Is the 4Runner becoming the new fan boy vehicle?

[FlightMedic303]

Before I get slammed and ripped apart (I know I'm kind of asking for it) just know I absolutely love my 4Runner and have no plans to get rid of it.

Anyway, I feel like the 4Runner has somewhat lost it's unique quality, especially when they're built up with everyone and their wife/sister/mother/brother/grandma/etc. owning a 4Runner. I have seen so many "lifted" or "modded" 5th gens lately and (I'm totally speculating) but they appear to be driven by some sucker who dropped $50k at the dealership for an SR5. If they're happy with their purchase that is great, their prerogative! I'm not here to bash new 4Runner owners, I'm happy that other people find the love and passion in building, toying and adventuring in these fine pieces of machinery. But thats also not everyone who owns one. I just feel lately like the secret is out and now people are buying them because its trendy; like the Subaru WRX a decade or so ago. Again, everyone has a right to own these awesome vehicles for whatever reason they so choose. It just kind of bums me out and I feel like I don't appreciate other "built" 4Runners on the road like I used.

Stupid rant I know. I am just curious if any other people feel the same way? It could very well be my part of the country too, I see them all over in Phoenix and Denver. Please don't take this as a hate post on 4Runners, we are all here because we love our rides!

Respectfully to all 4Runner owners out there!

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Numbers don't lie, sales figures mean the 4runner has become more popular than ever. Modifying vehicles has also become easier than ever, with a dozen or more websites offering every level of lift or accessory. With the economy in full swing, money is flowing and people who want something cool and unique are willing to shell out $$$$ to make it happen.

IG, FB, forums, etc., mean that people can collaborate, share, and get stoked about mods and whatever scene they are into.

Many people (like me, and hopefully you) still get out there and beat the crap out of their vehicles, have fun, and generally use these trucks the way they were intended. Some people like to keep them nice and shiny, load them with kids and go to the beach. Or soccer practice. Whatever floats your boat.

Bottom line is good sales figures mean that the 4runner stays relevant, means there are more parts being made and sold cheaper when we go out and break something. It means that hundreds if not thousands of American workers (hope everyone is supporting their local shops and vendors!!!) have jobs. It means that creativity isn't stymied because there isn't enough demand for aftermarket parts. It means that folks that like to get dirty and wrench can always have something new to tinker with.

People mod their vehicles for whatever reason they want, and honestly at the end of the day, it's a good thing for everyone here.

I love getting out there and really using every inch of capability this truck has to offer. I'm blessed because I have the freedom to do so.

So yeah, there's a ton of these 5th gens out there right now, just like back in the late 90's there were over 100,000 3rd gens sold every year.

I'm honestly just happy there are vehicles like the 4runner still being made.

EDIT: Oh, and whoever is paying $50K for an SR5 should be sat down and not allowed in a dealership until they read some kind of car buying guide, lol!!

 

[atchcraft]

I think I understand what you’re saying. theres a group of kids at work that have new 5th gens. They’re all lifted, Icon stage 15, and they all do this thing call “waxing”. When I pop the hood on mine, there is a lot of explanation as to what is going on in there. There’s been a few times where I’ve suggested that we all take a day and hit a trail. I don’t get a lot of takers. None, actually.

Its all good though, It’s an awesome truck and car camping is cool these days. So, it’s to be expected. Kinda like peanut butter and chocolate. I wish it was different, but it’s not.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I think it all comes down to perspective. Personally-I’m not better than anyone, nor am I the 4Runner Police. It’s not my job to decide who is worthy of their 4R, and if their daily use is appropriate or if they are a dipshit. Not everyone shares this belief, and you can often see sniping where one persons way is the only way to be. A recent example is on a roof rack discussion where someone dared to inquire about diminished MPG after adding mods. Some members shat upon him and told him if he cared about MPG he should have gotten a Prius, etc. Having the perspective of being a 4R owner who only has this one vehicle, MPG does, indeed play a factor in what I will and won’t do to the vehicle, so I got OP’s point.

All this is to say-life is super duper short. Do what you want with your vehicle. Scrape the shit out of it daily on trails, or lovingly care for it and get it to 300K (my plan). No wrong or right way to do it-just don’t be a dick, cus ain’t nobody got time for dat.

 

[MagneticTRD]

I kind of like them being popular. I had an fj cruiser before the 4Runner and it was the only one in my area that color so I was easy to spot. I think mine was the only one near me that ever got dirty. Now I blend in with every other 4Runner until I finally install some stuff. I’ll enjoy not being spotted as much when I’m sneaking off for a fishing trip

 

["krax"]

The 5th gen has become the Japanese Jeep Wrangler. There's a lot of them out there, a lot of them are lifted, and about 5% leave the pavement. Is what it is. College chicks driving their Wranglers to the mall and back didn't make the Wrangler less capable.

As for the car camping/overland craze, it's an outdoor lifestyle experience that can be "improved" fairly easily by throwing money at it so people do.

To answer the OP's question: Yeah. Sorta.

 

[mrblah]

I'm starting to see a lot of lifted 4runners with trd pro rims in my area, and thats usually the extent of the mods on most 4runners (lift and trd rims) I see locally.

I think its pretty cool that people are starting to mod their 4runners, and I don't mind seeing a lot of them around. Gives me something to see when Im stuck at a redlight.

 

[brtnstrns]

A recent example is on a roof rack discussion where someone dared to inquire about diminished MPG after adding mods. Some members shat upon him and told him if he cared about MPG he should have gotten a Prius, etc.

Which is funny because, realistically, if you're overlanding and shit, better gas mileage means you can go further without having to worry about fuel out in the middle of nowhere. But it's not machismo to care about getting good gas mileage, so some jackwagon will always criticize the thought.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Excellent point! There will always be people who are violently opposed to differences and seem to live like “My way is the only way and if you don’t use your 4R in this exact way than you and your entire family and your ancestors before you should eat ”

 

[Agent_Outside]

Sales being larger than in the past, which in my opinion is more a sign of people wanting old outdated simple but dead reliable technology over today’s complicated and expensive to repair high tech, high efficiency stuff. There’s only 1 or 2 other brand new vehicles sold today that are still 10 year old designs and powertrains. 10 years in the automotive world is a ton but it makes for a easy vehicle for a hobbiest to tinker with. The other aspect is like every other vehicle, you never how common they really are until you own one and pay attention each time you see one. I never realized how many current generation Highlanders are out there until we started looking at trading my wife’s car for one.

 

[mtnbiker49]

Agreed. I still look out of modified 2nd gen Xterras and there are very few. Let alone nobody had a perfect match of my Xterra.(super rare color, one off winch bumper, Titan suspension). I look around for 4runners and there have to be 4x more. Now they might not all be modified, but there are way more out there than the Xterra. Unfortunately, I like my vehicles to be unique and Toyota makes it rather difficult.

 

[dweh54]

I think it is a bit location specific. I am in NE Ohio and I have only seen a handful modified (not just larger tires and different rims) 4runner on the roads. But you see modified wranglers everywhere (I used to be one of them). I am careful about mods and ride quality because I fall more into the weekend warrior camp...3 weeks a year using the 4runner's abilities and 49 weeks a year driving to work.

The internet connected some many people with the aftermarket which allowed that to happen. Around here, 4Wheel Parts is the only off road shop, and not one I like since all they push is their house brands. But hit the web, and you can find anything you want from the cheap imported bumpers with crap powder coat to the expensive purpose built stuff.

I think it is a fad that changes with taste. As my dad said, every stoplight/sign in the 60s was a drag race and every guy was tinkering with his muscle car every weekend. You don't see that anymore. Now it is a handful of those same guys in their 70s, tinkering, and driving to a car show.

 

[billnourse]

This is much like the Harley Davidson surge of the late '90's and early 2000's. People just had to have them, though most didn't ride 2,000 miles a year. They also highly modified them to be unique and had a huge aftermarket base.

It was so bad at one time that there was a 4 to 6 month wait to get one with a price of 2,000 to 3,000 over MSRP. Now the craze has diminished and every showroom is full.

As far as modifying (winches, bumpers, lifts, etc.) and then not using the mods, I don't see this as any different than the jeep crowd. I live in an area where there are tons of jeeps and other 4x4 "Off Road" vehicles, and a ton of jeep trails, but most of the modified "Off Roads" are never seen on the trails, at least not when I'm out and about. A lot of it is just the in thing.

To all of this, I say to each his own. You want to spend 10,000 for mods that you will never use, okay it's your money, and it does make your rig a little more unique.

I like the fact that mine is the only one that I know of in our area that looks the way it does, plus the mods I have are practical for my uses.

With or without mods, I have found the 4 Runner to be a very capable,reliable, and affordable vehicle whether your intended use is family car, rock crawler, or mall crawler and that is likely why so many find them desirable and useful.

Rant over.

Bill

 

[mcarey86]

When I pop the hood on mine, there is a lot of explanation as to what is going on in there.

what's going on in there?

 

[Olddudesrule]

Absolutely,.....to an extent. Great looks, awesome off road capabilites (that few actually take advantage of), and they hold their value extremely well. I'd say that's a recipe for a lot of folks who are only interested in two of the three to buy a 4Runner. For me, it came down to the 4Runner or a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. I've had 4x4 trucks, but never a 4x4 SUV. I've rented many Jeeps in Hawaii, have friends with $40K plus Jeeps, and while aftermarket parts are as plentiful as those for a Chevy 350, I just found the looks, ride and quality of the Toyota put it at the top of my list.

"Fan boys" will always buy a popular, good looking vehicle. Never let that boither me. No worries there....

 

[atchcraft]

what's going on in there?

Besides being an f-shack for mice, just standard fan-boy stuff...

 

[codyHTX]

Excellent point! There will always be people who are violently opposed to differences and seem to live like “My way is the only way and if you don’t use your 4R in this exact way than you and your entire family and your ancestors before you should eat ”

I actually feel like that is something Kenny Powers would say

 

[Kenny Powers]

I actually feel like that is something Kenny Powers would say

Well, I mean I DID say it. Haha. Jk you are 100%, that is a ridic enough statement that my life coach KP would say. Well played good sir.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Besides being an f-shack for mice, just standard fan-boy stuff...

My lab has several questions about your “Chuck-it”, foremost of all is why I don’t have one under my hood.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I'm a big fan of 4Runners, I'm on my third one. I think they've definitely become more popular since I've owned my first couple. I joined a couple FB groups and had to leave because the questions and posts were way too uneducated and uninteresting to me. Thankfully less of that on this forum