So who is the Jeep spy here???

[BrianLSU]

Well, they haven't done their homework too well with the spying thing.

Evidently there are motherboard issues already causing the vehicle to die while driving and not being able to restart and this is coming from multiple people not just one irate poster. According to an owners conversation with a service mechanic, this is a known issue and the dealers are being told to replace with the new ones only after the problem occurs. Evident because they are not changing out the boards in the ones on the lot, new motherboards do cost money.

Can you imagine having a brand new $50k vehicle in rush hour traffic dying on you in the middle of the highway and having to be towed back to the dealership!?!? You can talk about interior materials, weird tail lights and bits and pieces lacking from past generations, but at the end of the conversation, this is exactly why I bought a 4Runner.

Seems it didn't take too long for this one to flop...

 

[hiker_jon]

You don't need a commerical when the dealer's can't keep them in stock. They are flying off the lot at my local Toyota dealer. I've been by there a few times for service, owner lunch and just to ask a few questions. I rarely see one in stock, and when I do, it's being prepped for delivery. lol. Toyota hit the mark well on this 5th gen, they don't need any commercials.

I had a hard time finding a T4R, but not because they were flying off the lot. Many of the dealers in my area were no longer selling the 4runner, or only the LE. There were not many choices. I think Toyota has not been selling many. I expect the 4runner will go the way of the dinosaurs soon. (And it deserves to go extinct. Toyota has grown and grown the 4runner from the sweet version of the 1990's to a Surburban wannabe.)

 

[philsey]

Well, they haven't done their homework too well with the spying thing.

Evidently there are motherboard issues already causing the vehicle to die while driving and not being able to restart and this is coming from multiple people not just one irate poster. According to an owners conversation with a service mechanic, this is a known issue and the dealers are being told to replace with the new ones only after the problem occurs. Evident because they are not changing out the boards in the ones on the lot, new motherboards do cost money.

Can you imagine having a brand new $50k vehicle in rush hour traffic dying on you in the middle of the highway and having to be towed back to the dealership!?!? You can talk about interior materials, weird tail lights and bits and pieces lacking from past generations, but at the end of the conversation, this is exactly why I bought a 4Runner.

Seems it didn't take too long for this one to flop...

If this is such a problem, don't you think it odd that noone here has reported it?

 

[Will733]

I'd like to see what the TDA Adverstising fee is when buying a GC... Looks like they spend 20x what the 4Runner spends so if we are charged $500 for that, maybe the GC shows a $10,000 TDA charge! :

 

[BrianLSU]

If this is such a problem, don't you think it odd that noone here has reported it?

I know, weird right?

This should be the first place a 2011 GC owner with issues would post.

 

[Fuzzylogic]

I had a hard time finding a T4R, but not because they were flying off the lot. Many of the dealers in my area were no longer selling the 4runner, or only the LE. There were not many choices. I think Toyota has not been selling many. I expect the 4runner will go the way of the dinosaurs soon. (And it deserves to go extinct. Toyota has grown and grown the 4runner from the sweet version of the 1990's to a Surburban wannabe.)

Huh???

 

[MikesToy]

I'm not a spy but the 2011 Jeep GC i'm renting sucks. :gun4:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-topic/72504-jeep-haters-3.html#post628336

 

[fxoffroad]

I know, weird right?

This should be the first place a 2011 GC owner with issues would post.

:iagree::lol::iagree:

 

[Koz]

Not to derail this conversation but I'm actually considering trading my 08 runner in and can afford a Land Rover LR4. I hate that the gas mileage sucks but it is awesome at being a balance of on road amenities and comfort with off-road prowess.

I am considering the Jeep GC Overland also and the 4runner is in the mix too but I don't like the lack of KDSS on the limited, which is what I would consider. The 4runner looks like $hit to me too...everything inside is cheap, thin doors and I hate that Toyota cut stuff from the 4th gen instead of adding to it like most every other car company in the world.

The jeep rear cargo seems the smallest of them all and the cons for both Jeep and LR is reliability. That said, I have been checking True Delta for the past month and the LR has actually been pretty good so far but it's a small sample up to this point so more data is needed.

I'm still debating and may just end up waiting for the 4runner refresh in 2013 so they can add back HIDs, a better front and if lucky, put the GX460 v8 as an option.

You may want to look at the new GX, it has it ALL (including class leading mileage). Take a test drive, what an amazing ride!

Koz

 

[M1911]

You may want to look at the new GX, it has it ALL (including class leading mileage). Take a test drive, what an amazing ride!

Not cheap, though. And I hate that barn door.

 

[TTown]

Not cheap, though. And I hate that barn door.

I have to agree. I looked at the GX but didn't see paying $20k more. Besides, I like the look of the 4Runner much better. I have had 3 Lexus, and have been very happy with each one, but the 4Runner just really hit the spot for me this time.

There are small details that the GX has over the 4Runner:

- better leather
- Memory seats
- V8
- better Nav screen

 

[Fuzzylogic]

So? Unless you are towing there really isn't anything wrong with a unibody.

The unibody isn't really the issue. In general, a solid rear axle is going be a much more stable towing platform. The previous gen GC can pull a flats boat just fine.

The Jeep is based on the previous generation Mercedes ML platform. It is quite good for what it is. But, they wrapped a Mercedes platform with a Jeep...

I would love for Jeep to achieve the iconic level it's name used to represent. It won WWII. But...there have always been components between greatness surrounded by catastrophe; either great drivetrains surrounded by hideous bodies and electrical systems, or decent platforms wrapped around weak engines or axles. They've never been able to bring it all together. They've always put a bunch of parts together from someone else's engineering.

The Rubicon is fabulous...but has an inferior car engine. The old 4.0 liter inline 6 was incredible (in the old Cherokee and wrangler).

Jeep has never turned the corner in eliminating major quality compromises.

 

[Koz]

I have to agree. I looked at the GX but didn't see paying $20k more. Besides, I like the look of the 4Runner much better. I have had 3 Lexus, and have been very happy with each one, but the 4Runner just really hit the spot for me this time.

There are small details that the GX has over the 4Runner:

- better leather
- Memory seats
- V8
- better Nav screen

There is a HUGE difference between the GX and 4Runner. Starting with the drive train and suspension. It has high torque V8 and 6 speed trans, Torsen locking/limited slip center diff, rear air susp, KDSS, adaptive variable susp and crawl control.

Then there is the convenience features like; FOB linked memory system for each driver (seats, steering wheel, mirrors, etc). The seat and steering retract when vehicle is turned off. Some others like; rain sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, auto high-beems, auto power folding mirrors, optiton instrumentation, 3 zone climate control, power third row seating, heated/ventilated front seats, heated/reclining rear seats, USB/iPod connectivity, streaming audio (bluetooth), Safety Connect (auto collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emerg assistance, (SOS) button enhanced roadside assist., HID adaptive headlights, rear A/C, Enform w/destination assist and eDestination, Lexus Insider, nav traffic, weather, sports and stocks.

Also the exclusive stuff like the amazing 17 speaker Mark Levinson audio system/HDD nav, pre-collision sys, dynamic radar cruise control, wide-view monitor system (cameras front, side and rear), rear entertainment sys, driver attention monitor and lane departure alert.

Koz

 

[TOYSTRY]

There is a HUGE difference between the GX and 4Runner. Starting with the drive train and suspension. It has high torque V8 and 6 speed trans, Torsen locking/limited slip center diff, rear air susp, KDSS, adaptive variable susp and crawl control.

Then there is the convenience features like; FOB linked memory system for each driver (seats, steering wheel, mirrors, etc). The seat and steering retract when vehicle is turned off. Some others like; rain sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, auto high-beems, auto power folding mirrors, optiton instrumentation, 3 zone climate control, power third row seating, heated/ventilated front seats, heated/reclining rear seats, USB/iPod connectivity, streaming audio (bluetooth), Safety Connect (auto collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emerg assistance, (SOS) button enhanced roadside assist., HID adaptive headlights, rear A/C, Enform w/destination assist and eDestination, Lexus Insider, nav traffic, weather, sports and stocks.

Also the exclusive stuff like the amazing 17 speaker Mark Levinson audio system/HDD nav, pre-collision sys, dynamic radar cruise control, wide-view monitor system (cameras front, side and rear), rear entertainment sys, driver attention monitor and lane departure alert.

Koz

I guess the better question is this: Is it worth buying a Lexus for $15-$20k more to have the items listed above? I got my 4Runner (LTD) for $36,000.00. I couldn't see paying $50-$60k for a Lexus to have a few more luxury features

Outside of the V8 and the heated steering wheel I could care less about the options you listed above (no offense). I had all those on my Mercedes that I just traded in on my 4Runner and I don't really miss them.

Not trying to start a fight........just expressing my thoughts on the "worth" of whether a Lexus is a better choice then a Toyota.:hatsoff:

 

[MikesToy]

I guess the better question is this: Is it worth buying a Lexus for $15-$20k more to have the items listed above? I got my 4Runner (LTD) for $36,000.00. I couldn't see paying $50-$60k for a Lexus to have a few more luxury features

Outside of the V8 and the heated steering wheel I could care less about the options you listed above (no offense). I had all those on my Mercedes that I just traded in on my 4Runner and I don't really miss them.

Not trying to start a fight........just expressing my thoughts on the "worth" of whether a Lexus is a better choice then a Toyota.:hatsoff:

I have not yet seen a guy drive a Lexus GX/LX model. You may not miss those luxury stuff but most of the women will. :biggrin2:

 

[BrianLSU]

I think the GX's are awesome.

If I could have one wish, it would be the perforated front seats with the butt fan. On long trips that's one piece of luxury I could live with. Other than that, the rest of the stuff isn't that interesting. The main issue I had was a complete lack of aftermarket goodies for GX's.

 

[M1911]

The unibody isn't really the issue. In general, a solid rear axle is going be a much more stable towing platform.

I don't understand why you say that. An IRS will absorb bumps with less movement of the body itself, thus causing less movement of the trailer hitch.

 

[Koz]

I guess the better question is this: Is it worth buying a Lexus for $15-$20k more to have the items listed above? I got my 4Runner (LTD) for $36,000.00. I couldn't see paying $50-$60k for a Lexus to have a few more luxury features

Outside of the V8 and the heated steering wheel I could care less about the options you listed above (no offense). I had all those on my Mercedes that I just traded in on my 4Runner and I don't really miss them.

Not trying to start a fight........just expressing my thoughts on the "worth" of whether a Lexus is a better choice then a Toyota.:hatsoff:

When I bought my 4th gen T4R the MSRP was 44K and the 1st gen GX was approx $10K more and I could not see the price difference. When I looked at the 5th gen T4R the MSRP was approx the same as the 4th ($44K) but this was without the V8 and rear air susp. The 2nd gen GX has a completely different ride and level of luxury. I feel the T4R has taken a step backwards as far as the level of luxury. I listed the major difference between the two but there is also a huge difference in just about every other aspect of the two vehicles. Everything from the interior materials (like semi-aniline leather and African bubinga wood trim) to the use of sound deadening materials that make the GX one of the quietest vehicles I've ever been in. There are also MANY other features I didn’t even mention like two speed power windows (when the window gets close to fully up it slows down to a nice gentle stop. Also things like LED lighting that shines in the foot wells, on the center console and even in the inside door handle wells.

As far as "worth", it all depends on personal opinion. The way I look at it there are several other vehicles that I looked at (LC, LX, X5, LR, ML) and I did not think they were worth more money!

Koz

 

[blkmagic5]

When I bought my 4th gen T4R the MSRP was 44K and the 1st gen GX was approx $10K more and I could not see the price difference. When I looked at the 5th gen T4R the MSRP was approx the same as the 4th ($44K) but this was without the V8 and rear air susp. The 2nd gen GX has a completely different ride and level of luxury. I feel the T4R has taken a step backwards as far as the level of luxury. I listed the major difference between the two but there is also a huge difference in just about every other aspect of the two vehicles. Everything from the interior materials (like semi-aniline leather and African bubinga wood trim) to the use of sound deadening materials that make the GX one of the quietest vehicles I've ever been in. There are also MANY other features I didn’t even mention like two speed power windows (when the window gets close to fully up it slows down to a nice gentle stop. Also things like LED lighting that shines in the foot wells, on the center console and even in the inside door handle wells.

As far as "worth", it all depends on personal opinion. The way I look at it there are several other vehicles that I looked at (LC, LX, X5, LR, ML) and I did not think they were worth more money!

Koz

Also things like LED lighting that shines in the foot wells, on the center console and even in the inside door handle wells.

Btw these things are on the 5th gen limited. Just thought I'd mention.

 

[Scoobs]

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. 2009 Kia Borrego, 2010 Nissan Pathfinder, 2010 Toyota 4Runner - Comparison Tests - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver


Can't tell if the one they tested had KDSS

1) GC

2) 4R

3) Pathfinder

4) Borrego

The 4Runner’s strength is placidity in all situations, whether running smoothly and quietly at 75 mph down a freeway or plodding at 2 mph over alluvial debris. An especially elastic suspension complemented by high-profile tires isolates the cabin from knocks and vibrations while stepping easily over trail trouble. The downside is a sloppy unwillingness to corner or hold to a straight line at speed.

Still, our group agreed: Were it their own money, a 4Runner Trail that could be stripped down to a lower price would be their pick for running the jaws of the San Jacinto

The 5th gen is growing on me but I still can't get past the look of the rear end.