invisible4Runner
New member
I've been lurking here for a couple years, since the 4Runner has always caught my eye, and I always find it so damn cool what you guys are doing with your trucks.
I had a 2001 Volvo XC70, and while extremely reliable, it was starting to show it's age, so I knew it had to be replaced with something. I was going to pull the trigger last year, but the reviews of the 4Runner are always so unkind, which made me worried about dropping $50k on a vehicle almost every car reviewer describes as a "dinosaur". And while I volunteer with search & rescue and do go off road occasionally, the vehicle was going to be largely a pavement princess - which apparently 4Runners are terrible at. So I sat on the sidelines and contemplated waiting for a 6th gen.
Fast forward a year and two things happened: 1) my Volvo started breaking down, 2) I had a kid. Having a kid really solidified my original lust for the 4Runner, as tank-like qualities suddenly become very desirable. I want to make sure that if a drunk runs a red light, that we'll be the ones walking away from it.
So last week after a fair bit of negotiating, I signed for a 2015 Barcelona Red SR5 "upgrade" (Canadian model). I originally wanted a mag grey, which I think looks awesome - but after seeing the red in person, it looks killer. The mag grey has it's own personality, but I am really happy with the red. I've never seen another red in person before, so it really stands out. And since there were only two 2015 4Runners on a lot within 10hrs of me, I did not have a lot of options.
I picked it up last Wednesday. Here it is sitting pretty on the dealer's lot:
Then I got home, read the instruction manual from front to back, and installed a dashcam that I ordered. The dashcam is a mini 0805, which had good reviews but did not break the bank ($120). Using instructions I found on this site, I stuck it to the windshield under the mirror, ran the cord up using the cable strip from the mirror to the headliner, and tucked the cable around the headliner and down the passenger side. The cable length was actually perfect and is so well hidden that it's unlikely a passenger would ever notice it (unless maybe one of you guys). I may hardwire it in the future, but for now it's almost completely hidden and just does it's own thing.
Completely hidden from the driver's view
Side view, showing the camera and how the cable is hidden
Where the cable comes out of the headliner - still barely visible
Plugged in
The next morning we loaded it up and hit the road for a 2000 mile (3200km) road trip from Halifax NS to Foxborough NE, around Cape Cod, and back. Although I had test driven the 4Runner before buying it, I was a little nervous about all the hating I had read about, and was worried that those complaints would surely come to light after driving for 30 hours. In a word: NOPE.
The 4Runner was simply awesome. Every single one of my fears was unfounded. It drove beautifully on the highway - it felt composed, smooth, and quiet. The seats were comfortable, the navigation worked great, and I loved the commanding view of the road.
While it's no sports car, it also had no problem cruising comfortably at 80mph, even going up steep and long climbs when fully loaded (the recent thread about "too fast" had me worried about this). The transmission had to kick down frequently maintaining that speed on climbs, but I don't really care what it has to do as long as I can keep going the speed I want.
I was also convinced that since I only bought the SR5 model, it would tip over in corners or cartwheel at sudden stops - nope again. Zipping around cities felt confident, and it had no problem taking sudden turns. While there is a tiny amount of nose diving in sudden stops, it was what I'd expect from a tall TRUCK and far less noticeable than I feared. It was also much smoother over bumps and rough pavement than I expected - I was aware when I'd hit potholes, but the truck never shuttered or felt uncomfortable - it just cruised right over.
I averaged 19.3mpg for the entire trip, which isn't going to win any Greenpeace awards, but is almost exactly what my Volvo got - and I was driving constantly well above the speed limit, in very hilly terrain, and fully loaded with people and stuff. And a lot of idling with the AC running at every stop, to keep the little one cool. I was actually very happy with the efficiency, and am sure I'll be seeing 20's for the majority of my regular driving (slower, local highways, very little city).
Functionally, my little one fit in total comfort in the back seat, even with me and my wife's seats fully back (I'm 6'2"). He appreciated the tinted windows and being able to fully recline in his rear-facing car seat for many long naps. The inlaws sat comfortably in the back as well at the same time. This is something I could never have done in my old car, and greatly exceeded my expectations for space. And all the while we had the cargo area loaded with a stroller, pack n play, luggage, baby bags, beer (had to load up), high chair, and other stuff.
I only saw less than a dozen 5th gen 4Runners on the entire trip, and no other red ones. I did get a wave from someone driving outside Boston in a mag grey one pulling a jet ski - it was a good look for the 4Runner.
Here we are after arriving in Foxborough, with the truck full
Covered in bugs, but still looking like a boss
Ran into some fellow Canadians
The drive around Cape Cod was great
Stopped to admire Mount Katahdin on the way home
I cleaned the windshield every time we stopped, but we massacred many bugs per minute
All-in-all, I can't help but wonder if all the complainers and car reviewers actually drove the same vehicle as me. Because I had every intention of being disappointed, but my only complaint is that I didn't buy this sooner.
I had a 2001 Volvo XC70, and while extremely reliable, it was starting to show it's age, so I knew it had to be replaced with something. I was going to pull the trigger last year, but the reviews of the 4Runner are always so unkind, which made me worried about dropping $50k on a vehicle almost every car reviewer describes as a "dinosaur". And while I volunteer with search & rescue and do go off road occasionally, the vehicle was going to be largely a pavement princess - which apparently 4Runners are terrible at. So I sat on the sidelines and contemplated waiting for a 6th gen.
Fast forward a year and two things happened: 1) my Volvo started breaking down, 2) I had a kid. Having a kid really solidified my original lust for the 4Runner, as tank-like qualities suddenly become very desirable. I want to make sure that if a drunk runs a red light, that we'll be the ones walking away from it.
So last week after a fair bit of negotiating, I signed for a 2015 Barcelona Red SR5 "upgrade" (Canadian model). I originally wanted a mag grey, which I think looks awesome - but after seeing the red in person, it looks killer. The mag grey has it's own personality, but I am really happy with the red. I've never seen another red in person before, so it really stands out. And since there were only two 2015 4Runners on a lot within 10hrs of me, I did not have a lot of options.
I picked it up last Wednesday. Here it is sitting pretty on the dealer's lot:
Then I got home, read the instruction manual from front to back, and installed a dashcam that I ordered. The dashcam is a mini 0805, which had good reviews but did not break the bank ($120). Using instructions I found on this site, I stuck it to the windshield under the mirror, ran the cord up using the cable strip from the mirror to the headliner, and tucked the cable around the headliner and down the passenger side. The cable length was actually perfect and is so well hidden that it's unlikely a passenger would ever notice it (unless maybe one of you guys). I may hardwire it in the future, but for now it's almost completely hidden and just does it's own thing.
Completely hidden from the driver's view
Side view, showing the camera and how the cable is hidden
Where the cable comes out of the headliner - still barely visible
Plugged in
The next morning we loaded it up and hit the road for a 2000 mile (3200km) road trip from Halifax NS to Foxborough NE, around Cape Cod, and back. Although I had test driven the 4Runner before buying it, I was a little nervous about all the hating I had read about, and was worried that those complaints would surely come to light after driving for 30 hours. In a word: NOPE.
The 4Runner was simply awesome. Every single one of my fears was unfounded. It drove beautifully on the highway - it felt composed, smooth, and quiet. The seats were comfortable, the navigation worked great, and I loved the commanding view of the road.
While it's no sports car, it also had no problem cruising comfortably at 80mph, even going up steep and long climbs when fully loaded (the recent thread about "too fast" had me worried about this). The transmission had to kick down frequently maintaining that speed on climbs, but I don't really care what it has to do as long as I can keep going the speed I want.
I was also convinced that since I only bought the SR5 model, it would tip over in corners or cartwheel at sudden stops - nope again. Zipping around cities felt confident, and it had no problem taking sudden turns. While there is a tiny amount of nose diving in sudden stops, it was what I'd expect from a tall TRUCK and far less noticeable than I feared. It was also much smoother over bumps and rough pavement than I expected - I was aware when I'd hit potholes, but the truck never shuttered or felt uncomfortable - it just cruised right over.
I averaged 19.3mpg for the entire trip, which isn't going to win any Greenpeace awards, but is almost exactly what my Volvo got - and I was driving constantly well above the speed limit, in very hilly terrain, and fully loaded with people and stuff. And a lot of idling with the AC running at every stop, to keep the little one cool. I was actually very happy with the efficiency, and am sure I'll be seeing 20's for the majority of my regular driving (slower, local highways, very little city).
Functionally, my little one fit in total comfort in the back seat, even with me and my wife's seats fully back (I'm 6'2"). He appreciated the tinted windows and being able to fully recline in his rear-facing car seat for many long naps. The inlaws sat comfortably in the back as well at the same time. This is something I could never have done in my old car, and greatly exceeded my expectations for space. And all the while we had the cargo area loaded with a stroller, pack n play, luggage, baby bags, beer (had to load up), high chair, and other stuff.
I only saw less than a dozen 5th gen 4Runners on the entire trip, and no other red ones. I did get a wave from someone driving outside Boston in a mag grey one pulling a jet ski - it was a good look for the 4Runner.
Here we are after arriving in Foxborough, with the truck full
Covered in bugs, but still looking like a boss
Ran into some fellow Canadians
The drive around Cape Cod was great
Stopped to admire Mount Katahdin on the way home
I cleaned the windshield every time we stopped, but we massacred many bugs per minute
All-in-all, I can't help but wonder if all the complainers and car reviewers actually drove the same vehicle as me. Because I had every intention of being disappointed, but my only complaint is that I didn't buy this sooner.
Last edited:
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