General Questions for Current Owners - Likes/Dislikes?

[fxoffroad]

You just proved my point... it's all about personal choice - hence the choices that we all have and get to make.

The other point being - everyone's entitled to make their own decisions and select whatever it is that they want to drive - whether or not it meets someone else's approval or not. If there was no personal choice, there would be far fewer vehicle types/models on the road.

My understanding: the original poster was talking about why own something if you're not going to use it to its fullest capacities/abilities. Hence the Range Rover sentence (please don't tell me you don't understand that), and...

well... you obviously have never been in or driven an Aston Martin.:boxer:

Allow me to pick nits with your take on the original analogy...

Would it make sense to buy an inline 4-cylinder DB9 if Aston Martin offered one? Sure, it's a pretty car but what are you actually paying for is that sexy engine. The point of a performance car is not the type of seating surfaces offered, or the color combinations, or the amount of chrome trim, it's the *performance*. The American car makers all tried the "same design, tiny engine" options with their signature muscle cars in the mid-seventies (Ford Mustang, Chevy Chevelle, Dodge Charger) but no one bothered buying them and only the big block bad boys are still worth anything.

To me, buying an SR5 is like buying the stock 1967 Pontiac LeMans rather than the GTO. Sure, they looked similar, but they were not the same car, can't do the same things, and only one is still so valued that they command new car prices for bone stock models.

 

[SeattleMike]

You just proved my point... it's all about personal choice - hence the choices that we all have and get to make.

The other point being - everyone's entitled to make their own decisions and select whatever it is that they want to drive - whether or not it meets someone else's approval or not. If there was no personal choice, there would be far fewer vehicle types/models on the road.

My understanding: the original poster was talking about why own something if you're not going to use it to its fullest capacities/abilities. Hence the Range Rover sentence (please don't tell me you don't understand that), and...

well... you obviously have never been in or driven an Aston Martin.:boxer:

I have driven an Aston Martin, actually, both a Vantage and a DB9. I drive by the local dealer daily. I've also driven a Lotus or two, 4 or 5 Lamborghinis over the years, and my share of Ferrari's. A misspent youth, a few years detailing cars in the 80's, and (now) a few gray hairs will get you behind the wheel of almost anything.

*My* point is that you wouldn't buy a (fictional) 4-cylinder DB9 if you were looking for a performance car. Your point is that you would, if you only wanted the looks and not the power. In my opinion, you would be wasting your money and making a fool of yourself but you are correct, it's free country.

I would like to point out that all the exotic sports car manufacturers have vast resources at their disposal, yet none of them make an economy version of their models. Maybe you should try and sell them on your vision of "all show, no go" vehicle choices.

 

[LongBallLarry]

So any 4runner that is not a trail is "all show, no go"?

 

[PolkManiac]

So what's wrong with the horn?

 

[SeattleMike]

So any 4runner that is not a trail is "all show, no go"?

Well, duh.


(Disclaimer: For those of you reading this who do not understand the concept of sarcasm... some people say things in a caustic way in an attempt to illustrate absurdity, irony, or the ignorance of the statement to which they are replying. Some of the people practicing sarcasm do so on a ad hoc basis, while others incorporate it into their sense of humor. I am in the latter category. If you suspect my posts are heavily laden with sarcasm, you would be correct.)

 

[SeattleMike]

So what's wrong with the horn?

It has all the authority of a little 4 year-old girl telling her parents "No!" when it is time for bed. Imagine a Great Dane with a Dachshund's bark. They would have been better off putting a bicycle bell on the steering wheel.

 

[PolkManiac]

So any 4runner that is not a trail is "all show, no go"?

That's how it comes acroos

So here are my requirements, find me a better option:

1. I've had great luck with Toyota, wanna stick with them
2. Needs to have seating for 4 adults comfortably
3. Needs to sit high up, a car won't work
4. Needs to have cargo area that's covered
5. We do go off road from time to time, but nothing major, we just want something that's sturdy enough to take camping and such
6. We do have a boat that we need to tow

The only other model they have that comes close is the Highlander, and that's way too car-ish for us and the 4runner is a much better looking vehicle IMO

 

[SeattleMike]

So here are my requirements, find me a better option:

1. I've had great luck with Toyota, wanna stick with them
2. Needs to have seating for 4 adults comfortably
3. Needs to sit high up, a car won't work
4. Needs to have cargo area that's covered
5. We do go off road from time to time, but nothing major, we just want something that's sturdy enough to take camping and such
6. We do have a boat that we need to tow

The only other model they have that comes close is the Highlander, and that's way too car-ish for us and the 4runner is a much better looking vehicle IMO

I think that is going to be the determining factor. How heavy is the boat & trailer, loaded and fueled?

Don't pay too much attention to me, I've been breathing paint fumes all day and I enjoy sparring with fxoffroad.

 

[fxoffroad]

It has all the authority of a little 4 year-old girl telling her parents "No!" when it is time for bed. Imagine a Great Dane with a Dachshund's bark. They would have been better off putting a bicycle bell on the steering wheel.

Good grief... so true - I just used my stock horn within the last hour to alert a driver who was about to turn right in front of me... and I was next to a Jeep (with its doors off). I think I really confused the driver and I was sorely embarrassed by my girly horn. It wasn't a good moment.

Since I know nothing about horns or anything auto related, I'm not sure who to turn to, to fix that which questions my masculinity.

 

[LongBallLarry]

Well, duh.


(Disclaimer: For those of you reading this who do not understand the concept of sarcasm... some people say things in a caustic way in an attempt to illustrate absurdity, irony, or the ignorance of the statement to which they are replying. Some of the people practicing sarcasm do so on a ad hoc basis, while others incorporate it into their sense of humor. I am in the latter category. If you suspect my posts are heavily laden with sarcasm, you would be correct.)

Great job not answering.

 

[harper7]

Great job not answering.

I'll answer for ya then Larry.
Limited and SR5's ARE all show and no go..... same as probably 95 percent of TE's.

Like the 2 TE's I saw here at Moab.The one guy from CA in a black one I talked to said the trails were way too hard and he turned around and had no intentions of scratching up his truck.He never even heard of the forum by the way. The other gray one in a parking lot was mint with stock dunlaps so I know he was'nt wheelin. Saw a white Limited from Illinois today too here and he said he was'nt going offroad either.

Bottom line is it all depends on how you outfit your 4Runner with offroad equipment(lift, body armor, offroad tires, sliders,locker) and if you want to go on real 4x4 trails or dirt/gravel fireroads.In the real world,when your along a ledge, going up or down a steep climb or going over rock piles and holes you will still only trust your right leg for the gas and brake and pick your line ,sight,senses and ability to get you thru. Electronic gadgetry switches overhead won't do it.

Probably 95 percent of people that buy TE's buy them for their looks and will never wheel them to even close to their full potential.Therefore 95 percent of Limiteds/SR5's will go anywhere a TE goes.That also makes it good for wheelers looking for used TE's a couple of years down the road.

 

[SeattleMike]

Good grief... so true - I just used my stock horn within the last hour to alert a driver who was about to turn right in front of me... and I was next to a Jeep (with its doors off). I think I really confused the driver and I was sorely embarrassed by my girly horn. It wasn't a good moment.

Since I know nothing about horns or anything auto related, I'm not sure who to turn to, to fix that which questions my masculinity.

There might be a thread about it, but my search button is totally smashed.:shrug:

 

[LongBallLarry]

I'll answer for ya then Larry.
Limited and SR5's ARE all show and no go..... same as probably 95 percent of TE's.

Like the 2 TE's I saw here at Moab.The one guy from CA in a black one I talked to said the trails were way too hard and he turned around and had no intentions of scratching up his truck.He never even heard of the forum by the way. The other gray one in a parking lot was mint with stock dunlaps so I know he was'nt wheelin. Saw a white Limited from Illinois today too here and he said he was'nt going offroad either.

Bottom line is it all depends on how you outfit your 4Runner with offroad equipment(lift, body armor, offroad tires, sliders,locker) and if you want to go on real 4x4 trails or dirt/gravel fireroads.In the real world,when your along a ledge, going up or down a steep climb or going over rock piles and holes you will still only trust your right leg for the gas and brake and pick your line ,sight,senses and ability to get you thru. Electronic gadgetry switches overhead won't do it.

Probably 95 percent of people that buy TE's buy them for their looks and will never wheel them to even close to their full potential.Therefore 95 percent of Limiteds/SR5's will go anywhere a TE goes.That also makes it good for wheelers looking for used TE's a couple of years down the road.

Not sure I completely follow you. I have a hard time seeing how a trail will go places a limited/sr5 will not. Especially given your point that terrain control is a non-factor when it comes to the toughest obstacles.

I think your point is more along the lines that people who purchase a limited/sr5 tend to do less off-roading, but then that would be a contradiction of your first statement that they are all show.

Sure, the 4runner, in any incarnation is not invinceable but I have seen many sr5 stocker videos tackling a tough terrain. But there is a limit to everything.

 

[SeattleMike]

The one guy from CA in a black one I talked to said the trails were way too hard and he turned around and had no intentions of scratching up his truck.He never even heard of the forum by the way.

That's lame. I'd at least gotten totally 'effen stuck before giving up, you know? As it is, Moab has to wait till next year while my bank account reinflates.

 

[LongBallLarry]

That's lame. I'd at least gotten totally 'effen stuck before giving up, you know? As it is, Moab has to wait till next year while my bank account reinflates.

Why lame? I guess you know what is the best way to live everyone's life.

 

[SeattleMike]

Not sure I completely follow you. I have a hard time seeing how a trail will go places a limited/sr5 will not. Especially given your point that terrain control is a non-factor when it comes to the toughest obstacles.

That locking rear differential on my TE should be your first clue. And the video of a 4Runner on the Rubicon? That was a Trail Edition with KDSS... and nothing but sliders and tires. Not even a lift kit.

 

[SeattleMike]

Why lame? I guess you know what is the best way to live everyone's life.

Are you trying to make this personal? If so, please explain why?

 

[harper7]

Not sure I completely follow you. I have a hard time seeing how a trail will go places a limited/sr5 will not. Especially given your point that terrain control is a non-factor when it comes to the toughest obstacles.

I think your point is more along the lines that people who purchase a limited/sr5 tend to do less off-roading, but then that would be a contradiction of your first statement that they are all show.

Sure, the 4runner, in any incarnation is not invinceable but I have seen many sr5 stocker videos tackling a tough terrain. But there is a limit to everything.

I was being sarcastic in that first sentance!

In my opinion......A limited/sr5 with a rear air arb locker will go anywhere a TE will go. There are plenty of badass ARB locked 4Runners and FJ's out there over the last 25 years without KDSS to prove that. Go to the other forum site or the FJ site where the hardcore wheelers are for proof of that.

The KDSS Releases the sway bar for extra down travel but will only give you as much travel as the upper and lower control arms and their ball joints allow. My maxxes out with the long travel CO's and the sway end ends are making noises to let me know when at full travel. I need to get adjustable end links or as many have done ,just take them or the endlinks off when on the trail and you will get alot more down and up travel.There are 2 nuts that hold the endlinks on.

 

[LongBallLarry]

Are you trying to make this personal? If so, please explain why?

Personal? Dude, I'm calling you in your BS. I expect you to do the same to me.

lol @ " If so, please explain why?"

 

[LongBallLarry]

I was being sarcastic in that first sentance!

In my opinion......A limited/sr5 with a rear air arb locker will go anywhere a TE will go. There are plenty of badass ARB locked 4Runners and FJ's out there over the last 25 years without KDSS to prove that. Go to the other forum site or the FJ site where the hardcore wheelers are for proof of that.

The KDSS Releases the sway bar for extra down travel but will only give you as much travel as the upper and lower control arms and their ball joints allow. My maxxes out with the long travel CO's and the sway end ends are making noises to let me know when at full travel. I need to get adjustable end links or as many have done ,just take them or the endlinks off when on the trail and you will get alot more down and up travel.There are 2 nuts that hold the endlinks on.

good post. <- not sarcastic