http://autos.yahoo.com/news/cars-that-are-the-most-and-least-fun-to-drive-235804567.html
How much more crap do you think consumer report can produce?
How much more crap do you think consumer report can produce?
Look who made it on least fun to drive list
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1engineer
Moderator
This forum is an enthusiast's website. Why don't you post links to good reviews like the following? There are many out there so enjoy the read from this one. This is actually a very good review for a 2013 written from an average consumer and makes a lot of good points.
"The 2013 Toyota 4Runner is the perfect SUV if you have a jungle to conquer, but if your most severe drive is taking the kids to school in a rainstorm, it might be overkill.
By Aaron Gold
THE BIG PICTURE
Before you read this review, take a quick look around and make sure there are no Toyota 4Runner owners lurking about. Close the door and turn down the lights. If you have a “Do Not Disturb” sign, hang it on your door. A handwritten “Danger: Radioactive Waste” sign works just as well.
See, people who don’t own 4Runners, like you and me, aren’t encouraged to talk about the Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner is an old-school “body-on-frame” SUV built for serious off-road use. Modern crossovers (a.k.a. CUVs), like Toyota’s own Highlander, offer more interior space, better gas mileage and more car-like handling, and that’s why they are more popular — but the Toyota 4Runner has a loyal following, so Toyota keeps it in production.
Truth is, Toyota has done an amazing job with the 2013 Toyota 4Runner. But unless you have need for its ultra-rugged construction, you’ll find it to be heavy, thirsty, and short on interior space. And if the 4Runner faithful knew I was telling you that… well, let’s just say they like to run people over first and ask questions later.
INTERIOR
The 2013 Toyota 4Runner was designed to look rugged inside and out, hence the butch interior with big, chunky shapes done up in multi-colored plastics. But it’s still a Toyota, so the materials are top-notch, the switches are sensibly laid out and neatly labeled, and everything feels expensive and well-built. The windshield is a bit on the short side, but the 4Runner’s tall driving position makes the driver feel like Queen of All She Surveys, with big side-view mirrors to ensure she won’t miss any of her subjects should they creep into her blind spots.
FAMILY-FRIENDLINESS
Body-on-frame SUVs — which have a separate frame that holds all the mechanical bits, as opposed to using the body as the supporting framework — tend to have cramped back seats, but the Toyota 4Runner’s second-row seat was better than I expected. Legroom and headroom were good, although I found the seat short on thigh support (and at 5’6″, my thighs aren’t very long).
But the optional 3rd-row seat was even worse than I expected. It’s tiny, cramped, and so close to the back end that I shudder to think of what would happen to the occupants in a rear-end crash. Access to the seat is terrible, and deploying it is terribly difficult. With the seat in place, cargo capacity is reduced to just 9 cubic feet — enough for a few grocery bags, provided you take the groceries out and fold the bags up. With the third seat stowed away, cargo capacity grows to an enormous 46.3 cubic feet, enough for everything from giant jogging strollers to college steamer trunks.
SAFETY
Along with the usual front airbags and front-seat-mounted side airbags, the 4Runner has side curtain airbags that cover the side windows (including the third row if your 2013 Toyota 4Runner is so equipped) and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger. The 4Runner earned best-possible scores in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s front, side and rear impact tests, but didn’t do as well in the roof crush test.
But what concerns me more is the 4Runner’s ability to avoid an accident. Granted, the 4Runner is better than any other body-on-frame SUV I’ve driven, but it is still heavier than a similarly-sized crossover, which means it can’t swerve or stop as quickly.
GIZMOS AND TECH
Given the 4Runner’s mission, it should be no surprised that most of the gizmos are geared towards off-road driving. 4-wheel-drive Toyota 4Runners have a Downhill Assist Control system; though designed for driving on loose terrain, it’s great if you have a steep, slippery driveway. The Toyota 4Runner also offers hardware borrowed from Toyota’s jungle-conquering Land Cruiser, including Crawl Control, which works the throttle and brakes to climb over significant obstacles (like, say, the island of Cuba), and stabilizer bars that automatically disconnect from the suspension for better up-and-down axle travel. These are terrifically useful features if you commute to an undeveloped part of Costa Rica, but for those of us who don’t drive on anything more severe than the occasional dirt road, they’re overkill.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
All 2013 Toyota 4Runners get a big 4.0 liter 270 horsepower V6 engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. The V6 offers power-a-plenty, but while seasoned Toyota 4Runner owners will probably be pleased with the EPA fuel economy estimates (17 MPG city/23 MPG highway with rear-wheel-drive, 17/22 with four-wheel-drive), those used to smaller SUVs or CUVs might be shocked at the 4Runner’s thirst.
Big body-on-frame SUVs tend to be ungainly, so I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Toyota 4Runner goes around corners. Many people worry about flipping their SUV over if they drive around a corner too quickly. The truth is that it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to flip an SUV simply by taking a turn too fast, and Toyota engineered the 4Runner to corner with minimal body lean in order to increase drivers’ confidence. There’s some slop in the steering and some bounce in the ride, all side effects of the 4Runner’s off-road-capable suspension and big soft tires, but not nearly as much as I expected; in fact, it’s one of the best body-on-frame SUVs I’ve ever driven."
Intruder
New member
Why is everyone so hung up on what other people think anyhow? The 4Runner isn't made to be a 0-60 straight line quarter mile vehicle. Get it out on the trails, use it to get to off the beaten path fishing, climbing, mountain biking, whatever spots and you'll see how much fun it is to drive. In those places a Cayenne or X5 would be the least fun to drive after you hit a big pothole and crack the oil pan or warp one of those fancy wheels...
5POINT56
New member
A range of opinions is what some of us seek, rather than a group nodding their collective heads in the same approving direction.
I understand your point, but sanatizing a forum to only include popular opinion makes no sense to me.
There are heaps of praise all throughout this forum, piles of it, thousands of threads, we all love our 4R's. Do a few posts/articles/opinions to the contrary pose any real problem?
I'm on 4R #2, an 08 Sport and now a 13 TE. I, like many others, can filter the BS from the fact, particularly as actual owners of the vehicles in question.
No disrespect intended, just my opinion.
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What do you understand to be driving excitement? Because I'll tell you now the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5 don't offer my definition of driving excitement...
The competitions base models are $4k more than a loaded 4Runner, and my guess is the 4Runner would go places neither the X5 or Cayenne could...
Agree, but I read 1E's comment to say there are good reviews worthy of being posted for every negative review. There is no reason to leave good or bad out. Plus, everyone here is brilliant, complete rational, and uses unassailable logic (in their own minds*). I'm far less concerned with someone else's review/opinion than I am with my own observations. I like my 4runner and I don't need dozens of reviews to tell me why I should or should not.
*except 1E, he's like that in other people's minds too.
Antman
Elite Member
Fun to drive=
1. Stuck in bad traffic jam.
2. See empty parking lot on the right.
3. Drive over big curb, grass, sidewalk, other curb, and finally the concrete parking stop.
4. Look back, smile and wave at the staring, open mouthed drivers still stuck in traffic.
5. Laugh hysterically and drive away.
Did that last week.:wink2:
1. Stuck in bad traffic jam.
2. See empty parking lot on the right.
3. Drive over big curb, grass, sidewalk, other curb, and finally the concrete parking stop.
4. Look back, smile and wave at the staring, open mouthed drivers still stuck in traffic.
5. Laugh hysterically and drive away.
Did that last week.:wink2:
crunchcity
New member
I agree, I like the full range of opinion praise or otherwise.
Some of what Consumer Reports say I actually agree with, but they are writing for the general consumer and this forum is very much a minority % of passionate 4Runner owners (imo) so many would naturally disagree lol.
eddiebx
New member
You never know, maybe his driving excitement consists of picking up chicks :lookout:
But Jeff, what if the cops saw you? You can certainly strike off #5 from that list
olice:Have said repeatedly this since my T4R #1 in 1987... if you are just going to get groceries or want to maximize efficiency and convenience, this is probably not the vehicle for you. There are better choices to achieve that mission. (And, truth be told, many of us have an alternative set of wheels stashed in the garage for such duty.)
But, to echo the wise 1E and others above, the typical readers of this particular forum have something else in mind. Durability, versatility, capability beyond pavement, and other needs or desires drive the readers here. Thankfully, the manufacturer we prefer continues to support our habit, and we support them with our checkbooks.
It doesnt take a crystal ball to figure out what the asteroid to our mechanical dinosaur will eventually be.....fuel efficiency. However, if we choose to bear the operating cost in the short term to enjoy arguably the best dinosaur still standing, I say lets drive these things like we stole em! Save my econobox or CUV for another day.
But, to echo the wise 1E and others above, the typical readers of this particular forum have something else in mind. Durability, versatility, capability beyond pavement, and other needs or desires drive the readers here. Thankfully, the manufacturer we prefer continues to support our habit, and we support them with our checkbooks.
It doesnt take a crystal ball to figure out what the asteroid to our mechanical dinosaur will eventually be.....fuel efficiency. However, if we choose to bear the operating cost in the short term to enjoy arguably the best dinosaur still standing, I say lets drive these things like we stole em! Save my econobox or CUV for another day.
I just think the article is funny...
The Camaro guys have a similar thread over on Camaro5. My wife got a 2SS Camaro last summer a few times and we loved it. If I could have the 4Runner and an SS Camaro it would be no question. To be honest I don't think you can lose between the Camaro, Mustang (though for 13' the GT looks boy racer), and the Challenger... each offers a little different taste.
If I was going to purchase a vehicle for "driving excitement" it would be a sports coupe or sedan. When I purchased an SUV there were other considerations, driving excitement wasn't one of them... so let's compare a body on frame SUV with a couple German unibody suv's that offer twin turbo V8's in their upper range? Makes perfect sense...
The Camaro guys have a similar thread over on Camaro5. My wife got a 2SS Camaro last summer a few times and we loved it. If I could have the 4Runner and an SS Camaro it would be no question. To be honest I don't think you can lose between the Camaro, Mustang (though for 13' the GT looks boy racer), and the Challenger... each offers a little different taste.
If I was going to purchase a vehicle for "driving excitement" it would be a sports coupe or sedan. When I purchased an SUV there were other considerations, driving excitement wasn't one of them... so let's compare a body on frame SUV with a couple German unibody suv's that offer twin turbo V8's in their upper range? Makes perfect sense...
scanny
Senior Member
Different people have different definition of "fun to drive". I have the most fun driving off the pavement in the wilderness, so for me T4R is on top of the list.
I drove a Mercedes in Germany at 190 km/h (about 120mph) - it was interesting, but not as much fun as driving T4R on a trail in Northern Ontario. I guess I'm strange person: )
I drove a Mercedes in Germany at 190 km/h (about 120mph) - it was interesting, but not as much fun as driving T4R on a trail in Northern Ontario. I guess I'm strange person: )
ex porsche owner
I used to drive a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Fastest SUV I've driven at 550 HP with a race suspension and ceramic breaks. I also traded my Porsche Cayman S in for my 4Runner TE a couple months ago. Do I miss my Porsches? Absolutely! On twisty roads there is nothing more fun to drive. The Cayman/Boxter have been described as one of the best well balanced production sports cars in history....and I agree 100%. The problem is you have to take your car to a race track to fully enjoy its potentials. Its a waste of money unless you have access to such roads in my opinion.
But my 4Runner is a different type of fun when I can drive it on the unbeaten path (or make my own path), loading camping gear, loading up the dogs in the back, pull a boat trailer, turning on the crawl control and guide it through some nasty trails. Unless you need the 4Runner for related activities, it might be a waste of money too.
There are different vehicles for different purposes. At this point in my life, I didn't want a semi exotic sports car that's fun to drive in the open country roads and rarely release it on the track. I wanted a solid SUV with room for my family, gear, and our love for outdoor adventure.
I used to drive a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Fastest SUV I've driven at 550 HP with a race suspension and ceramic breaks. I also traded my Porsche Cayman S in for my 4Runner TE a couple months ago. Do I miss my Porsches? Absolutely! On twisty roads there is nothing more fun to drive. The Cayman/Boxter have been described as one of the best well balanced production sports cars in history....and I agree 100%. The problem is you have to take your car to a race track to fully enjoy its potentials. Its a waste of money unless you have access to such roads in my opinion.
But my 4Runner is a different type of fun when I can drive it on the unbeaten path (or make my own path), loading camping gear, loading up the dogs in the back, pull a boat trailer, turning on the crawl control and guide it through some nasty trails. Unless you need the 4Runner for related activities, it might be a waste of money too.
There are different vehicles for different purposes. At this point in my life, I didn't want a semi exotic sports car that's fun to drive in the open country roads and rarely release it on the track. I wanted a solid SUV with room for my family, gear, and our love for outdoor adventure.
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