Purchase decision: 4runner versus Sequoia

[dekeman]

I wish I had a dollar from every woman who said they'd never own/drive a minivan. Almost without fail, one hour behind the wheel makes them realize they're not nearly as bad as their reputation would suggest, and in fact make for a perfect all-around family daily. The utility is just too good to overlook.

A Sequoia as a daily makes little sense. 4R makes better sense. Honda Pilot — especially if there's a third kid — makes even more sense. Hope that makes sense...

 

[1engineer]

From what I understand, you lose major Man Card points driving kiddie crate.
Nope, not for me.

Haha. You must be really insecure about your "man" status then. When my first child was born, I drove a Isuzu regular cab pickup lifted with 33's. It took exactly 1 day to figure out we needed something much more practical. My daughter is 19 now and my son is 16. So in the last 19 years we have had: 1) GMC Safari 4X4, 3) Dodge Caravans, 1) Toyota Sienna and 1) Honda Odyssey to tote those two and all their stuff around. During the time you are raising young kids, IF you are a responsible father and not just a sperm donor, you are much more concerned about the children and their comfort than you are about how cool you look going down the highway in something not practical for the tons of stuff little ones need. BTW: Having children and being a responsible dad is the ultimate punch on the proverbial "man card."

 

[DEKA3]

Haha. You must be really insecure about your "man" status then. When my first child was born, I drove a Isuzu regular cab pickup lifted with 33's. It took exactly 1 day to figure out we needed something much more practical. My daughter is 19 now and my son is 16. So in the last 19 years we have had: 1) GMC Safari 4X4, 3) Dodge Caravans, 1) Toyota Sienna and 1) Honda Odyssey to tote those two and all their stuff around. During the time you are raising young kids, IF you are a responsible father and not just a sperm donor, you are much more concerned about the children and their comfort than you are about how cool you look going down the highway in something not practical for the tons of stuff little ones need. BTW: Having children and being a responsible dad is the ultimate punch on the proverbial "man card."

Being a father is easy. Being a dad in hard work!

 

[philsey]

I would still feel manly driving a pink Geo Metro convertible.

Confidence, my friend. Confidence.
( I would not be entirely happy during the drive, just for the record...)

So.... you want Crocs with that?

 

[M1911]

I wish I had a dollar from every woman who said they'd never own/drive a minivan. Almost without fail, one hour behind the wheel makes them realize they're not nearly as bad as their reputation would suggest, and in fact make for a perfect all-around family daily. The utility is just too good to overlook.

Yup. Minivans may not be cool, but they are far more practical for everyday use than an SUV for many (most?) families.

As for the concern about snow, get a spare set of wheels and snow tires. Or better yet, get an AWD Toyota Sienna AND put snow tires on it in the winter.

 

[homeyclaus]

So.... you want Crocs with that?

I think birkenstocks and white socks would go better, I'd think.

I'd have no problem driving a minivan, and neither does my man card. I actually like the Mazda 5 really small minivan thingy.

My wife and her three sisters (who grew up in a country with 3x the gas prices here and a 42% car tax) all fit into a Hyundai Excel 4 door, along with mom, dad, and their vacation stuff. Her summary: "yep, that was tight!" Her point is one can travel lighter. Not doing so is indeed a luxury we all take for granted. As recently as three years ago I fit my wife, my friend and his wife, myself, and all our camping gear into a '04 Toyota Matrix with no roof rack. It can be done.

 

[M1911]

I'd have no problem driving a minivan, and neither does my man card. I actually like the Mazda 5 really small minivan thingy.

A friend of mine has one of those with a manual transmission. She and her family of four love it.

 

[stanleybb50]

More i think about it, I vote to buy the T4R and get a roof rack for trips that you might 'potentially' need more room for a couple times/year.


- Sent via Tapatalk for Android

 

[Turn_down]

Funny, when I got the 4R, I was actually looking at a Highlander. The second we test drove it, not 20' off the lot, my wife said "Nope, not the car for you. It feels like a mini van. Lets test drive the 4runner." LOL

 

[Kinnick]

Having children and being a responsible dad is the ultimate punch on the proverbial "man card."

This is the best sentence I have read on this entire forum. Well said 1engineer.

 

[Kinnick]

Thanks again everyone for all the comments. You have given me a lot to digest. Bottom line, I need to take the entire family to the dealership, test drive several vehicles, and make an educated decision as to what will meet our needs both today and in the future.

 

[CraigRoberts]

As Jeremy Clarkson says minivans "are cars which say you've served your biological purpose and are now waiting to die."

Just joking. They are very practical indeed, it is just disappointing to give up fun toys for practicality, but if you think it is best for your family it is probably the responsible adult thing to do.

 

[Kinnick]

Well, it has been awhile since I started this thread so I thought I would post an update. We pulled the trigger on a 2009 Honda Pilot Touring. As much as I wanted to stay in the Toyota family, the 4runner nor Sequoia made sense for our family at this stage in our lives. The Highlander was fine but we preferred the Pilot. I am sharing this in case others are facing a similar situation as I was.

I took Seattle Mike's (R.I.P.) advice and tested a few vehicles and went thru the motions of how our family would use it. Practicallity favored the Pilot. My wife loves it. Happy wife = happy life. Maybe the best part of all of this is now I get to drive our 3rd gen again as my daily driver.

I plan on hanging around this 5th gen section in the future because I have a feeling a 5th gen will replace the 3rd someday. Oh, and one more thing. This forum is by far one of the best online forums around. People who care really do make a difference.

 

[msab]

Hi,
I just purchased a new 2012 TR4 Limited in silver with the 3rd row. I think my story fits what you are asking. I have 3 kids 10,8,3. We used a 1998 4runner for 14 years. It was a great truck but it starting getting old and was tight. I wanted another 4runner and I could not get out of head that I needed something bigger. My wife wanted a mini-van but I convinced her that we should get the new 4runner with the 3d row.

Well - we bought the 4runner with the third row and it is an awesome truck but it is a bit to small for a family of 5. the 3rd row is very nice but when you open it up there is no room for any storage so really you have to keep one of the 3rd row seats down.

The new 4runner is a beautiful truck, packed with technology but I am having a bit of buyers remorse and should of went with a mini van. We will be able to get along with the 4runner but it will be a little tight.

BTW -I did test drive the 2012 pilot and odyssey. and it was nice but the 4runner was still in my heart and I could not bear to switch even if it meant dealing with a more cramped truck. Selfishly I chose the 4runner even though the family should have a bigger truck/van.

I do feel guilty about the decision but I will enjoy driving it

Mike

 

[M1911]

Gotta tell ya, as hard as it is to admit, you cannot beat our Honda Odyssey when you have kids! Plenty of room for 7 or 8, even with carseats, and all their stuff. Easy access to the third row. Drives like an Accord with more room than the 4Runner or Sequoia. I loaded it to the gills for a trip to VA and got 24mpg running a comfy 80 mph. Test drive one- that sold me! Just gotta get over that Minivan thing... My .02

Yup. If you don't go offroad, a minivan is hard to beat.

 

[JohnJerk]

Family of 5 here (kids are 2 weeks, 2 years, 4 years). I have a 2011 Sienna AWD and 2011 4R LTD w/ 3rd row - all bases are covered. Sienna is almost too big until family comes to visit.

 

[farmerjon]

Perhaps I'll get some hate or whiplash from this, but why don't you look for a Honda Pilot with third row seating? With a third row, they can seat 8, very comfortably. (technically, 5 adults and three kids comfortably, the third row is cramped for anyone over 12ish years old).

My parents have a 2005 Honda Pilot, and it gets around 25 MPG on the highway.

Something to consider.

DEFINITELY keep your 4Runner

 

[harper7]

Perhaps I'll get some hate or whiplash from this, but why don't you look for a Honda Pilot with third row seating? With a third row, they can seat 8, very comfortably. (technically, 5 adults and three kids comfortably, the third row is cramped for anyone over 12ish years old).

My parents have a 2005 Honda Pilot, and it gets around 25 MPG on the highway.

Something to consider.

DEFINITELY keep your 4Runner

Good call!
Ya, like maybe a 2009 Honda Pilot Touring Ed..
Read post # 53 as that's what the OP just bought!

 

[michelehutter@gmai]

Since you are (smartly) keeping the 3rd gen. I'd go with the Sequoia. The 5th gen will seem small pretty quick. You might also want to consider a Highlander. My wife loves hers.....slightly more spacious and much more comfortable than the 4runner. MGP's are great too. The Highlander may be CUV, but it kicked-a$$ in the big blizzard we had last winter (30"+ of snow).
Also consider gas will likely climb over $5.00/ gallon and stay in the next few years.

I've gotta say, those sequoias would be awesome for road-trips though. I personally prefer the 1st gen.

I am new to this forum and have an overall question for anyone. I've driven manual 3rd gens my entire life. I hate the newer 2003 body style it's not like a truck rather a plastic car. Being that it's hard to find lower mileage 100k and below third gens preferably 2002 and it seems easier to find Sequoias mid 2000s like a 2006 with the miliage im looking for and my price range of under $14k would it be best to go with a used Sequoia so I can at least have the truck feel. I realize I will never find another stick but I can't stomach the newer 4Runner style. No offense to anyone please. I have no kids however adventure a lot with my large lab/Dane mix and he needs the clearance for his head. It doesn't have to be perfect inside. Am I looking at a lesser quality in a Sequioa and how much worse is the gas mileage?
Thank you! Michele and Brady

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

I am new to this forum and have an overall question for anyone. I've driven manual 3rd gens my entire life. I hate the newer 2003 body style it's not like a truck rather a plastic car. Being that it's hard to find lower mileage 100k and below third gens preferably 2002 and it seems easier to find Sequoias mid 2000s like a 2006 with the miliage im looking for and my price range of under $14k would it be best to go with a used Sequoia so I can at least have the truck feel. I realize I will never find another stick but I can't stomach the newer 4Runner style. No offense to anyone please. I have no kids however adventure a lot with my large lab/Dane mix and he needs the clearance for his head. It doesn't have to be perfect inside. Am I looking at a lesser quality in a Sequioa and how much worse is the gas mileage?
Thank you! Michele and Brady

It looks like you are just wanting opinions on the Sequoia? I can't tell for sure, but I does not look like you are cross shopping it with a 2010+ 4Runner. If that's the case you may want to have a mod like [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] move this to the general or 3rd gen section (since you have driven those before).