T4R in a suit (Lexus 460)

Yeah, man. Im in Western Mass, transplanted from Boston, and when buying our T4R, we tested the V6 4x4 (switchable) and the AWD V8. The steering was tighter and less-smooth on the AWD, but the power was great. Needlessto say, we got the V8 :)

And in the middle of this storm we're in right now, im damn happy to have it.
 
Here's my two week old, $44K Limited T4R!

Koz
 

Attachments

  • paragon.jpg
    paragon.jpg
    65.3 KB · Views: 233
All of the criticisms are fine to me...but C&D did mention "occasional chassis quivers"???? :wtf: That is not good in a brand new design with supposedly a stronger frame and body!!

Did anyone notice that the 4runner (5th gen) also got only an OK rating in roof strength test by IIHS????

Marginal straightline ability??!! That just sounds bad! Same criticism of the new Avalon's steering too!

Did Toyota went overboard with the 5th gen 4runner and GX...too much compromise of its "old" rear axle design?? We've heard plenty of criticisms of 5th gen's ride/handling compromises from reviewers...and now, the GX's turn. Most of its competitors are going to IRS for better handling and comfort...did Toyota/Lexus try too hard to smooth out the rear axle???
 
Car and driver just isn't a fan of Toyota... never have never will

I'm 36 and I've been reading Car and Driver since I was 10 (so, a long time).

A few years back, John Phillips, a long-time fixture at Car and Driver devoted a column about how the 4Runner was one of his favourite all-around vehicles throughout the years. It should be on-line, I just don't have the time to check right now.

Car and Driver also took an objective look and the throttle pedal recall issue and found the brakes overwhelm the engine even at full-throttle on a Toyota to put some reason to the mass hysteria.

Most of the best-known people in automotive journalism have worked or contributed to Car and Driver at one time or another over the last half-century.
 
All reviews are basing their opinion strictly on on-road characteristics, that's why most all have gone crossover. The most important factor for me is reliability and long life. This is not even considered anymore!

Koz

It is. It always has been.

Auto magazines do long-term tests. Except it's very expensive and time-consuming wearing out vehicles for the purpose of reporting the results to consumers, so they can't long-term test every make and model. Some publications use surveys, but that all depends on the number of participants.
 
I have the lexus (wife) and an 06 sport 4runner 4x4...
The 4runner drives like an SUV should...albeit the fit and finish is not to par with the Lexus but I don't really care about that...I got a truck so i can beat it up, tow things, throw **** in the back, put stuff on the roof, go out to the trails, woods, etc...
The Lexus drives like a giant marshmallow...I hate it unless i'm on the highway for an extended drive, that's when the softness of it shines, along with the soundproofing and unbelievable sound system.
 
I drove one when they first came out, I didn't like it.

-It's a pig, I don't blame the motor, I think it's maybe just too heavy. My 4WD 4R V8 (non vvti) felt much quicker.

-The 3rd row seat is stupid and raises the floor of the cargo compartment way too high.

-The barn door (like or dislike) opens the wrong fricken direction.

-The rear window doesn't roll down.

It's the weight. Weight kills performance. A GX is 5,200 lbs. That's like a V8 4th-gen. with three perminant passengers. Or about 72 gallons of water. The engine's fine, it's the weight. Or a V6 4th-gen. with four perminant passengers or nearly 100 gallons of water.

My Tundra's lighter -- 5080 lbs. curb weight going by Toyota's published numbers.

A typical extended-cab compact '89-present 4x4 Pickup or Tacoma weighs 3,800-4,000 lbs.
 
All of the criticisms are fine to me...but C&D did mention "occasional chassis quivers"???? :wtf: That is not good in a brand new design with supposedly a stronger frame and body!!


I must have missed "occasional chassis quivers", was that said about the 4Runner or the GX. If GX, that's rediculous. The GX is ROCK solid even over wash board ice and snow.

Koz
 
I have the lexus (wife) and an 06 sport 4runner 4x4...
The 4runner drives like an SUV should...albeit the fit and finish is not to par with the Lexus but I don't really care about that...I got a truck so i can beat it up, tow things, throw **** in the back, put stuff on the roof, go out to the trails, woods, etc...
The Lexus drives like a giant marshmallow...I hate it unless i'm on the highway for an extended drive, that's when the softness of it shines, along with the soundproofing and unbelievable sound system.

Which model Lexus?

Koz
 
I must have missed "occasional chassis quivers", was that said about the 4Runner or the GX. If GX, that's rediculous. The GX is ROCK solid even over wash board ice and snow.

Koz

Yup, GX460 in the C&D comparo noted at the beginning of thread.
 
It's the weight. Weight kills performance. A GX is 5,200 lbs. That's like a V8 4th-gen. with three perminant passengers. Or about 72 gallons of water. The engine's fine, it's the weight. Or a V6 4th-gen. with four perminant passengers or nearly 100 gallons of water.

My Tundra's lighter -- 5080 lbs. curb weight going by Toyota's published numbers.

A typical extended-cab compact '89-present 4x4 Pickup or Tacoma weighs 3,800-4,000 lbs.

I always thought the GX460 was identical to the Sequoia, but it's closer to the T4R. It's too bad the GX460 doesn't have the Sequoia option of the 5.7L V8 (381 HP; 401 lb-ft), which is reserved for the LX.
 
I always thought the GX460 was identical to the Sequoia, but it's closer to the T4R. It's too bad the GX460 doesn't have the Sequoia option of the 5.7L V8 (381 HP; 401 lb-ft), which is reserved for the LX.

There is no need for the 5.7 in the GX. The 4.6 has plenty power and still gets decent mileage.

Koz
 
I always thought the GX460 was identical to the Sequoia, but it's closer to the T4R. It's too bad the GX460 doesn't have the Sequoia option of the 5.7L V8 (381 HP; 401 lb-ft), which is reserved for the LX.

No, the GX460 is built on basically the same frame as the 4Runner. It is essentially the same as the Prado.
 
Last edited:
I think the Lexus RX would have been a better match to the rest of the vehicles. Seriously? An MDX against a GX? Come on C&D, lets do an apples to apples test.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,120
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top