Help Me Fall Back In Love With My 4Runner

[krravi]

Yes the mileage is a little worse, and no its not a sports car but it's more practical and a better vehicle for me at this point in my life.

I think you nailed it with that sentence what i was trying hard to say.... lol

 

[hgill]

I know how you feel. After the 350z and M3, the 4Runner sometimes doesnt feel exciting when i think about it. But as soon as I climb in, I love everything about it. I definitely enjoy being able to see whats up ahead or me. I do miss all that power that came with the sports car, but the Runner keeps me away from cops which means cheaper insurance. I know gas is more expensive but i remember my 350z only gave about 16 in the city and now the V8 runner still pops out about 15 in the city. You also have to consider that the 350z took premium gas only and the 4runner runs just fine on 87 octane.

I know the G35 had seats in the back and trunk but the 4Runner has so much more cargo space. Put the seats down and you can haul most things. Plus you can take this baby offroad and snow boarding. So i say I love my Runner as should you.

 

[MoJoe]

Haha, I am hearing all this talk about sport cars and then then dealing with the 4Runner. I have my 3rd child on the way, so I took over my wife's 4Runner and traded in my 2010 Wrangler Unlimited on her new Sienna.

If you want to appreciate the power in the 4Runner V8 or V6, own a new style (JK) Jeep Wrangler for a year, the 4Runner is a freakin rocket ship compared to that anemic brick!!!

 

[thirstyturtle]

I think what I miss most is a manual transmission, rowing through gears, I think I could have just as much fun in the 4Runner doing that if it was a stick, too bad.

The gas mileage isn't really too much of my argument, although it'd be nice to have a sedan that gets 20-25 but nonetheless, driving has always been one of my favorite things in the world and now I just don't enjoy it.

I try to find places to take the 4Runner offroad, I've put on AT tires and a 2" lift so she's good to go, but I live in a city and don't really have much opportunity to use the 4Runner how it could be or how I would like to. I use it for 99.9% on road, so I figured it makes more sense to have a car that I enjoy driving, that's all.

I'm considering getting a 2004ish GTI because with the seats down there's plenty of space and the VR6 has a 6MT and still gets 20-25 mpg. Plus I can get one for about 10K and take the other 7-9 and pay off a loan and have some money left over for a vacation with my wife!

But again, I'm still just thinking about it...

 

[M1911]

Run away from a 2004 GTI. Seriously.

I had a 2000 GTI. I normally keep my cars for well over 100,000 miles, but I dumped that one after 40,000. I can't remember all the things that went wrong it:

- rear shock top mounts and rear struts twice, and needed it again when I sold it.
- starter motor
- spark plug wires
- coil pack
- mass airflow sensor
- thermostat
- a/c condenser
- turn signal stalk
- rear brakes at 15,000 miles

VW just hasn't had the reliability.

 

[mysticz]

Just add a TRD or URD Supercharger to maker your Runner more interesting.:zoom:

 

['04-Sport]

Take it from me based on a very recent experience - anyone who is thinking about selling his/her 4Runner because of the high price of gas will find that buyers will offer very little because of the high price of gas. You don't come out ahead saving gas $$$ when you get seriously hosed on the trade.

 

[stanleybb50]

I disagree. It rides pretty well, for a truck. It handles pretty well, for a truck. It brakes pretty well, for a truck. But I will never mistake it for anything other than a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck.

Every time I drive Mrs. M1911's C300 or almost any rental car, I am reminded of just how badly my 4Runner handles. Last year, while traveling, I spent a week in a Ford Fusion and another in a Hyundai Sonata, and the turn in those cars had just runs rings around a 4Runner.

Don't get me wrong, I like my 4Runner for what it does. And it is better than other trucks that I tested. But it is a truck, not a car.

You definitely have more experience in the Runners than I do (all I have are a good bit of test drives so far).

I guess it's possible that, whatever the handling is, myself and my wife definitely "preferred" the ride over our cars. Could be due to age (29 now), could be due to being up higher, could be due to the smooth ride over bumps/etc, could be many things. But either way, we both loooved the ride of the 4th Gen! Heck, one of the test drives I took, the guy actually let us take it out on our own without him. We went to our house to double check that it would fit in the garage (which was good news). So we were driving it a little hard to get a good idea of how it handled/etc. All I know is that I fell in love!

 

[4Runner8]

I completely agree. A z is a great car on the street since that is what it was designed for. If you want to love your runner take it where it was designed to go, offroad. Youre not going to love it if you keep testing it at what the z was muuuch better at.

completely agree! i think you are not loving it becuase you are constantly comparing it to your old car. take it offroad and have fun then compare.... could your old car go offroad and play in the mud? i dont think so

 

[97BlackAckCL]

SO glad I went with the v6, was originally looking at the 8's

 

[M1911]

Could be due to age (29 now), could be due to being up higher, could be due to the smooth ride over bumps/etc, could be many things.

I'm 50, so I don't drive anywhere near as aggressively as I used to.

 

[shomann]

You know, this tread is quite handy for the would-be 4Runner buyer. Many of the sport sedans on here I either know a great deal about or are on my list as well. Getting the perspective of owners that have been in the T4R mindset for awhile is a great tool for me.

I will say that I think I know the answer to your issue Turtle...Subaru. If you don't need the offroad capability, but want all-weather goodness in a sport sedan its a Subaru. Hell, if you get an Outback or new-gen Forester you get the offroad as well. Better gas mileage, and a decent aftermarket as well.

I have owned a Subie before, and its on my list again, but right now I am leaning towards the utility of the 4-Runner.

 

[zachb_NW]

I have owned a Subie before, and its on my list again, but right now I am leaning towards the utility of the 4-Runner.

Honestly I don't think a subie stacks up at all to a 4th gen 4runner! Just traded the fiancées 07' forester for the 4runner. The new gen sudie's are much more refined then the previous models but still from my experience in a 09' forest rental they just don't compare in handling, engine, noise, fit to finish, etc.

But this is a interesting topic and from my only personal experience of having just turned 28 and owning 11 vehicles and 2 motorbikes, averaging selling/buying every year. Has been such a waste of money, mainly in lost tax money because most vehicle sold for same as I bought them, but still fun. I love sports car but I keep coming back to a truck. last 5 cars where 99' tacoma, 05' bmw 3, 97' 4runner, 06' audi a4, 04' honda s2000, 06' 4runner.

I thought when we had the forester and the S2000 i would be happy because i had AWD and a sports car but the daily commute in a sports car is a pain in the butt. I love being up high and having the feeling of safety which I have never really got from a car. This is mainly in the winter / rain which is a lot in Seattle.

Just save up you money and buy a sports car or bike for weekend drives! Once I pay off the Runner the plan is to get a sports car again.

 

[rockwall]

If the 4Runner is not right for you, sell it. Mine has become my third child. I have nightmares where I sold it and start freaking out. I only drive 6,000 miles per year so gas is not an issue.

Drive what makes you happy.