Ukie
New member
Check if your tires are balanced properly. I have SR5 since March 2011 and do not experience any wandering at all regardless of Bridgestone stock tires or GY SilentArmor I'm running now.
Sold it after 6 months
- Thread starter turbolump
- Start date
you are just used to it.... there is definitely a pronounced tracking issue with the 5th GEN... after a couple weeks of driving it I got used to it... if I jump back into my wife's car it all comes back to me.... and I have owned older 4Rs and SUVs, to included rigs on 37s+.... the tracking in the 5th gen sucks balls off the showroom floor... but I love the truck!
whiskywizard
New member
I'm late seeing this thread, so I had the luxury of reading it all at once.
My observation;
Those who think of their 4Runners as "trucks" seem perfectly happy with the on-road handling.
Those who think their 4Runners are "cars" feel they don't handle well enough on the pavement.
I bought the 4Runner for my wife. I'm glad she thinks it's a truck or I'd be selling it now.
My observation;
Those who think of their 4Runners as "trucks" seem perfectly happy with the on-road handling.
Those who think their 4Runners are "cars" feel they don't handle well enough on the pavement.
I bought the 4Runner for my wife. I'm glad she thinks it's a truck or I'd be selling it now.
Sr5
I owned a 2002 Tacoma and presently have a 98 Tacoma with 117K miles. Both of those trucks are/were easier to drive than the 4Runner. However, if you spent any long days in either of these trucks you will end up with a serious case of monkey butt. The 4Runner seats are a huge improvement.
I owned a 2002 Tacoma and presently have a 98 Tacoma with 117K miles. Both of those trucks are/were easier to drive than the 4Runner. However, if you spent any long days in either of these trucks you will end up with a serious case of monkey butt. The 4Runner seats are a huge improvement.
I have 20K on my 11 TR5 and I am pleased as punch. Yep, there's nose dive and it is particularly pronounced and alarming when undergoing an 'emergency' stop, but I have faith in the abs and Toyota engineering.
And I take pleasure in running my non-KDSS truck around curvy roads. I like the feel of it and am pleased with the handling. You just need to understand what's going on and become familiar with the dynamics before you start driving like Ivan Stewart.
I'm like others-- a highlander or a minivan would better meet the needs of my family. Hell, most of my driving is commuting, so even a weenie prius would be better for me. But, as others have noted, this truck is so bad, I had to have it. And everybody loves it, from wifey, to my 4 year old daughter, to my 6 year old daughter.
It's the nicest vehicle I've ever owned, and the best handling (except for my wife's 05 mazda 6 wagon). But that is a ingnomious list: 79 buick estate wagon, 83 renault alliance, 76 AMC pacer, 76 Jeep DJ-5a (postal), 88 subaru GL wagon (mmm, maybe it handled better), 88 pathfinder, 02 Dodge 1500 reg cab 4x4 5.9, and my toy 83 jeep cj-7.
I've always admired the 4runner, (but not the 4th gen so much) and when this 5th gen came around, I simply had to have it. I was sold before driving it. So everything else is gravy. If you are looking for practical and sensible, there are magazines, websites, and vehicles for you out there. I wanted something that looked like a truck, drove like a truck, and gets used like a truck.
I'm glad turbolump got what he was looking for. But I wouldn't be caught dead in that goofy lexus pod. (No offense to owners of any of the vehicles I have demeaned).
Thanks for the thread guys--I needed a break form work today.
And I take pleasure in running my non-KDSS truck around curvy roads. I like the feel of it and am pleased with the handling. You just need to understand what's going on and become familiar with the dynamics before you start driving like Ivan Stewart.
I'm like others-- a highlander or a minivan would better meet the needs of my family. Hell, most of my driving is commuting, so even a weenie prius would be better for me. But, as others have noted, this truck is so bad, I had to have it. And everybody loves it, from wifey, to my 4 year old daughter, to my 6 year old daughter.
It's the nicest vehicle I've ever owned, and the best handling (except for my wife's 05 mazda 6 wagon). But that is a ingnomious list: 79 buick estate wagon, 83 renault alliance, 76 AMC pacer, 76 Jeep DJ-5a (postal), 88 subaru GL wagon (mmm, maybe it handled better), 88 pathfinder, 02 Dodge 1500 reg cab 4x4 5.9, and my toy 83 jeep cj-7.
I've always admired the 4runner, (but not the 4th gen so much) and when this 5th gen came around, I simply had to have it. I was sold before driving it. So everything else is gravy. If you are looking for practical and sensible, there are magazines, websites, and vehicles for you out there. I wanted something that looked like a truck, drove like a truck, and gets used like a truck.
I'm glad turbolump got what he was looking for. But I wouldn't be caught dead in that goofy lexus pod. (No offense to owners of any of the vehicles I have demeaned).
Thanks for the thread guys--I needed a break form work today.
philsey
New member
True dat. But you must not have been reading the Forum, because this was a pretty easy, and often-discussed fix, once some others plowed the way.
Boy what a late night the other night and my typing sucked!!:gun5:
Let me be clear about one thing, I do enjoy the vehicle at times. I enjoy the ride quality, the lack of maintenance needed, the ease in getting replacement parts, the ease in a technician diagnosing problems quickly without waiting a week for diagnosing, simple inexpensive oil changes. I don't like nose diving, lack of performance, tin sounding passenger door, slow touch screen navigation, no Xeon lighting, smell (perhaps bad exhaust problem), horrible sound system (I have JBL). These items don't make me want to trade in NOW, but when the time comes and there is a better vehicle (soon it will be), I'll separate myself from it.
I don't think 4Runners are there yet in the field I would want them to be in, which is performance. I want them to have better performance, and either a V8 OR a S/C V6.
To the OP, I understand your concerns.
Let me be clear about one thing, I do enjoy the vehicle at times. I enjoy the ride quality, the lack of maintenance needed, the ease in getting replacement parts, the ease in a technician diagnosing problems quickly without waiting a week for diagnosing, simple inexpensive oil changes. I don't like nose diving, lack of performance, tin sounding passenger door, slow touch screen navigation, no Xeon lighting, smell (perhaps bad exhaust problem), horrible sound system (I have JBL). These items don't make me want to trade in NOW, but when the time comes and there is a better vehicle (soon it will be), I'll separate myself from it.
I don't think 4Runners are there yet in the field I would want them to be in, which is performance. I want them to have better performance, and either a V8 OR a S/C V6.
To the OP, I understand your concerns.
Rubberdown
New member
I drive my tundra 40 miles each way to work every day, 4runners still dont handle that well.
Ryan
rebelbowtie
New member
why dont i see these complaints in the other 4Runner sections?
maybe in Danno World.... sorry but no vehicle is perfect out the box
KCcarguy
New member
There will always be the fanboys on here that won't admit the stock SR5 handles pretty poorly even by truck/ SUV standards. I was close to selling mine as well......Luckily, a suspension lift and LT tires fixes it. I couldn't be happier now! :banana:
Sr5
I think most if not everyone on this forum who owns a 4Runner took engineering and quality into consideration before they made their purchase. I've owned many Toyotas over the years, my first was a 1963 that I bought while stationed in Okinawa, and I have to say I've never experienced the braking and wandering issues I have on the 4Runner. I do wish, as somebody else mentioned above, it had more power as well. I'm not a fan of tromping on the accelerator. I do like sitting high with a good view of the road ahead and even though I'm 6'6" tall I find the seats comfortable. For those who are happy with their 4Runners I'm happy for you. As for me, 420HP in the restyled Mustang sounds pretty good.
I think most if not everyone on this forum who owns a 4Runner took engineering and quality into consideration before they made their purchase. I've owned many Toyotas over the years, my first was a 1963 that I bought while stationed in Okinawa, and I have to say I've never experienced the braking and wandering issues I have on the 4Runner. I do wish, as somebody else mentioned above, it had more power as well. I'm not a fan of tromping on the accelerator. I do like sitting high with a good view of the road ahead and even though I'm 6'6" tall I find the seats comfortable. For those who are happy with their 4Runners I'm happy for you. As for me, 420HP in the restyled Mustang sounds pretty good.
Curt Sauve
New member
I still believe that the Limited is the best value in a 5th gen.T4R, the XREAS and Torsen center diff alone are worth the extra cost. It's not perfect but is still better than anything the competition has to offer for the same price. The next step up would be the GX460, but for another $10-15K, the value comes into question. I have noticed that most people that have posted here that are trading in their T4R, are trading for a vehicle in a completly different class, Which makes me think that they really didn't want a midsize, BOF, V6 SUV in the first place.
Running Amok
New member
Hey Pulled the trigger on a SR5 800 Miles ago.
I've really enjoyed this site, and it has given me many ideas.
This really wasn't the first post I wanted to do, but hey, let's just dive in head first...
So my 2 shillings...
I've seen many different versions of test drives... In NH they give you the keys for the day. Here on L.I. you get 10 minutes, and that's the rule not the exception. There's too much traffic around. But anyway.
Stop and go rush hour traffic usually isn't part of my day, but recent events have put me in 20 miles exactly that.
To the point... There's a lot of Dive....
I've already looked at posted suggestions so far, please keep them coming.
Thanks,
Kevin
I've really enjoyed this site, and it has given me many ideas.
This really wasn't the first post I wanted to do, but hey, let's just dive in head first...
So my 2 shillings...
I've seen many different versions of test drives... In NH they give you the keys for the day. Here on L.I. you get 10 minutes, and that's the rule not the exception. There's too much traffic around. But anyway.
Stop and go rush hour traffic usually isn't part of my day, but recent events have put me in 20 miles exactly that.
To the point... There's a lot of Dive....
I've already looked at posted suggestions so far, please keep them coming.
Thanks,
Kevin
I have to credit to the originator of this thread for posting a moment of honesty that he likely knew could draw the ire of a few folks here.
In response to your posting; I had an 2011 SR5 and have a 2012 TE. Stock, there is a big difference between the SR5 and TE. I found the dive in the SR5 bafflingly bad. Bilsteins transformed the ride to an extent I would not have imagined and I would have added them for the lift/leveling alone. So, I strongly recommend folks with dive problems consider these at a minimum.
The TE didn't seem to be so much in need of the Bilsteins, but does benefit some from them.
FYI: I only went from an SR5 to a TE due to a wreck. BTW, that wreck landed my SR5 on its side with me crawling out the sunroof (like the James Bond badass I am).
Victor_inox
New member
If you don`t mind me asking what did you get on a trade? i`m seriously considering geting rid of mine 3200 miles on it right now. I work from home and don`t need such expensive vehicle. I`d trade it in for something way smaller, no RX, my wife already have venza- pretty much the same thing. I`d get a mini or scion maybe. I always love small cars- never owned one. smallest I had was 93BMW 325. having said that i installed taller springs in the back and 5100 all around and I have no nose dive, not even drive shaft clunky thing. brakes are great and if you put 20" wheels I`m sure it will be much better in emergency lane change situation.
Running Amok
New member
H2O Doc ...
Thanks. I see the Bilstien5100's around, as well as HD and Comfort(comfortable enough)... This may be on the to-do list.
Original Springs w/ this would still be good? TIA
Thanks. I see the Bilstien5100's around, as well as HD and Comfort(comfortable enough)... This may be on the to-do list.
Original Springs w/ this would still be good? TIA
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