Guys I am in sales and drive alot during the week. I have a older camry that's ready to retire so it's time to trade. I'm a outdoors person and love to fish and hunt. I have a chevy truck as well but looking to get back into a suv so I can use it for work and play. Are you guys happy with your new 4 runners? Also if your doing 90% hwy driving and 10% light off road use would you still go the same or do a new Durango or Honda pilot ect? Again just looking for honest opionions and keep in mind I'm driving 50k miles annually and sit in my vehicle as much as 7 hours at a time. Thanks for your input.
How happy are you with your 5th gen 4Runner?
- Thread starter sawtooth1
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JohnnyT
New member
Wow. That's a lot of time and miles. This is NOT the vehicle for you.
Pilot or Highlander are much better choices if it must be a truck.
tprice1985
New member
I am with Johnny....Id go with teh Pilot. i hate the highlander feels like a large odd car to me. The Pilot was so comfy. I like my 4runner, but I think the seating is not so comfy and I know I would nto want to do 50K a year in it.
brockeverly
New member
I am extremely happy with my 4R. Took me two other brand new Toyota's in the same year until I got it right. I will drive this thing until the wheels fall off.
I love my 4R, but I drive 15K/yr. it doesn't make sense to get an offload vehicle and spend that much time on the highway.
Ive been looking at Highlanders and Pilots for my wife because child #3 is due soon and her Lexus won't cut it. I like the Highlander. The Pilot got horrible reviews because it is underpowered and the brakes are lousy.
Ive been looking at Highlanders and Pilots for my wife because child #3 is due soon and her Lexus won't cut it. I like the Highlander. The Pilot got horrible reviews because it is underpowered and the brakes are lousy.
TTown
New member
I am in sales as well and use my car as my work vehicle. I love the 4Runner and wouldn't buy a Pilot or Highlander over this.
I use my 4Runner 90% of the time for work, but also take it camping and to the mountains for snowboarding and it is a very comfortable and capable vehicle.
I use my 4Runner 90% of the time for work, but also take it camping and to the mountains for snowboarding and it is a very comfortable and capable vehicle.
Qjake
New member
X2 The 4Runner is the nicest vehicle I've owned!
I wouldn't consider either of those "Trucks"
Sawtooth,
For your situation of spending entire working days in your vehicle, comfort and reliability are going to be the deciding factors. You currently drive a Camry so you are already familiar with Toyota's reliability and I don't think you'll get any arguments here that the 4Runner has you covered in this category. As for comfort I'm not sure if the 4Runner is right for you or not. I find my limited very comfortable on long drives but have never spent enough time in it to average 50k miles a year. I know there are a couple of members here who average 30k+ miles per year so hopefully they'll chime in, in the mean time maybe you could find a dealer who would let you sit in one of their runners for a few days/weeks. :biggrin2:
Good luck on your search bro
Had a super long post expounding upon the greatness of the 4R, the jealousy my girlfriend feels about the relationship I have with my 4Runner, and a brief history of my experience with automobiles.
Well it got deleted.
So. The 4Runner is great. Fits my needs perfectly and I love it as much as one can love an innanimate object. I test drove all Of the cars you mentioned plus some you didn't. Haven't doubted my decision once.
Best of luck!!
PS - I've put 24K miles on mine since purchasing in Aug 2010 so obviously my needs differ from yours.
Well it got deleted.
So. The 4Runner is great. Fits my needs perfectly and I love it as much as one can love an innanimate object. I test drove all Of the cars you mentioned plus some you didn't. Haven't doubted my decision once.
Best of luck!!
PS - I've put 24K miles on mine since purchasing in Aug 2010 so obviously my needs differ from yours.
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Reata
New member
What he said.....
MarkSamurai5
New member
Happy with my 4Runner. It rides nice...
No way Id want to be in my 4Runner for all those miles. Handling is not so great. Brakes/nose dive in traffic gets old. Seats are very uncomfortable to me after an hour or two. I like my 3rd Gen 4unner better than my 5th. I wish I never got rid of it.
KCcarguy
New member
I like my 4runner....not the best vehicle I've ever owned. That title belongs to by previous '05 Tacoma (had to trade for a family hauler). I wish I would've bought a TE w/ KDSS because My SR5's sloppy handling still bothers me. I would also consider a Pilot, Highlander, Or Tacoma Crew Cab+camper shell. All of these vehicles drive better than my SR-5 4runner. All are reliable and you can't really go wrong.
gamerc
New member
I think that's a function of the SR5 without suspension upgrades. I felt the same way and ended up trading in the SR5 and buying a limited. I no longer feel like it nose dives and I think the seats in the Limited are a bit more comfortable. No seat crunching in this one either. <3 some XREAS for sure.
I don't think there is any difference in the seats mechanically if you compare the premium package SR5 to the Limited (and likely the SR5 sport fabric seats, I can't remember if they are power or not). I even doubt there is a differ seat cover between the SR5 premium and the Limited considering that they already make 7 different seat covers (tan base, tan sport, tan leather, black base, black sport, black leather, black waterproof).
philsey
New member
Wow, that's 1,000 miles a week! I like my 4R a lot, but no way would I buy one to drive 1K a week.
It's comfortable and all, good visibility, good seats, but (how do I put this?) .... mine requires constant attention on the highway, and is too susceptible to crosswinds. Yes, I still have oem tires, and no I haven't changed the camber - but I shouldn't HAVE to.
For trips (not requiring extra room/people) we take the wife's '10 CRV, a much more "pleasant" vehicle to drive on the road.
A Pilot (my other consideration) is still an SUV, perfectly capable of "light offroading", has more features, and is more refined ... IMO of course. If you do get an SUV, I'd sure take it for an extended highway test drive... man! that's a lotta seat time.
Frankly, for your described needs, I think you have the right setup now: good sedan for work, PU for play. I'd be looking at a new G25/37, Camry, Maxima, Accord, Acura.
You don't say who pays the (gasp) gas bill.
It's comfortable and all, good visibility, good seats, but (how do I put this?) .... mine requires constant attention on the highway, and is too susceptible to crosswinds. Yes, I still have oem tires, and no I haven't changed the camber - but I shouldn't HAVE to.
For trips (not requiring extra room/people) we take the wife's '10 CRV, a much more "pleasant" vehicle to drive on the road.
A Pilot (my other consideration) is still an SUV, perfectly capable of "light offroading", has more features, and is more refined ... IMO of course. If you do get an SUV, I'd sure take it for an extended highway test drive... man! that's a lotta seat time.
Frankly, for your described needs, I think you have the right setup now: good sedan for work, PU for play. I'd be looking at a new G25/37, Camry, Maxima, Accord, Acura.
You don't say who pays the (gasp) gas bill.
scanny
Senior Member
My opinion is sort of biased, I like my 4Runner a lot and I might ignore some of it's shortcomings. So I think you'll need to test drive it and decide for yourself. I think I found my ideal vehicle. Well, maybe not entirely ideal, maybe TE would be better, but I'm not sure. I find 4Runner quite comfortable and true utility. With 4Runner I don't mind driving long distances, longest I drove a day was 600 miles. took me about 12 hours with all stops, at the end I started feeling my neck a little bit but I think it's because last hour I was driving on busy higwhay when it's raining and dark.
If you drive 50K miles a year I don't think it would be a good idea to buy domestic truck unless you'll sell it after a year.
Highlander might be not a bad option too, it can handle light offroad but it drives like a Camry which I didn't like. Honda Pilot might be not a bad vehicle for you too if you don't plan much offroad use, I just like 4Runner way better : )
DEKA3
Registered User, A.K.A. "elias"
Same here. I made the same mistake. From 4Runner to Camry, to Matrix, back to 4Runner all in a year.
