Horn and door changed? New owner observations

[gwcpa]

New member here. Spent about a month here gathering info and bought a 2011 SR5 4x4 prem/leather BP, last week.

Observations from new owner and around 400 miles in 5 days:

Horn does not suck as expected. Sounds like a dual tone horn to me.

Door slam on mine sounds much better/solid than the initial demo SR5 I drove a month ago. Solid "thunk" and not rattling/hollow sounding.

My build date was November. Any chance these were updated recently?

I miss auto climate control. Last few vehicles had it, but no big deal.

Blue tooth works well. Had first call with wife today on it and she did not realize I was using the BT. Much better than my Onstar phone.

Radio took some acclimation, but sounds great and functions work well. Steering wheel controls are different than last 4 vehicles, but no big deal.

First Toyota so cruise lever is new.

Fuel economy is better than expected. On long trip I average 23 mpg on a long drive under 60 mph, 22 on interstate. Will be happy if I get over 18 with my daily drive.

Cargo space is good. Went to the Outerbanks with 5 packed in and all of our stuff. Could still see out the back window.

Love the power rear window, works great to pack in as much luggage/bags/pillows as possible without having to still slam the gate. Just pack as much as you can, close the gate, and shove in more stuff, then roll up the window...warn others to not open the gate though.

I've had a couple of Jeep TJs I built, last one a Rubicon, so the ride on the 4Runner to me is plush. Will mostly wheel it on the beach in the summer.

Thanks to all the members for the info so far.

 

[westwind77]

First Toyota so cruise lever is new.

Same here - Don't really get the chance to use it much - I would say I am not a fan but like I said, have not had time to adjust to it. I am curious what people think of it who use it a lot?

 

[doberman_baby]

hmm. I was at the dealer looking for some parts and notice a Limited with 2 (trumpet looking horns). Maybe enough complaints from the 2010 owners that finally, Toyota put in 2 horns (for the SR5 and Trail).
Finally today, having some time, replaced the MEEP MEEP horn with a low tone trumpet horn. Sounds much better.

 

[nah2323]

I don't mind it at all. I've had quite a few vehicles, and it seems a few of the japanese manufacturers use this style stalk.

 

[gwcpa]

I've had a few Hondas (wife still drives one) and the stupid cruise power switch by your left knee never made sense to me either. Or the sunroof buttons on the dash. Never really liked the swiss army knife turn signal/ wiper,washer/cruise control GM used to have either.

Took my an hour or so to get use to the cruise lever without looking at it. Kind of like it at 4 oclock lever more than on the wheel after using it a while.

 

[jsevlie]

We have a 2010 Odyssey and the cruise controls on the front of the steering wheel are great. The paddle on the 4Runner took some getting used to but it's not that big of a deal, IMHO.

 

[surfratsteve]

Thanks for the post... I'm a prospective owner and this info is helpful.

 

[DocMT]

Same here - Don't really get the chance to use it much - I would say I am not a fan but like I said, have not had time to adjust to it. I am curious what people think of it who use it a lot?

It's one of my favorite features. It's so much easier and more intuitive than having buttons on the steering wheel. Just push the button on the end of the stalk and tap it up and your set. Tap up or down on the stalk to adjust the speed up or down in 1 MPH increments. Couldn't be any easier.

 

[scanny]

I liked cruise control buttons on steering wheel better but maybe it's just because I had them on stering wheel for the past 10 years. Toyota ones are OK too. I had a long trip on Christmas and used cruise control quite a bit. After awhile I got used to pushing lever up and down to adjust the speed, hard part to me was remembering what direction I should push lever to resume cruise control or set it to a speed. - I had to look at the lever to see it. But I guess I'll get used to it completely after awhile.

 

[kmiller8821]

First, to the OP. Welcome to the Toyota family, I think you'll find most of the 4runners controls to be very logically located and fairly easy to use. Since i've been driving 4runners since 97, I'm quite accustomed to the way the controls are layed out. Interestingly, Toyota has changed very LITTLE with how they do the 4runner control layout over the years. Slight of my rear window button taking a tour about the cabin most of the controls have stayed the same. I think you'll be very happy with your purchase, and again, welcome!

 

[Scuba6]

Horn does not suck as expected. Sounds like a dual tone horn to me.

This post inspired me to test out my El Grande horns vs the OEM ones on my '11 Limited. I think you're right...there isn't much difference. I would guess the '11 has a different horn than the '10??

 

[gwcpa]

I honked it for the first time this weekend on the way to the beach. Told my wife to listen to this crappy horn as we hit the bridge. Was expecting something that sounded like the roadrunner, but sounded like the horn on my Cadillac to me. She was like "sounds like a horn to me."

I think the doors must have coating/sealer sprayed in them now. All 4 of mine close with a nice thunk.