New 4Runner Owner...LOVIN' IT!

[Schill38]

Just wanted to stop by and say hi! The wife and I traded in her 2008 Honda Accord that we bought last fall. My wife had a 2003 BMW 325I and it SUCKED in the snow here in Utah. So we traded it in last September for the 08 Accord. We had a 98 Accord and it was a great car so we figured the 08 would be too...boy were we wrong. The car sucked in the snow! My wife got stuck 3 times last winter.

We looked at the Pilot (I've always owned Hondas/Acuras and loved them, I have an 08 TL Type-S that I love), but didn't really like it. After much research we settled on a 4Runner. This is my first experience with a Toyota and after a week I am loving the 4Runner, the wife can have the TL for all I care.

We bought a used 04 Sport with the V8 for $14,850. It had 53,500 miles on it and was in great shape, I feel like we got a great deal. Since I bought the truck I put on new tires and went with 265/70/17 Bridgestones. I also added the Valor tip, Toyota all-season mats, 50% tint on the drivers and passengers windows and an aftermarket Alpine Stereo complete with XM radio and an i-pod interface. We are considering a lift, but we'll see, anyways I hope to be active on this forum, I've already learned a bunch of stuff, so thanks in advance!

Here's some pics of the new runner...

One quick question, I've read the owners manual and it says the headlights should shut off automatically after the doors are shut for 30 seconds or that by pushing the remote door lock twice they should shut off automatically as well. Well on my 4Runner it does neither. Is this something that I'm going to have to take to the dealer so that they can fix? Sorry about the long post.

 

[lawwailok]

hey hey hey, you are over at Acurazine!!!!! am i correct???

hahahahahahaha, nice 4R, i always LOVE white 4R

 

[Schill38]

hey hey hey, you are over at Acurazine!!!!! am i correct???

hahahahahahaha, nice 4R, i always LOVE white 4R

Yeah I love Acurazine! I'm hoping that I can learn as much here as on Acurazine!

 

[riverider]

A very cool looking ride you made a great choice. My 4Runner came with the 17 Bridgestones I have 15" B.Stones on my 82 Bronco and I really liked how they worked.

I also have a 98 Nissan Maxima drove it back from Lawton a few years ago after a really bad ice and for Oklahoma deep snow. Just had the OEM GoodYears and it just kept on trucking never got stuck never felt out of control.

The alarm went off on the 4Runner when the wife was going to drive it. She said give me the Maxima keys I am not driving that alarm honking Toyota. Wife just won't read any manuals so....:awais:

 

[peter78]

Sorry to hear about you trading in a brand new 08 model. That always hurt when you trade in a new model. On the other hand great looking 4Runner. I am somewhat partial to 04 white 4Runners myself. I bet it will be harder to get stuck in the 4Runner, not impossible, but a lot harder.

 

[Schill38]

Sorry to hear about you trading in a brand new 08 model. That always hurt when you trade in a new model. On the other hand great looking 4Runner. I am somewhat partial to 04 white 4Runners myself. I bet it will be harder to get stuck in the 4Runner, not impossible, but a lot harder.

Yeah, we got killed on the 08 Accord by trading it in, but we had it for sale for 3 months and only had a few calls on it. With the crappy economy Honda Dealers are giving away any 08's that remain so it was impossible to sell, but I think we made out well on the price of the 4Runner and I already like it 10 times more than the Accord, so I can't complain.

Any ideas on the headlights? Anyone?

 

[Kwik8608]

So honestly, I love my black Runner, but I'm obsessed w/ the White one, and almost regret not getting white. I just had my heart and mind set on a black car.

 

[MikesToy]

One quick question, I've read the owners manual and it says the headlights should shut off automatically after the doors are shut for 30 seconds or that by pushing the remote door lock twice they should shut off automatically as well. Well on my 4Runner it does neither. Is this something that I'm going to have to take to the dealer so that they can fix? Sorry about the long post.

I have the Limited 4WD V8. I don't know 'bout the Sport Edition but on my Limited there's a switch on my signal light to turn the headlights to auto on/off.

 

[T4RBoarder]

I'm pretty sure the SEs don't have the actual auto off function. meaning they will just shut off when you open the drivers door.

 

[Schill38]

I'm pretty sure the SEs don't have the actual auto off function. meaning they will just shut off when you open the drivers door.

Yeah the Sport edition does not have the auto headlights. But when I read the owners manual it says the headlights should shut off if the key is out of the ignition and the doors have been shut for 30 seconds. It also says they will shut off if you push the lock button on the remote twice....

Well neither works! The problem is that my wife's old car had auto lights and so she never had to worry about it. I just know that one day she is going to call me stuck with a dead battery because she left her headlights on. Should I suck it up and take it to the dealer?

 

[Rowan611]

Yeah the Sport edition does not have the auto headlights. But when I read the owners manual it says the headlights should shut off if the key is out of the ignition and the doors have been shut for 30 seconds. It also says they will shut off if you push the lock button on the remote twice....

Well neither works! The problem is that my wife's old car had auto lights and so she never had to worry about it. I just know that one day she is going to call me stuck with a dead battery because she left her headlights on. Should I suck it up and take it to the dealer?

I think that feature is limited to people who have the Auto on/off feature on the headlight stalk. If you don't have the Auto on/off then your 4Runner won't auto shutoff the headlamps. Love the white - my next Runner will be White or Grey Mica; how do you like the Bridgestone A/T Revos? I'm seriously considering replacing the Michelin Cross Terrains with these. Congrats on the Runner.

 

[riverider]

Yeah, we got killed on the 08 Accord by trading it in, but we had it for sale for 3 months and only had a few calls on it. With the crappy economy Honda Dealers are giving away any 08's that remain so it was impossible to sell, but I think we made out well on the price of the 4Runner and I already like it 10 times more than the Accord, so I can't complain.

Any ideas on the headlights? Anyone?

I don't know why but the Dealers around here really wanted my 03 Kia Sorento, Why I really have no idea they are so worthless and problem prone. And the Kia Dealers along with the worthless Kia Company will not do anything they are not forced at gun point to do.

Anyway they gave me $7000 trade on the new 08 4Runner, I was very happy to let them have it and drive the sweet 4Runner home.:

 

[HB 4X4]

I'm pretty sure the SEs don't have the actual auto off function. meaning they will just shut off when you open the drivers door.

They shut off automatically after about 30 seconds, or will turn of if I press the lock button a second time.

I have a Sport Edition.

 

[Rowan611]

They shut off automatically after about 30 seconds, or will turn of if I press the lock button a second time.

I have a Sport Edition.

But I don't think that that function is standard....

 

[borgzman]

I have the SR5, My headlight won't shut off auto after 30 secs, IF I.. Start, Turn the headlight ON, Shift then Shut off engine.
It should be..Start, Shift, Turn the Headlight On, Shut off then Lock. In that order, the Headlight will automatically turn off after 30 secs. In short I have to SHIFT FIRST before turning on the headlight If I want it to automatically turn off. So I made it a habit.

 

[HB 4X4]

Do you have an aftermarket alarm? Mine was standard, it wasn't an added feature.

 

[shuly]

Congrats on the new 4R and welcome aboard!

 

[bull]

They shut off automatically after about 30 seconds, or will turn of if I press the lock button a second time.

I have a Sport Edition.

Mine does the same. Standard feature.

 

[Schill38]

Thanks for the replies about the headlights, I'm going to take it into the local dealer on Monday, let's hope that the cost is reasonable...:bash:

 

[li_runner]

Just remmember the Sport Editions chiming in here are all from after the refresh year 06+. It might be that the 03-06 Sports don't have this feature. My 07 Sport does too.

A few others should chime in around your year and say something.