Just completed the first year with my Runner.

cdoyle

cdoyle

Member
Well as of Dec 27th, I have had my 04 Limited exactly 1 year :)

I have to say that I absolutely love my 4Runner. As of right now I have about 9,800 miles on it, and every one of those miles have been 100% trouble free. I haven't been back to the dealer for anything since the day I brought it home.

The only thing I regret about my purchase, was not getting the factory Nav. I guess I'll have to add that later :)

The things I really like about my Runner:
1. The V8!! it's about time the 4Runner got a decent engine. That was my major complaint with my 91 Runner, the engine was way under-powered. Now, when I step on the gas, it GOES!!!
2. I love the new interior. The leather seats are nice and comfortable, and look good with the stone interior.
3. I also love the new exterior, very up-to-date design, but they didn't change it so much that you couldn't tell it was a 4Runner.
4. Did I mention the V8?
5. The instrument cluster is very easy to read, and everything is right where it needs to be.


Some things I would like to see added, or improved.
1. HIDs!! This was the 1 thing I was really hoping for the 4th Gen to have. I have a friend who has them on her car, and I can't believe the difference they make over Halogen lights.
2. Hoodscoop option for the Limited :) I was willing to wait and order my Limited with a hoodscoop, but was told I couldn't do that. I would have to buy another hood, and have it installed.
3. Illuminate the homelink buttons, when it's dark I can never find the right button.
4. The ability for the driver to turn on all interior lights via 1 button on the dash would be nice. When the toddler is in the back, and something is wrong. It's hard to turn around and try and find the dome light switch.
5. Go back to more of a tailgate type design for the back. I hate it when I lift up the door, and anything that might have been in the back resting on the door, falls out on my foot.

I'm looking forward to year #2!

How about everyone else, how has the 1st year of ownership been for you?

Chris.
 
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Re: Re: Just completed the first year with my Runner.

ToyotaDoodz said:
Groceries tumbling out is a problem. I now roll down the back window and look inside first before opening after going to the store.
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HAHAHA! I hear you. I've had a watermelon or 2 fall out and rupture after shopping. Things are always falling out the back when I open the gate....One would think that I would learn to look before opening the gate!
MArk
 
how about one of those plastic 10lb things of cat litter. God those hurt... (lol)

Ya, someday I'll remember to look in the back before I open it..
 
Mine was a year old on September 13, 2004 and I have only had one problem with my truck. The 12 volt outlets went out and they had to replace the entire fuse block. I really can't complain though. I love this truck and enjoy driving it more and more each day. I am not bored of it at all. I did around 12,000 in my first year. The only complaints I have on mine is there should be a driver power seat (sport), auto on headlights, and HID headlights. Also, Toyota should light up the window switches and homelink buttons. Those little things would NOT stop me from buying another 4Runner!! :D
 
Re: Re: Just completed the first year with my Runner.

ToyotaDoodz said:
Chris, I hear you on those two. The Home Link modules are all supplied by HomeLink so they're all the same buttons and guts, just different cover plates

I
Click to expand...

One of the guys on the Acura forum added small, red LEDs to his factory Homelink buttons. Easy mod... very fuctional... and looks great too!
 
My first year was pretty good as well, only some minor annoyances, nothing major.

I agree about the tailgate though, when I was switching my rims and tires, I had four of them shoved in the back of my truck and when I opened the hatch, one of them came rolling out at me.

Anyway, I'm glad you had a good year and hope your second year goes just as well!
 
I still cannot get used to all the doors automatically locking. I am always pushing the unlock button to let people in, only after I stare at them a few seconds and wonder why they cannot get in. Them there is the lack of illumination at these switches on the driver door to, which makes it hard to unlock at night. Still these are small personal annoyances. It was fun trying to spin wheels today in the snow.
 
ToyotaDoodz said:
I had to register (you're welcome) to be able to search and find this but here is the link to the AcuraZine HomeLink LED mod.

He did not change the HomeLink module itself but simply wired LED's into holes drilled "next" to the HomeLink buttons. The buttons themselves do not have LED's.

Further discussion of this needs a new thread so as not to hijack this one further.
Click to expand...

Actually, that was not the thread that I was talking about... the same guy had another Acura that he modded with small, red LEDs on the Homelink buttons to illuminate them at night.

It looks like you found the thread where he modded his newer car. Either way, it solves the problem of finding the Homelink buttons at night....
 
greasefingers said:
I still cannot get used to all the doors automatically locking. I am always pushing the unlock button to let people in, only after I stare at them a few seconds and wonder why they cannot get in. Them there is the lack of illumination at these switches on the driver door to, which makes it hard to unlock at night. Still these are small personal annoyances. It was fun trying to spin wheels today in the snow.
Click to expand...

You can turn off the automatic door locks.

Read the owner's manual for the instructions.
 
WOW you must not do very much driving. Thats pretty good miles for a year. Ive had mine since the 1st of October and already have 7800 as of today!!! Congrats on the 1 year :happy bda to your 4runner
 
Very satisfied.

When I bought my Chevy Tahoe back in 1996, it went right back the first week for leaky oil something or another. After two visits being told it was the oil cooler lines, and then given a free rental for three days, they found the culprit, leaky brake master cylinder.....then the driver's side power lock went out, then the rear diff leaked, then the passenger side arm rest on the captian's cahir cracked. Then the a/c did not feel like working after 10 mintes of useage and sounded like it was clogged or something.....then right after it went out of warranty, the drive shaft u joint went out. Then the theromstat went out. Then at 143,000 miles the engine went out and had to be replaced.

First month with my 4Runner, a wheel lug sheared off as a tire was being re-installed after patching a flat. Took it right in to the dealer and it was replaced right away. So far.......that "Oh What a Feeling" of not having to spend my entire year's worth of vacation and sick leave at my dealer's getting things fixed.

What a concept......a car that works right of the lot.....a smoother V-8 is hardly possible. IT is quiet, smooth, powerful. The tranny is buttery slick.

I would like to have the window swithces backlit...sahme Toyota did not add that on for what they charge.....The Tahoe has all backligt switches----let's me know what switches are NOT working that day......

Tahoe also has the swivel aircraft lights in the interior so you can direct the light where you need it. WOuld be nice on the Toy as well. Tahoe has a light with a retractable cord under the hood to illiminate the engien and the cord is long enough to use in and around the engine bay. ANother good idea Toy could have made very cheaply.

Bought it in Oct. 2, 2004, and racked up 6,700 miles on it.
 
4runna_sport said:
WOW you must not do very much driving. Thats pretty good miles for a year. Ive had mine since the 1st of October and already have 7800 as of today!!! Congrats on the 1 year :happy bda to your 4runner
Click to expand...

Ya I don't drive the 4Runner to work, I park on a hill, and I just know the day I drive the Runner to work, will be the day the guy behind me forgets to set the parking brake.

So that has really helped keep the miles low. It even still has the new truck smell inside :)
 
Hello, I have only had my 05 sport model for 1.5 weeks, and I also don't care for the
door locking, but that's the only thing I don't like.

I had my previous 4-rnr. for 4 years, and there was absolutely nothing I didn't love about it. I never had one problem with it.

BTW, my new baby has just 400 miles on it and still has the new car smell. I took it out for a spin today, and it's simply to die for!
 
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Ya I change how my door locks work too. Now they lock when I put it in gear, and don't unlock until I open the drivers door.

I didn't like the idea of everytime I put it in park all the doors would unlock.
 
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