Traded in Highlander for 4Runner today

C

crunchcity

New member
Nothing fancy just an SR5 in Blizzard Pearl. Got a good deal since it was one of the last 2012's on the lot.

I don't offroad just a commuter in the snowy northeast but always liked the 4Runners. Used to have a 2003 Tacoma Doublecab TRD off road, then a bunch of crossovers V6 Rav4 and Highlander.

Highlander was very comfortable but a recent warranty repair at only 9000 miles kind of spooked me so I traded it in today. The repair involved dropping the engine...

So I have a question about the VIN number, anyone know which plant the number 5 represents? The 11th digit is a 5.
 
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I left Ft Drum earlier this year...loved all the snow we got up there. I used to try and be early to work on snow days to prove to people that it's not that hard to be prepared and get to work when it snowed.

I really was jealous when you western NY folks got that massive storm that caught all those people trapped on the FWY
 
What was the problem with your highlander that needed the engine to be dropped?

My parents have a 2002 highlander 3.0 V6 with 180k miles and no problems what so ever. Everything is original. Except timing belt, filers, etc. it has been extremely good to us. But we change the oil ever 3-4k miles.

Highlanders are built in Japan too. Not sure if the new ones are anymore.
 
chmura said:
What was the problem with your highlander that needed the engine to be dropped?

My parents have a 2002 highlander 3.0 V6 with 180k miles and no problems what so ever. Everything is original. Except timing belt, filers, etc. it has been extremely good to us. But we change the oil ever 3-4k miles.

Highlanders are built in Japan too. Not sure if the new ones are anymore.
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There was a slow oil leak/seepage coming from the engine. They needed to reseal it. At one point the car was up on the lift and the engine/tranny sitting on a table underneath it.

I've read of no major problems online regarding this issue with the new Highlanders I figured I just drew the short straw. It did seem well made and was very comfortable floated over the road otherwise.

Highlanders are made in the Princeton Indiana plant I believe, I think Sequoia's are made there as well.
 
plant 5 is the tahara plant if i remember correctly.

there should be a post in the 4th gens about this from when i had a 2004 4runner.
 
Yes 4 Runners are made in the Tihara plant in Aichi prefecture. It is a very advanced plant.
 
Hello , first time poster , long time lurker. Thinking of a new T4R. How does the ride compare to your highlander ? Thanks
 
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daspud said:
Hello , first time poster , long time lurker. Thinking of a new T4R. How does the ride compare to the highlander ? Thanks
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Car vs. Truck

My wife has a Highlander, very smooth and comfortable ride. 4Runner is on a truck frame, however it is a smooth ride. I fell in love right a way.
 
crunchcity said:
Nothing fancy just an SR5 in Blizzard Pearl. Got a good deal since it was one of the last 2012's on the lot.

I don't offroad just a commuter in the snowy northeast but always liked the 4Runners. Used to have a 2003 Tacoma Doublecab TRD off road, then a bunch of crossovers V6 Rav4 and Highlander.

Highlander was very comfortable but a recent warranty repair at only 9000 miles kind of spooked me so I traded it in today. The repair involved dropping the engine...

So I have a question about the VIN number, anyone know which plant the number 5 represents? The 11th digit is a 5.
Click to expand...

GMZ said:
Yes 4 Runners are made in the Tihara plant in Aichi prefecture. It is a very advanced plant.
Click to expand...

Well from my reading and research the 5 just indicates japanese factory now and that 4runners are made both at the Tahara Lexus plant and also at the Hino truck plant with the FJ's. Who knows for sure as they are pretty secretive about some stuff but I always thought they were made at the Tahara plant too and pretty sure all 4th Gens were.

They might do some parts of assembly at one place and ship them to another for final assembly?There are some really cool FJ factory videos from 4x4 magazine of Japan(at least 10) that shows them being made at the Hino assembly plant and you can see what look like some 4Runners and Prados on the lines as well(hint:FJ's don't have "B" pillars and more sloped "A" pillars). Just scroll down thru some of their fj videos and you'll see a bunch of FJ factory assembly line ones. 4x4MAGAZINE

Here's one neat one showing the robots working.....

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wyIgAVmYoQc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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crunchcity:
Glad you finally got a 4Runner....you are gonna love it.
But, stay far away from this forum lest you are tempted to start taking things apart, and oh-no "cutting wires", removing badges, painting things black, shopping for big tires, etc.

I can't help myself....already been sucked in to the "mod vortex".....help me!!!!!!!!!

(Oh...and "Don't look into the light"...........)
 
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