New for '08 "Urban Runner"

[4runnerlady]

I just took delivery on my brand new silver Urban Runner (it had 2 miles on the odo). It is absolutely gorgeous. It looks much, much better in person than in the photos from the Chicago auto show. I have the all-weather mats installed, the front skid plate installed, Sirius up and running, and my iPhone paired via Bluetooth. I've even made a few calls. And the pairing process automatically moved over my addressbook! I love having a touch screen to control all the audio/gps functions.

I am working on figuring out how to get the ipod part of the iPhone to work via the TomTom. Just plugging the iPhone into the USB port charges the phone but the TomTom screen tells me that it does not recognize the device. I need to read the manual to see if I need to get a special iPod/iPhone cable.

The Alcantara (ultra suede) upholstery is very nice (and a bit darker than it looked in the photos - which is good). I even like the dual level storage (which comes with a net to keep things in place on the upper level.

The tires are Bridgestone Dueler H/T. I am not expecting these to be great off-road tires. Are they reasonable for snow-covered roads? I guess I should do a search. The wheels are very shiny which contrasts well with the less shiny silver body; and the black tube steps and roof rack look very good with the silver.

Last but not least I like the way my Urban Runner drives around town and up my steep snow covered driveway in 2WD with no slipping. I will post photos when I get a chance to take some.

Anyway I will stop blathering on about my new ride and go back to reading the manuals (I know, I'm weird) and researching ski rack options.

 

[josh220]

I just took delivery on my brand new silver Urban Runner (it had 2 miles on the odo). It is absolutely gorgeous. It looks much, much better in person than in the photos from the Chicago auto show. I have the all-weather mats installed, the front skid plate installed, Sirius up and running, and my iPhone paired via Bluetooth. I've even made a few calls. And the pairing process automatically moved over my addressbook! I love having a touch screen to control all the audio/gps functions.

I am working on figuring out how to get the ipod part of the iPhone to work via the TomTom. Just plugging the iPhone into the USB port charges the phone but the TomTom screen tells me that it does not recognize the device. I need to read the manual to see if I need to get a special iPod/iPhone cable.

The Alcantara (ultra suede) upholstery is very nice (and a bit darker than it looked in the photos - which is good). I even like the dual level storage (which comes with a net to keep things in place on the upper level.

The tires are Bridgestone Dueler H/T. I am not expecting these to be great off-road tires. Are they reasonable for snow-covered roads? I guess I should do a search. The wheels are very shiny which contrasts well with the less shiny silver body; and the black tube steps and roof rack look very good with the silver.

Last but not least I like the way my Urban Runner drives around town and up my steep snow covered driveway in 2WD with no slipping. I will post photos when I get a chance to take some.

Anyway I will stop blathering on about my new ride and go back to reading the manuals (I know, I'm weird) and researching ski rack options.

If you are worried about how the tires will perform offroad, then why did you get the Urban Runner? It's designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city. It's marketed for the soccer mom crowd, not the off-roading crowd.

 

[Even Steven]

If you are worried about how the tires will perform offroad, then why did you get the Urban Runner? It's designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city. It's marketed for the soccer mom crowd, not the off-roading crowd.

What? No it's not. It's a Sport Edition with Limited wheels and a few other cosmetic changes. It's just as capable as any other 4th generation 4Runner on road or off.

If you think it is designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city, then what do you think about the Limited 4Runner? Must be the same, no?

You seriously need to get off your soapbox and realize that all 4th generation 4Runners share the same exact 4wd system and are equally at home on road or off. The only difference between the trim levels are wheels & tires, and other minor cosmetic differences.

 

[Jeffrey_VB]

I just took delivery on my brand new silver Urban Runner (it had 2 miles on the odo). It is absolutely gorgeous. It looks much, much better in person than in the photos from the Chicago auto show.

Well.....let's see some pics!!!

 

[josh220]

What? No it's not. It's a Sport Edition with Limited wheels and a few other cosmetic changes. It's just as capable as any other 4th generation 4Runner on road or off.

If you think it is designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city, then what do you think about the Limited 4Runner? Must be the same, no?

You seriously need to get off your soapbox and realize that all 4th generation 4Runners share the same exact 4wd system and are equally at home on road or off. The only difference between the trim levels are wheels & tires, and other minor cosmetic differences.

You take things too literally, and too seriously. Not to mention we are having identical meaningless conversations in 2 different threads. I'll say it again, slower and more clearly for you. I never meant it's physical design, but it's marketing design. What do you think Urban means? Not to mention 90% of this thread is in disgust at the idea of the "Urban Runner" so I'm not alone in this ideology.

 

[Even Steven]

You take things too literally, and too seriously. Not to mention we are having identical meaningless conversations in 2 different threads. I'll say it again, slower and more clearly for you. I never meant it's physical design, but it's marketing design. What do you think Urban means? Not to mention 90% of this thread is in disgust at the idea of the "Urban Runner" so I'm not alone in this ideology.

Actually, I think YOU are taking things too literally and seriously. Using your own logic, you should realize that "Urban Runner" is just a marketing term and has absolutely nothing to do with the capability of that particular edition. So stop with the stupid comments like the one below:

...why did you get the Urban Runner? It's designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city. It's marketed for the soccer mom crowd...

Comments like that will only offend those who purchased an Urban Runner 4Runner. There's really no place for that on this board. Grow up.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The Urban edition is just cosmetic upgrades right? It's still the same 4Runner as all the other ones right?

Then I don't see how any of it's capabilities were diminished and made more soccer mom friendly or more comfortable in the city.

It's more of a design exercise to stimulate sales and nothing more or less.

 

[Thai]

I like it!! I love the pearl white color of Lexus...and i love it when it trickles down to Toyota vehicles. I had a Pearl White 2002 4runner...damn, it was a great looking vehicle! The suede-like seats are cool...less leather creasing to deal with! Hopefully, the suede seats are water repellent.

Strangely, the only thing that i don't like is the Tom-Tom navi system. From my understanding, Tomtom is not as good as OEM NAVI nor Garmin/Magellan units in terms of route guidance. So, i would have preferred if they used the OEM JBL/NAVI unit.

 

[rennur]

Without a V8, the concept really seems pointless!

 

[josh220]

Actually, I think YOU are taking things too literally and seriously. Using your own logic, you should realize that "Urban Runner" is just a marketing term and has absolutely nothing to do with the capability of that particular edition.

I'll say it again, slower and more clearly for you. I never meant it's physical design, but it's marketing design.

Huh, well that's odd.... Must have been a senior moment or something. I'm done trying to state things clearly enough for you to not lash out at every tiny detail. You need to accept that other people's opinions are just as valid as yours, and get off your high horse.

 

[Even Steven]

The Urban edition is just cosmetic upgrades right? It's still the same 4Runner as all the other ones right?

Then I don't see how any of it's capabilities were diminished and made more soccer mom friendly or more comfortable in the city.

It's more of a design exercise to stimulate sales and nothing more or less.

Exactly. Some people just can't seem to grasp that simple concept.

 

[4runnerlady]

For the record, I am not a mom, soccer or otherwise. And my grocery shopping is limited to food I don't have to cook. ;-)

In any case, my new urban runner is beginning to get a little dirty. You can find a few images taken today before it started to rain at the following link:

http://gallery.mac.com/jdcohn#100015&view=mosaic&bgcolor=black&sel=0

Photos were taken in a hurry with auto everything and are straight out of the camera.

I still have not found a way for my iPhone or iPod to work with the radio (other than my fallback FM transmitter). Otherwise I am very happy. Next weekend will be the inaugral road trip. I have read bad things about the Dueler H/T tires but I'll give them a chance for now.

 

[josh220]

Looks very nice in silver.

Does anyone know how the top tube racks come off? I think black tubes all around would be a good look on black 4Runners for those who like the "Murdered" all black look.

 

[BTLFED]

If you are worried about how the tires will perform offroad, then why did you get the Urban Runner? It's designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city. It's marketed for the soccer mom crowd, not the off-roading crowd.

Your ignorance runs rampant all over this board. I am real tired of it, as are other people on this board obviously. Stop showing your age and think before you post. A trim package doesn't mean it is less capable off road than any other 4Runner. :bash:

4runnerlady, congrats on your new 4Runner. :bigok:

 

[KellyJ]

Sigh...

Congrats on your purchase that looks really nice in silver and I love the interior with the Alacantra. Stock Bridgestone tires on 4Runners have never been anything to write home about, but will serve their purpose well enough, just not as well as some people might like in mud or snow. In most conditions they are adequate. My 2002 came with Deuler's by Bridgestone and they were awful and only lasted about 30,000 miles before I had to get new ones. I wonder why the Urban Runner kept the Limited wheels, but not the tires...Michelin Cross Terrains I think. Great tire; that is what I replaced the Bridgestones with and they lasted almost 70,000 miles.

 

[Net4n6]

I didn't pay attention that it has black tube rack. I love it. It would look great on my black 4runner. I wonder how much it cost to get a black tube rack and steps. It is not important. I can wait in a year or so. Someone will sell the black one on here.

4runnerlady,
Congrats on your new 4Runner. How do you like the new stereo w/ TomTom nav. I am thinking about replace it with my stock. I want Nav on mine but don't like the suction cup option.

 

[00void]

he tires are Bridgestone Dueler H/T. I am not expecting these to be great off-road tires. Are they reasonable for snow-covered roads?

barely. i have them on my 4Runner now and they're abysmal at best. however we've been fortunate that it hasn't snowed all that much in NJ since i got them. Congrats on the new whip!

If you are worried about how the tires will perform offroad, then why did you get the Urban Runner? It's designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city. It's marketed for the soccer mom crowd, not the off-roading crowd.

:bash: dude, relax...

 

[SportRunner]

First you say this...

I love everything about it except the radio, I think they could have done a better job on that. The "Urban Runner" and "Xreas" emblems are cool, and I LOVE the seat colors and black tube steps/roof rack. I'm not a big fan of the graphite colored tubes on my sport. I think I would still wait until the 5th gens to see how they look though.

And then you say this...

If you are worried about how the tires will perform offroad, then why did you get the Urban Runner? It's designed to get groceries and be comfortable in the city. It's marketed for the soccer mom crowd, not the off-roading crowd.

Man that's pretty harsh....ahh I remember when I was 19...

 

[josh220]

First you say this...



And then you say this...



Man that's pretty harsh....ahh I remember when I was 19...

How is that harsh? You don't go naming a vehicle "Urban" unless you are marketing to the "Urban" crowd. It's not a very complicated concept, yet everyone seems to have trouble grasping it without acting like I am personally attacking them. You didn't design the 4Runner for the "Urban" crowd, so why take offense to other people opinions about it?

Just because I like the tube steps and the seats doesn't affect their marketing ploys in any way whatsoever.

 

[SportRunner]

If it's marketed towards the "Soccer-Mom Crowd" then why does it come in 4x4 as well.....just becuase they named it that means nothing....I really like it, to bad it doesn't come with a V8 though...