Test drove another 5th gen...just couldn't buy it

S

scott78945

Member
I drove my dream Runner tonight, a Magnetic Grey SR5 w/ leather with trade and money in hand to buy. Surprisingly I just didn't like it. I had test drove a silver one last week but noticed more this time around. The doors are so cheap and thin. I closed it and could hear the echo. The dash is just a disappointment in itself. So cheaply made. I liked the new Runners but I couldn't help but feel like it was not as "solid" as the last gen. I sit in my 2005 and it just feels solid. I don't know how else to explain it. I did not get this feeling in this. Even the steering wheel felt flimsy and whats up with the steering itself??? It seems to turn way to easy and there was little to no resistance in it when turning. Unsure if thats just me and I then realized that I didn't want leather either. It was too damn hot!!! It was sitting in the sun as mine will every day and I felt like I could have cooked a Lean Cuisine on it...so its going to be fabric for me. Just saved myself $2K. Also noticed that the gas door isn't locked anymore which I would rather have, especially now with prices the way they are.

Going to wait and see what the 2012's have to offer...unsure what Toyota did this time around but they missed the mark in my book...
 
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changes on the '12 are likely to be little if any as others have stated before, but we'll see soon enough.

From what you're saying, It seems like you'll be happier with your 05 in the long run, and keep some $ in your pockets.
 
Yeah, sorry no party mode on my JBL...it was a nice vehicle and I probably will upgrade at some point but was just surprised how cheapy it was..shocked actually. I do like my 05 so we'll have to see what the 2012's do, if anything for me. Now only if I could take some parts of my 05 and merge them with the 2011...a Frankenrunner...
 
I honestly don't think you can do better than the 4runner in it's price range. But that 2005 has a lot of life left in it. Might as well keep it and the $$$.
 
scott78945 said:
I drove my dream Runner tonight, a Magnetic Grey SR5 w/ leather with trade and money in hand to buy. Surprisingly I just didn't like it. I had test drove a silver one last week but noticed more this time around. The doors are so cheap and thin. I closed it and could hear the echo. The dash is just a disappointment in itself. So cheaply made. I liked the new Runners but I couldn't help but feel like it was not as "solid" as the last gen. I sit in my 2005 and it just feels solid. I don't know how else to explain it. I did not get this feeling in this. Even the steering wheel felt flimsy and whats up with the steering itself??? It seems to turn way to easy and there was little to no resistance in it when turning. Unsure if thats just me and I then realized that I didn't want leather either. It was too damn hot!!! It was sitting in the sun as mine will every day and I felt like I could have cooked a Lean Cuisine on it...so its going to be fabric for me. Just saved myself $2K. Also noticed that the gas door isn't locked anymore which I would rather have, especially now with prices the way they are.

Going to wait and see what the 2012's have to offer...unsure what Toyota did this time around but they missed the mark in my book...
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I agree with you. I was ready to buy with cash 3 different times and walked away disappointed. I am waiting to see what the 12s offer but I do not think it will be any different. As of right now I plan to keep my 03 and buy a 2012 Dodge Challenger, orange color, hemi and manual trans. I really want a powerfull manual trans car again. I know its a Chrysler but I am retired and do not really need it so if it sets at the dealer for warrenty work it will not bother me as much.
 
You are Test Driving the Wrong Rig Dude...

Drive the TE, I have been Driving an 04 Dodge Club Cab Diesel, 02 Durango 5.9 Litr, 03 Suburban for quite a few years now, still have them all... I Test Drove a TE 2 times and Pulled the Trigger on it. I wanted a Mid Sized, Off Road worthy rig with a V-6 that looks Cool as can be that gets reasonable gas Milage, it gets the same as my Diesel at 18.5 consistantly. As far as things being Tinny and Cheap, well, I have put 10k on it, have lifted it and made it bigger and better handling. I couldn't be happier with it. If an 05 4Runner is good enough to keep then great, My Brother has an 06 4Runner it is smaller in size width wise and I felt like it was Tinny, Go buy a Dodge Truck instead if you want something Heavy Duty, A chipped Cummins Diesel Will Rip your Arms off and you can put a Million miles on that Motor, Plus if someone rides your Ass, you can Smoke the Hell out of them on Level 5. Keep the 05 and head on back over to the 3rd and 4th Gen Forum, while your over there, check up on the 1st Gen as well! LATE!!! :flipoff::moon::boxer::flipoff:::wtf:
 
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scott78945 said:
Yeah, sorry no party mode on my JBL...it was a nice vehicle and I probably will upgrade at some point but was just surprised how cheapy it was..shocked actually. I do like my 05 so we'll have to see what the 2012's do, if anything for me. Now only if I could take some parts of my 05 and merge them with the 2011...a Frankenrunner...
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It's not any more cheaply made than your current 4Runner - it's just different is all. I did not have any preconceived notions as I had a Honda before this. I test drove a 2009 before buying the 2011. My friend also has a 2004 which I have rode in several times...and listened to him complain about "how this 4Runner is nowhere as good as his 1998" bs. BTW he has over 125K on his 2004 with no problems and a reason I went with Toyota this time. He has rode in and driven my 2011 many times and while he did not like it to begin with now he likes it too. We have had this same discussion and realized that most people who care about vehicles feel that what they currently drive is a source of pride and anything new is looked upon suspiciously.

I have no "tinny" sound when I shut the door.

Locking gas door? Most gas thieves don't even bother with the door any more - too slow. They just poke a big and little hole in the plastic gas tank and drain it into a short barrel. Much faster than siphoning.
 
I came very close to trading mine in recently (I've been on the fence with going for a silver TE, not another platform). However, I've decided to follow harper's lead and mod the hell out of mine. I'll probably buy some e-dead and line the inside of the doors so I can eliminate some noise, add some weight to the door, and overall change out some of the cheaper feeling features of the vehicle. For me, it's about feeling like I'm happy in my car. I do love my runner, but I do wish it had more. Guess I'll have to add that myself. That supercharger doesn't seem so outlandish these days...
 
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So, what WILL you buy?

For those fence-sitters with earlier-Gens, wanting to upgrade, just curious as to what else you'll consider buying?

Waiting for a 2012 isn't likely to resolve most of the dislikes I've heard... especially in the 5Gs price range.
 
I rented a 2010 5th Gen a year ago for a weekend. I liked it, but decided I didn't like paying new price, so shopped hard and "stole" a 2009 4th Gen. I like it a lot. There are things I prefer about each gen, but I will probably sell my 4th Gen and upgrade in two years to a used 5th Gen, since I like to find bargain-priced (you have to be a patient shopper) two or three year old runners.
 
How many previous generation 4Runner owners does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Three. One to screw it in and two to talk about how good the old lightbulb was!
 
1engineer said:
It's not any more cheaply made than your current 4Runner - it's just different is all. I did not have any preconceived notions as I had a Honda before this. I test drove a 2009 before buying the 2011. My friend also has a 2004 which I have rode in several times...and listened to him complain about "how this 4Runner is nowhere as good as his 1998" bs. BTW he has over 125K on his 2004 with no problems and a reason I went with Toyota this time. He has rode in and driven my 2011 many times and while he did not like it to begin with now he likes it too. We have had this same discussion and realized that most people who care about vehicles feel that what they currently drive is a source of pride and anything new is looked upon suspiciously.

I have no "tinny" sound when I shut the door.

Locking gas door? Most gas thieves don't even bother with the door any more - too slow. They just poke a big and little hole in the plastic gas tank and drain it into a short barrel. Much faster than siphoning.
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LOL on the gas thing. I head back from the dealer as he was just following up with me from my test drive yesterday. I know its a totally different vehicle and it will take time to get used to. This was my first Toyota so this is what I am used to. He claims he can get me a really good deal, yeah they all say that. Unsure if I wanted leather as it was a little on the warm side from sitting in the sun but again, from all my friends I am told that I too will get use to this and once you have leather you will learn to love it. I may have to go back again and take a 2nd look...I have been told that I can be very picky at times. I guess I just had high expectations. Finding this Runner with everything I wanted on it was like a needle in a haystack as where I live many dealers only have a few left in stock. Lucky maybe...
 
tjnaples said:
How many previous generation 4Runner owners does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Three. One to screw it in and two to talk about how good the old lightbulb was!
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:D:D Very funny.

How many previous 5th generation 4Runner owners does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Two. One to screw it in the right tail light and the other screw it in the left tail light.

We have LED on our tail lights.

Please do not turn this into a bashing thread. Make it a fun one.
 
Net4n6 said:
:D:D Very funny.

How many previous 5th generation 4Runner owners does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Two. One to screw it in the right tail light and the other screw it in the left tail light.

We have LED on our tail lights.

Please do not turn this into a bashing thread. Make it a fun one.
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Question: Why did the OP decide to post his negative comparisons in the 5G forum? He would have gotten a lot more agreement to his woes in the 4G forum. Its not too hard to figure out people in the 5G area like their vehicles. When I test drove a 4G I did not post my views over there. What would that accomplish? Right. Nothing. I try to maintain the "high road" but sometimes it make you wonder what the poster's motivations are.
 
1engineer said:
Locking gas door? Most gas thieves don't even bother with the door any more - too slow. They just poke a big and little hole in the plastic gas tank and drain it into a short barrel. Much faster than siphoning.
Click to expand...

For me, stolen gas is not a concern. I want a locking gas door simply as a little extra security against someone vandalizing my 4Runner. Sure, they can pry the door open and piss in my tank if they want, but at least I'll know something is up when I see the broken door.

Still though, if I were really worried about it, I'd simply buy a locking gas cap and be done with it.
 
1engineer said:
Question: Why did the OP decide to post his negative comparisons in the 5G forum? He would have gotten a lot more agreement to his woes in the 4G forum. Its not too hard to figure out people in the 5G area like their vehicles. When I test drove a 4G I did not post my views over there. What would that accomplish? Right. Nothing. I try to maintain the "high road" but sometimes it make you wonder what the poster's motivations are.
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I thought I would get insight on those that actually own one and if they has the same concerns as I did. Apparently I was wrong...
 
scott78945 said:
I drove my dream Runner tonight, a Magnetic Grey SR5 w/ leather with trade and money in hand to buy. Surprisingly I just didn't like it. I had test drove a silver one last week but noticed more this time around. The doors are so cheap and thin. I closed it and could hear the echo. The dash is just a disappointment in itself. So cheaply made. I liked the new Runners but I couldn't help but feel like it was not as "solid" as the last gen. I sit in my 2005 and it just feels solid. I don't know how else to explain it. I did not get this feeling in this. Even the steering wheel felt flimsy and whats up with the steering itself??? It seems to turn way to easy and there was little to no resistance in it when turning. QUOTE]

I originally shared some of your concerns when I test drove my TE back in october of last year. The Nav/Voice control, the lack of a V8, towing capacity, etc. I went from a 2005 5.4L V8 F-150 Supercrew 4x4 that I put about 30k a year on. Over my 9 months of ownership (this is my first owned toyota but I've been in plenty), I have come to appreciate many things about my TE.
The doors sound flimsy if and only if another door, window, hatch is open. When all is closed and tight, the doors close and sound secure. The wind noise is much decreased from other cars, SUV's, and trucks I have been in. I've been in plenty of new vehicles, mostly american, and the fit and finish of other vehicles is well below what Toyota offers. I drove a 2 year old Corvette and was reminded of a chevy cavalier that my friend had in high school...20 years ago.
Nav/Voice-- still an issue. The Nav works fine, the voice control needs tweaking since it still takes about 10 minutes to confirm a destination (sarcasm font..) I use it every day to find addresses of farms that I go to, and it works just fine.
The engine-- yes, it's not a V8, and it does take higher RPM to get to the speed/ torque I want, but the more miles I put on it, the smoother it is. I'm now up to 16k, and she purrs along.
Still sways some with a crosswind, but it's a pretty high profile, boxy SUV.
I bought mine to last years.
I would say about 10% negative, 90% positive on my purchase. Still love it.
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