My first Negative experience with my Pro...long read.

[gtt99]

First off this is my first 4Runner and when I got it my wife was very jealous of it. She wanted the Sequoia but there was no Pro edition at the time and I couldn’t see myself coughing up $70k plus for the one that we test drove and looked at the dealership. That being said she has officially named my 4Runner “Blue Eyes” due to the Voodoo Blue color. She has always known that I have a thing for blue eye blonde hair ladies. Doesn’t help the fact that now I happily give Blue Eyes and bath and rub down once a week and it’s been years since I’ve treated my wife in the same way. We’re both getting older and with our 2 oldest in college now, I just feel that it’s more of a “me thing” at this moment. We’ll see how long that last, right guys?

Ok onto why I dislike my 4Runner….I hate the fact that even though I love driving her everywhere I go, I’m always afraid of idiots out there trying to hurt her. I hate the fact that she gets stared at and complimented about anytime we are out of the house. Guys love her, heck even other ladies love her. She does draw a lot of attention. I know that I shouldn’t being putting her into those situations because eventually she will get hurt but I just can’t get enough of driving her around and spending every moment I can with her.

Well this is what happened recently, we all know that taking our baby to the mall, grocery store, Wal-Mart, etc. is asking for dents and dings and I dread this fact so much that I try to drive my other vehicles when the situation arises. After a wonderful bath on her this last Saturday morning, I needed to go pick up some meat for dinner and since she was so shiny and fresh I decided that maybe we will be okay if I parked way in the back, surely nothing will happen right? So when I arrived at the grocery store, I looked for the most empty, farthest parking spot away from the front door. Mission accomplished, I found a spot that was so empty that you could hear the crickets chirping and the wind blowing through the forest trees. There was no other car within miles of Blue Eyes and I felt that she would be safe here while I run into the grocery store to grab a couple of rack of ribs for that night’s BBQ dinner.

After about a mile of walking I finally approached the front of the store and proceeded to select my shopping cart, at this moment I had this gut feeling that something just wasn’t right. Something was wrong and I had to stop, think and be prepared to react to whatever feeling this was. Am I in danger? Was there someone behind me getting ready to rob me? Was the Grandma that I pushed out of the way to get my special shopping cart going to make a surprise revenge attack? I just didn’t know and it was eating me alive on the inside. Then from the corner of my eye I saw what this feeling was all about. Someone in a Chevy Tahoe pulled into the parking spot right next to my Blue Eyes. Out of all the thousands of parking spots open in this wilderness parking lot this idiot just had to park next to my girl?

My first instinct was to give back the shopping cart to Grandma and make a run for Blue Eyes, I knew she was in danger and she was all alone. She couldn’t protect herself, she’s too innocent and sweet, she doesn’t understand how evil this world is? She just thinks that it’s another one of those “damn you’re sexy” moments and she was the center of attention. I mean she deserves it right? I’ve only been with one another blue eye blonde hair in my life and she was an Angel but I ended up hurting her and never to see her again. I sure wasn’t going to make the same mistake this time around, I wasn’t going to let this happen again. But in this moment of anger, confusion, and whatever other emotions I may have been feeling, all I could do was watch. She was too far me to be able to protect her, I have failed her. She is vulnerable to the destructive ways of human nature and their untamed door opening ways and she got her first ding on the passenger side door. I cried as she wept in pain……..

Cliff notes: Don’t take your brand new truck/car to the grocery store, you will get dents and dings due to people who has no sense on how to open a car door. BTW if Blue is to be hurt or damaged in any way, it should be on my part, whether it’s from the trails or me being an idiot when I’m around her.

How did you manage to stay married for so long???

 

[sn_85]

This is not what TRD Pro owners worry about, this is what a car owner who enjoys his/her ride worries about. Don't be a dick. It's not becoming of a otherwise nice person that I'm sure you are.

Let me guess, Pro owner? Calm down bro, it was a joke derp derp

 

[MGordo]

Rock sliders arent just for rocks!
Fun to see the look on peoples faces when their door hitting your car makes more damage to theirs!

 

[Matze]

The first dent is always the most painful one!
I don’t understand why people are so disrespectful when it comes to other people’s property...
back in the days I drove a rat rod, no matter where I was parking just a little few people had the balls to park next to me, even on crowded spots no one gets to close! That damn pos called GMC Acadia that I bought four years ago looks like a golf ball because my wife gets the grocery with her.
Sure shit happens but I wouldn’t just disappear after I damage someones property.

 

[baldrik78]

Dicks can soothe many pains

Everything is better with a big bag of Dick's. Burgers, that is.

 

[btcsxj]

came here to say... :wtf:

 

[ProLee]

How did you manage to stay married for so long???

I'm not too sure myself, let me ask her when I get home. Will update you tomorrow.:usa2:

The first dent is always the most painful one!
I don’t understand why people are so disrespectful when it comes to other people’s property...
back in the days I drove a rat rod, no matter where I was parking just a little few people had the balls to park next to me, even on crowded spots no one gets to close! That damn pos called GMC Acadia that I bought four years ago looks like a golf ball because my wife gets the grocery with her.
Sure shit happens but I wouldn’t just disappear after I damage someones property.

I agree, same thing when I first got my GTR. Now that was almost a garage queen (plus the fact that it actually fits into my garage) and the first dent was the most painful one but after a few track sessions, it was all about trying to cover up the battle scars it accrues after each track day.

 

[mteolus]

Good one! StatusQuo!

Here’s another applicable song.
Baby Blue by Badfinger

Guess I got what I deserve
Kept you waiting there, too long my love
All that time, without a word
Didn't know you'd think, that I'd forget, or I'd regret

The special love I have for you
My baby blue

All the days became so long
Did you really think I'd do you wrong
Dixie, when I let you go
Thought you'd realize, I would know, I would show

The special love I have for you
My baby blue

What can I do, what can I say?
Except that I want you by my side
How can I show you? Show me a way
Don't you know, the times I tried

Guess that's all I have to say
Except the feeling just gets stronger everyday
Just one thing, before I go
Take good care, baby let me know, let it show

The special love you have for me
My Dixie dear

YouTube

Time after time I sit and I wait for your call
I know I'm a fool but why can I say
Whatever the price I'll pay for you,
Madame Blue
Once long ago, a word from your lips and the world turned around
But somehow you've changed, you're so far away
I long for the past and dream of the days with you,
Madame Blue
Suite Madame Blue, gaze in your looking glass
You're not a child anymore
Suite Madame Blue, the future is all but past
Dressed in your jewels, you made your own rules
You parked next to a Chevy Tahoe POS and got a ding, on heaven's door

 

[Matze]

[/QUOTE]I agree, same thing when I first got my GTR. Now that was almost a garage queen (plus the fact that it actually fits into my garage) and the first dent was the most painful one but after a few track sessions, it was all about trying to cover up the battle scars it accrues after each track day.[/QUOTE]


That’s exactly how try to take it - battle scars!

 

[ProLee]

Like Hans Moleman mention, the more you try to avoid it, the more it attracts. But damn it, why can't I be the one to break her in?:lmao:

 

[spartacus]

let's see this blue eyes you are infatuated with. post some pics.

:worthless

 

[4gambler]

I hate that too. Park way the phukkk in egypt. Tons of spaces around. Then out of hundreds spots available away from your ride THEY park next to your ride very close. AHHHHHHH!!!

 

[buckalew]

When I was 21 I bought my first brand new SUV. A month in, I parked at the back end of a store parking lot. Came out of the store and from the exit I could see a cart sitting right up against my car. Someone had not put their cart back. I didn't notice at the time, but the lot was on a slight decline...so this cart rolled all the way down and slammed into the side of my truck. No scratches, just a nice crease in the driver door.

 

[ElectroBoy]

Like Hans Moleman mention, the more you try to avoid it, the more it attracts. But damn it, why can't I be the one to break her in?:lmao:

I feel your pain. No matter how far away I park some POS parks right next to me. One sunny day I parked in an empty lot, came back an hour later and a junker was parked next to me. There was a guy in there, seat reclined, sleeping during his lunch hour. My 4R was providing shade for him. Thanks.

 

[Nick B]

Back in 98 my wife and I bought a brand new loaded Tahoe. $35,000 which was a lot of money back then . I bring it home from the dealership and pull it into the garage. Probably has 11 miles on it now . Our 6 year old daughter comes running out of the house all excited and whips open the rear door and BAMM, right into our other car . Both doors dinged.
I just looked at my wife and shook my head .

 

[4gambler]

If it is not past clear coat dont sweat it. Life IS too short. Only touchup if bare metal. MY significant other has taught me the more you care for it and anaaal about it the more krap will happen.

YES IT SUCKS !!! Move on...

 

[shrub1]

OP, it's going to happen. Bummer to hear you are so broken up about it though.

I have one for ya. Not really the same because it wasn't some fat slob with ***** tits that door dinged me. Anyway, first multi day trip out with the 4R in the Sierra it got very windy during the night. Wind so loud through the pines I didn't even hear it happen from the tent. In the morning there was a widow maker pine cone sitting on the hood. Yep..fell from a tree during the wind at night and left a grapefruit sized dent on the hood. Life goes on.

 

[CF_Machete]

This

Arachnid Voodoo - Toyota 4Runner (2009+)

 

[Jivewalker]

Meh..once you hit 100k and have your sides full of pinstripes from the trails and hood all chipped up from the mud flap removers, those cart dings will be less noticeable, AND, once the kids get older, no matter what, you'll get the baseball, basketball, football, lawn dart, and mountain bike dings to enjoy. I have a spot on my hood where a baseball landed, right on the drivers side crease next to the hood scoop, that I have to look at every second I'm driving.

 

[DurangoMax]

Trail and Kayak Scratches

I still remember my first off road trip with my new TE - you could hear the brush along the edge of the trail scratching the sides and my passengers were appalled that I wasn't concerned about it. MY response was, and continues to be, I bought it to take off-road and while I won't purposefully run into stuff to scratch it, I'm not going to worry about getting some battle scars. Same thing with taking my kayak on and off the top - ended up with some scratches along the top. I use touch up paint on the bad ones and remember the great kayak trips when I see the others. I am getting ready to retire and expect to spend many more hours off road fully enjoying the ride