Suggested improvements on the 2005 4runner?

[V8Limited4wd]

well i remember when BMW first came out with HIDs they had a comparison that the lighted area was larger...

so you're saying that people who add the HID option are paying a couple hundred bucks for some whitish looking lights? i find that hard to believe. more output = more light

yes there probably is a variance among car makers, but i know for a fact that the HIDs (at least for beemers) are much better than the standard halogens.

 

[EDGE]

People complained about Halogen lights when they 1st came out, this is no different, soon all cars will eventually have HID's then something else will come out and complain about that.

 

[mdpdretired]

Well here is my 2 cents worth -

It is hard to improve this vehicle...it is great already. However some options, many already available on other Toyota/Lexus vehicles would be nice.

1. Memory seats on the Limited
2. Aux input on all radio systems for MP3's, satellite radios, etc.
3. Assist handle above drivers door.
4. Rear cargo cover mounted on side so as to not be in the way when 2nd seat is lowered.

As far as the brightness of the headlights, we live in a rural area, very few streetlights, and are perfectly happy with the stock headlights.

Some, if not all of these features, will appear each year and the next 4Runner we purchase will be better equipped. Yet we'll still find other items we would like to have.

 

[webshot]

Some, if not all of these features, will appear each year and the next 4Runner we purchase will be better equipped. Yet we'll still find other items we would like to have.

:iagree:


Soon we will be complaining about how our 4runners need a more powerful flux capacitor and that they don't fly fast enough!

 

[darktiger]

More powerful engine, Hilux Surf emblems, cargo bay covers that do not slide out of the vehicle, XM Tuner, a little more leg room.

 

[toybox]

A mute button on the steering wheel radio controls!

That's it.

 

[jj8111]

1) more horsepower, there is no excuse for a v8 having less hp than a v6

I dont agree, I bought a V8 truck for the low-end power (pulling, towing). The V6 is designed to give high end power, hence the higher HP rating. Its just a preference thing.

"People buy horsepower but like torque"


I would like the next 4runner to

have better stock tires.

Ability to put 16" rims on the sport.

Ability to remove the double decker cargo system when I want to.

 

[Kanab]

I like the V8, Torque is the power you "feel". Like the 60's muscle cars it is all about Torque at low RPM's, I could careless about the claimed HP at the 5K-7K range, I don't drive in that RPM range. Give me the HP and Torque where I live in the 2K-3K range. JMHO

 

[bulldog-yota]

Luxury/comfort:
1) Memory seat option
2) HID option
3) 1" more headroom with moonroof in the front
4) runningboard lights that also provide some light to the ground below the running board
5) less windnoise
6) better headliner, current one is really cheap/bad
7) Space underneath the front seats for people's feet, it doesn't help much to have good legroom in the back bu tno space under the seats for the feet

(SHould have bought the Lexus )

Driveline/engine:
1) VVT on V8 (same torque low down but add 60 hp to the top end few 100 revs more)
2) 2wd selector on V8 like V6
3) 5 speed tranny on V6
4) sort out clunck properly in driveline
5) stronger brakes for uprated V8

Special options
1) TRD option with 3" lift, 265/70/17 tires, front and rear e-lockers but keeping XREAS system (longer XREAS shocks), and some silly stickers :

Also on pricing apart from HID and TRD option price should be the same as it is today. Toyota is making plenty profit on the 4RUnners, and it really wouldn't cost them that much to fix it.
HID option (both dim and bright lights) $800
TRD option $2000

If they do this I might just get another one, with TRD obviously.

 

[Pribilof]

Also on pricing apart from HID and TRD option price should be the same as it is today. Toyota is making plenty profit on the 4RUnners, and it really wouldn't cost them that much to fix it.
HID option (both dim and bright lights) $800
TRD option $2000

You're not thinking in economies of scale. Imagine Toyota made $2000 less per 4Runner. For the sake of argument lets assume Toyota sells an average of 100,000 4Runners per year. Thats a loss of $2,000,000 per year compared to what they're making now. Thats not going to happen. As my friends like to say on poker night, "I'm not running Unicef."

 

[bulldog-yota]

You're not thinking in economies of scale. Imagine Toyota made $2000 less per 4Runner. For the sake of argument lets assume Toyota sells an average of 100,000 4Runners per year. Thats a loss of $2,000,000 per year compared to what they're making now. Thats not going to happen. As my friends like to say on poker night, "I'm not running Unicef."

Maybe I should have been more clear, but for HID and TRD options they can charge the suggested prices extra. SO Toyota can make even more money on the 4Runners.

A couple of other things, the 4Runner is a high profit vechile for Toyota (so they have plenty margin on it), they would be very happy if they sold 100 000 in a year (I think they sell like 10-20k a year), also $2000 at 100k units is $200M not $2M

 

[GatorGreg]

A couple of other things, the 4Runner is a high profit vechile for Toyota (so they have plenty margin on it), they would be very happy if they sold 100 000 in a year (I think they sell like 10-20k a year), also $2000 at 100k units is $200M not $2M

You're a little off, ToyotaUSA sold over 10,000 T4Rs just in March '04, check out THIS THREAD

One minor thing I'd like to see Toyota add is a reclinable rear seat.

 

[Pribilof]

OOPS! You're right, $200M. Thats even better.

Toyota isn't going to charge more for 4Runners to make up the difference either. They take a lot of time studying the market to determine their price points. $500 is a lot of money to consumers. Just look at all the posts on this board about how to save $200 or $400 or whatever when buying the car from the dealer. $400 on a $30,000 car is only 1.33 percent of the purchase price. And people still sweat it.

 

[Kanab]

A couple of other things, the 4Runner is a high profit vechile for Toyota

It is a new design I don't know about high margin? The Lexus GX470 that is the same vehicle as a 4runner but sells for $15K more is the high margin vehicle. I do get a kick out of how the auto manufactures are sharing platforms and spreading the cost of improvements. It really gives the educated consumer an advantage by being able to buy the better vehicle in different sheet metal like we have done with the fourth generation 4runner versus the Lexus GX470. God I feel smart

 

[Duc Hunter]

More HP/Torque. I say offer a TRD Supercharged model fromt he factory as a $4000 option.

rear cargo light that is low, like next to the sub. With the cargo cover pulled shut you cannot see anything back there.

rear passenger maplights.

wood interior as an option a-la the AU vehicles

make the MPG computer ACCURATE LIKE EVERY GERMAN CAR!

HIID lights (the correct acronym)

top mounted oil filter for the V8 a-la the V6

NON-STINKY CAT'S (not Toyota's fault really)

XM/SIRIUS radio option

MP3 player option

BETTER BASS FROM THE INCULDED SUB, this system should rock like my girlfriends 99 Acura CL's similar system does.

That is about it for now.

 

[sharp4runr]

Has someone said stock tubular step sides? The plastic stock ones are pretty cheesey. I like the tubular ones like on the Xterra, but that's just personal preference.

 

[Mark86]

Sharp4runr, I think the early production 2003's were shipped with the tubular side steps. I agree with you though. My grandparents added the tubes onto their RAV4, and it looks hot.

Duc Hunter, that is definitely one thing I forgot in my list. I love the look of a wood trim. It just makes the inside look so luxurious. I do not think there is much of a chance they will put that on a 4Runner though. That would be something they would leave exclusive on the GX470 so there is some difference for the money.

 

[Kanab]

I don't think there has been many "improvements" listed. Most of the comments relate to "personal preference" and are ultra luxury oriented, like butt warmers, or rain sensing wipers. Some are not even improvements like taking a state of the art AWD system and making it a part time 4WD system for the V8. I think what most posters are saying they would like to have a lot of options or the chance through Toyota to add custom items after the purchase.

 

[dcampen]

HIID

HIID lights (the correct acronym)

What does the second "I" stand for?

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Re: HID vs Halogen

That is arguable, many would disagree.

High Intensity Discharge lamps have a different COLOR temperature, which is why they appear brighter and can still be lower wattage and use lkess power than comparable wattage halogens. The color temperature of HID lamps is closer to sunlight than a yellow halogen beam. That's why it appears to illuminate better.

I know there's a difference, a HUGE difference in what you can see with HID lamps. Objects are clearer, period. My 2001 Nightsun 45 watt halogen bicycle handlebar light can't come close to my 2002 NightRider HID Storm 15 watt helmet light. No comparison the HID lamp has outstanding illumination properties because of the color temperature is closer to sunlight. AND the smaller and lighter HID battery last 4 hours compared to 45 minutes for my old halogen.
The biggest complaint you will get with HID is they throw a sharper shadow.