Pressure to replace my V8 4Runner.

[RL Lemke]

A benefit of the Lexus GX rear door is that Home Depot can load an entire palet into the back of the car because the forklift can pull right up to the bumper.

Just looked:

Lexus has 19 gallon gas tank.

3rd row seats take up a lot of storage capacity.

It would be more challenging to remove the giant running board and have it look right.

 

[Jetboy]

Wranglers are terrible as a daily driver. All around. Everything is like driving a economy car with worse ride and road noise. They're fun. But seriously, rent one for a week before you buy if you're considering it. If you don't dread getting back behind the wheel after a week, maybe you'll love it. I would love it as a 4th or 5th vehicle. Not a chance I'd daily drive one.

The GX rear door is great imo other than swinging the wrong way for a left hand drive country. I'd still take it over the hatch.

Both the 5th gen and gx460 will have less power per lb than your 4th gen. They're both a lot heavier. The only real option for a new 4runner that's more powerful is to supercharge a 5th gen. Or wait for the 6th gen and hope for a turbo 4cyl.

 

[engineeer]

Dont be surprised if the next generation 4runner does not ruin the line up. This happened with the jeep wrangler. They had one of the best engines ever, straight six, and epa garbage dictated that they moth ball the engine. The new wranglers are awful.

I'm optimistic that Toyota can increase fuel economy and power output without ruining the 4Runner.

 

[RL Lemke]

Making the needed repairs, with the intent to purchase the 2020 4Runner with the safety features.

Someone is going to get a great V8 4Runner when I sell.

 

[RL Lemke]

Why wait for the 2020?

8" screen with Car Play.
Safety monitors, despite ugly box in front. Hope I can turn them off while off-road.

2020 sounds better for resale than 2019.

The 2020s are just a few months away.

Now, the real question for me to figure out: Why is the TRD Pro $6,500 more than the Trail Premium?

For $6,500 I can get a supercharger and Icon 3" lift suspension installed on the Trail Premium.

The giant roof rack would come off the 1st day anyway. Everything I want fits inside.

 

[Jetboy]

Why wait for the 2020?

8" screen with Car Play.
Safety monitors, despite ugly box in front. Hope I can turn them off while off-road.

2020 sounds better for resale than 2019.

The 2020s are just a few months away.

Now, the real question for me to figure out: Why is the TRD Pro $6,500 more than the Trail Premium?

For $6,500 I can get a supercharger and Icon 3" lift suspension installed on the Trail Premium.

The giant roof rack would come off the 1st day anyway. Everything I want fits inside.

TRD Pro is a big debate...

In favor: Now has Fox multi stage internal bypass shocks. Special color and appearance package. Auto headlights.

Trail Premium (now TRD OR Premium) Has KDSS option. For me KDSS was a "must have" so the Pro was a non-starter. I would have bought a Limited if it had KDSS and added lockers aftermarket. Some people don't like KDSS. I do. Test drive them both.

The TRD Pro has changed a lot over the years. In 2015 when I bought my 4Runner the TRD Pro was a base model Trail plus a $500ish set of bilstein shocks and appearance package. The current TRD Pro now is more like a Premium package plus some very good fox suspension, so it justifies a bit more price increase in my opinion.

Something to consider is that the KDSS will limit your suspension travel with longer travel shocks. Stock it has the most travel of any of the setups. But aftermarket suspension it becomes a limiting factor. The TRD Pro fox shocks are also problematic for lifting - they are position sensitive so if you lift them you're not going to be in the right bypass zones. So... if you want to build something more than mild lift and up to ~ 34" tires - I'd go for either a TRD w/o KDSS or a base SR5 and build from there. If you want the best street manners - KDSS TRD OR. If you want the best ride on fire roads - TRD Pro. Nicest interior - Limited.

 

[engineeer]

A benefit of the Lexus GX rear door is that Home Depot can load an entire palet into the back of the car because the forklift can pull right up to the bumper.

Just looked:

Lexus has 19 gallon gas tank.

3rd row seats take up a lot of storage capacity.

It would be more challenging to remove the giant running board and have it look right.

According to Lexus, the GX460 has a 23.0 gallon gas tank:

2019 Lexus GX - Luxury SUV - Specifications | Lexus.com

 

[bsa70]

Ditto on the Wrangler. There are some true Jeep people. Many get a wrangler thinking they are a jeep person and quickly find out they are not. I had a TJ, at 6'3" 240 lbs, I found out it just was not big/comfortable enough for me. First few weeks I was in love and ready to sell my truck, thank fully I kept the truck because I sold the jeep.

The newer model 4 doors are really roomy but just dont look good stock. You will have a fortune in one if you make it look good.

 

[RL Lemke]

According to Lexus, the GX460 has a 23.0 gallon gas tank:

Don't recall where I saw 19. You are right, as it should be identical.

 

[RL Lemke]

I have to say, like I do over and over, I love my 4Runner as much today as the day it was new, 15 1/2 years ago.

So, purchasing anything else would be a letdown.

I see the 4Runner as the perfect compromise between daily driver, vacation auto and adventure explorer vehicle. It is quiet on the road, hauls my motorcycles on the hitch, carries our luggage easily, but gets moderate gas mileage.

In reality, of the vehicles on the "Can't tear-up" list, the 4Runner must be at the top.

My hope is that the 2020 4Runner will offer the same, or better, experience as my 2004.

When in Las Vegas last week I was stunned at just how many 4Runners there were in every parking lot. Popular and long lasting.

Some may say the new Bronco, or the new Blazer, or a Wrangler. I always default to long term reliability and can I trust the vehicle to get me home when exploring the middle-of-nowhere all by myself.

 

[mteolus]

2007 4Runner v8 Horsepower: 260 Torque 306 Fuel economy 15/19 Weight 4280 lbs Towing capacity 7300 lbs Cargo capacity 42.1 Approach angle 30 departure angle 24 Ground clearance 8.7

209 4Runner v6: 270 hp Torque 278 Fuel economy 17/20 Weight 4750 lbs Towing capacity 5000 lbs Cargo capacity 47.2 Approach angle 33 departure angle 26 Ground clearance 9.6 (lie)

Solid engine and tranny on the 5th gen. More room and better approach and departure angles, although in reality minimal. Definitely would not be as good in the hills as the 4th gen v8 but it should be adequate. Get a Sprint Booster for the 5th and it won't feel as sluggish.

I just saw a band new Jeep Rubicon 2 door at the Dallas auto show. 48k and it didn't even have leather seats. Saw a 4 Door Rubicon for $55k. Too expensive if you ask me. The Gladiator truck will even be more expensive.

 

[RL Lemke]

Get a Sprint Booster for the 5th and it won't feel as sluggish.
.

Burtman Industries

Thank-you

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

Good luck getting that many miles on a Wrangler....if you just like them, that's one thing, but don't buy it for reliability like you would for a Toyota or you will be disappointed.

I agree with those saying the 460! I have a 06 v8 but I have spent a decent amount of time behind the wheel of a 460. It drives incredibly well IMO. Obviously it's not as "rugged looking" as the 4Runner but with some minor cosmetic changes you will hardly notice. If you haven't driven one I highly suggest renting one or something.

 

[RL Lemke]

KDSS or lift from coilovers?

I have the Icon coilovers in front and 3" lift from the Icon springs and shocks in back. Rides very firm but that's great for impacts, corners and eliminates braking dive.

This video makes the KDSS option appealing.

YouTube

 

[mscot]

Just understand going in that KDSS is a stiffer ride. It's great for curves and mtn passes but not ideal for small bumps and shitty roads.

I wish there was a way to select when the KDSS comes on. Would really like to be able to have it work all the way up to 20 mph when offroad and have it at 12mph when on roads.

I would try and do a long test drive - perhaps a day - and see how you like it. take it on a street with tons of cracks and small bumps to see it at its worse. then take it on a curvy road to see it at its best.

 

[Jernik]

I just saw a band new Jeep Rubicon 2 door at the Dallas auto show. 48k and it didn't even have leather seats. Saw a 4 Door Rubicon for $55k. Too expensive if you ask me. The Gladiator truck will even be more expensive.

Gone are the days when a Rubicon was only a $3-4k upgrade. Now the Rubi and Sahara models are marketed to those who have more money than need for such a machine.

Fortunately, if a Wrangler is what you want, I think they still have about a thousand different versions (most of them seem little more than stickers and paint, but still...). My Willys Wheeler stickered for just over $27k IIRC. Had the dealer throw in a soft top (for some stupid reason, all Jeeps going to the TX gulf coast region have hard tops). It has AC, tilt/cruise, and a radio/cd player - that's about it, but basic is what I wanted. After all, I have the 4R for creature comforts.

All that said... understand I never have and have no intention of driving a 4door Wrangler, but knowing what I do of the 2 door version I would not expect the longer wheel base to be that much better. It appears the OP likes long road trips... I would not recommend the Wrangler for that kind of duty on a regular basis. Yes, I love my Jeep, even for daily driving (no freeways) - but it is what it is. I also love my 4R, and IMO it's no comparison when it comes to long days in the seat at highway speeds - 4R hands down.

 

[Jetboy]

KDSS or lift from coilovers?

I have the Icon coilovers in front and 3" lift from the Icon springs and shocks in back. Rides very firm but that's great for impacts, corners and eliminates braking dive.

This video makes the KDSS option appealing.

YouTube

I believe you can just swap over your Icon suspension to the new vehicle if you want to keep it. The two platforms are very close cousins.

 

[Blatham333]

Good luck getting that many miles on a Wrangler....if you just like them, that's one thing, but don't buy it for reliability like you would for a Toyota or you will be disappointed.

I agree with those saying the 460! I have a 06 v8 but I have spent a decent amount of time behind the wheel of a 460. It drives incredibly well IMO. Obviously it's not as "rugged looking" as the 4Runner but with some minor cosmetic changes you will hardly notice. If you haven't driven one I highly suggest renting one or something.

I've been researching this a lot since I bought a boat last year (3,050 lbs 2000 X-Star). I have a 3rd gen 2001 limited 4x4 which I love, but find I need more power on highway driving, and more braking power.

The question is should I get a V8 4x4 4th gen 4runner, or go for a Lexus GX470 or 460? The GX ride is super smooth, but I don't like the tall appearance, barn door, and the wheels looking inset and narrow. The 4th gen 4Runner has some perks, but seems to be a worse value than the GX and not as nice looking as the 3rd gen for sure....

 

[T4R2014]

This thread is such a tragedy. The truck is worthless at this point. Might as well keep it and throw another, newer vehicle into the mix. If she has a problem seeing the extra vehicle (that you like) in the driveway, then damn.

 

[4gambler]

U CAN Disable PCS on 2020s. U can also disable DRL very easy.