Hmmm, so part of the reason I was willing to spend relatively big bucks on my new Runner is that 1. I know it's Toyota reliable unless I do something stupid, and 2. it's going to be worth a fairly good percentage of that cost when it's time to sell it. I'm not willing to spend Lexus bucks for a Gucci'd 4Runner. My seats are fine (heated!), headlights are fine, I don't use Cruise control, and I won't take many multi thousand mile trips in it. I don't claim to be an "overlander", whatever that means. I see way too many 4Runners with aftermarket racks, bumpers, traction boards, shovels, and hi lifts that have never been used...uggh. Most seem to be Starbucks posers with shiny paint jobs owned by people with too much disposable income.
Like I wrote earlier, I enjoy driving. Old cars suck in a fun way to drive. I like the two foot diameter steering wheel on my '64 FJ-40, and bad (not really) drum brakes. Years ago, I drove the 40 from Denver to Moab for a week of wheeling there. Lots of guys trailered their rigs, but I wanted to drive there. Three speed on the column, baby, and I was still able to drive over Vail Pass! Hit rain, snow, traffic. Man, that was fun!
I think of my 2019 4Runner as an evolution of the FJ-60 I used to own, but with a lot more power/torque and some niceties and no carburetor. It's not particularly quick 0-60, but who cares about that? I know I'll be among the first to the grocery store the next time we get hit by a blizzard. My wife's '18 Tuscon Limited Ultimate with all the electronic crap will be sitting in the driveway. And the car's nanny will tell me that it's snowing.
