New Member!

[T4Argh]

I Got Her Dirty..

Hello,
I've been lurking for a couple months and decided to finally join. I am highly considering buying a new 4R Limited (I need a family car). I've been going back and forth on what to get. I've looked at 09 Land Cruisers, Audis (mainly a 2008 S8 to feed my fast car addiction), LR4s, GX460, the list goes on.... but I keep coming back to a 4Runner. It's a great SUV for a decent price and the warranty and reliability of Toyota just out weighs the rest.

So, this leads me to a few questions...Keep in mind that I came from driving a 2004 Mustang GT that had every rattle and clunk you can imagine and the wifey will be driving this rig almost as much as I would be so, a comfortable ride is important....Are the 5th gens pretty quiet while driving. Is the sound deadening good on these rigs? Should I be worried about drivetrain clunks on a new 4R?

I'll eventually upgrade the wheels and tires on the Limited. Possibly downsize to 18x9s.

A lift could be possible in the far future, maybe 5100s. It seems like 5100 is the most practical lift. I'm not sold on spacer lifts yet. I don't think I'll ever do any REAL offroading but I still want a very capable rig without doing too much to the suspension. Is it possible?

Thanks in advance! This is a great forum and there are a lot of very nice 4R build on this forum.

J

 

[desertred]

Just one person's perception. I do not think that the 4Runner will be a quiet as the other vehicles that you have listed as considering, as they are geared with luxury in mind than the T4R. Some members here have found it desirable to add sound deadening to their vehicles. However, I have found the 5th gen to be the most quiet vehicle I have owned. To caveat that, I also have a Miata and an old Jeep XJ (with worn out door seals) in my stable. The most annoying issue noise wise I have found on the 5th gen is the engine noise when you punch the accelerator. Bottom line, give a good test drive at highway speeds to see if its livable.

As far as offroading, all of the 5th gen models are highly capable off road rigs out of the box; just some more than others. The worst think about the 4Runner off the lot is the tires, so if you decide to go with a 5th gen, I'd try to work a tire swap into the deal.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Okki]

Welcome to the board... Officially

If you are getting a Limited, the ride is in my wife's words "it rides like a Cadillac!". I have had mine offroad at the FJ Summit on stock suspension and it did just fine. The only thing I would recommend if you are not lifting it (which it sounds may not be needed in your situation) is to get some beefier skid plates. remember the LE has the cross connected shocks (XREAS) so it's a but more work to replace the suspension if you decide you want that after all. i would drive it for a while and take it onto a trail before you start replacing those parts. Might change your mind and save you some money for other mods.

Aside from the skid plates, I would DEFINITELY get some rock sliders. They have saved my ass twice. With the LE or SR5 you will need to cut the rocker panel or get either TE rockers and front fender flares, or get the Shrockworks Rocker panels.

I went down to 17 inch rims with Cooper ATP tires which are a great AT tire without a lot of road noise. I do get some road noise on crappy cement roads, but that was expected. The extra sidewall is nice when running trails and airing down.

Hope this helps!

Okki

 

[T4Argh]

Just one person's perception. I do not think that the 4Runner will be a quiet as the other vehicles that you have listed as considering, as they are geared with luxury in mind than the T4R. Some members here have found it desirable to add sound deadening to their vehicles. However, I have found the 5th gen to be the most quiet vehicle I have owned. To caveat that, I also have a Miata and an old Jeep XJ (with worn out door seals) in my stable. The most annoying issue noise wise I have found on the 5th gen is the engine noise when you punch the accelerator. Bottom line, give a good test drive at highway speeds to see if its livable.

As far as offroading, all of the 5th gen models are highly capable off road rigs out of the box; just some more than others. The worst think about the 4Runner off the lot is the tires, so if you decide to go with a 5th gen, I'd try to work a tire swap into the deal.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks! You were right. The engine noise is just about the only thing that's loud. I like the rig a lot.

 

[T4Argh]

Welcome to the board... Officially

If you are getting a Limited, the ride is in my wife's words "it rides like a Cadillac!". I have had mine offroad at the FJ Summit on stock suspension and it did just fine. The only thing I would recommend if you are not lifting it (which it sounds may not be needed in your situation) is to get some beefier skid plates. remember the LE has the cross connected shocks (XREAS) so it's a but more work to replace the suspension if you decide you want that after all. i would drive it for a while and take it onto a trail before you start replacing those parts. Might change your mind and save you some money for other mods.

Aside from the skid plates, I would DEFINITELY get some rock sliders. They have saved my ass twice. With the LE or SR5 you will need to cut the rocker panel or get either TE rockers and front fender flares, or get the Shrockworks Rocker panels.

I went down to 17 inch rims with Cooper ATP tires which are a great AT tire without a lot of road noise. I do get some road noise on crappy cement roads, but that was expected. The extra sidewall is nice when running trails and airing down.

Hope this helps!

Okki

Thanks! I'm really itchin' to downsize to 17 inchers. Everyone's opinions about the LTD 20 inch wheels were right. They look like pizza cutters! :wow2:

 

[1engineer]

Holy flatlander! Where are you? We don't have as much flat land that's in your pic in my whole state unless you count the rivers lol. Welcome to the best forum around. You will get lots of help here if you need it.

 

[Bay33saw]

I like my pizza cutters.......Looks gay from the back but when I'm driving I don't see it. Just my 00000.2c

 

[T4Argh]

Holy flatlander! Where are you? We don't have as much flat land that's in your pic in my whole state unless you count the rivers lol. Welcome to the best forum around. You will get lots of help here if you need it.

That's funny, the city I live in is nicknamed "Flatlands". I drove out to a part of town called Grizzley Island. It's a huge swamp land. Lot's of fishing and duck hunting to do. I've actually never drove that far into Grizzley Island and I saw a few gun club buildings on the way in.

 

[T4Argh]

I like my pizza cutters.......Looks gay from the back but when I'm driving I don't see it. Just my 00000.2c

Almost, the samething my coworker said. I like them but they look puny from behind.