So it's been three months with my 5th Gen 2020 SR5
- Thread starter Gamma Ray
- Start date
thennen
New member
I may be missing something. According to my research, 2009 Jeep Liberty does 0-60 in 9.6 seconds on the low side. 2020 4Runner does the same trip in 7.5 seconds. That's two whole seconds. Horsepower is 270 vs 210. Plus, Liberty tows up to 2000 pounds. Using the word 'fast' while describing that car just doesn't make sense, especially when comparing to something that's much faster. Like others, I didn't read through the entire post, just latched onto the comments about how fast the Jeep is. I don't think the Liberty could even 'feel' faster (a common sentiment on here), given what I've read.
"like trying to drive a shopping cart with an elephant in the baby seat through the corner."
I felt the same driving my T4R OR home from the dealer on the twisty hilly 2 lane roads of the Ozarks. My 14 year old Nissan Frontier 4x4 handles the curves better than the stock Off Road.
Doing research here and on the other other board revealed that any suspension lift - spring and shock replacement (Dobinsons, Eibach, Bilstein, Kings, Fox, Icon, etc) will make the non-KDSS T4R handle better in the curves, on and off road.
After spending hours reading and researching suspension lifts - I went with the Eibach Pro Truck Lift ($750 shipped + $450 install). Main reason for going with Eibach were the great reviews plus 1 size fits all. Handling is apples and oranges better than what it was. I can now take most curves at 55mph and power out of them.
Regarding the acceleration, the Spring Booster is a Holy Sh*T experience. Sure no increase in HP but it brings that available HP up almost instantly. I keep mine in Race 6 (Red 6).
Regarding steering wheel feedback - I agree. The steering wheel feel on my 14 year old Frontier is Tight. The T4R is loose. It took some getting used to. There seems to be some play in the 4R steering wheel. I find it's best to just ignore it.
I felt the same driving my T4R OR home from the dealer on the twisty hilly 2 lane roads of the Ozarks. My 14 year old Nissan Frontier 4x4 handles the curves better than the stock Off Road.
Doing research here and on the other other board revealed that any suspension lift - spring and shock replacement (Dobinsons, Eibach, Bilstein, Kings, Fox, Icon, etc) will make the non-KDSS T4R handle better in the curves, on and off road.
After spending hours reading and researching suspension lifts - I went with the Eibach Pro Truck Lift ($750 shipped + $450 install). Main reason for going with Eibach were the great reviews plus 1 size fits all. Handling is apples and oranges better than what it was. I can now take most curves at 55mph and power out of them.
Regarding the acceleration, the Spring Booster is a Holy Sh*T experience. Sure no increase in HP but it brings that available HP up almost instantly. I keep mine in Race 6 (Red 6).
Regarding steering wheel feedback - I agree. The steering wheel feel on my 14 year old Frontier is Tight. The T4R is loose. It took some getting used to. There seems to be some play in the 4R steering wheel. I find it's best to just ignore it.
mnofpeace
Member
so....um...people are buying 4Runners expecting, or wanting them to be fast and quick? Sprint booster and suspension swapping aside...
i read this a few times when i was researching from car web sites and video reviews...im sorry, i road race motorcycles as a hobby, have for 20+ years, why would i buy a BOF, 4 door SUV for speed, out of the thousands of other vehicles that actually are designed for that purpose...? i just dont understand how anyone would even consider a vehicle described as such and then expect some sort of rush in driving experience. The last thing i expected this vehicle to do was be fast/quick in any way.
as far as a comment on his jeep liberty love...well...hey, its a free country i guess...but even i have learned there is basically only ONE true jeep anymore...and its name doesnt start with Lib....
secondly, and this is a bone i pick with my wife all the time when she says i over-research things...why would you look to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something that you hadnt researched to the point of knowing exactly what that thing is going to give you? sure, you would need a test drive to seal the deal, but i mean, your paying somebody TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS...would you spend that much for a Reeses cup with no peanut butter, or a house with no windows or doors...and then complain about it afterwards...'hey, its drafty in here and this has a hole in the chocolate crown...what gives?!?!'
ok...im done, before my rebuttle gets as long as the original post...which this person decided to put on a forum of people who mostly LOVE the 4Runner...what did he or she think was going to happen, we'd all agree and change our minds about the big square box we all love and enjoy...
:wtf:
i read this a few times when i was researching from car web sites and video reviews...im sorry, i road race motorcycles as a hobby, have for 20+ years, why would i buy a BOF, 4 door SUV for speed, out of the thousands of other vehicles that actually are designed for that purpose...? i just dont understand how anyone would even consider a vehicle described as such and then expect some sort of rush in driving experience. The last thing i expected this vehicle to do was be fast/quick in any way.
as far as a comment on his jeep liberty love...well...hey, its a free country i guess...but even i have learned there is basically only ONE true jeep anymore...and its name doesnt start with Lib....
secondly, and this is a bone i pick with my wife all the time when she says i over-research things...why would you look to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something that you hadnt researched to the point of knowing exactly what that thing is going to give you? sure, you would need a test drive to seal the deal, but i mean, your paying somebody TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS...would you spend that much for a Reeses cup with no peanut butter, or a house with no windows or doors...and then complain about it afterwards...'hey, its drafty in here and this has a hole in the chocolate crown...what gives?!?!'
ok...im done, before my rebuttle gets as long as the original post...which this person decided to put on a forum of people who mostly LOVE the 4Runner...what did he or she think was going to happen, we'd all agree and change our minds about the big square box we all love and enjoy...
:wtf:
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Tuco Ramirez
New member
It’s just a jeep braj trolling.
Well said. My wife used to have a Liberty, until it nickel and dimed us to death. But the suspension IS taut on them and they handle pretty well for an SUV.
OP, go get yourself a 2012 Liberty. Or do some proper research into Dodge Charger; the 8 speed auto is really solid unit.
4RunnerAquasport
Senior Member
ProfessorP
New member
Sounds like the OP purchased a vehicle that he never really wanted.
The most important feature in a vehicle for me is reliability. I hate having my truck in a shop PERIOD!
After driving Tundras for 14 trouble free years (4.7 V8 then 5.7 V8), I went against my gut and purchased a 2017 F-150 2.7 Ecoboost. I almost immediately regretted my purchase when the reliability proved to be horrible. Two turbos later and torque converter noise, and I decided the Ford was a bad fit. Traded it in on a 2019 4Runner and never looked back. Yes, the F-150 was crap, but I really knew going in that it was a bad idea for me considering my desire for extreme reliability. I’m not blaming Ford for my poor purchase decision.
The 4Runner is not for everyone. If you value the highest level of reliability, off road capability, interior cargo space and decent tow capacity, then it’s probably a good fit. All of this comes at the expense of sloppy handling, below average acceleration, dated interior and a truck-ish ride.
The most important feature in a vehicle for me is reliability. I hate having my truck in a shop PERIOD!
After driving Tundras for 14 trouble free years (4.7 V8 then 5.7 V8), I went against my gut and purchased a 2017 F-150 2.7 Ecoboost. I almost immediately regretted my purchase when the reliability proved to be horrible. Two turbos later and torque converter noise, and I decided the Ford was a bad fit. Traded it in on a 2019 4Runner and never looked back. Yes, the F-150 was crap, but I really knew going in that it was a bad idea for me considering my desire for extreme reliability. I’m not blaming Ford for my poor purchase decision.
The 4Runner is not for everyone. If you value the highest level of reliability, off road capability, interior cargo space and decent tow capacity, then it’s probably a good fit. All of this comes at the expense of sloppy handling, below average acceleration, dated interior and a truck-ish ride.
thennen
New member
You're probably right. Anyone who would spend somewhere around $40k on a vehicle they're unsure of, without having done any research, didn't really buy the vehicle.
t0y0ta4R
New member
I also thought it read like a diary after reading the post. Like others have pointed out, it sounds like buyers remorse and under the current circumstances s/he may be stuck with the vehicle for a bit. It's good thing they tend to retain their value well so a sell/trade may not be that hard on the pocket. Good luck either way!
4RunnerAquasport
Senior Member
A therapist would bill you a 1/2 hr just to read that novel. Gramma lol.
That said I had two rentals last year while working on the road. SR5 and an SR5 Premium. First thing I did was drop them in low, stomp on it and let the computer know it was time to go to work. They respond pretty well. But your gonna lose mpgs that way. I don't know what others here feel, but the handling isn't that bad. I think that people who want a shipping container on rubber to handle like a sedan are also afraid to actually drive these trucks. Stick that thing in the corner and she'll respond if you let it.
The 4Runner is body on frame and not a unibody like all sporty crossovers. If you want a truckish feel ride, then the 4runner is for you, if you want a sporty, fast crossover, then there are plenty of options. I love my 4runner and I would drive it everyday over any other car. (for me the ride comfort is more important than a fast ride. I am not a sports car person).
ryguytheman
Member
Is there a TLDR version? LMAO
Here it is:
"2009 Jeep Liberty > 2020 4Runner"
Gotta be a troll. I can't think of one redeeming quality of those turds.
DEUS-MACH1NA
New member
You lost me at Initial D. It's a ****ing 4Runner not an FR sports coupe to drift in.
It's like asking "wHy cAnT i tAkE mY 240sX ofF RoAd?"
It's like asking "wHy cAnT i tAkE mY 240sX ofF RoAd?"
08TxRunner
Member
Funny to see all the hurt feelings over a guy's opinion about his truck. Lots of people on this very board have expressed disappointment at the new 5th gens, particularly those who came from 4th gens.
ryguytheman
Member
I don't see any hurt feelings. What kind of response where you expecting, given the original post?
The dude test drove and bought a vehicle which has very clearly outlined capabilities. When he figures out that his 4Runner isn't a race car 3 months later, he longingly reminisces about his speedy Jeep Liberty?
If this isn't a troll, then it's just downright silly. Drop a post like that on an enthusiast forum, and you're going to catch some hell.
cb1111
Member
I'm not sure why everybody is raggin' on the OP. He/She raised valid points for them.
Quality aside, the Liberty was a pretty SUV when it first came out, with decent handling and it felt far faster than it was (I had one as a rental for a week after my other rental died).
The base 4R handles far worse on-road and seems far slower (even if it isn't) and even higher trim levels are tiring on long trips.
That said, the 4R will go places that the Liberty wouldn't even think of going and will bring you back too.
The 4R, like the "real" Jeeps, have a rabid following and some members appear to be blind to the actual real shortcomings as a daily driver. The OP got caught up in the hype and now realizes that it wasn't the best choice.
In part that is our fault.
Quality aside, the Liberty was a pretty SUV when it first came out, with decent handling and it felt far faster than it was (I had one as a rental for a week after my other rental died).
The base 4R handles far worse on-road and seems far slower (even if it isn't) and even higher trim levels are tiring on long trips.
That said, the 4R will go places that the Liberty wouldn't even think of going and will bring you back too.
The 4R, like the "real" Jeeps, have a rabid following and some members appear to be blind to the actual real shortcomings as a daily driver. The OP got caught up in the hype and now realizes that it wasn't the best choice.
In part that is our fault.
srsrogerissrs
Member
What if you could...... *wait for it*.......... drive it before you buy it.
08TxRunner
Member
Well I sure do, and yours is one of them. Race car? Lol.
His frame of reference is a Liberty, so that's what he's comparing it to. My frame of reference is a 4th gen, and many of his complaints are legit as I originally stated. Surely you don't think you're going to find every weakness in a vehicle from a test drive, do you? I'm sure he's just wanting to see if anyone else has similar experiences.
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