Sad Day!

[Koz]

Well yesterday I had to take my rear plate off my BABY! It turns out the frame was bent and Toyota frames cannot be repaired, only replaced. Needless to say, the repair cost was too close to the current value so it was declared "TOTALED".

There is good news and bad news! The resale value of the 4Runner is amazing. After almost 6 years it is worth more than half the purchase price. Now the bad news. My 4Runner can NOT be replaced with a new 4Runner. Two big reasons; I need a tow rating over 5K lbs (No more V8) and the auto leveling air suspension is no longer available. I also stopped at a Toyota Stealer and finally took a good look at the new redesigned 4Runner. Please don't take this the wrong way but even if there was still a V8 and air suspension available, I don't think I would get the new 4Runner. I think the exterior could grow on me but the interior is horrible! The design and materials are nowhere near as nice as the 4th gen (WTF). What a disappointment!

I also stopped at a Lexus Stealer to take a look at the new GX460. Again, good news and bad news. The GX is absolutely amazing. Everything about it is so sweet. It has to be the quietest vehicle I have ever been in (Cars included). I'm talking DEAD silence. Talk about a smooth/solid ride. You can’t imagine that a vehicle that was primarily designed for off-roading could be so amazing on the street and could have so much luxury (Ride and gadgets). I can’t believe all the special features for off-roading alone. I won’t bore you with all the luxury features, I’ll just mention some of the off-roading and suspension features.

2 Speed transfer case (2.56:1) with a 3.9:1 final gear ratio

6 speed trans

Locking Torsen center diff

Hill-start/downhill assist

Crawl control (With 3 settings from 1 to 3.7 mph)

KDSS (Amazing)

AVS – Adaptive Variable Suspension - Sensors monitor wheel speed, engine rpm, steering-wheel movement, brake application and vertical body motion to determine the ideal damping rate for each shock absorber. The driver can also select the ride firmness with the press of a button. (3 Settings – sport/normal/comfort)

Electronically modulated auto leveling air suspension (3 Settings)

Wide view front/side/rear monitor system (cameras that show split screen on the 8” nav display while moving)

Power folding side mirrors

The bad news - $60,000

Koz

 

[nmsail]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, truely a sad day!

Adjustable ride stiffness with the AVS, that's pretty cool, the new GX sounds nice. Did you try out the different settings?

 

[borgzman]

You don't buy used?

A GX 470, or another 4th Gen 4Runner and have an aftermarket solution like Airlift or remote air springs..

I don't understand how is it hard for Toyota to put one of the V8 in the 5th Gen when they have a powerhouse V8 engine lineup? And by not offering V8, how is it more of a positive than a nega when they will only offer it as an option, not to stock their lots with those.

 

[rockwall]

Buy Used!

Two years ago I bought a used 2003 Limited. It is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. I agree that the 5th gen is not a suitable replacement for a 4th gen. There are a lot of 4th gens out there and if you hold out and search hard enough, some have very low miles. Settle for the minor scratch or two and get something that you know will serve you well for many years.

 

[simple]

How did your frame get bent? Where you in an accident, or did the truck become defective after time??

 

[M1911]

I don't understand how is it hard for Toyota to put one of the V8 in the 5th Gen when they have a powerhouse V8 engine lineup?

No question, Toyota can put a V8 in the 5th Gen 4Runner. They have chosen not to. I suspect that is due to the small number of sales they would expect for it, CAFE issues, and the cost of emissions, economy, and crash testing.

 

[V8Limited4wd]

yeah what happened?

 

[jharris2]

yeah what happened?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/68962-blast-past.html

 

[10majfar]

Hey Koz, I was looking at your other thread about your wreck and I noticed it was about the same damage as when I wrecked my 98 3rd gen. Did your airbags go off? Those things cost me more than all the front end damage combined!
(Our insurance is corrupt, so we opted to pay out-of-pocket)

I nose-dived into a pit at about 30mph, and after an 800 dollar small-town repair (courtesy of some guy named Ed.. or was it Jim?) It was running like new!

Sorry if I'm being irrelevant, I was just wondering what went wrong with your frame or whatever caused it to be considered "totaled"...

 

[dk27]

You don't buy used?

Seems like the obvious solution? :shrug:

 

[rook]

I think the exterior could grow on me but the interior is horrible! The design and materials are nowhere near as nice as the 4th gen (WTF). What a disappointment!


Koz

I agree. G5T4R=:repuke:

On the other hand, I like the new GX more than the previous generation. GO FOR IT!

 

[inscarguy]

Well yesterday I had to take my rear plate off my BABY! It turns out the frame was bent and Toyota frames cannot be repaired, only replaced. Needless to say, the repair cost was too close to the current value so it was declared "TOTALED".Koz

there is not such thing as a toyota frame not being able to be repaired. all frames can be repaired.

being on the insurance side there are two things about a frame repair. if a frame is "bent" only it is reparable, if it is "kinked" then it is not repairable but as for a "toyota" frame not being repairable that is B.S. i deal with two very large toyota dealers and they repair them all the time. unless you want the ins co to take your truck get a second opinion. alot of times frames can be sectioned too(say a ft frame rail is no good onstead of getting a used frame you could get a frame section and it would be re-welded in. it is done all thie time on GM trucks as they have parts to do it.

 

[charlier180]

Koz, Sorry to see the news about your 4Runner. I think it might be worth your time/effort to look into your situation further given what inscarguy posted.
I also agree with you that the 5th Gen 4Runner is totally useless when it comes to your needs. I am in the same boat. Apparently Toyota wants V8 4Runner owners like us to buy a Tundra or a Sequoia (for $15K more) or leave the brand and go elsewhere. That was their business decision and our decision as consumers.

No question, Toyota can put a V8 in the 5th Gen 4Runner. They have chosen not to. I suspect that is due to the small number of sales they would expect for it, CAFE issues, and the cost of emissions, economy, and crash testing.

I agree with you on this. I do find it very interesting that the 4 cylinder engine offering in the 4Runner was SUPPOSED to address these concerns.
From what I have seen, sales of the 4 cylinder failed to meet Toyota's expectations/forecasts and that the 4 cylinder offering will be withdrawn next year (after just a single year of production). One has to wonder how much money the 4 cylinder cost for R&D, tooling, US certification, crash testing, etc.? All that expense and the 4cylinder did little/nothing to contribute to Toyota's CAFE numbers. It would also be VERY INTERESTING to see a comparison of the sales figures for the V8 engine and the 4 cylinder engine. Too bad we will never, ever see those figures since Toyota does not publish sales figures based on the engine by model.

Oh well, what's done is done. When it comes time to replace my 4Runner if Toyota does not have a model to fit my needs then I will say goodbye to Toyota and move on like Koz is doing. I am sure another vehicle manufacturer will be glad to take my money and sell me their product that will fit my needs.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I still think a V8 will pop up in the 5th gen eventually but with sales of the 4th gens in the last year dropping 58% from the previous year to under 20,000 (4runners used to command 100,000 sold regularly) sold also had some part of the decisions with the 5th gen.
It's not like people were eating up 4Runners so Toyota refocused it target audience with the 5th gen and some things were lost to keep costs down. In 15 years of 4Runner prices they've kept them all solidly in the $30k range so you have to expect some cost cutting measures to be obvious.

 

[THEROK]

I still think a V8 will pop up in the 5th gen eventually but with sales of the 4th gens in the last year dropping 58% from the previous year to under 20,000 (4runners used to command 100,000 sold regularly) sold also had some part of the decisions with the 5th gen.
It's not like people were eating up 4Runners so Toyota refocused it target audience with the 5th gen and some things were lost to keep costs down. In 15 years of 4Runner prices they've kept them all solidly in the $30k range so you have to expect some cost cutting measures to be obvious.

I hope you're not implying that the 5th gen is inferior to the 4th gen along the build quality front. Sat in one. It's updated, newer, fresher, and fit/finish is just as good if not better than the 4th. If we all wanted seriously good interior quality, we'd all be ponying up for the L version anyways.

It's just too much of the pull up the wagons and form a circle BS on internet forums. If you're not in need of a V8, buy the newest one if you can afford it. It's not like the 5th gen owners spending $35K+ can't afford your beloved $15K 4th now well used and dated looking somehow impacted less by "cost cutting" measures. Child, please.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

No way am I thinking the 5th gen is inferior and IMO the 5th gen is a return to a more truck like 4Runner and with the TE model it brought the 4Runner back to being more of a true SUV and is very capable right out of the box harkening back ot the feel of the 3rd gens.

4th gens are still a solid and capable vehicle but the 4th gens became a bit softer and pampered their owners quite a bit so it probably was a bit of a dissappointment to current or previous 4th gen owners when the 5th gen didn't return with a V8,full time 4wd,power antenna,LED tails or a freakin' burger tray. :hungry:

I understand the loss of the V8 since towing isn't the same with the current V6 but those people are the buyers Toyota expected some loss from but from the excitement and sales we are seeing from the 5th gens I think Toyota is happy with their decision.

I'm content with my 3rd gen and will be for a while and I wouldn't mind a V8 SE 4th gen for a daily driver vehicle but I will be eyeing a slightly used 5th gen TE in the next few years.

 

[borgzman]

V8
Yeah, during 2008-2009 where its the peak of the recession and gas was $5/gal, that would be very understandable. Cost Cutting.. etc while the drop in sales affects all vehicles esp those with gas gagling engines(incl. 4R).
Its 2011 model now, and still no V8, I'm sure they are already bombarded with questions as a sign of demand from potential customers and current V8 owners who wish and waited for so long to upgrade. And for those would be first time 4R owners, and shall I say have test driven both V6 and V8 in a 5000lb vehicle, can decide in a few meters. If they chooses the V6, there will be a reason favorable to them, while the one who like the V8, his preference would be meet. and I don't believe there's really a zero for it(V8) esp now.
A deeper reason..maybe behind, as Nissan Pathfinder don't have V8 also.
..ahh..business strategy maybe....

Edit: From the car salesman who sold us the 4R and Rav4: He said, 20 serious potential 4Runner buyer visited him, atleast 7, are interested with the V8 and left the lot for that reason, he(and his buddy) sold 2 V6s(what else) and said the V8 could have outnumbered the V6 sales in his lot if he only have it.

 

[M1911]

I agree with you on this. I do find it very interesting that the 4 cylinder engine offering in the 4Runner was SUPPOSED to address these concerns. From what I have seen, sales of the 4 cylinder failed to meet Toyota's expectations/forecasts and that the 4 cylinder offering will be withdrawn next year (after just a single year of production). One has to wonder how much money the 4 cylinder cost for R&D, tooling, US certification, crash testing, etc.? All that expense and the 4cylinder did little/nothing to contribute to Toyota's CAFE numbers.

The 4-cylinder 5th gen was a fiasco. Underpowered and only got 1 mpg less than the 6-cylinder, so what was the point?

My assumption was that Toyota new what they were doing, and were using it so that dealers could advertise that the 4Runner starts at a low, low price of $XXX, and then upsell them into a 6-cylinder.

But since Toyota has stopped selling the 4-cylinder, that suggests that Toyota actually thought they were going to sell some of them, which really has me baffled.

I do agree that all that development money was completely wasted.

 

[Uneek]

The 4-cylinder 5th gen was a fiasco. Underpowered and only got 1 mpg less than the 6-cylinder, so what was the point?

My assumption was that Toyota new what they were doing, and were using it so that dealers could advertise that the 4Runner starts at a low, low price of $XXX, and then upsell them into a 6-cylinder.

But since Toyota has stopped selling the 4-cylinder, that suggests that Toyota actually thought they were going to sell some of them, which really has be baffled.

I do agree that all that development money was completely wasted.

I don't understand why Toyota does this. Waste of R&D dollars. They did this with the 3rd gen GS for the GS300 and offered it for one year.

 

[Koz]

You don't buy used?

A GX 470, or another 4th Gen 4Runner and have an aftermarket solution like Airlift or remote air springs..

I don't understand how is it hard for Toyota to put one of the V8 in the 5th Gen when they have a powerhouse V8 engine lineup? And by not offering V8, how is it more of a positive than a nega when they will only offer it as an option, not to stock their lots with those.

If the GX was not updated/redesigned for 2010 I would have considered a 470 but there are too many really good changes to the 460. The new 4.6 V8 is simply amazing. It has more power, a little smoother, better gas mileage and most of all there is no more throttle hesitation. The 6 speed trans is another very good change. It always seems to be in the right gear. The features that make the difference for me are; crawl control, adjustable suspension and the front/side/rear cameras that can be seen split screen on the nav display, while you are driving at slow speeds. I could not live without the auto leveling rear suspension (Which is not even offered in the 5th gen T4R). It would cost several thousand to install an inferior system aftermarket.

Koz