Lusting for an 09 Urban Runner - Questions

[SantaCruzOM]

Hi,

I have spent the last year or so thinking about getting a 4runner, but I simply haven't been in a position to buy. Thankfully, it looks like I will finally be able to begin planning for a purchase, but I have a few questions. I have narrowed my choice to an 09 Urban Runner. In truth, I would be happy with an 08, assuming really low miles. I want a V6, as I have a 45 mile commute to and from work each day and would like to save a few pennies on fuel costs if possible. Overall, I would like to get a sense of how reliable these vehicles are. Hopefully, this will be the last vehicle I buy for quite a while. So, I really need something I can count on for the long haul. For what it's worth, the first new vehicle I ever owned was a beautiful black 88 4runner. I drove it off of the showroom floor. I put over 100K miles on it and loved every mile. I have always been a fan of the 4runner. Something about them just appeal to me. But, I really don't know a great deal about the reliability of these later models. In addition, I would like to know if the Urban Runner is offered with 3rd row seating? If not, is there a way to add 3rd row aftermarket? Any advice or counsel would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Frank

 

[zachb_NW]

You seem to be limiting yourself a lot if you just want the Urban Runner, it will be very very hard to find. I would also look for Limited and Sport Models. What’s the reason you want the Urban model?
In regards to reliability, one of the most reliable vehicles on the planet don’t worry about it. This is one of the reasons we all love our 4runners.

 

[nethngbtstk]

Ill chime in...

I’ve never and i mean never owned a car as great as my runner. It never lets me down and I have had zero (knock on wood) issues. Sometimes I think my truck picked me rather than me pick it. I would buy it 100 times over without second though. I would say like buying any used car kick the tires and give it a good once over. You might get lucky and be good for thousands of miles, or you can run into small issues as mentioned frozen caliper, but all in the best truck on the road IMO.

4runner run 4 ever

:welcome:

 

[kbaldwin]

08' ur

I08' UR

I had my 08 UR for a couple years I love this truck!
No issues with with mine!

 

[noobshooter]

I agree with zachb_NW that you might be limiting your 4runner choices if you are set on finding an Urban Runner. I own a 09 UR and it's nice, but really nothing special. I bought mine because of the seats and the 4runners rep of dependability. I have since learned (the hard way) that the Tom Tom stinks, and the seats fake leather tears easily (I have 3 tears on the driver side seat and one in the rear. All have been patched). Besides these two issues my 4Runner has been very dependable. I do believe the 3rd row seats were an option on the Urban Runners. I know I have the brackets to install 3rd row seats in mine.

IMO, you can't go wrong with an 08/09 4Runner. It's the best vehicle I have ever owned!

 

[450exc115]

Skip the UR and find a 09 Trail Edition. It's been stated before the TomTom isn't that good and the seats have thin and poor stitching. I looked at a sport and UR and ended with the sport and have enjoyed the last 15K miles.

 

[Krazynative]

I bought mine new in May of '08. By far the best vehicle I have ever owened!

It depends on what you plan on doing with it. If you want to keep it stockish, then it is a great choice. If you plan on modifying it for medium to hard core off roading, I would look to the '09 TE as mentioned in the previous post. I didn't plan on modifying mine this much when I bought it, and if I knew I would I would have bought a SE and went from there. I do like the different interior, Pearl paint, black nerf and roof rack and color matched things. Yes the DumDum sucks, but that has been replaced. The nerf and roof rack have been replaced. So all I'm left with is the tearing interior and the Pearl paint.

They do stand out more than the others due to the UR package if that is what you are liking about it. They did not offer the V8 in the UR, only V6 with 2 or 4 wheel drive. Not sure about the 3rd row seating as these came with the rear shelf system(which I have never used).

I have 83K miles on mine and it still runs like a champ!

 

[2TreeManor]

Seeing how your profile says Georgia, you will have much better luck finding an urban runner than in other parts of the country. For better or worse Southeast Toyota goes off on its own and orders weird things that the rest of the country doesn't get, and one example well, is the Urban Runner.

I don't think you want to try the third row conversion based on this old thread.

 

[radlynx]

i have a 2005 4runner with 3rd row seating. the seats in the back are removable and 2nd row are foldable for even big hauling. i assume the newer models should have that too. check with the dealership.