First off, thank you all for making this forum such a great resource. It has been a part of my daily readings for the last 5 years!
While my read-to-post ratio is probably 1000:1, whenever I did need specific info, you all were there to provide great feedback! Thank you again!
As this is most likely last official 5th Gen post, I thought I'd share my likes/dislikes with owning the 4R, and a bit of comparision to my new LC200.
Likes:
Dislikes:
*** Basically, 3 of my 4 dislikes are ridiculous themselves. Most people with stock tires, a pedal commander, or heck even the supercharger will zero out any dislikes ever!
As for the Land Cruiser, these are my reasons/comparisions:
There are of course a few dislikes too:
If anyone is on the fence between 4R and LC, I recommend always test driving. I don't think there is a simple X>Y answer, and I don't necessarily believe that LC > 4R in every/all cases.
I probably drove 8 different LCs, both 6spd and 8spd, and various mid-life-cycles (2008-2011, 2012-2013, 2014-2016, 2016+) and they all drove different and offered unique price-to-feature options.
And if I was to do it all over again on the 4Runner, I think I would have done all the modifications exactly the same, except perhaps on Day 1 vs most of them at the 40k mile mark. And if I were to keep it long term, I would have CBI'd the rear and Demello'd (aluminum) the front!
In closing, I would recommend a 4Runner to almost anyone (as I would a LC too!).
Thank you again for making this such a great forum!
While my read-to-post ratio is probably 1000:1, whenever I did need specific info, you all were there to provide great feedback! Thank you again!
As this is most likely last official 5th Gen post, I thought I'd share my likes/dislikes with owning the 4R, and a bit of comparision to my new LC200.
Likes:
- 70k trouble free miles! Not a single issue. Only 1-off scheduled maintenance item was the Tanaka airbag recall. My guess is at 170k my answer would be the same!
- Great double duty vehicle! Daily driving is 10x my old wrangler, and offroad it held it own just fine for the trails I would take my kids on!
- Nusoft seats are amazing! Family, dogs, fishing, muck, you name it. They still look new! Never get that result out of cloth or leather!
- Radflow Suspension! Best suspension I've owned! Amazing at speed and at a crawl!
- KDSS is great! Don't listen to the downers! Its onroad handling pays for itself and its offroad is great. 33s, 2.5" lift and zero kdss lean!
Dislikes:
- Power Delivery! Not the engine, not necessarily even the 5spd, just the mapping and overall wide gaps in gearing is just so underwhelming, even at 99% sea-level driving.
- Lift to fit 33s?!? And still needed to trim and tuck. Glad at least I didn't have to do the BM Chop!
- Stock shocks/sprints! Nose dive on braking was ridiculous! KDSS hid many more issues I'm sure.
- Everyone and their mom drives one now! I know, 100k sales a year is nothing but great for it/brand, but seeing 20 on the road every 5 miles get a bit mundane.
*** Basically, 3 of my 4 dislikes are ridiculous themselves. Most people with stock tires, a pedal commander, or heck even the supercharger will zero out any dislikes ever!
As for the Land Cruiser, these are my reasons/comparisions:
- V8 and 8speed! Even though the power and weight seems comparable (~110hp+ and ~1,100lbs+), the seat feel is night and day. The power band is just awesome!
- Just a tad more space for family and stuff. The jump seat actually gets a bit of use!
- 33s with no modifications!
- Headlights that actually put light on the road to actually see at night! What a concept!!!
- Daily driving is 5x the T4R. Drivetrain, seats, amenities, comfort, safety are all just a bit better.
- Sales and Marketing departments kept whispering "Land Cruiser"... "Laaaand....Crusier"... "LAND CRUISER!!!"
There are of course a few dislikes too:
- Not as much up-front storage (coolbox is great, but miss the center cargo)
- Too easy to mistake the fuel gauge for the rpm gauge as they move at the same speed!
- Just wide enough to ensure that any trail will pinstripe it to death! Feels like I could get pin striping just going out of the garage!
- Bit too pretty...so far... to throw it onto some trails!
If anyone is on the fence between 4R and LC, I recommend always test driving. I don't think there is a simple X>Y answer, and I don't necessarily believe that LC > 4R in every/all cases.
I probably drove 8 different LCs, both 6spd and 8spd, and various mid-life-cycles (2008-2011, 2012-2013, 2014-2016, 2016+) and they all drove different and offered unique price-to-feature options.
And if I was to do it all over again on the 4Runner, I think I would have done all the modifications exactly the same, except perhaps on Day 1 vs most of them at the 40k mile mark. And if I were to keep it long term, I would have CBI'd the rear and Demello'd (aluminum) the front!
In closing, I would recommend a 4Runner to almost anyone (as I would a LC too!).
Thank you again for making this such a great forum!
