How did you choose a 4Runner?

Well, I've always wanted a 4Runner from the first time I can remember seeing one. The shape and body have always appealed to me. My parents are also big proponents of Toyota. We had 3 Corollas, 1 Celica and pickup at one point so it was natural for me to step up into another Toyota. The time came for a new car and to retire the celica, so I did some research on the new 2004. Since I came from a sporty car, I wanted to carry over some of the sportiness so I focused on the Sport Edition. I finally ended up with a Stratosphere Mica V6 Sport, not my first color choice but it's growing on me now.

I hope to have this 4Runner for a long long time.
 
NoDak, my dad LOVED his Cressida. Had one in the Early 90's. He was crushed when they discontinued them. He still talks about it to this day!! Hahah

My dad has been a big Toyota fan, dating back to some Corolla hatchback he had in the late 70's/early 80's.

I found myself looking for a car, and decided around $30,000, made in Japan, plenty of space for stuff, good all year round, safe in the winters. And the 4Runner was the best fit for those. And it isn't too huge like my dad's Lexus LX.

I love the 2 tone color with the gray cladding. Gives the truck a rugged look. Maybe in a year or two i'll try to get the body colored panels and bumpers to make it feel like I got a new car. :D
 
MR RY said:

1. Jeep Grand Cherokee-shitty reviews, poor reliability.
2. Pathfinder-Like the power but it doesnt looks as good as the 4-runner, and I like the way the 4-runner has fatter tires and looks more off-road capable than the pathfinder.
3. Xterra-I sat inside one of these and couldnt believe how cheap the interior is. Also to get the supercharger and leather you gotta drop a lot of money.
4. Yukon-Too big, too played out, guzzles gas.
5. 4-Runner-Looks awesome, solid ride, amazing customer satisfaction, reliable.
Click to expand...

My same reasons. I happen to like the way the Pathfinder looks but the safety reviews of the Nissan's stunk. I really don't want a guaranteed broken ankle in the event of a crash. My choice was an easy one.

My brother bought an 01 Land Rover Discovery II SE at the same time I bought my 01 Limited and I'm thankful every day that I made the correct choice. His truck is twice as expensive to maintain as mine. yeah the suede and real wood is nice but I'll take my 4Runner every day of the week.
 
My Story

I used to drive my dads old `78 F100. He bought in new. I got my liscense in 1989 and i drove his truck alot. I paid my own gas and insurance and all the repairs. I put many miles on the old girl. It was a basic truck with no power anything, no radio and a 3spd column shift. I graduated high school and met a girl with a `79 Celica. After a few months I realized that this little Celica wasn`t a bad car and we had found a `77 Celica GT for sale cheap so I bought it. The car had the living crap beat out of it when I drove it and it just kept on going. One really foggy night coming home from the beach I had a little incident involving a cow in the road, a large Chevy 4X4 truck and a bridge. My little car was heavily damaged, but still driveable. It was now time to look for another vehicle. I wanted a truck since they are so practical and it had to be a 4X4 with the snow we get up here. At a local dealership there was a slightly used `92 Toyota extended cab 4X4 for sale. The salesman said I could take it for a drive, but it may be sold the next day. It was sold and I was a little depressed until the salesman said he had just got an `88 4runner so off to the dealership I went. On the way there I was trying to think what this thing looked like but I couldn`t remember. I pulled into the lot and there was a Gorgeous black truck and I fell in love. The salesman came out to greet me, pointed to the truck and said there`s the 4Runner take it for a drive, but we haven`t had time to clean it or look at it yet. I drove it and bought it. I still own it today and I call it my Baby!
 
Hmmm. Well with me, I always loved the styling of Toyota vehicles. I was a big Nissan person for a long time, my 2 previous vehicles was Nissan, but when it was time to look at something bigger, I first took a look at the Pathfinder. Nice truck, lots power, but just wasn't that exciting looking. I then took a look at the Xterra, but dropped that idea as soon as I drove one.
Being that the 4 Runner was the best looking truck on the market, but at the time I thought it was way out of my market, I decided to go test drive one any way, and fell in love with it as soon as I got into it. The look of the 3 gen. 4Runner is just so aggressive looking, that I knew then, that no other truck would do it for me. So, I did what I had to do, I got married and convince my new wife that I had to have it! ;):
Since then she have owned 2 Toyota, a 1996 Rav4 and a now a brand new, 2004 Rav-4!
 
1984: In high school all of my buddies had 4X4s. Instead of having house parties on Friday or Saturday nights, we would all crawl up onto "the face" which was our local climbin' party-area, have a big bon-fire, a couple of kegs, and play around. I had an '82 Toyota pickup in those days and the only vehicles that could out-climb me were Jeep CJ5s. Full-sized trucks and suvs never did very well, so I never liked 'em. Loved the old Land Cruisers, always wanted one!

1991: Then I bought an '80 CJ5 with power steering, a hard-to-find removeable "acme" hard top, 350 chevy V8, diamond-plate everywhere. I really LOVED it, but Jeeps are high maintenance, not very comfortable for frequent traveling, not so reliable as your only vehicle, so I had to give her up.

1993: Got married. Transportation needs changed. Decided we had to give up my beloved CJ. I would have loved to keep her as a "hobby" rig, but couldn't afford it.

1994: Traded the CJ in on a 1 year old Toyota Xtra-cab V6, which was much roomier than Toyota introduced in the previous generation of pickups, and I LOVED it! Wanted a 4Runner (always have) but couldn't afford the additional cost. Plus, I need the convenience of a pickup and always will.

1994 - 2002: Wife went through several used cars: 88 Ford Escort, 90 Mazda Protege, 99 Honda Civic, before our needs changed enough to justify a 2nd 4X4. Since SUVs are the best compromise of every transportation need, thats what we decided upon. LOVED new 4Runners...did not love the new price tag. Late model used 4Runners are pretty non-existent around here, so we bought a much less-expensive 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee instead. Besides, we liked the additional room it offered over the 3rd gen 4Runners, and liked the V8 for towing.

2002-2004: Two years of miserable interactions with the local Jeep dealership for: brake rotors warping every 6000 miles, warning-light issues, tranny issues, fluid leaks, other minor issues. Great 4X4, absolutely unstoppable in the mountains. Poor commuter for reliability.

2004: Toyota introduced the 4th generation series. We fell in love, loved the extra room, loved the V8, and bit the bullet on the high price. We've never been happier.
 
Went through the following in my lifetime:
1. Subaru (blew up 1 day after I sold it!)
2. Chevy PU
3. Ranger
4. Ford PU
5. Dodge Ram (small Mitzubishi) great truck!
6. Bronco II
7. Berretta
8. Dodge Stratus
9. Corolla ('99 with 116K on it now - never had more than an oil change. 43mpg!
10. Buick Regal

Just bought my 4Runner last week. I've wanted one for 5 years and couldn't commit due to a 100+ mile commute to and from work. Changed jobs and immediately started shopping for "My 4Runner". It took 3 months before I found the right one but man I'm happy. The V6 is fine with me and the 4WD will come in handy going over Afton Mountain everyday to Staunton. Getting 24 mpg now (better than the Regal) and will improve with miles - I hope.

Have to say it's a great feeling to drive it and would recommend it to everyone.
 
OK, this will probably date me, but here's my car history:

1. 1971 Toyota Corolla (hand me down) I hot rodded this and sold it at 143K miles or so. It had a 1.6L hemi engine and it was plenty fast.

2. 1981 Toyota SR-5 pickup (first new car) Well, I kept this mostly stock except for a downdraft Weber and a cat bypass.

3. 1985 S10 Blazer (new). Stock, but still a piece of crap. The 2.8 V-6 was really a joke of an engine.

4. 1991 Toyota SR-5 V-6 pickup. Fun, reliable truck.

5. 1995 Ford V-8 Tbird LX. Modified with Eibach lowering springs, cold air kit, and transmission shift kit (pre midlife crisis car).

5A. 1965 Mustang - Project car to keep me out of trouble.

6. 2003 BMW 330i. Stock. Ordered from factory to my exact configuration (mid-life crisis car).

Her cars:

1. 1988 Mazda 626. Totalled in an accident (not my fault)

2. 1994 Chevy Astro Van - Great kid hauler and tow vehicle, but the quality of fit and finish was poor.

3. 1997 Chevy Astro Van - What hath Chevy done? Transmission blew at 74K miles after meticulous maintenance. Got tired of replacing alternators, water pumps, brakes and shocks.

4. 2003 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V8 4x2 - What a step up from Chevy.

We selected the 4Runner because it was the right size and price for our current needs. We struggled long and hard over whether we really needed seating for 6 or just 5. In fact, my wife sometimes takes 2 trips when she picks up the school carpool. One of the other factors was the ability to tow our tent trailer, so all those car-based SUVs were out of contention.

OK, that's it for now.
 
Mine is easy, my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee let me down for the 100th time, could not stand for this especially the money I spent for it. Test drove 15 different SUV's and fell in love the the V8 toyota on day one that I test drove it......
 
Always liked the 4R. The new deisgn made me love it. Always drove sports cars. This winter, mid January, I parked outside a grocery store to pick up a few things. I parked on a spot where my rear wheels were on a patch of ice. I spun and spun for about 10 minutes to no avail. Finally had to tip a couple of cart guys to help push me out. Long story short, A week later, I was at a dealership. Funny thing, haven't really had any snow since.
 
I always have had a love for the Toyota 4Runner since their redesign in 1996. Whenever one would pass on the road, I would always look back to take a second look. When the 2003 model came out, I remember how impressed I was when I first read the specs on it. I also thought the new design was amazing. It was easy for me. Go to Toyota dealer to actually test drive a 4Runner and just try the Highlander out for the fun of it. The 4Runner SR5 was the first one I drove and I knew nothing would top it. I then drove the Highlander and I had my mind set up. The hardest part was choosing which one to take. I have always been a fan of Toyota SUV's.
 
i first fell in love with the '87 4runner my gf's dad had back then in which we rode in the back of to go camping and fishing, he'd let me drive it sometimes even though i didn't have a license yet.

after i started making money i bought myself a '94 sr5, probably mostly due to the influence from the '87 i was so used to riding in. i finally sold it after 175,000 miles and putting up with topping out at 55mph going up hills on the highway. (lack of power AND bad mpg?!?)

i decided to buy a 4runner again when the 4th gen. came out, i guess because it finally had the specs and features that i wished the '94 had.

oh what a feeling! :cool:
 
I've always liked the 4Runners. Since my 16th birthday I've always owned 2 door cars, and it's always a pain giving people rides with these cars. From living in an area where snow falls all the time, I found out that rear wheel drive cars are very dangerous in the snow, so I decided that it's time to get a 4WD or AWD car. I was originally looking into getting any Subaru or a Nissan Pathfinder, but none of the ones I find are in good condition or cheap enough. Finally last month I found a very good deal on a 1993 4Runner SR5 4WD V6, so I purchased it.

BTW, what does SR5 stand for? What does it mean when the emblems are in gold?

TJ
Newbie
 
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I first remember really liking the 4Runner when a buddy of mine back at my first base at Dyess AFB in 92 had one and we would go off roadin with the top off.

Then in 98 my step sister bought one and let me take it for a spin and I once again fell in love with the 4Runner.

I decided to get a SUV as I am moving to NJ and don't want to get stuck in the winters. So, I started looking around and almost went with a Trailblazer, but my boss had just gotten a 03 Limited. I checked it out and liked it. Then I started looking more and more into the new 4Runners. After doing my research, deal was done. You can't beat the reliability, quality, design of Toyota. So, I had my dad contact dealerships where he lives and finally found one, I bought it (sight unseen and undriven). I can't wait!!!!! That has to show how much I love this truck/SUV. This is my first Runner, but not my last!!!!!!!!! CANT WAIT.....10 days til I see my Runner!
 
super4runner said:

BTW, what does SR5 stand for? What does it mean when the emblems are in gold?

TJ
Newbie
Click to expand...


from faqs.org:

In the latter part of the 1970's, the SR5 connotation denoted an option code
for the HiLux series of trucks, similar to what the Z71 option code currently
means for an upgraded Chevy or GMC pickup or Tahoe/Yukon. Originally released
around 1975, the 'S' denoted Sport, 'R' denoted the RN motor code, and '5'
denoted the 5-speed transmission. It quickly caught on and the SR5 connotation
passed onto the Corolla and then onto other Toyota car models. Even though the HiLux name was dropped in 1979 for the United States market, it is still used
today elsewhere in the world as the name for a Tacoma-like pickup and/or the 4Runner, depending on the market.

Note: Some other historical information shows that the Corolla had the "SR5"
designation first, then it was passed on to the HiLux series. The majority of
historical information seems to promote the HiLux first, then the Corolla,
rather than vice-versa.

Today, the SR5 generally denotes a specifc Toyota trim level, with a more
sporty look and wide flexibility for options.
 
First let me say that I really enjoyed reading this thread. There has been a bit of a gap in time but I would like to add to this thread and maybe others who have purchased within the last year will add their story too.

My wife and I are Ford people. It seems to me that at some point - just like politics (Republican) and favorite college teams (UCLA) - we identify with one company/group or another.

My wife had a Mustang GT when we met. We purchased an Expedition - a right of passage in my community - and I a Taurus.

After several transmission jobs in both vehicles and burning oil in my Taurus I couldn't take it any more. It was time to unload my Taurus and choose a new vehicle. But which one?

Although it is not a habit of mine to listen to my mother-in-law I did note that she had a first generation 4Runner in great condition and had experienced nary a problem. She subsequently purchased a 2004 SR5 4X4 in blue. My curiousity was peaked.

After determining that I wanted a mid-sized SUV I began the search. It was no contest. I immediately crossed off all domestic mfrs. Then looked at the pilot - boring. I looked at the Pathfinder - yuk, V-6. Then I looked at the 4Runner.

Wow, not even close. In fact, the decision was really between buying an FX-45 in red - too expensive for me - or getting the 4Runner. I decided on a TRUE SUV and set about choosing the right one.

I originally ordered my 4Runner in June '04 and did not get it until April of this year. It was worth the wait. I feel like a kid again. I even put on a T4R.ORG sticker!

I am a Toyota person now. Our Expedition looks nervous - hmm, when is that new Land Cruiser coming out?
 
To start, I bought my '04 V6 Ltd 4wd last May'04. I've always liked the look of the 4R going back to Gen 1. My buddy has a '95 4R sr5 4x2. When the 3rd gen came out, I grew even fonder of the 4R, but when the SE model came out on the 3rd gen, I thought it was the best looking 4R to date. Unfortunately, when the 4th gen was released in '03 with the grey body cladding, I wasn't too thrilled. I have a tendency to not be impressed with something new right away until it grows on me. :D Anyways, one of my client had an '03 Ltd w/the body color-keyed cladding and it changed my view of the 4th gen. At that point, I still didn't like the Ltd's 5-spoke rims and how it has the raised circular groves running thru each spoke.

So it was time for me to shop for a new suv in early '04. My choices at the time was the following (in order of preference):
1) used '02-'03 X5 4.4i; plenty of power, nice styling (especially 4.6is or 4.8is), but no off-road capability and little utility factor
2) Murano SE; i've previously driven it for a week as a rental and enjoyed it, but stiff ride though. no off-road capability, slightly awkward shape/styling
3) 4Runner; the style is growing on me, but still hasn't won me over...yet. The only true suv of the bunch w/a ladder frame.
4) RX330; nice styling, but not enough power. same weaknesses as the others above except for the 4R (this is the one my girlfriend and my dad wanted me to get)
5) FX35; nice styling, but awkward grille. same weaknesses as the others.
6) Pilot; too plain, but a bargained price vehicle

After much thinking and shopping around, I was constantly drawn towards the 4R. The final two choices was between the 4R and RX330. I just couldn't get over the RX330's lack of power and awd system. So I finally decided to get the 4R. At the time, I had made up my mine on getting a Black 4R and no other color. I had a real hard time finding the exact one I wanted, but I finally succeeded. After buying her, I grew in love with her, more and more each day. I've come to like the 5-spoke rims too! I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever! I wouldn't trade her for any other SUVs out there. When the new '05 Pathfinder came out, I took it for a test drive hoping I wasn't going to regret purchasing my 4R...no regrets! I'm loving every moment with her
:)
 
List of the cars

1) In 1984 - 1984 Honda CB450SC commuter (senior year in high school)

2) In winter of 1984 1st car- 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit, always fixing something on it!!

3) Rabbit shreds a timing belt in 1985, eats the valves, replace the belt, doesn't die for 3 more months, by then the whole valvetrain is toast and blowing blue smoke, hard to start(bent valves)

4) Trade in the Rabbit for 1985 Hyndai Excel- treated me good for a few years then I got T-Boned in the winter, lucky I wasn't seriously hurt, totaled the car.

5) Next a another used car, 1981 Olds Cutlass LS- What A BOAT!! A tank of a sedan with a 3.8L ZV6, slow, but steady. The Cutlass develops a head gasket leak and anti-freeze pops a hole in a piston. Running on 5 cylinders for a month. Get it fixed, but the damage is done. Warped heads make the gasket fail repeatedly, boy did I know how to do a headgasket on that car!! Got it down to 4 hours in the yard.

6) Finally got sick of seeing the white cloud of death every morning behind the car, and carrying 2 gallons of Anti-Freeze everywhere. I took it off the road and got a moped for 3 weeks in the Summer of 1993, NO JOKE!!

7) Finally had $600 for a down payment on a new car, MY FIRST ONE!! A 1993 Subaru Justy, 3 speed stick 1.6 liter, stripper, not even a radio, vinyl seats, 13" tires.. I swear I beat that thing delivering pizza part time for almost 5 months through that Winter, and it ran like a champ.

8) Got stupid in 1994, was making more money at the day job finally, and traded the Subie in and got a 1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme. Was pretty good to me for the 4 years I had it, but not a spectacular car. Sold it for a downpayment on the next car.

9) Bought another Olds, 1998 Intrigue, first model year. It actually was a very good car during the 5 years I owned it. The last bit was Olds getting axed by GM, I knew that resale was DONE. It had stranded me once in 5 years, it blew a serpintine belt idler tension pulley on the highway. Easy fix but jeez c'mon, plastic pulley on a bearing, bearing seized and melted the pulley for craps sake. I decided that I would trade up. Was making more money.

10) 2003 Toyota 4runner Limited V6 4x4. I need a 4wd since 1997 when I bought my house, which is on a long hill. Several times every Winter I could not get home until the plow came through and sanded. It was annoying. So I had to choose a RELIABLE, 4WD, big vehicle, that could also tow, and have a hitch bike rack mounted. Since I wasn't sparing any expense and my budget was $40K, I ended up getting a 4runner. All in all I'm still very satisfied with the truck, although the dealership service is NOT great. I hope this truck lasts me at least 10 years. No more new vehicles for a LOOOOONG time to come. I have other uses for my money now.
 
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