Like Your 4th Gen. Don't Like 5th Gen?
- Thread starter alaskaman
- Start date
Threev8s
New member
They’re both great for various reasons and there’s nothing better than a 5th gen in terms of bang for the buck in a brand new BOF SUV, but there are reasons so many 4th gen owners hang on as long as we do (I have 151K miles). For me it comes down to two main points of contention with the 5th gen: 1) the 5th gen option packages and 2) not enough low-end torque in the current v6 to not have a V8 option if you like effortless acceleration. You would have to buy a 5th gen limited (which my wife already drives) to get all the features/options you have on a 4th gen sport edition (X-REAS, full-time 4WD with locking Diff, moon roof, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, etc. but still wouldn’t have a locking gas door, and soft-close rear hatch. On top of that you get leather (which many people don’t want), 7” wide wheels (no AT tire options within recommended specs – need to buy different wheels), and way too much chrome for the liking of many purists. If you get anything but a limited, you lose the full-time 4WD, automatic climate control, and would be stuck with softex if you still wanted the moon roof and auto-dimming rear-view mirror. To get an upgraded suspension on a non-limited (KDSS), you have to special order in most parts of the country to get it on a base trail to forgo the softex and they’re fairly rare even in trail premiums in my region. Without a V8 option or manual transmission option, there’s nothing to push me over the hump right now. I’m holding out for the 6th gen for hopefully ’17. If it doesn’t come out this fall, I’ll probably buy something else and keep my 4th gen.
alaskaman
Senior Member
The lighter weight in the rear makes a big difference to me in the 4th Gen.
I'm driving and its snowy road is getting slick go to 4WD hi. later that night it's 2 feet no plows part of the way 4Hi and then lock the diff which disables the VSC. moves easily with more control to me. A little later I miss my turn and put the front right into a snowy ditch up to the grill. Put it neutral to 4lo to reverse and pull that mother out (and here the key) without the large butt on the 5th Gen. Now I can't "test" this in a 5th Gen but my sense when I see it is that it's an elephant in the back.
I'm driving and its snowy road is getting slick go to 4WD hi. later that night it's 2 feet no plows part of the way 4Hi and then lock the diff which disables the VSC. moves easily with more control to me. A little later I miss my turn and put the front right into a snowy ditch up to the grill. Put it neutral to 4lo to reverse and pull that mother out (and here the key) without the large butt on the 5th Gen. Now I can't "test" this in a 5th Gen but my sense when I see it is that it's an elephant in the back.
alaskaman
Senior Member
:sadwave:
Just rolled to 85k miles on my 08 Sport 4wd. I purchased mine back in Nov. 15' and was back and forth between the 10/11' Trail editions and the 08 Sport, but the deciding factor was the condition the 08' was in when I bought it. I prefer the slimmer body style as well when compared to the newer models and I absolutely love mine thus far.
RockyRider
New member
The lack of a v8 option prevents me from getting a 5th gen.
There is these cool little buttons on the steering wheel they do the same thing with gloves on :biggrin1: I vote to have the dam knobs removed no need to have two buttons in the same area that doing the exact same thing.
oljedi11950
New member
Have both son drives the 05 . I like things about each , seats are more comfortable n the 5th imo, seats in 4th seem odd to me set up to high all though @LTSDC fixed this by cutting off an inch & re-welding back on ! Like 5th on the road ie; freeway driving , long trips around town 4th , easier to see out of 5th has blind spots like FJ not good & like OP says those mirrors are nice ! I'm like most old folks back up till I hit something why I like 5th with backup sensors . Typical Toyota good in most areas but they leave stuff off that we like (V8) I don't get it but carry on lads just my 2 .
05Toy4Runner
New member
Our '05 does everything we ask it to do and more as a daily driver. It's like a tank and we can keep racking up miles on it (171k now) and it shows no sign of slowing down. New vehicles are nice but I prefer to keep the one that is proven reliable.
piccrazy30
New member
The 5th gens are too boxy looking. The 4th gens have nice lines that makes them look more stylish (not just for soccer moms though).
It took a little while for me to figure out the mirrors. I don't usually park close enough to others to have to use them.
I have both, mine 04 V6 has 199,600 as of today and husbands 03 V8 has 191,000.
The only way I will no longer own my 04 is it being totaled
I've already put 7k worth of mods into her so whenever the time comes for needing a new engine, she'll get one.
Don't think I have figured out anything not to like about the 4th gen.
It took a little while for me to figure out the mirrors. I don't usually park close enough to others to have to use them.
I have both, mine 04 V6 has 199,600 as of today and husbands 03 V8 has 191,000.
The only way I will no longer own my 04 is it being totaled
I've already put 7k worth of mods into her so whenever the time comes for needing a new engine, she'll get one.
Don't think I have figured out anything not to like about the 4th gen.
