New 4runner, frustrated owner

[bronchogg]

I disagree.

My issues along with the original poster's seem to have little to do with the overal comfort of the "SUV" and more to do with the non-standard position/angle of the gas pedal.

I never expected my 4Runner to be a plush ride. My 2005 is my third 4Runner. The comparison between the 4th Gen. and my solid axled 1st Gen. is unbelievable. Even my 2nd Generation 4Runner was a brick compared to the '05. Hell, it is more comfortable than my '01 Accord. Still, the 4Runner lacks the uber plushness of an old Caddy boat or a new crossover that was never meant to to leave the road.

Most couples that I know who have kids, use their SUV as a roadtrip vehicle so I disagree that they are not meant for long trips or that they are not "comfort wagons". Case in point the DVD player and leather seats.

My '85 4R was bought out of a desire to have a reliable rig that would offroad well and have a bit of storage. The gas milege left something to be desired and was basically a "bare bones" vehicle. I was a teenager at the time so it only made sense.

My '92 was purchased for basically the same reasons. I upgraded to a V6 (still the most underpowered car on record) and like the few ammenities it offered over the previous generation. While the tops were not removeable anymore, the back window rolled down and has since been my single favorite option of any car I have ever owned. Kudos to Toyota for keeping that around.

My '05 was recently purchased thanks to the new addition to the family. I needed something with 4 doors, towing capacity, cargo space and safety features that would protect the wife and baby. I decided I wanted the 4th Gen. without even looking at other SUVs. Reliability is still top notch with Toyota and the end story shows that my loyalties belong with them. I will say that all the other cars we were mulling over were NOT SUVs. I was seriously considering station wagons from VW, Audi, Mercedes and BMW.

All of which were wonderfully comfortable cars to drive. We actually got a couple of dealers to let us take one of their demos to our cabin (a 6 hour round trip) to see how we liked them. In the end, I chose Toyota due to the fact that I like reliabilty, 4Wheeling and the rear window that rolls down.

And after all that, I still thing DVDs and leather seats are for the birds.

That being said I find the seats perfectly comfortable, no complains about how "comfortable" the 4R is. We will be taking a 22 hour trip in it next year and with cruize control I expect it will do just fine.

I came across as an ass in my original post and for that I am sorry. Having a herniated disc in my lower back makes all trip uncomfortable. That still doesn't convince me that SUVs were all made to be comfortable. As stated above, yes, the 4Runner has evolved from a basic commuter into the awsome rigs we have today. However, I still think they still have the "character" that they began with. I workhorse that was meant for more than just commuting.

Cheers and thanks for letting me share my opinion.

 

[bronchogg]

Wow, my grammar is terrible. I have one of those flexible keyboards at work that doesn't pick up all the keystrokes. That combined with the sensation of not feeling a key being pressed or hearing a "click" for each keystroke makes for a terrible post.

Sorry.

 

[riverider]

Compared to my 03 Sorento that was the roughest riding truck I ever owned even my 82 ford Bronco had a better ride. My 08 SR5 4Runner is really comfortable. The wife called the Sorento a car I said no it's a truck and it felt like a rock quarry truck.

Now she calls the new 4Runner a car and I must agree, it's more of a car then a truck.

This is a real truck and it has a real cast iron V8 engine, not one of the new alloy and plastic V8s all the new Trucks come standard with. Also note it has real steel bumpers front and rear, not foam covered plastic 5mph junk that cost $4,000 to replace if damaged.

And the body has no junk plastic body panels.

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u199/photobug4741/?action=view&current=82FordBronco.jpg

 

[Ducman]

I came across as an ass in my original post and for that I am sorry. Having a herniated disc in my lower back makes all trip uncomfortable. That still doesn't convince me that SUVs were all made to be comfortable. As stated above, yes, the 4Runner has evolved from a basic commuter into the awsome rigs we have today. However, I still think they still have the "character" that they began with. I workhorse that was meant for more than just commuting.

Cheers and thanks for letting me share my opinion.

All good insights! I can definitely see where you are coming from, as I used to have pretty bad lower back pain. I was going to the chiropracter once a week for a bit a few years ago. Heck, I still have to stretch for 10-15 every morning to feel decent, but it's way better than it was.

I agree with you that it is in a completely different class from a plus touring wagon or something. I totally agree it's a 4WD truck first and everything else second.

But we can agree to disagree on the heated leather.

 

[bronchogg]

But we can agree to disagree on the heated leather.

I guess I am just bitter that I don't have leather...or heat.

 

[jschrumm]

Thanks for the replies...looks like there is no silver bullet to fix this. I am going to try to keep fiddeling with the adjustments to see if something works...don't want to start ripping appart a brand new truck.

 

[riverider]

Thanks for the replies...looks like there is no silver bullet to fix this. I am going to try to keep fiddeling with the adjustments to see if something works...don't want to start ripping appart a brand new truck.

I found a heavy sheep skin seat guard it's not a seat cover more like a wide towel. It really helped in my Maxima and now it's in my 4Runner. Lots of Auto supply stores have them.

 

[Benjamin Choi]

Compared to my 03 Sorento that was the roughest riding truck I ever owned even my 82 ford Bronco had a better ride. My 08 SR5 4Runner is really comfortable. The wife called the Sorento a car I said no it's a truck and it felt like a rock quarry truck.

Now she calls the new 4Runner a car and I must agree, it's more of a car then a truck.

This is a real truck and it has a real cast iron V8 engine, not one of the new alloy and plastic V8s all the new Trucks come standard with. Also note it has real steel bumpers front and rear, not foam covered plastic 5mph junk that cost $4,000 to replace if damaged.

And the body has no junk plastic body panels.

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u199/photobug4741/?action=view&current=82FordBronco.jpg

if that's a "real truck" you guys can have them all. looks like a pos farmer's weekend car to hit up the local watering hole.

 

[riverider]

if that's a "real truck" you guys can have them all. looks like a pos farmer's weekend car to hit up the local watering hole.

Lets wait 25 years and take a look at what your truck looks like. Oh sorry it will be long gone and melted down 25% metal 75% plastic.

Now go feed your goldfish Mr.gandy.:bash:

 

[Revitup]

My wife's Pilot is much better for the long family trips. It's wider and the seats are flatter. I find myself sitting at a angle in the 4 runner.

 

[cmb]

Not to even mention headroom! I'm average height, 5'9'' or so, instead of having the seat where I like it, I need to lower it down nearly to the floor. I saw ALL of these seat issues when I test drove, figured an adjustment compromise would take care of it.The pedal position will need some thought though,the solution is out there folks!

 

[SubSonic]

4runners are SUVs. Not purpose built comfort wagons.

LOL!

What I like about the 4Runner that I didn't about the Chevy Colorado I traded in on it, is that the steering column telescopes. When I got my seat in the old Chevy to the proper distance for my feet/leg/hip angles to be right with the pedals, the reach to the wheel was a little longish. I'm no freak, 6'1" with regular length arms for that frame size.

With my 4Runner, I was able to tune in my lower angles and align with the pedals...and then back the wheel out a little to shorten the reach. Makes for a comfortable setup for me, in my situation. Thank goodness for the memory settings too. Now the wife can just have memory #2 instead of screwing up my setup every time she borrows my ride...lol

 

[Dbone]

I must say that the seat quality in the 4Runner is the only thing about the vehicle that I have anything negative to say about. The rest of the vehicle is just absolutely perfect in my view.

In fact, when my wife and I were looking at vehicles originally and trying to decide between the Pathfinder and the runner we both commented on how comfortable the seats were in the Pathfinder in comparison...and then we quickly realized that other than the seats the runner was a much more substantial vehicle than the pathfinder....our view only of course...

Having said this, I was able to eventually find a seat position that was very workable for me. It was along the lines of what someone else in this thread alluded to...lowering the seat and adjusting the lumbar...

At first I was a bit concerned until I took the time to frig with things a bit. I don't discount the concerns of the originator of this thread though. Seat comfort is a very individual thing.

I certainly think there is some general room for improvement when it comes to the seats in the current runner, but lucky for myself and my wife we were able to reach a comfort compromise that we were happy with...

Cheers

 

[SubSonic]

I agree with Dbone...seat comfort is highly subjective and individual thing.

After driving my 4R home from the dealer last week, I finally got to playing with making the seat and cockpit setup comfortable for me. It had not been very comfortable on the way home from the dealer (about 32 miles away).

All I can say is whomever adjusted my seat at the factory, SE Toyota, or the dealership had NO IDEA what they were doing - so far as my fit and taste. They had the lumbar fully extended, the back of the seat bottom bottomed out and the front of the seat bottom jacked up to the max...I reeled in about 1' of that lumbar setting and got the seat bottom to a nicer angle that was still lower down a tad...And finally I felt like I was easing into a nice leather heated recliner that was fitted to me. Took a little while to get there, but the results are nice now.

IMO, and it's just an opinion, the seats in my 4R are pretty nice. Of course, it took me a half-hour to tweak them into that perfect setting...but it's there now and works great.

 

[riverider]

I agree with Dbone...seat comfort is highly subjective and individual thing.

After driving my 4R home from the dealer last week, I finally got to playing with making the seat and cockpit setup comfortable for me. It had not been very comfortable on the way home from the dealer (about 32 miles away).

All I can say is whomever adjusted my seat at the factory, SE Toyota, or the dealership had NO IDEA what they were doing - so far as my fit and taste. They had the lumbar fully extended, the back of the seat bottom bottomed out and the front of the seat bottom jacked up to the max...I reeled in about 1' of that lumbar setting and got the seat bottom to a nicer angle that was still lower down a tad...And finally I felt like I was easing into a nice leather heated recliner that was fitted to me. Took a little while to get there, but the results are nice now.

IMO, and it's just an opinion, the seats in my 4R are pretty nice. Of course, it took me a half-hour to tweak them into that perfect setting...but it's there now and works great.

I don't understand it taking a half-hour to get a seat setup for someone.:bash:

The reason you have all the ways to change the seating is to adjust it as it's needed when driving on long trips. So in my thinking one will always need small changes for great comfort.:

 

[Dbone]

I don't understand it taking a half-hour to get a seat setup for someone.:bash:

The reason you have all the ways to change the seating is to adjust it as it's needed when driving on long trips. So in my thinking one will always need small changes for great comfort.:

All due respect...disagree...

I go back to my original point above that seat comfort is a very individual issue...

As an example, I have a psyatic nerve and disk problem with my back...does that paint a better picture why I might spend more than 5 minutes finding an optimal comfort level in the seat?

I'm sure it took me at least an hour driving around and adjusting shit...

May sound crazy to you but that is what it took for me...What's an hour out of one's life to gain as much enjoyment out of their 4runner experience as possible moving forward

Cheers

 

[Dbone]

All due respect...disagree...

I go back to my original point above that seat comfort is a very individual issue...

As an example, I have a psyatic nerve and disk problem with my back...does that paint a better picture why I might spend more than 5 minutes finding an optimal comfort level in the seat?

I'm sure it took me at least an hour driving around and adjusting shit...

May sound crazy to you but that is what it took for me...What's an hour out of one's life to gain as much enjoyment out of their 4runner experience as possible moving forward

Cheers

Thank god for memory seats LOL

 

[jschrumm]

Has anybody looked into swapping out the 4runner seats for GX seats? The side bolsters dig into my a$$ right on a nerve, after a long drive, i am sore for a few hours. Bought the truck to be my weekend warrior vehicle, def cannot just suck it up. Drove back from xmas with 90% cruise...helped a lot, but in traffic, it's brutal.
Maybe I have child bearing hips or something...but it sounds like others have this issue.

 

[Dbone]

Has anybody looked into swapping out the 4runner seats for GX seats? The side bolsters dig into my a$$ right on a nerve, after a long drive, i am sore for a few hours. Bought the truck to be my weekend warrior vehicle, def cannot just suck it up. Drove back from xmas with 90% cruise...helped a lot, but in traffic, it's brutal.
Maybe I have child bearing hips or something...but it sounds like others have this issue.

Man we cross shopped the GX470 and almost bought it. The seats really are not that much better in that thing, if at all...

Cheers

 

[SubSonic]

Man we cross shopped the GX470 and almost bought it. The seats really are not that much better in that thing, if at all...

Cheers

Agree here as well. I have a good friend that had first a used LX 470, then traded it in on a then-new 2006 GX 470. After spending some time in his GX, I decided that the "Toyota version" (4Runner Limited) would be good enough for me. After getting my 4R's seating adjusted properly, I can say that I find my seats every bit as comfortable as those in his GX.

As to it taking some time, half-hour +, to find the sweet spot for seating setup...I don't think that is that bad at all. Then again, I am past my 20s where "everything has to happen now, at the speed of light" and am patient enough to know that if I want it done right, that some time has to be taken to do it corectly. One little bump up or down - in our out - in the wrong way in a seat angle can mean the difference in being very comfortable for a 3 hour trip and being very miserable for that same 3 hour trip.

Besides, I spent roughly