Should I get out of a 4Runner??

[Charlievee]

Build not buy. Can't wait to ditch the hipster Mobil.

 

[Jackedup4runner]

T4r for life

 

[hatidua]

-seems like the verdict was in well before this trial even started.

 

[mscot]

I would never buy a Hyundai. We have a Tucson that is horrible.

 

[MAST4R]

Thanks but I don’t want a truck the size of the GX and I really don’t like the look. Just saw one on the Garden State Parkway 3 hours ago. Not my cup of tea at all. Nor do I like the look of the Honda’s and I really tried to like the Passport but couldn’t. Rode nice enough but all the Honda’s these days are simply boring and do nothing for me.

For the Outback, I really liked the pep the 3.6 had but wish it had a sportier seat. Zero lateral support so it’s made for wide bodies. Liked everything else about it. Comes with a lot of great features and they came down to $33900 from $39 but only offered $30k for the 4runner. I’d have to sell on my own, which I likely will do.


I’d consider the NX if it didn’t have the predator grille out front. I keep waiting for them to get rid of that. Huge turnoff for me.

Price range is pretty much what i’d get for the 4runner. Don’t want more payments. Low to mid 30’s.

I’ll consider a Hyundai Santa Fe.

Won’t get anything American or German at this point.

I have had three H6s, two of the current edition, 3.6, one in an Outback and one in a Tribeca. It is an old-fashioned engine, but reliable and I like it a lot. Changing the spark plugs is interesting though!

My real mpg even fully loaded on trips with a basket and heavy tires never dropped under 21 with the 5EAT. I was getting 18 in town. I could do 25+ mpg out of town without cargo. The CVT would probably provide an additional 2 mpg. The lowest I ever got offroad was 6-7. LOL. That was crawling but mud is similar.

In terms of driving experience on road, the H6 CVT, while no sports car, is way ahead of the 4R, as you must have noticed already. Even on dry pavement.

 

[hikenbike]

I have had three H6s, two of the current edition, 3.6, one in an Outback and one in a Tribeca. It is an old-fashioned engine, but reliable and I like it a lot. Changing the spark plugs is interesting though!

My real mpg even fully loaded on trips with a basket and heavy tires never dropped under 21 with the 5EAT. I was getting 18 in town. I could do 25+ mpg out of town without cargo. The CVT would probably provide an additional 2 mpg. The lowest I ever got offroad was 6-7. LOL. That was crawling but mud is similar.

In terms of driving experience on road, the H6 CVT, while no sports car, is way ahead of the 4R, as you must have noticed already. Even on dry pavement.

Yes, they referred to it as a flat 6 cal but regardless it had nice overall power and punch. They’re in short supply though. If a dealer has 30 OB’s, only 3-4 have the 6. I can understand why. Reliability and being tried and true is important to me. I’d rather have this 6 than the new 4 turbo coming in a couple of months.

I’m still deciding if I’ll pull the trigger on this as I totally committed to the 4runner 3 years ago and don’t want to be shortsighted. It clearly has its qualities too that make it stand out.

 

[osugsxr]

Thanks and I agree they’re nice but don’t want a second luxury brand. Will eventually eat my wallet.

cost arent too bad with Audi’s , fairly simple to work on. Oil changes take 10 minutes or so via top extraction. Keep on on maintenance and should be trouble free .

 

[Thai]

Thanks but I don’t want a truck the size of the GX and I really don’t like the look.

I’d consider the NX if it didn’t have the predator grille out front. I keep waiting for them to get rid of that. Huge turnoff for me.

I’ll consider a Hyundai Santa Fe.

Size of GX? GX is same footprint as 4runner...just taller (more headroom). But yeah, the look is not everyone's taste.

Predator grille is here to stay. It is not going away. New Lexus LS has it...and that thing will last 10 years before redesign.

Hyundai??!! You lost me there. Fine CUV they are, but not exactly oozing anything remotely off-road capability to complement your active lifestyle.

Honda may be boring...but their capability far exceeds Hyundai...again, given your active lifestyle. Maybe Acura MDX with SH-AWD??

Good luck with your search.

 

[MAST4R]

Yes, they referred to it as a flat 6 cal but regardless it had nice overall power and punch. They’re in short supply though. If a dealer has 30 OB’s, only 3-4 have the 6. I can understand why. Reliability and being tried and true is important to me. I’d rather have this 6 than the new 4 turbo coming in a couple of months.

I’m still deciding if I’ll pull the trigger on this as I totally committed to the 4runner 3 years ago and don’t want to be shortsighted. It clearly has its qualities too that make it stand out.

I fully committed to my H6 5EAT in 2013. Lasted till 2018...was not doing the job fully in terms of offroad and cargo.

If you feel you lack features, then the 4R cannot be salvaged. If you lack comfort in terms of ride, the solid axle is what it is, but maybe an upgraded suspension can do the job? May not be easy to get the right one for you right off the bat though. You will have to balance comfort vs handling. And the performance suspensions will need careful and regular corrosion treatments if they are to last the life of the vehicle (with rebuilds). Otoh, if you are not really using them offroad they should last a while between rebuilds.

What type of tires are you running and at what pressures?

I cannot say that the Outback is always more comfy on road. It sure handles all situations where the solid axle is a liability better, but when driving over rough pavement in a straight line, it is really a toss up. Sometimes I feel the OB was more comfy than the 4R with P-metric tires at 33 and sometimes I feel the other way round.

Also, the choice of tires matters A LOT with the Outback as well. The current stock size, 225 65 17, is good. You can also run 245 65 17 ATs without a lift. That would add even more cushion so long as you stay with P-metric tires.

Either way, if you are taking the OB on rough terrain, you will need to budget for a set of tires and aluminum skids. Primitive's cover the engine bay and the transmission plus cats nicely with 2 plates. Single plate options provide less coverage. You can skip the rear differential skid which is not really needed unless you lift the OB because than the rear diff becomes the lowest point of the OB. It is also strong enough anyway.

 

[cb1111]

Turbo engines have a distinct advantage at higher altitudes where a NA engine loses a noticeable amount of power.

 

[MAST4R]

Turbo engines have a distinct advantage at higher altitudes where a NA engine loses a noticeable amount of power.

True but the H6 has enough power to climb any of the Ouray/Silverton 4x4 passes.

One thing I forgot to add though:

Speaking of bikes, Subarus squat a lot when loaded. Carrying one bike will be fine with moderate load inside, but carrying a full load over rough terrain on stock coils will be an issue. Also, an Outback can handle some 4x4 terrain with a light load, but I never took a loaded Subaru on anything beyond a muddy dirt road or very easy trail in my 9 years of offroading Subarus. It just cannot.

By contrast, so long as it is not "leveled," the 4R excels at carrying stuff inside and out. I was "leveled" for a couple months as I had not purchased rear coils yet, and that got me back into the dreaded Subaru squat situation. But a stock or evenly lifted 4R carries loads with aplomb.

To sum it all up:
If you go for the Outback AND expect to travel at anything close to GVWR, you are giving up any actual 4x4 terrain. It will still perform a lot better on road than a loaded 4R and will handle muddy dirt roads fine.

If the OP will remain on the East Coast, a Subaru should be just fine. If moving West, it would depend. Fine in Montana, not so in Colorado, etc.

 

[hikenbike]

Size of GX? GX is same footprint as 4runner...just taller (more headroom). But yeah, the look is not everyone's taste.

Predator grille is here to stay. It is not going away. New Lexus LS has it...and that thing will last 10 years before redesign.

Hyundai??!! You lost me there. Fine CUV they are, but not exactly oozing anything remotely off-road capability to complement your active lifestyle.

Honda may be boring...but their capability far exceeds Hyundai...again, given your active lifestyle. Maybe Acura MDX with SH-AWD??

Good luck with your search.

Yeah I guess but the GX just seems bigger. Whatever. Not my thing.

I think you’re right about the predator grill but it’s a showstopper for me.

Re Hyundai, I think it’s abkut the same as the OB capability wise. I also lie the look like I do the RAV4 but the RAV4 engine is too slow and loud. Light off roading is all I need.

I’ve had Honda’s and agree. They’ve always treated me well but the Pilot is too big and the Passport needs more rubber on the tires. Hate skinny tires and I can’t buy something i’m not at least a little excited about.

I’ll probably do nothing and try to fall in love with the 4runner again and try to make it more comfortable somehow.

 

[Cymon]

I’m biased but I have lived all of our Subarus. I was brought home from the hospital in a 1980 Subaru DL 4x4 wagon 38 years ago, we’ve always had them in the family and both of my kids were brought home from the hospital in our 2012 outback (we’re a friggin Subaru commercial dog and all). Our 2012 CVT 4banger has 130,000 mostly trouble free miles (only issue was a passenger side window actuator and now a couple of rattles are showing up). It’s been cross country twice, fully loaded, once when moving from MD to California and then from our move from CA to South FL, and is still my wife’s DD. It is a perfect boring but reliable family/adventure vehicle.

We got the 4 cylinder because when we bought we were moving to CA and gas prices were $4.50 a gallon. I didn’t even drive the H6 because I knew I would love it too much. Fast forward and my parents traded in their 06 6 cylinder for a 2017 H6 touring two years ago and that vehicle is awesome! This past summer we caravanned with them out to New Mexico and then back to Maryland. I’m currently trying to convince my wife to trade in our 2012 for an 2019 to get the last year of the H6.

I love our 4runner and honestly with two kids and a dog it has turned into our road trip vehicle because of the room and cargo capacity, but my parent’s Outback is so much more pleasant and fun to drive.

Pic of my Dad following me on some light off-roading expeditions this summer.

 

[hikenbike]

I’m biased but I have lived all of our Subarus. I was brought home from the hospital in a 1980 Subaru DL 4x4 wagon 38 years ago, we’ve always had them in the family and both of my kids were brought home from the hospital in our 2012 outback (we’re a friggin Subaru commercial dog and all). Our 2012 CVT 4banger has 130,000 mostly trouble free miles (only issue was a passenger side window actuator and now a couple of rattles are showing up). It’s been cross country twice, fully loaded, once when moving from MD to California and then from our move from CA to South FL, and is still my wife’s DD. It is a perfect boring but reliable family/adventure vehicle.

We got the 4 cylinder because when we bought we were moving to CA and gas prices were $4.50 a gallon. I didn’t even drive the H6 because I knew I would love it too much. Fast forward and my parents traded in their 06 6 cylinder for a 2017 H6 touring two years ago and that vehicle is awesome! This past summer we caravanned with them out to New Mexico and then back to Maryland. I’m currently trying to convince my wife to trade in our 2012 for an 2019 to get the last year of the H6.

I love our 4runner and honestly with two kids and a dog it has turned into our road trip vehicle because of the room and cargo capacity, but my parent’s Outback is so much more pleasant and fun to drive.

Pic of my Dad following me on some light off-roading expeditions this summer.

What you describe is a pretty common theme from all i’ve read. I may give it another month to think over and find the right deal. I agree that the H6 is what I want and they are in shorter supply as the days pass.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

Avoiding turbos will be nearly impossible after next year. They are everywhere and every manufacturer can’t be that wrong. They’re far better than 15 years ago. They’re putting them in pickups now.

Yes, but they are mostly 4 cylinder engines. They are simple transportation. Reliability is key, not fun.
With that said - The new RAV4, as others have mentioned, has fairly off road capable version now.

 

[Steamfitter]

You can’t go wrong with the 4Runner. I’ve driven BMW and yes they are obviously nicer *in some ways* than the 4R, but overall you are far better off in the 4R. Use the extra $ you save on some nice vacations and meals I say.

 

[hikenbike]

The wife thinks the OB looks “farty”. No way I can move forward with one under those conditions no matter how well it rides.....and it rides quite nicely. This thread is officially closed as per marital commentary.

 

[JohnnyT]

Reopened. Pulled the trigger on an OB. Great price, great ride, and no more 5th gen. Ultimately wanted something more comfortable to ride in, with the utility I need, and not all the features the 4runner has that I never used and sacrificed ride quality for. Great truck but just not for me at this point in my life.

Still have my 4th gen though so will spend more time there.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[rwh963]

Highlander?

 

[hikenbike]

Highlander?

Outback