SCMountaineer
New member
^^^this is exactly why I bought mine.
Is the 4Runner becoming the new fan boy vehicle?
- Thread starter FlightMedic303
- Start date
^^^this is exactly why I bought mine.
WhiteWashSurfer
New member
I think it also has to do with what I like to call the REI-ification of the outdoors. More people are seeing amazing advertising and cool prodcuts from companies like North Face, Patagonia, etc. This leads to them seeking the outdoors. An extenuation of that is the "I need a 4WD to get to the mountains". In my area people are very affluent and I had a coworker buy almost the exact same model of 4runner as me. Their level of outdoor needs is vastly different than mine but they still want the "experience"
FamousAv8er
New member
how many kilowatts you gain with that chuck-it?
T4R2014
Elite Member
You're right. The 4Runner and Tacoma owners are trying to give the Jeep crowd some competition. Hopefully we don't start doing some queer wave when driving past each other. I think the FJ crowd tried hard to act like the Jeep alternative years ago and ended up looking like idiots to the Jeep people and owners of every other Toyota truck.
baldrik78
New member
I get other 4runner drivers waving at me all the time. So too late on that one.
Ah, it's the "band used to be cool before it became famous" argument!
I think people buy them because they are practical and fit a market niche between the Highlander and a Land Cruiser and now that the FJ Cruiser is gone. At least in this area, I don't see many that are heavily modified, although I do notice them when I see them. As someone said in another post, I see more poseur-mode Wrangler Unlimiteds here in Minnesota.
It's all good. Don't let us old poseurs harsh your mellow, dude!
T4R2014
Elite Member
All generations? Or just 5th gen TRD Bros?
The mice have loved my 4Runner more than any other previous vehicle I have owned. Not sure why...
ayeyothisiskyle
Member
I've given up on facebook. Its a cesspool now.
This is how I see things. 10 years worth of 4runners on the road means more parts and more companies creating products trying to be competitive driving prices of parts down (in theory).
Jernik
New member
I got the best of both worlds, a 4R and a 2dr JK!
I don't do extreme off roading, mainly because I don't have the tolerance/desire/bank account for damage. We use the 4R for road trips, camping, MTB trips, runs to the grocery, and commuting. Basically, the 4R is our workhorse. It is both comfortable and capable.
The Jeep is for those nice top/doors off cruising to the beach days (or just tooling about the countryside), and commuting. I love how crude the ride is compared to other vehicles (and the JK is quite refined compared to previous Jeep models). I like that it has manual crank windows and manual locks.
Both are stock but with mildly more aggressive shoes. AT on 4R, and MT on Jeep. Both are more capable than I'll ever need. Both are simple, basic, and ride/drive like a proper body on frame vehicle. I love them both and can't think of anything better (for me) to have in the driveway.
That said... lifts, bumpers, wiches, etc. are cool too! I just can't bring myself to buy all that (yet, never say never!) when I know it'll all be just for show.
I don't do extreme off roading, mainly because I don't have the tolerance/desire/bank account for damage. We use the 4R for road trips, camping, MTB trips, runs to the grocery, and commuting. Basically, the 4R is our workhorse. It is both comfortable and capable.
The Jeep is for those nice top/doors off cruising to the beach days (or just tooling about the countryside), and commuting. I love how crude the ride is compared to other vehicles (and the JK is quite refined compared to previous Jeep models). I like that it has manual crank windows and manual locks.
Both are stock but with mildly more aggressive shoes. AT on 4R, and MT on Jeep. Both are more capable than I'll ever need. Both are simple, basic, and ride/drive like a proper body on frame vehicle. I love them both and can't think of anything better (for me) to have in the driveway.
That said... lifts, bumpers, wiches, etc. are cool too! I just can't bring myself to buy all that (yet, never say never!) when I know it'll all be just for show.
Toffees
Member
Vortex generator that creates better airflow around the radiator during low speed overland/photoshoot activity
rushrunner
New member
The day you don't give a sh*t about what people think is the day you become an adult.
90Duck
New member
Fan boy here, I guess
Ok, my two vehicles are a '16 WRX and the '18 4Runner, so I guess I must fit the demographic profile you are noting. I bought both of them because they satisfied both my needs and wants in a vehicle.
Living in a mountain/ski town, all wheels driven is pretty much a need over the want, so both vehicles check that box.
The WRX is at a sweet spot of performance, fuel economy, practicality and price. Unfortunately, they don't make a hatchback WRX anymore, so it's not great for the dog. My wife loves it too, which helps.
We drove a '04 Honda Pilot for 15 years until we finally killed the transmission. It did its fair share of family hauling duties, but we also used if as a tow vehicle for our raft. In '16 it made the long haul pulling the boat from Bend to the Grand Canyon, and that started to signal the beginning of the end of the transmission. We had been contemplating lots of different choices for a replacement, from Sprinter van to crossover suvs to full sized pick ups, but when the tranny went out and we were forced into choosing a replacement sooner than anticipated, we both immediately turned to the 4Runner because it is an actual truck. It checks all of the want and need boxes in terms of room to haul (my wife coaches robotics and stuffs it full of robots, tools, and kids), ability to tow on some horrible access roads, and the occasional high clearance/4wd camping/trailhead access capabilities. My wife loves it too, which helps.
Ironically, as mentioned by others, the modification bug has bit me on both of these cars, largely because of internet forums like this one and the easy availability of parts and tutorials on YouTube. One of my ideal weekend scenarios is just tinkering with both vehicles in the garage, then taking one or both out for their very different specific capabilities.
I'm just happy that there are still interesting vehicle choices that can be had like the WRX and the 4Runner that aren't quite so mainstream, although there are certainly a lot of them on the road here. I also really appreciate forums like this one where there is so much experience and sharing of ideas. Good stuff, and I guess you can call me a fan boy, although at 51 that's a bit of misnomer.
PS: not a lot of waves from other 4Runners (it happens occasionally), but the WRX peace sign wave is a real thing. It does span all generations of WRXs
Ok, my two vehicles are a '16 WRX and the '18 4Runner, so I guess I must fit the demographic profile you are noting. I bought both of them because they satisfied both my needs and wants in a vehicle.
Living in a mountain/ski town, all wheels driven is pretty much a need over the want, so both vehicles check that box.
The WRX is at a sweet spot of performance, fuel economy, practicality and price. Unfortunately, they don't make a hatchback WRX anymore, so it's not great for the dog. My wife loves it too, which helps.
We drove a '04 Honda Pilot for 15 years until we finally killed the transmission. It did its fair share of family hauling duties, but we also used if as a tow vehicle for our raft. In '16 it made the long haul pulling the boat from Bend to the Grand Canyon, and that started to signal the beginning of the end of the transmission. We had been contemplating lots of different choices for a replacement, from Sprinter van to crossover suvs to full sized pick ups, but when the tranny went out and we were forced into choosing a replacement sooner than anticipated, we both immediately turned to the 4Runner because it is an actual truck. It checks all of the want and need boxes in terms of room to haul (my wife coaches robotics and stuffs it full of robots, tools, and kids), ability to tow on some horrible access roads, and the occasional high clearance/4wd camping/trailhead access capabilities. My wife loves it too, which helps.
Ironically, as mentioned by others, the modification bug has bit me on both of these cars, largely because of internet forums like this one and the easy availability of parts and tutorials on YouTube. One of my ideal weekend scenarios is just tinkering with both vehicles in the garage, then taking one or both out for their very different specific capabilities.
I'm just happy that there are still interesting vehicle choices that can be had like the WRX and the 4Runner that aren't quite so mainstream, although there are certainly a lot of them on the road here. I also really appreciate forums like this one where there is so much experience and sharing of ideas. Good stuff, and I guess you can call me a fan boy, although at 51 that's a bit of misnomer.
PS: not a lot of waves from other 4Runners (it happens occasionally), but the WRX peace sign wave is a real thing. It does span all generations of WRXs
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Jetboy
New member
A lot of factors have come together. The first is Instagram. Lots more people out in the popular spots. If you haven't been to a national park lately - holy shit have they changed in the last 10 years.
The second factor is that the market has basically all moved away from the 4Runner. It really has no direct competitors. It's half way between a JGC and a Wrangler. More importantly - it's a LOT cheaper than something like a Tahoe. In years past the 4runner was smaller and more of a direct competitor with a chevy blazer, nissan pathfinder, ford explorer and Jeep cherokee. Today - all of those are crossovers that are very similar to a Highlander or Subaru. While 8 of 10 owners followed suit and bought the crossover versions, there were maybe 2 out of 10 who still wanted a truck with extra seats instead of a car with big tires.
Adding to that was move of GM's BOF SUV's to high dollar minivans. They no longer come with low range in most models. And base price on the cheapest Yukon with 4x4 is $54k. A base model silverado 4x4 is $39k. So there's a minimum of a $15k jump from a crew cab 4x4 truck to an SUV. You used to be able to buy a base model Tahoe/Yukon for $40k. Not anymore. Typical MSRP is more like $80k. And they have terrible resale value. As a result lot of prior suburban/tahoe owners are buying 4Runners as a replacement.
So I think those factors come together to push a few more people for a lot of different reasons into a 4Runner.
There's a lot of things that have become popular that I simply don't understand. Like going to overland expos. I can't for the life of me figure out why I would want to go to a park and compare camping gear. And then pay something like $100 to camp in the park in a spot smaller than my driveway. As compared to actually going on an adventure somewhere. I like going camping and off roading. I also like having bbqs at my house. Maybe I'm missing the point on how much fun it is to go camp at the city park? But obviously quite a few people turn out - so there must be something to it.
For me - I think it's all great - except for the crowding in the back country. Some of my favorite remote areas are getting loved to death. And that's a bummer. Fortunately - most people are still too lazy to hike more than a few hundred feet from a parking lot. I don't think that will ever change.
The second factor is that the market has basically all moved away from the 4Runner. It really has no direct competitors. It's half way between a JGC and a Wrangler. More importantly - it's a LOT cheaper than something like a Tahoe. In years past the 4runner was smaller and more of a direct competitor with a chevy blazer, nissan pathfinder, ford explorer and Jeep cherokee. Today - all of those are crossovers that are very similar to a Highlander or Subaru. While 8 of 10 owners followed suit and bought the crossover versions, there were maybe 2 out of 10 who still wanted a truck with extra seats instead of a car with big tires.
Adding to that was move of GM's BOF SUV's to high dollar minivans. They no longer come with low range in most models. And base price on the cheapest Yukon with 4x4 is $54k. A base model silverado 4x4 is $39k. So there's a minimum of a $15k jump from a crew cab 4x4 truck to an SUV. You used to be able to buy a base model Tahoe/Yukon for $40k. Not anymore. Typical MSRP is more like $80k. And they have terrible resale value. As a result lot of prior suburban/tahoe owners are buying 4Runners as a replacement.
So I think those factors come together to push a few more people for a lot of different reasons into a 4Runner.
There's a lot of things that have become popular that I simply don't understand. Like going to overland expos. I can't for the life of me figure out why I would want to go to a park and compare camping gear. And then pay something like $100 to camp in the park in a spot smaller than my driveway. As compared to actually going on an adventure somewhere. I like going camping and off roading. I also like having bbqs at my house. Maybe I'm missing the point on how much fun it is to go camp at the city park? But obviously quite a few people turn out - so there must be something to it.
For me - I think it's all great - except for the crowding in the back country. Some of my favorite remote areas are getting loved to death. And that's a bummer. Fortunately - most people are still too lazy to hike more than a few hundred feet from a parking lot. I don't think that will ever change.
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baldrik78
New member
Some bros, but mostly 1st-3rd gens people. Never 4th gen tho. Then again, I've had more than one person roll down their window while going down the highway to shout at me how much they liked my T4R, so maybe it's just me. Barcelona red is eye-catching, I guess.
baldrik78
New member
Try hiking anywhere within an hour of Seattle and you'll change your mind. Even the strenuous hikes Mailbox Peak (9 miles, 4k elev. gain) have overflowing parking lots
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