No locked gas cap?!

If its any consolation - I rented a Ram 1500 for 2 weeks in August. Not only did it not have a locking gas door - it had a door that would open all by its self as you were driving. At least once between each fuel stop I'd find it open. And it doesn't have a fuel cap either. Just a flapper door on the fill tube. No one siphoned any fuel that I know of. But at least my 4runner fuel door stays closed!

I do generally agree that it is nice to have it fixed closed if you live in an area where it's an issue with fuel theft. My 3rd gen had a lot of little features that have been de-contented out of the 5th gen. That was one of them.

OTOH it does have some nice upgrades. I like the heated wiper area. The built in inverter is actually pretty handy. The 8.2 rear diff and 8" front with the much larger CV shafts is a big improvement. And the crawl control/atrac system really does make it far more capable in the technical terrain than my 3rd gen ever was.
 
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The derelicts that want to steal fuel now crawl under a truck and drill the fuel tank. Quicker than trying to siphon it. Just leave a pack of cigarettes and a book of matches under the truck when you park. They’re probably stupid enough to light up while drilling.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Charles Bronson said:
I think it's pretty chintzy on Toyota's part not to have a servo locking door on a $30K+ vehicle especially ones that can exceed $50K.


Toyota has certainly taken the cheap route with the 4runner (and most of it's vehicles) while increasing MSRP over the years to maximize profits.
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agree with this sentiment, even more so as toyota has started caving into some demands to add modern tech to the 4runner (TSS) which only makes the changes they refuse to make (locking gas cap, 3 flash turn signals) stand out even more


what bugs me most is the aesthetics of having that protruding lift nub on the gas filler door. similar to door edge guards, it really cheapens the lines of any vehicle
 
usdmej said:
agree with this sentiment, even more so as toyota has started caving into some demands to add modern tech to the 4runner (TSS) which only makes the changes they refuse to make (locking gas cap, 3 flash turn signals) stand out even more


what bugs me most is the aesthetics of having that protruding lift nub on the gas filler door. similar to door edge guards, it really cheapens the lines of any vehicle
Click to expand...

Agreed. Even my 1986 Accord and 1990 CRX Si had locking gas doors. I don't buy the whole notion the Toyota is trying to look out for us during cold weather LOL. I've never owned a car without it and I've never had an issue with fuel door not opening, even in icy conditions.

Another thing I find cheap for the class is the lack of auto-on headlights. I rent a ton of $25-40K cars and SUVs for work. I can't remember the last one I rented that didn't have auto-on headlights.
 
You are right, I didn't like losing that feature either. Keep your 3rd gen as long as you can. It wasn't just a locking gas cap. it was a secure fuel door operated from the inside. I reached for the door release at the fuel pump for months after I got a 5th gen.
 
Agree with others. It’s frustrating trying to get a frozen fuel door to pop open, especially if you can’t be inside the car pulling on the release while being at the fuel door coaxing it open. At least you can get hold of this one.
 
Charles Bronson said:
I think it's pretty chintzy on Toyota's part not to have a servo locking door on a $30K+ vehicle especially ones that can exceed $50K. I also think it's cheap that most 4runners don't have dual zone/auto climate control and none have one touch turn signals (i.e., where they flash three times) with a single quick touch. Even fairly basic Corolla's come with these two features.

Toyota has certainly taken the cheap route with the 4runner (and most of it's vehicles) while increasing MSRP over the years to maximize profits. They're great trucks but they are lacking some features that should be standard, especially given their price.
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Gotta love these First World Problems.

Sounds like you might have been better off with a Highlander or a Honda Pilot. :smow:
 
02SE said:
I had a '97 SR5 I bought new, which had an MSRP of approx. 34k. A 2021 SR5 has a starting MSRP of 36,340. A significant reduction in cost when adjusted for inflation.

34k in 1997 would be equivalent to approx. 54k today.


Back to the original OP, one benefit of the gas door on the 5th gen is the release mechanism can't freeze (because there isn't one), and prevent you from putting gas in the vehicle.
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Yes people are more upset at the rate of inflation in our country and not the cost of goods, but we're not ready for that conversation yet.
 
RunTheJoules said:
Gotta love these First World Problems.

Sounds like you might have been better off with a Highlander or a Honda Pilot. :smow:
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Na, my 2016 M235 is my car and has most bells and whistles you expect in a $40K+ car. The 2020 4runner ORP is my wife's. Just find it funny that her 4runner that listed for nearly $44k doesn't have the standard stuff that even her 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r had that listed for $35K including:

HIDs
Auto-on headlights
Real leather
Auto climate control
Comfort turn signal (3 flash)
Locking gas door (not a huge deal, just funny the 4runner doesn't have it)
Auto tailgate (don't care for it though)
Lots of soft touch interior materials (I can look past this)

The most impressive features of the 4runner are it's off road abilities. It's way up there in terms of capability and only a few vehicles match it's ability and none it's reliability. It also has great build quality.

My wife is really happy with it and that's what matters. I love driving it and think it's totally BA. I'm a car guy and I don't get caught up in a lot of tech (ordered my BMW with a 6MT and without a moonroof or nav), but there's really no excuse for the 4runner to not have many of the things I've noted above given it's price. I also think it desperately needs an 8 speed auto. It would be untouchable with all of those items, many of which have minimal cost.

I'm glad we got our 2020 ORP for around $38.5K because I'd pretty upset paying $40K+ for something so basic.
 
I just thought I'd post a Monroney that has been posted to this forum before, so you can get an idea of what 4Runner's really cost back in the day. There was the base MSRP (which I think is what your link was referring to), but lots of options that can increase the cost. There aren't nearly as many extra-cost options today. This is a couple years newer than mine, and a Limited, but the costs are right in line with a similarly equipped '97.

Yes, the 4Runner is significantly cheaper when adjusted for inflation than it used to be.

89389d1369276145-what-did-our-4runners-cost-when-they-were-new-image-jpg
 
usdmej said:
agree with this sentiment, even more so as toyota has started caving into some demands to add modern tech to the 4runner (TSS) which only makes the changes they refuse to make (locking gas cap, 3 flash turn signals) stand out even more


what bugs me most is the aesthetics of having that protruding lift nub on the gas filler door. similar to door edge guards, it really cheapens the lines of any vehicle
Click to expand...

Lol you guys are weird. Its a bulky SUV with typical truck like features..you want slick nice design..buy an Audi.

:lmao:

Edit to add, i think one of the most appealing features of the 4 runner is the fact it has little to no electronic tech, basic interior..easy clean surfaces..

Buy something else if you want modern. Alot of us specifically bought these trucks because they are low tech antiquated designs that are robust and generally solid.
 
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Grug556 said:
Edit to add, i think one of the most appealing features of the 4 runner is the fact it has little to no electronic tech
Click to expand...


i'm with you on this one, tbh if TSS wasn't standard i'd have actively avoided it when car shopping.

where we differ is that you consider a locking gas cap and tree flash turn signals to be fancy new tech fluff whereas others consider it a common sense feature
 
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