Has anyone else notice our 4runners drive unusually well?

[farmerjon]

I have a buddy with an S10. I should have had him drive my 4R and compare, but he's gone now.

I will say, I LOVE driving my 4Runner- it does handle tightly, I make all kinds of turns with it, even with my passenger side sway bar unhooked (just haven't hooked it back up yet). I've driven many other vehicles for work, and the 4Runner remains my favorite - it handles really well and tight (especially for an SUV and a high COG), and great visibility, etc. It's awesome...

 

[paddlenbike]

What I can't believe about mine is how well it drives and how rattle free it is, even after all of the punishment I've put it through. I haven't done anything flat-out abusive, but if you've ever driven Saline Valley Road in Death Valley, which consists of 60+ miles of the worst washboard ever, you too would be amazed how a truck could survive that year after year and still feel tight and refined.

Mine drove nice stock, but the ride is way better with my existing lift and the supercharger gave it power that mid-sized SUVs still don't have even today. You could offer me twice bluebook value and I would not take it, love this truck.

 

[4x4mike]

You could offer me twice bluebook value and I would not take it, love this truck.

What about twice Blue Book plus a taco? Checkmate.

 

[paddlenbike]

What about twice Blue Book plus a taco? Checkmate.

Now that you've upped the ante, I would have to at least consider it.

 

[TRDteen]

FORD > TOYOTA :banana::cheer2:

 

[OffRoadGuy]

It drives very well if everything was stock, but if you have off road mods like lift kit, off road tires, no sway bars, etc. some areas on the street can be challenging. Also a stiff ride and a bit noisy at times. Now If your off road, our rigs is very capable in all weather in snow, dirt, sand, mud, and rock crawling. I know one thing, I wouldn't trade it for any open air jeep. Well maybe a sup'tup 4 door Rubicon.

 

[farmerjon]

FORD > TOYOTA :banana::cheer2:

FORD is better than Toyota? You're crazy!

 

[4RunnerChaos]

FORD > TOYOTA :banana::cheer2:

I don't think I've seen any broken down fords.... LOL I MEAN I've seen hundreds of broken fords.. No broken toyotas yet.

Oh and hell yeah best riding vehicle I've been in so far. And I have stock everything. And I'm 99% sure most everything is original also. Lol...
As some have said the rear end skips on bumps but I think that's part of the 15 year old suspension system. I have little to no play in my wheel and it doesn't wander unless I hit a large strip of mismatch pavement. I love the ride but it rides better when there's about... 400 lbs more in it. And I think coilovers some LC 8 wraps, plate bumpers winch full heavy skids and recovery gear in the back might help a bit. I'd also like to mount a full size jack, jack stands, a second spare, air compressor, second winch in the rear, and a second fuel tank. High hopes I know. But yeh and I kinda got off topic

 

[TheUltimateBohab]

as a matter of fact i have noticed how great my runner is yea!!!

 

[cordrayj1]

This is a duh post. And I agree.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I'm still not used to the 4Runner and how it drives as I have only put about 500 miles on mine since I got it a few months back. I work for BMW so to me the T4R is an extreme change. Its almost scary in some ways, when I think I am speeding, or going much faster than I should be, I look down to see I'm doing a slow 35 or so. I think its a relativity thing. I am also not sure about my suspension, specifically the rear as I think the shocks are completely shot.

I know exactly how you feel! My previous ride was a 98 Trans am. I sold it and bought my Runner (which I freaking love!), but completely different ride. I'm used to the power and handling of the TA, so when I first got my runner it felt like I was driving a school bus. I think part of the problem is my shocks are shot (pretty sure they are the original) and from what I can tell, all of the suspension components are stock. I do the same thing with the speed thing too. Feels like I'm flying down the highway, and I look down only to see I'm doing like 50 LOL. Big difference between what I'm used to driving and my Runner. I'm really looking forward to seeing how much new suspension/shocks will help improve the ride. I absolutely love everything about this truck though. I thought it would have to grow on me...but I loved it from the very first time I drove it home.

Not to jack the thread or anything...but is there an easy way to tell if you're rolling with stock springs and shocks? On my TA, they installed yellow shocks on it originally. All I had to do was glance at it to know if the shocks were original.

 

[TRDteen]

FORD is better than Toyota? You're crazy!

I don't think I've seen any broken down fords.... LOL I MEAN I've seen hundreds of broken fords.. No broken toyotas yet.

Oh and hell yeah best riding vehicle I've been in so far. And I have stock everything. And I'm 99% sure most everything is original also. Lol...
As some have said the rear end skips on bumps but I think that's part of the 15 year old suspension system. I have little to no play in my wheel and it doesn't wander unless I hit a large strip of mismatch pavement. I love the ride but it rides better when there's about... 400 lbs more in it. And I think coilovers some LC 8 wraps, plate bumpers winch full heavy skids and recovery gear in the back might help a bit. I'd also like to mount a full size jack, jack stands, a second spare, air compressor, second winch in the rear, and a second fuel tank. High hopes I know. But yeh and I kinda got off topic

Found On Road Dead > Toyota :boink::bounce::biggrin1:

 

[wheelds]

I've noticed the steering, ride and handling is better than any truck based vehicle I've ever driven and I'm really impressed. It doesn't drive like a truck at all our wander on the highway like most gm trucks. The steering is better than 90 percent of the vehicles from the era I've driven. Just some things I've noticed after 4 months with my 99 limited.

I have not noticed that mine drives unusually well. I've driven a F150 ('12) for work and I also have a 4th gen 4runner and my 3rd gen definitely comes in dead last of the 3. The whole thing rattles and vibrates, calling the ride "unusually well" is not the phrase i would use. typical late 90s truck" maybe....

 

[98OzarksRunner]

I agree they ride and handle well. Mine is not stock so it's a little stiffer and heavier than stock, and has C rated tires, but rides and handles well. I drove it 2000 miles to Colorado and back a couple of weeks ago and it was great on the interstate, as well as backroads (all but the gas mileage). It steers straight with no vibrations. My dad (79 yrs old) rode with me a while back and noted how smooth and quiet it is - and he's driven cars (good ones) all his life.

I've had 3 2nd gens and there's no comparison. A 2nd gen is a TRUCK and rides like one. The 3rd gens (this is my 3rd) are just as rugged but ride and handle - on and off road - much better.

I rented a new Tahoe a while back for a 1000 mile business trip and it drove and handled like a boat. I couldn't wait to get back to my 4Runner.

The 4Runner is not a sports car but handles turns fairly well. The acceleration is what it is (I've been jaded by my 65 Mustang with 550 HP 4.6L - not much impresses me after driving that). My wife has a 2010 RAV4 Limited and we drive my 02 4Runner just about everywhere we go together, and I drive it all the time. The only thing hers has I wish mine had is satellite radio (I'm just too cheap to pay for it twice). The 3rd gens are a good combination of comfort, safety (2nd gens - no airbags), and handling - IMHO the best combination for on and off road use (LCs excluded, of course).

 

[93cr250]

I have not noticed that mine drives unusually well. I've driven a F150 ('12) for work and I also have a 4th gen 4runner and my 3rd gen definitely comes in dead last of the 3. The whole thing rattles and vibrates, calling the ride "unusually well" is not the phrase i would use. typical late 90s truck" maybe....

I meant compared to other vehicles of the era.