Sold it after 6 months

[turbolump]

We recently sold our 2012 4Runner SR5 4WD after about 6 months of ownership. We sold it because of the brake dive and poor handling under braking. I decided I wasn't comfortable with my wife and unborn child in the car. If you want an off road vehicle, then the 4runner is probably good, but in my opinion it's a poor family car.

Luckily, we got a good amount for the car on trade-in. We traded it in on a 2012 RX 350. After nearly a month of owning the Lexus, we are really enjoying it.

My advice is to not buy the 4runner unless you truly need an offroad vehicle and drive it very aggressively on a test drive.

 

[Antman]

Good advice!

All vehicles are a compromise- our 4Runners are not for everyone.

Mine fits my needs/expectations perfectly, so it's flaws are acceptable. I can completely understand your not being happy if it doesn't meet your needs. Thanks for posting the facts, and not "bashing for effect"...

Have fun with your new ride!

 

[lezavw90]

We bought our 2012 Limited specifically because we thought it was a great family vehicle. I don't know how you can't feel safe in a vehicle that the entire insides blowup with air bags. Posts like this and the other thread with the consumer reports video got me thinking today as I was driving the kids around town. How much high speed Track driving are people doing in these things? If you live in the city 99% of your driving consists of straight line with low speed 90 degree corners thrown in. I grew up in a place where to get to the next town was 90km of fairly tight twisty roads, I could see complaining about the handling then.

It's to bad you had to one a vehicle for 6 months then sell it. Good luck with the new one.

 

[turbolump]

If you're happy with your 4Runner, then that's great. I didn't pay enough attention to the posts about brake dive prior to buyng mine. I posted my issue strictly for the benefit of anyone thinking of buying. I thought the size of the car was good, but my Silverado 4x4 handles more confidently. The crossover we bought won't do some things 4runner does, but it's a better road car.

 

[Curt Sauve]

We bought our 2012 Limited specifically because we thought it was a great family vehicle. I don't know how you can't feel safe in a vehicle that the entire insides blowup with air bags. Posts like this and the other thread with the consumer reports video got me thinking today as I was driving the kids around town. How much high speed Track driving are people doing in these things? If you live in the city 99% of your driving consists of straight line with low speed 90 degree corners thrown in. I grew up in a place where to get to the next town was 90km of fairly tight twisty roads, I could see complaining about the handling then.

It's to bad you had to one a vehicle for 6 months then sell it. Good luck with the new one.

There is a huge difference in the suspension between an SR5 and a Limited.

 

[Reata]

Glad you stayed in the Toyota family. We have 2 RX330's in the family. Women love them, they are like a professional shopping vehicle! Glad you like it, hope you have 100,000 safe, accident-free miles.

 

[Narkhelek]

Maybe it's because I have the Trail Edition with KDSS but I've always felt my truck handles incredible well for being nearly 2.5 tons. Notice I said truck, for that's what it is, not a car with offroad capabilities.

 

[brockeverly]

Brake dive could have been fixed with a couple hundred bucks in springs, but I echo Antman in saying thanks for avoiding bashing and understanding that it just wasn't for you. My wife wants an RX, if anything I will get her a Venza to keep a Toyota badge on it (a customer, turned friend of mine owns Avondale Toyota out here in Phoenix).

 

[Rubberdown]

I'm going to go ahead and agree, this is the worst handling SUV I have ever owned, and I have owned a lot . Emergency lane changes and slamming on the brakes when someone cuts you off, (both pretty common things in Houston traffic), really unsettle it to a point it's dangerous. I am currently contemplating what suspensions mods to do with this car to make it acceptable. I realize every car has compromises, but this is crazy. If the mods don't work, I too will be getting rid of this car for something else. Not "bashing", just observing.

 

[jca21]

both cars are well built and will last a long time. hope you enjoy the new lexus rx350.

 

[brockeverly]

I'm going to go ahead and agree, this is the worst handling SUV I have ever owned, and I have owned a lot . Emergency lane changes and slamming on the brakes when someone cuts you off, (both pretty common things in Houston traffic), really unsettle it to a point it's dangerous. I am currently contemplating what suspensions mods to do with this car to make it acceptable. I realize every car has compromises, but this is crazy. If the mods don't work, I too will be getting rid of this car for something else. Not "bashing", just observing.

OME springs did the trick for me, a lot have had luck putting in the Bilsteins as well.

 

[WIT4R]

Wow I didn't realize SR5's are that mushy.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I love my SR5!!!!!

 

[Jaker]

Emergency lane changes and slamming on the brakes when someone cuts you off, (both pretty common things in Houston traffic), really unsettle it to a point it's dangerous. I am currently contemplating what suspensions mods to do with this car to make it acceptable. I realize every car has compromises, but this is crazy. If the mods don't work, I too will be getting rid of this car for something else. Not "bashing", just observing.

From an objective standpoint, if an emergency lane change and/or slamming on the brakes is required when someone cuts you off, you were either driving too closely behind the original vehicle in front of you, or you were driving too fast.

Just observing.

 

[Ryan1975]

I needed a good laugh tonight...thank you guys for this thread.

I now have over 7500 miles in both my '12 TE and my dady's '11 Limited over the last 45 days. These trucks are amazing.

Former owner '08 Sport Edition and about 20 other vehicles over the last 20 years.

 

[rebelbowtie]

i know i have a 4th gen SR5 but i honestly dont think my 4Runner handles any different than any other truck i have owned and I've owned a lot. then again i dont drive fast and never understood why anyone would want too in a truck or SUV, i purchased my 4Runner to primarily serve as a family vehicle (off road ability is a plus) and an A4 as my "fun" car and i feel just as safe in either vehicle.

 

[Thai]

From an objective standpoint, if an emergency lane change and/or slamming on the brakes is required when someone cuts you off, you were either driving too closely behind the original vehicle in front of you, or you were driving too fast.

Just observing.

Really, so, you have NEVER had to slam on the brakes or make an emergency maneuver EVER in your life? And that it is always the your fault if that happens to you?? Wow, you must stay home a lot or your city is full of perfect drivers. :nono:

I consider myself a safe driver and an attentive one at that! But, yeah, it is NOT always you but the other INattentive driver making a lane change without looking, changing lane on a busy road with you in blind spot, having to slam on brakes because a car makes last minute decision to cross the intersection, etc..

 

[Atlanta_man]

Safety is a good thing and better high speed handling helps.

But if I'm going to be hit by another car I want to be in a 4Runner.

 

[Thai]

Safety is a good thing and better high speed handling helps.

But if I'm going to be hit by another car I want to be in a 4Runner.

Yup, mass wins. Physics don't lie.

 

[westwind77]

From an objective standpoint, if an emergency lane change and/or slamming on the brakes is required when someone cuts you off, you were either driving too closely behind the original vehicle in front of you, or you were driving too fast.

Just observing.

:redbrick::redbrick::ybrick::ybrick:

I think a lot of people only wish that was the case, but unfortunately the rest of us live in the real wold and know what you said is not the case most times. There are too many morons on the roads that just can't drive these days and honestly I have had the least issue with people speeding or tailgating. It is the idiot who does not see you when he does a lane change or looks one direction but not the other when he pulls out into traffic. There are thousands of reasons you need to do emergency maneuvers, and sorry to say you can't just blame the person who has to do them. Should we all drive 15 in a 55, maybe then we all would be safe? How about the drunk I saw (and called in) that drifted into the oncoming lane around a tighter corner and almost took out the car coming the other direction the other week?! People cut you off when you are following a safe distance and doing the speed limit on a highway sometimes when they merge, you can't blame the person who was cut off. Argggg rant done for the day!