I was initially just going to say hello by posting a few pictures of my new to me 4Runner. But after reading threads in this forum I have come to realize this community is all about sharing your experiences and adventures so that others may learn. This is my experience in purchasing a 4Runner. The reasons why I chose a 4Runner and maybe, just maybe, it'll help out someone else looking to do the same.
I had recently been in the market for a new vehicle that could get me to work through just about any weather conditions all year round. Granted, Kansas weather is mild compared to other states, but a front-wheel drive "sporty" car can be a bit hairy during those winter months. I also wanted a vehicle that could get myself, girlfriend, dog and friends to various campsites and other places a front-wheel drive vehicle would have great difficulty. My previous vehicle was a 2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3, which had been extremely reliable, but was approaching the time to replace various parts, i.e. brakes, shocks, bushings. The splashgaurd under the front was ripped off last winter and was being held in place by zip-ties. The suspension would cause rattles and steering wheel wobble over small bumps, and frankly I was just getting tired of driving a stiff-riding 6-speed for my daily commute. I also wanted something with a nice interior...heated seats, Bluetooth audio and more space, among other things. Most importantly I wanted a vehicle that was reliable, easy to repair and would last a long time. I had a feeling the Mazda was not going to be that vehicle.
My search started with used all-wheel dive wagons such as the Subaru Impreza, Audi A4, Volvo's and others. After some extensive research I determined the Subaru Impreza, specifically the non-WRX models, would be far too boring both inside and out. The WRX's scared me away due to not knowing how long the engine and transmission would last before needing rebuilt/replaced. Audi reliability and maintenance cost quickly turned me away, same goes for the Volvo's.
I then started looking at small SUV's such as Explorer's, Jeeps, CX5's and lastly the 4Runner's. The Explorer seemed decent, same with the Jeep Cherokee's (new generation) but you didn't get a lot for your money or so it seemed. To get one with the nicer options I wanted, I'd have to drop a lot more cash. New ones quickly rose far above my budget and lightly used ones seemed to hold their value. Some YouTube videos of a CX5 in the snow made me laugh at how poorly they performed and that little engine they had in them just seemed like it wasn't enough. They did have some spiffy interiors though. So.... 4Runner.
To be financially responsible (wishful thinking) I thought I'd look into the 3rd gens. Around my area, most 3rd gens available had already clocked a minimum of 150k miles most nearing 200k miles or more, as to be expected. A little scary considering my Mazda was only at 72k miles. The 3rd gens had the capability part checked off my list, but they weren't quite at that level of interior comfort/luxury I was looking for. I know, I must be getting soft. The 4th gens were an improvement on that, but I could never really find one I liked. Plus they looked too soft on the outside, and I feared of blending in with the sorority girls and soccer moms driving them all over town. Then came the 5th gen.
The 5th gen 4Runner quickly rose to the top of my list and consumed the bulk of my research. Which trim level, SR5, Trail or Limited? Are they easy to repair and maintain? Will they last? Do they off-road well? Mod friendly for future endeavors? Are they comfortable? Will I spend a fortune in gas? With those questions, and others, in mind I hit the world wide web of Google and found this site.
At first the Trail trim interested me the most. The multi-terrain select and the exterior styling were features that really stood out and features I liked. Thoughts of scaling mountains in Kansas with a KDSS equipped Trail Edition rushed through my mind before quickly returning to reality and realizing there are no mountains in Kansas, and that most of my driving would be done on a 20 mile stretch of highway to and from work. Then I started looking at the Limited's and I really liked what I saw. Push button start, heated leather seats, standard JBL audio, proximity entry and the XREAS feature all sounded nice, but were they something I really needed? I decided they were, and limited my search on the Limited Edition trim (yes that was intentional). To my sadness I found most Limited Editions were too far out of my price range, so my search continued along with my research to decide if I could settle with a cheaper SR5.
Until one day when browsing Craigslist I found this black 4Runner listed that looked pretty damn sharp. Black with black rims and black interior, yum. The posting was from a used car dealership in Kansas City and the 4Runner was listed as an SR5. But wait...while browsing the photos in the ad I see something strange, push button start. Hmm, all my research showed that feature was only available on the Limited trim. I continued to evaluate the pictures and ultimately determined the 4Runner they had listed as an SR5 is in fact a Limited. Maybe they knew, maybe they didn't. Anywho, the price was a bit too much out of my price range.
Fast forward to a few weeks later and the same 4Runner pops up again on Craigslist from the same dealer, but only this time the price has been significantly reduced. Well now that's more like it, I think to myself, and plan a Saturday trip out to Kansas City to check it out. A few weeks prior to this I made my way to the local Toyota dealership to see if they had any new 4Runners available. They had one. A 2015 Limited with all the options including a sticker price about $20k out of my price range. I test drove it anyway to see if a 4Runner was what I wanted. Short story...it was.
Alright, back to the used 4Runner I found. It was listed as a 2010 SR5, and like I said earlier, it looked pretty damn sharp. The wheels (17's from a Sequoia) were painted black, BFG All Terrain's, smoked tail-lights and a near perfect black interior. Plus, the biggest point for me, is that it was in fact a Limited. It had higher mileage though, with 84k miles that was 12k more miles than the older Mazda I was trading in had on it. The test drive was great. Just a simple sprint up the highway and back is all I needed to be sold on it. It was smooth, quiet and comfortable. With the 17's it rode much smoother than the 20's on the 2015 I test drove weeks earlier. There were no squeaks, no rattles anywhere and no funny vibrations. Everything on the inside worked as it should, and hey it even had navigation. I knew this 4Runner had been lightly modded, so I checked under the hood and under the body to see how everything looked. From what I saw, the suspension was left alone and looked to be original with XREAS still connected. Nothing out of the ordinary under the hood as well. No fluids leaking from the engine, transmission, diffs or transfer case. With the test-drive and examination concluded the rest was history. I've bored you long enough already.
Here it is on the first night looking all shiny from the magical stuff the dealer applies...
IMAG0169 by jplynch87, on Flickr
Looks sharp don't it?
After owning it for a week I was able to learn many of the features it had, and boy was there a lot to learn. I love it though. Everything from the fat steering wheel, to the gauges and the entry/exit courtesy lights. The ECO light is more fun than it should be. I burned a new navigation DVD which updated just about everything in my area. Speaking of the navigation system, despite being almost 5 years old it works surprisingly well. Yeah, it's not the most fancy hi-def screen but it works as it should. The Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity work flawlessly as well. With my favorite music app, Google Music, it starts up automatically from where it left off at every time I start the 4Runner abd sounds great! The proximity entry is far more convenient then I ever anticipated. I'm always carrying things to and from my car, and being able to grab the handle to unlock it and touching it to lock it back up is just awesome to me. Everything on the inside just screams quality, at least to me it does. Compared to the Mazda, and before that an Acura Integra, this is of much nicer build quality.
The drive to work and back the week after purchase proved it was a great choice and was exactly what I was looking for. But I had the urge to see what pushing a 4Runner was like. Easy for me, there happens to be an off road vehicle park just a short drive away. Oh boy, I'm probably going to break this thing, is what I was thinking pulling into the deserted park. In all seriousness I was going to take it easy, very easy. The park was empty with no one there to help if I got stuck, and I didn't bring anyone with me. I'll save the more challenging stuff when I make new 4x4 friends who can teach me and save me.
IMG_5138 by jplynch87, on Flickr
I played with the different modes, 4-high and 4-low. Also played with the downhill assist control, which made some strange noises by the way, but turns out to be normal. A-TRAC seemed to work very well too, granted I don't think I've really pushed it yet. I went over some little hills, down into some ruts and creek beds, through some wooded areas where I learned all about trail pin-striping (damn black paint doesn't help) and over some smaller rocks. Over all, it exceeded all my expectations as I had never driven a vehicle through anything like that before. I have no worries making it anywhere through a Kansas winter.
IMG_5115 by jplynch87, on Flickr
IMG_5118 by jplynch87, on Flickr
In the end I'm glad I made the decision on this 4Runner. I see myself keeping this vehicle for a long time. The moding bug has already bit me, and I'm trying to decide what I want/need first. I would love some Trail Edition headlights to go with the black theme. 2014+ LED tail lights might look cool too. The plasti-dip had come off the Limited badge on the driver's side, so that'll need to be addressed when it gets warmer (no garage) and I think there's too much chrome on the front. The TRD badge is just there, don't know why, and I haven't decided whether or not to keep it. It's simply bolted to the grill. I'd love new bumpers, front and back, along with a new roof rack. The part I'm most torn on is the suspension. It'll need to by upgraded if I want all that stuff, but I love how the XREAS rides and handles. I drive a Chevy Tahoe PPV for work, and well, it rides and handles like crap in comparison to the 4Runner. More research is needed in that area.
IMG_5109 by jplynch87, on Flickr
I also need some experience and training in this off road stuff. I'd love to meet some guys in Kansas who'd be willing to get together to help me out and show me the ropes. Everything from off road driving techniques to vehicle recovery techniques. So if you're in Kansas and want to get together, shoot me a message!
IMG_5132_2 by jplynch87, on Flickr
IMG_5126 by jplynch87, on Flickr
I apologize for the long, drawn out story, but if you're a lurker like me who is thinking of buying a 4Runner, I hope this helps. :cheers:
I had recently been in the market for a new vehicle that could get me to work through just about any weather conditions all year round. Granted, Kansas weather is mild compared to other states, but a front-wheel drive "sporty" car can be a bit hairy during those winter months. I also wanted a vehicle that could get myself, girlfriend, dog and friends to various campsites and other places a front-wheel drive vehicle would have great difficulty. My previous vehicle was a 2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3, which had been extremely reliable, but was approaching the time to replace various parts, i.e. brakes, shocks, bushings. The splashgaurd under the front was ripped off last winter and was being held in place by zip-ties. The suspension would cause rattles and steering wheel wobble over small bumps, and frankly I was just getting tired of driving a stiff-riding 6-speed for my daily commute. I also wanted something with a nice interior...heated seats, Bluetooth audio and more space, among other things. Most importantly I wanted a vehicle that was reliable, easy to repair and would last a long time. I had a feeling the Mazda was not going to be that vehicle.
My search started with used all-wheel dive wagons such as the Subaru Impreza, Audi A4, Volvo's and others. After some extensive research I determined the Subaru Impreza, specifically the non-WRX models, would be far too boring both inside and out. The WRX's scared me away due to not knowing how long the engine and transmission would last before needing rebuilt/replaced. Audi reliability and maintenance cost quickly turned me away, same goes for the Volvo's.
I then started looking at small SUV's such as Explorer's, Jeeps, CX5's and lastly the 4Runner's. The Explorer seemed decent, same with the Jeep Cherokee's (new generation) but you didn't get a lot for your money or so it seemed. To get one with the nicer options I wanted, I'd have to drop a lot more cash. New ones quickly rose far above my budget and lightly used ones seemed to hold their value. Some YouTube videos of a CX5 in the snow made me laugh at how poorly they performed and that little engine they had in them just seemed like it wasn't enough. They did have some spiffy interiors though. So.... 4Runner.
To be financially responsible (wishful thinking) I thought I'd look into the 3rd gens. Around my area, most 3rd gens available had already clocked a minimum of 150k miles most nearing 200k miles or more, as to be expected. A little scary considering my Mazda was only at 72k miles. The 3rd gens had the capability part checked off my list, but they weren't quite at that level of interior comfort/luxury I was looking for. I know, I must be getting soft. The 4th gens were an improvement on that, but I could never really find one I liked. Plus they looked too soft on the outside, and I feared of blending in with the sorority girls and soccer moms driving them all over town. Then came the 5th gen.
The 5th gen 4Runner quickly rose to the top of my list and consumed the bulk of my research. Which trim level, SR5, Trail or Limited? Are they easy to repair and maintain? Will they last? Do they off-road well? Mod friendly for future endeavors? Are they comfortable? Will I spend a fortune in gas? With those questions, and others, in mind I hit the world wide web of Google and found this site.
At first the Trail trim interested me the most. The multi-terrain select and the exterior styling were features that really stood out and features I liked. Thoughts of scaling mountains in Kansas with a KDSS equipped Trail Edition rushed through my mind before quickly returning to reality and realizing there are no mountains in Kansas, and that most of my driving would be done on a 20 mile stretch of highway to and from work. Then I started looking at the Limited's and I really liked what I saw. Push button start, heated leather seats, standard JBL audio, proximity entry and the XREAS feature all sounded nice, but were they something I really needed? I decided they were, and limited my search on the Limited Edition trim (yes that was intentional). To my sadness I found most Limited Editions were too far out of my price range, so my search continued along with my research to decide if I could settle with a cheaper SR5.
Until one day when browsing Craigslist I found this black 4Runner listed that looked pretty damn sharp. Black with black rims and black interior, yum. The posting was from a used car dealership in Kansas City and the 4Runner was listed as an SR5. But wait...while browsing the photos in the ad I see something strange, push button start. Hmm, all my research showed that feature was only available on the Limited trim. I continued to evaluate the pictures and ultimately determined the 4Runner they had listed as an SR5 is in fact a Limited. Maybe they knew, maybe they didn't. Anywho, the price was a bit too much out of my price range.
Fast forward to a few weeks later and the same 4Runner pops up again on Craigslist from the same dealer, but only this time the price has been significantly reduced. Well now that's more like it, I think to myself, and plan a Saturday trip out to Kansas City to check it out. A few weeks prior to this I made my way to the local Toyota dealership to see if they had any new 4Runners available. They had one. A 2015 Limited with all the options including a sticker price about $20k out of my price range. I test drove it anyway to see if a 4Runner was what I wanted. Short story...it was.
Alright, back to the used 4Runner I found. It was listed as a 2010 SR5, and like I said earlier, it looked pretty damn sharp. The wheels (17's from a Sequoia) were painted black, BFG All Terrain's, smoked tail-lights and a near perfect black interior. Plus, the biggest point for me, is that it was in fact a Limited. It had higher mileage though, with 84k miles that was 12k more miles than the older Mazda I was trading in had on it. The test drive was great. Just a simple sprint up the highway and back is all I needed to be sold on it. It was smooth, quiet and comfortable. With the 17's it rode much smoother than the 20's on the 2015 I test drove weeks earlier. There were no squeaks, no rattles anywhere and no funny vibrations. Everything on the inside worked as it should, and hey it even had navigation. I knew this 4Runner had been lightly modded, so I checked under the hood and under the body to see how everything looked. From what I saw, the suspension was left alone and looked to be original with XREAS still connected. Nothing out of the ordinary under the hood as well. No fluids leaking from the engine, transmission, diffs or transfer case. With the test-drive and examination concluded the rest was history. I've bored you long enough already.
Here it is on the first night looking all shiny from the magical stuff the dealer applies...
IMAG0169 by jplynch87, on FlickrLooks sharp don't it?
After owning it for a week I was able to learn many of the features it had, and boy was there a lot to learn. I love it though. Everything from the fat steering wheel, to the gauges and the entry/exit courtesy lights. The ECO light is more fun than it should be. I burned a new navigation DVD which updated just about everything in my area. Speaking of the navigation system, despite being almost 5 years old it works surprisingly well. Yeah, it's not the most fancy hi-def screen but it works as it should. The Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity work flawlessly as well. With my favorite music app, Google Music, it starts up automatically from where it left off at every time I start the 4Runner abd sounds great! The proximity entry is far more convenient then I ever anticipated. I'm always carrying things to and from my car, and being able to grab the handle to unlock it and touching it to lock it back up is just awesome to me. Everything on the inside just screams quality, at least to me it does. Compared to the Mazda, and before that an Acura Integra, this is of much nicer build quality.
The drive to work and back the week after purchase proved it was a great choice and was exactly what I was looking for. But I had the urge to see what pushing a 4Runner was like. Easy for me, there happens to be an off road vehicle park just a short drive away. Oh boy, I'm probably going to break this thing, is what I was thinking pulling into the deserted park. In all seriousness I was going to take it easy, very easy. The park was empty with no one there to help if I got stuck, and I didn't bring anyone with me. I'll save the more challenging stuff when I make new 4x4 friends who can teach me and save me.
IMG_5138 by jplynch87, on FlickrI played with the different modes, 4-high and 4-low. Also played with the downhill assist control, which made some strange noises by the way, but turns out to be normal. A-TRAC seemed to work very well too, granted I don't think I've really pushed it yet. I went over some little hills, down into some ruts and creek beds, through some wooded areas where I learned all about trail pin-striping (damn black paint doesn't help) and over some smaller rocks. Over all, it exceeded all my expectations as I had never driven a vehicle through anything like that before. I have no worries making it anywhere through a Kansas winter.
IMG_5115 by jplynch87, on FlickrIMG_5118 by jplynch87, on FlickrIn the end I'm glad I made the decision on this 4Runner. I see myself keeping this vehicle for a long time. The moding bug has already bit me, and I'm trying to decide what I want/need first. I would love some Trail Edition headlights to go with the black theme. 2014+ LED tail lights might look cool too. The plasti-dip had come off the Limited badge on the driver's side, so that'll need to be addressed when it gets warmer (no garage) and I think there's too much chrome on the front. The TRD badge is just there, don't know why, and I haven't decided whether or not to keep it. It's simply bolted to the grill. I'd love new bumpers, front and back, along with a new roof rack. The part I'm most torn on is the suspension. It'll need to by upgraded if I want all that stuff, but I love how the XREAS rides and handles. I drive a Chevy Tahoe PPV for work, and well, it rides and handles like crap in comparison to the 4Runner. More research is needed in that area.
IMG_5109 by jplynch87, on FlickrI also need some experience and training in this off road stuff. I'd love to meet some guys in Kansas who'd be willing to get together to help me out and show me the ropes. Everything from off road driving techniques to vehicle recovery techniques. So if you're in Kansas and want to get together, shoot me a message!
IMG_5132_2 by jplynch87, on FlickrIMG_5126 by jplynch87, on FlickrI apologize for the long, drawn out story, but if you're a lurker like me who is thinking of buying a 4Runner, I hope this helps. :cheers:
