"Toy Runner"

[DanAKAL]

I went to my remote work site and later get a poorly connected cell phone call from my wife where she says that she bought a "Toy Runner". A Toy what I ask, and then lose the connection completely. Now that didn't make any sense. We don't have any children at home that need toys and I have a 1 ton dually "Runner" for carrying my toys. Then I get a pic on my phone of this nice little SUV that is indeed parked in my driveway. A while later I find out she bought a Toyota 4Runner. This was my introduction to the SUV my wife picked. She had been shopping for awhile and I had even gone with her some. She had her heart set on a new Durango (we have sort of always been a Chrysler family) but I was quite unimpressed with the new model Durango. So much so that I actually told her that really wasn't the vehicle we needed. I hadn't paid much attention to any of the imported SUV's but apparently she was. And to be honest I hadn't seen anything in the domestic line up that impressed me. Either they were some make shift uni body car with an enclosed body that the dealers were trying to pass off as an SUV or they were a 1/2 ton truck with an enclosed body. Just really nothing in between. To me an SUV has a tube frame chasis, 4WD - not AWD, and truck suspension. Otherwise it is just a car. Seems this 4Runner meets those requirements and then some! So it looks like I now own a 2012 4Runner Trail Edition. I haven't even seen it yet so it will be a while before I get to fondle anything. Reading here it seems like I will have some what of a learing curve for the maintence end of things. My experience with dealers is that there aren't any of those rookies with wrenches that I trust so I do everything myself. I know how to read codes and maintain my Chryslers but this Toyota appears to be a horse of a different color. Anyway, she's happy and at least for now it seems she made a very good decision. So now I have a new toy to play with when I get home.

Dan

 

[BucknutBob]

Your wife did you proud, Dan--you've got a great new truck. Welcome to the forum! As for maintenance, there's really nothing new you need to learn--keep the fluids and filters clean, and she'll run forever for you. Eventually you may need to have the timing belt changed (I believe one engine still uses a belt, while the other uses a chain), but that won't be for a while. 4Runners are solid vehicles, the newer ones have plenty of power, they all can take you just about anywhere (AND get you back safely), and they're extremely dependable--I don't think you'll miss those Durangos!

 

[Sputnik]

Your wife made a good. Choice. Your are right about the domestic lineup, nothing compares to a 4runner

 

[DanAKAL]

Thanks for the welcomes! This seems like a pretty good place here with tons of info. The more I read the more it seems my wife did make a very good decision. She is usually really good about doing her homework before making a decision like this. I do see I will have a learning curve. I have always been what some call a "Big Block Guy" and VVT-i has been quite the eye opener. I was just getting a handle on overhead cams and simply had no idea that crank to cam timing could be variable. I must still be in the stone age about such things, but thats okay because I've been there before. Now I wonder what else this little SUV has that I didn't even know was possible. It will be fun to find out!!

Dan