found one I want and got it 2014 TE with KDSS. The day after Christmas, with temp tags still on it, I took it to Hard Rock off Road Park here in Fl. I'm not sure if it was the fact that it wasn't a jeep, or I had street tires and no lift, but everyone there was looking at me funny. I didn't care; I wanted to see what this thing could do as is. I did get stuck one and had to have a jeep pull me out. They laughed at me, but I smiled and gave them a bag of homemade jerky as a thank you and went back to driving the paths. Later, I was at the bottom of a very steep hill thinking “that a bit too steep” then I watched a group of jeeps go up. The first one that had gone up got out and stood at the top to fill the others. I waited for them to clear the top so I could try but the camera guy waive me up. I think they wanted to laugh at me too. But up I went. Not problems at all. When I got to the top the camera gur

 

[LandCruiser]

Drivetrain options? 4th
Looks, interior? 5th

Both are essentially interchangeable to me, tho.

 

[Lolrax]

I have only had a 4th and a 5th gen but I would say out of the two I prefer the 4th gen in a very big way. The 5th gen was just too bloated for the powerplant and I also felt that the interior materials and fit and finish are nicer on the 4th gen.

Also the paint on my 5th gen sucked in comparison to the paint on my 4th.

 

[alico268]

So this past Dec I found one I want and got it 2014 TE with KDSS. The day after Christmas, with temp tags still on it, I took it to Hard Rock off Road Park here in Fl. I'm not sure if it was the fact that it wasn't a jeep, or I had street tires and no lift, but everyone there was looking at me funny. I didn't care; I wanted to see what this thing could do as is. I did get stuck one and had to have a jeep pull me out. They laughed at me, but I smiled and gave them a bag of homemade jerky as a thank you and went back to driving the paths. Later, I was at the bottom of a very steep hill thinking “that a bit too steep” then I watched a group of jeeps go up. The first one that had gone up got out and stood at the top to fill the others. I waited for them to clear the top so I could try but the camera guy waive me up. I think they wanted to laugh at me too. But up I went. Not problems at all. When I got to the top the camera gur

What!? All those posts and you didn't finish your story... I may short circuit here.

My favorite is the 6th gen, because it will make all of our hopes and dreams come true.

 

[jspagna1]

I loved my 3rd Gen (1997) bought it new and had it for 16 years and it was still running strong with 170,000 miles till I gave it to my brother-in-law who killed it. That truck did everything great off-road, mud, snow. There was no stopping that thing.
I just wish it had more HP & interior room.

 

[jspagna1]

Then I bought my 2011 SR5. Yes I like white. Hope this one serves me as well as my 3rd gen did???

 

[RDN4JC]

What!? All those posts and you didn't finish your story... I may short circuit here.

My favorite is the 6th gen, because it will make all of our hopes and dreams come true.

Sorry. got distracted by work/never got back.

...When I got to the top, the camera guy said "you are nuts! You have no lift no off road tires, and you're making us look bad"

 

[elemint]

I am not thrilled with the 5th interior, but since 2014 it is decent. I don't know how you can think the 4th gen is better.

I have only had a 4th and a 5th gen but I would say out of the two I prefer the 4th gen in a very big way. The 5th gen was just too bloated for the powerplant and I also felt that the interior materials and fit and finish are nicer on the 4th gen.

Also the paint on my 5th gen sucked in comparison to the paint on my 4th.

 

[07V8]

The only one you can get with a V8.

 

[MK3inNC]

4th gen Limited with the V8. Even though we upgraded to a 2011 Land Cruiser, I still kick myself to this day for getting rid of it.

 

[Schmuly]

Have to say the 4th, Just bought my first 4runner, a 2007 4wd Limited.
So for me it is #4.
Although I did own a 85 Toyota 4x4 truck about 25 years ago.

 

[hikenbike]

4th gen for sure. I currently have a 4th gen Sport V8 and a new '16 TPE w/KDSS. The '16 is certainly nice but not of the same build quality of the '07. Sorry but that's the truth. It's simply a tank with smooth, quiet power and torque. I always get compliments on it.


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[jwatson]

Definitely the sixth gen:lmao:

I personally like the fifth gen a lot, it's still rugged but has all the modern day tech

 

[andy2008]

We've been blessed to have a few 3rd 4th and 5th gens haha my favorite looks wise had always been the 3rd gen but when came to mpg's and comfort it suffered greatly to later models for sure. Then I traded my 11 TE for my 16 and I felt like I was coming home to my third gen somehow with all the new features so I would have to say the 16 I guess till the next one changes my mind[emoji13]

Sent from WV

 

["krax"]

Even though I drive (and love) a 5th Gen, when I think "4Runner", I see a 3rd Gen in my head. Not sure why, but I guess that makes it my favorite generation.

 

[jhfleet]

I had a couple of 1st generations before ending up with a 3rd gen Limited. I like the looks of the 1st gen, but not much else. It's underpowered, very uncomfortable, and rides like a buckboard. The removable top is great in theory, but actually removing it and getting it back on with no leaks and/or wind noise is a much bigger job than it looks like. But, it is reliable, although I never trusted the 3.0 V6 version. The 3rd gen needs more power but otherwise is pretty much perfect, IMHO.

 

[Ghostrider]

Had a 2001 for 13 years and now a 2016. Not possible but I really liked the "nimbleness" of the 2001 but I needed more HP for towing. Really wish they had put the current engine in older body style