First road trip with my 2006 4 Runner ... Not happy at all
- Thread starter Pepi
- Start date
Pepi,
Have you had a chance to take your truck back to the dealer for them to address the issues you found on your trip? Just curious as to what they found.
FWIW - I've taken my truck on one short trip (about 600 miles) and one medium length trip (about 1200) miles and found the truck to perform great on the freeway. Granted, when it's windy, the truck is less stable, but we are driving rectangular boxes, right?
:
I had my wheels aligned as well as the tires rotated and balanced before the last trip and found the truck to be very comfortable and stable on the road. Wasn't driving too fast - averaged 75-80 on the freeway. The steering needed very little adjustment while on the highway.
I am looking forward to changing out the stock Bridgestone tires to Michelin's. That should help with any extra road noise and such, but overall I really like my 2006 4R.
Have you had a chance to take your truck back to the dealer for them to address the issues you found on your trip? Just curious as to what they found.
FWIW - I've taken my truck on one short trip (about 600 miles) and one medium length trip (about 1200) miles and found the truck to perform great on the freeway. Granted, when it's windy, the truck is less stable, but we are driving rectangular boxes, right?
: I had my wheels aligned as well as the tires rotated and balanced before the last trip and found the truck to be very comfortable and stable on the road. Wasn't driving too fast - averaged 75-80 on the freeway. The steering needed very little adjustment while on the highway.
I am looking forward to changing out the stock Bridgestone tires to Michelin's. That should help with any extra road noise and such, but overall I really like my 2006 4R.
mjweber96
New member
We just took a trip up to Ohio from Jacksonville, 15 hours. We drove through flat roads and winding mountains. I was very impressed with the truck. Handled better then my wifes 06' Impala through the mountains. Steering was so smooth, no body roll at all, at least none that I noticed. I was doing 80-85 on the WV Turnpike the whole way too. Truck was so smooth that at times I was doing 100 and didn't even notice it. The tranny does do a lot of gear searching in the mountains while on cruise, but no more then any other automatic with a V6 does. Best vehicle I have ever ridden in on a long trip.
My father in-law drove it to Melbourne(about2 1/2 hours) and he couldn't believe how comfortable and how well it drove for having a short wheelbase. He drives a Silverado.
My father in-law drove it to Melbourne(about2 1/2 hours) and he couldn't believe how comfortable and how well it drove for having a short wheelbase. He drives a Silverado.
I'll have to agree with Pepi. I found the drivers seat very uncomfortable and found the truck squirmy on the road. But worse for me is that it is boring to drive. I had a Tahoe for 6 years and wanted something different but the 4Runner feels the same.
I actually test drove a Jetta GLi tonite and found it fun and like the small car feel. Not sure if I'm going to get rid of the 4Runner or not for it as I'll loose right at $4000. My payments come out the same $409, but its a lesser vehicle.
Pepi your not alone, I've had mine 3 months and have 1740 miles on it and I hate driving it.
2006 SE
Bill3508
I actually test drove a Jetta GLi tonite and found it fun and like the small car feel. Not sure if I'm going to get rid of the 4Runner or not for it as I'll loose right at $4000. My payments come out the same $409, but its a lesser vehicle.
Pepi your not alone, I've had mine 3 months and have 1740 miles on it and I hate driving it.
2006 SE
Bill3508
fotorunner
New member
Interesting forum and an interesting thread
To compare the handling characteristics of an SUV with those of a car doesn
To compare the handling characteristics of an SUV with those of a car doesn
charlier180
New member
Bill3508 said:
If you have not owned a VW recently you might be in for a BIG shock when it comes to maintenance costs. VWs have a reputation of being MUCH more costly to maintain. Before buying any VW, I STRONGLY suggest that you look into maintenance and repair costs for the VW you intend to buy. That is what I did and I found out that the VW Touareg would have cost me TWICE AS MUCH for maintenance and repairs as the 4Runner.
I wasn't really comparing the 4Runner to the Jetta, just contemplating changing my ride. I've always driven large vehicles and I guess I'm somewhat tired of them.
89 K5 Blazer
1996 Impala SS
98 Tahoe LT
2000 Tahoe LT
The 4Runner to me seems almost too quiet and stable if that makes sense. Although, I do find it squirmy on the highway, but that may be to the Dunlops that many here do not like. I've decided to keep the 4Runner and will purchase a car or motorcycle in the meantime to get over my smaller vehicle want. Going to order a Gibson exhaust also, to help with the quietness problem.
Bill3508
89 K5 Blazer
1996 Impala SS
98 Tahoe LT
2000 Tahoe LT
The 4Runner to me seems almost too quiet and stable if that makes sense. Although, I do find it squirmy on the highway, but that may be to the Dunlops that many here do not like. I've decided to keep the 4Runner and will purchase a car or motorcycle in the meantime to get over my smaller vehicle want. Going to order a Gibson exhaust also, to help with the quietness problem.
Bill3508
Bill3508,
I imagine the Jetta was fun to drive, but as a person who had two Jetta's in the family that my wife (now ex-wife) drove, I'd be real cautious about owning one...
I've heard that the Passat's were more reliable than the Jetta's. I hope so... The two Jetta's that we owned were absolute pieces of sh%t. I will never buy another VW product again.
David
I imagine the Jetta was fun to drive, but as a person who had two Jetta's in the family that my wife (now ex-wife) drove, I'd be real cautious about owning one...
I've heard that the Passat's were more reliable than the Jetta's. I hope so... The two Jetta's that we owned were absolute pieces of sh%t. I will never buy another VW product again.
David
You don't HAVE TO live with the lease if you are unhappy. You are free to sell it or use www.leasetrader.com and turn it over to someone else. It's easy and you don't lose but $150. Now if you had a down payment with your lease you will ofcourse lose that. Hopefully you were smart and put next to nothing.
Just for reference I lease vehicles all the time so I can switch cars whenever I feel like it. I just recently put my 2006 BMW on leasetrader and had it sold within 24 hours. Too easy! Not to mention you can pick up ridiculous deals on there too!
Just for reference I lease vehicles all the time so I can switch cars whenever I feel like it. I just recently put my 2006 BMW on leasetrader and had it sold within 24 hours. Too easy! Not to mention you can pick up ridiculous deals on there too!
Mr. Lambdebois
New member
Happy here with my 4runner after several road trips.
I will say that I have been quite impressesd with my 4runner after taking it on two 1500mile road trips in the last two months.
One from Miami to St. Louis pulling a 6x12 packed and loaded trailer. I had plenty of power going through the smokey mountains and to maintain the speed I chose to cruise at.
The second trip was from St. Louis to Page/ Lake Powell near the Utah/ Arizona state line. I had two other occupents, a 55lb dog, and the back packed with gear and coolers. Both passengers were really impressed with how quiet and smooth the 4runner rode. It was a wonderfull vehicle for that trip and reminds me of why I didn't buy a Rubicon/jeep as my only vehicle.
I will say that after driving a 2005 explorer with the 4.7 3v V8 in it the Explorer does feel to have more low end torque that the v-8 in the 4runner.
Also I am suprized by the amount of power loss the A/C compressor seems to rob from the 4runner on hot summer days (ex. 95 degrees) especially for a V-8. Anyone else notice this?
The explorer has much more audible engine noise driving around and I really couldn't tell that it rode that much smoother even with it's IRS.
I will say that I have been quite impressesd with my 4runner after taking it on two 1500mile road trips in the last two months.
One from Miami to St. Louis pulling a 6x12 packed and loaded trailer. I had plenty of power going through the smokey mountains and to maintain the speed I chose to cruise at.
The second trip was from St. Louis to Page/ Lake Powell near the Utah/ Arizona state line. I had two other occupents, a 55lb dog, and the back packed with gear and coolers. Both passengers were really impressed with how quiet and smooth the 4runner rode. It was a wonderfull vehicle for that trip and reminds me of why I didn't buy a Rubicon/jeep as my only vehicle.
I will say that after driving a 2005 explorer with the 4.7 3v V8 in it the Explorer does feel to have more low end torque that the v-8 in the 4runner.
Also I am suprized by the amount of power loss the A/C compressor seems to rob from the 4runner on hot summer days (ex. 95 degrees) especially for a V-8. Anyone else notice this?
The explorer has much more audible engine noise driving around and I really couldn't tell that it rode that much smoother even with it's IRS.
Bill3508 said:
My garage now houses a '93 runner with 158K miles and an '06 Sport V8 with 1900 miles. The '06 Sport replaced a Nissan 350Z which replaced a 2000 BMW 328Ci (coupe). The Z is a great car that does what it is designed to do very well. It moves 2 people very fast with little effort and exceptional handling. However, you do have a problem if you want to take almost any amount of gear with you, especially if 2 of you golf. My first road trip with the '06 was through the Cumberland Gap in Kentucky and I40 through TN going to NC.
I can tell you that I definitely miss the Z when it comes to curvy roads. X-REAS makes the runner handle very nice for a SUV, but there is no substitute for having your center of gravity so close to the ground and a 50/50 weight distrib. However, the Z, even though it had the touring package, was not the most comfortable car for long road trips. Sports car ride and really loud tire noise made the longer rides well, longer. The engine note is incredible from the outside and did not intrude that much from the inside. They really tuned the exhaust note well to die out at cruising speeds inside the cabin.
The BMW was a great touring car with quietness, power and handling. The smaller cars are great for when you want to throw yourself and some cargo around a few curves.
Now moving to the '06 Sport I personally find the power and quietness of the vehicle quite "luxurious". The seats are not deeply bolstered like my performance vehicles were, but then I would not expect them to be either. The '06 did a great job in the mountains, but there were several times on I40 where I found myself going around a curve and thinking it would be much more satisfying if I had been in either one my cars instead of the 4runner. However, I was also thinking that the tradeoff in utility in the 4runner was completely fair for the tradeoff in handling performance. So I can carry more cargo, not be worried about road conditions and travel in a quiet and very smooth cabin and I am still happy.
So to sum up my driving feelings of my '06 Sport I would say I relish the "luxury" ride of the vehicle. I knew what I was getting when I purchased my new 4runner in that it was going to be quiet, comfortable, powerful, but with significantly less handling performance than cars I had owned in the past. This is what I was looking for in my new car and it may be from the fact I am getting older or just wanted a change.
Now the little voice is coming back and trying to get me to trade the '93 4runner for a BMW R1150R bike, but that won't be too soon down the road as I am too sentimental toward the older runner!
Yeah, I can see what you are saying about possible being too quiet, but from my point of view that is what I wanted. I don't find the 4runner "boring" in any way, just a different way to get from place to place.
Hopefully something in my viewpoint may help your dilemma. Good luck!
Fourty-four
Guest
drake3,
Well said, and I agree completely. Maybe I'm getting older too, but I enjoy the quiet and comfortable ride of my 4Runner. Driving sports coupes is still fun, but the bone-jarring ride is starting to get tired. And in my area, it seems that I'm stuck in traffic all the time, so as much as I love driving a manual trans, it's just not very much fun in that kind of traffic.
Damn, I must really be getting old.
Well said, and I agree completely. Maybe I'm getting older too, but I enjoy the quiet and comfortable ride of my 4Runner. Driving sports coupes is still fun, but the bone-jarring ride is starting to get tired. And in my area, it seems that I'm stuck in traffic all the time, so as much as I love driving a manual trans, it's just not very much fun in that kind of traffic.
Damn, I must really be getting old.
