Traded the T4R for a MDX Advance

R

rotorhead6

New member
I have to say I don't post much on this site but I do a lot of reading here. A lot of people seem to have the same feelings about the handling of the 5th Gen. T4R. I bought a SR5 new in March of 2010. I have always been a T4R guy since I owned a 3rd Gen. and put 117,000 miles on it before trading for a new one. I have to say it was a love hate relationship with the new one. I hated the way it handled on the road (which lets be honest it's horrible) and hated the nose dive. I always thought about changing the tires, shocks, spirngs. None of that ever made since...it's a new vehicle, why should I have to do that. I drive more on the road than off road. Maybe the T4R wasn't for me in the first place. I feel that it is truely a great off road vehicle but it's on road mannors were terrible. I just couldn't put the money to attempt to make something the way I wanted it when it was not meant to be.

I traded the T4R in on a 2011 Acura MDX Advance. Black with Umber interior. This MDX handles like a sports car and still has the capibilities of a SUV. I put a hitch on it for towing. I can't say enough about the active damper system and SH-AWD. I know, still not a 4Runner but no looking back now. Toyota, I hope you make some serious changes in the furture. This new 5th Gen. is not even close to the 3rd or 4th gen. vehicles. I really wanted to love the T4R like I did my 3rd gen. but just could not so it was time for change.

Questions and comments are welcome.
 
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Good luck with the MDX, I'm sure you will love it. I've always been a fan of the MDX and have heard a lot of good things about them. Really love the fit and finish too, and have heard that they are really reliable.

Sorry to hear you wern't happy with your T4R. I don't experiance any of the handling issues you mentioned, but then again I have a limited with the XREAS suspension. But from what I've read, it seems that SR5's really suffer from a soft suspension setup.

Anyways, good luck, sounds like you made a good call with the MDX.
 
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Toyota did make adjustments--it's called XREAS. I walked away from a SR5--the handling wasn't to my liking. Thought, "What the hell, let's try the Limited!"...and the rest is history.
 
Congrats on the MDX! Just out of curiosity, in what ways did your 5th gen handle worse than your 3rd gen? My brother has an MDX and driving it is like night and day compared to the 4Runner. The Acura feels like a sports car and is very fun to drive. The steering is firm and cornering is amazing! Good luck with the new ride!
 
I may sell my LTD next year if the SRT8 GJC comes out with a reasonable price or the Durango comes out with an SRT8 version. Kills me that I can't tow my 1979 Jeep CJ when I need to.

I "like" my T4R, but I don't love it......... good luck with the MDX.
 
Hope it works out for you, but I'm going to nitpick the comment about still having SUV capability. SH-AWD is a road going 4WD system that was designed with handling in mind. It is a transverse mount, FWD biased 4WD system afterall. It certainly wasn't meant for "off roading".
 
My TE w/KDSS is amazing on road. And off road it was able to do 90% of what the dune buggies were doing yesterday at Pensacola dam, rec area in Oklahoma. You would not want to handle that terrain in a crossover setup I assure you. Oh well, different strokes for different folks. Enjoy the new ride man.
 
Can't go wrong with either vehicle. My Dad has an MDX and it's a blast to drive, super comfortable, and gets pretty decent MPG's. The MDX won't do EVERYTHING a SUV will do, but sounds like it suits your needs just fine. And you know it will be just as solid 5 years down the road as it is today.

I can't help but wonder.....If you're willing to spend $50k+ for an MDX Advance, why did you go cheapo with the SR-5? You might have been happier with the handling of a T4R LTD or even a GX460.
 
I feel badly you didn't try a kdss equipped version! I just did some comparisons on some really pot holed highway driving comparing a Lexus 450h to a BMW x5 versus a trail edition with the radio 2.5 suspension upgrade. I found the stock te ride awesome now it's incredible with the radflo...my dad and wife agree there is hardly any difference in ride quality between the three on the highway with the x5 feeling best on corners.

I think our comparisons are fun to make but the 4runner isn't in the same category in my mind as the mdx or others I mentioned. It's to bad you bought an sr5 expecting a sport ride - sounds like you didn't research or test drive much. I Love the mdx but it's a terrible fit for my family who needs real off road capacity and gas milage isn't up to par IMO for a non truck suv...on that note I love the 450h for a family suv. I love my 4runner te before I upgraded the suspension now I love it even more!!! Just saying...
 
rotorhead6 said:
I have to say I don't post much on this site but I do a lot of reading here. A lot of people seem to have the same feelings about the handling of the 5th Gen. T4R. I bought a SR5 new in March of 2010. I have always been a T4R guy since I owned a 3rd Gen. and put 117,000 miles on it before trading for a new one. I have to say it was a love hate relationship with the new one. I hated the way it handled on the road (which lets be honest it's horrible) and hated the nose dive. I always thought about changing the tires, shocks, spirngs. None of that ever made since...it's a new vehicle, why should I have to do that. I drive more on the road than off road. Maybe the T4R wasn't for me in the first place. I feel that it is truely a great off road vehicle but it's on road mannors were terrible. I just couldn't put the money to attempt to make something the way I wanted it when it was not meant to be.

I traded the T4R in on a 2011 Acura MDX Advance. Black with Umber interior. This MDX handles like a sports car and still has the capibilities of a SUV. I put a hitch on it for towing. I can't say enough about the active damper system and SH-AWD. I know, still not a 4Runner but no looking back now. Toyota, I hope you make some serious changes in the furture. This new 5th Gen. is not even close to the 3rd or 4th gen. vehicles. I really wanted to love the T4R like I did my 3rd gen. but just could not so it was time for change.

Questions and comments are welcome.
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There's a huge difference between an SR5 and a MDX Advance, not only the price but the vehicles are not even in the same class. For about the same money you could've had a Lexus GX460 with a V8 and KDSS, a real body on frame SUV. Or maybe you just wanted a car?
 
Congrats on the Acura.

rotorhead6 said:
Maybe the T4R wasn't for me in the first place.
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I fully agree.

Your assessment reminds me of the many reviews that say the 4Runner just does not handle as nice as a Highlander or is a bit too trucky inside. The 5th generation T4R is tailored for certain individuals, even though anyone can buy one. I am one of the ones it is tailored for. Yesterday I cruised through the mountains at 80-85mph with my wife and kids, got off and did a 4 hour trail that an MDX could not do, and then smoothly cruised back home. Every time I drive my Trail I am so thrilled. For me it is a perfect all encompassing truck.

For you the nicer handling and umber interior are welcomed. No better day than the 4th of July to be reminded that we can all choose whatever we want. If your MDX satisfies you as my 4Runner does me, than I am truly happy for you :hatsoff:
 
5100 shocks would have made a world of difference.. but then again why bother on a new car right? better off with a cross over if your only purpose is a mall crawler
 
silversx said:
5100 shocks would have made a world of difference.. but then again why bother on a new car right? better off with a cross over if your only purpose is a mall crawler
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I'm one of those SR5 owner and I'll go the 5100 route since it's true that the suspension is too soft.

But boy I love the truck style of this vehicule! I'll confess however that I drive like an elderly so the MDX is definitly not my cup of tea.
 
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Good luck with the Acura. I really like the MDX.

As much as I like my T4R, there are some things that do bother me. It handles horrible on rough roads. I have X-Reas and don't notice the nose-dive and it corners just fine, so the on-road handling is plenty good. But, get on a bumpy road (like almost all our roads in WI) and it is bouncing me around way too much. I never had that with my 4th Gen. My 5th Gen was really bad last Winter and it has gotten better in summer, but I don't think I will keep it through another winter.

I don't think there is a more capable, dependable, durable, and safe SUV out there.
 
Curt Sauve said:
There's a huge difference between an SR5 and a MDX Advance, not only the price but the vehicles are not even in the same class. For about the same money you could've had a Lexus GX460 with a V8 and KDSS, a real body on frame SUV. Or maybe you just wanted a car?
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I think that the new GX460 price has gone up quite a bit...a base GX is around $54k. And at that price, you get a pretty loaded MDX with features that are not avail on GX.

4RFan said:
I don't think there is a more capable, dependable, durable, and safe SUV out there.
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All true, but i just wish that the 4runner got better scores for roof strength. (In a capable SUV that off-roads, i like the roof strength scores to be higher.)
 
I think our comparisons are fun to make but the 4runner isn't in the same category in my mind as the mdx or others I mentioned. It's to bad you bought an sr5 expecting a sport ride - sounds like you didn't research or test drive much.--Ghost Runner

Toyota can engineer a vehicle that drives like the MDX, but that wasn't the target for the 4 Runner. I have a tough time understanding the thinking behind sports car handling in a crossover package. Although the MDX is interesting to me (more so the RDX with the turbo 4), I become as confused as I do when I see the Porsche Cayenne. You can drive that SOB like a mad man thinking the whole time that you are the next Schumacher, but everybody outside will know that your wife was at Safeway yesterday buying groceries with it. The fact that people cross shop the 4 Runner with crossover packages is more a testimony to the brilliance of the 4 Runner than a commentary about its shortcomings.
 
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Ryan F. said:
I think our comparisons are fun to make but the 4runner isn't in the same category in my mind as the mdx or others I mentioned. It's to bad you bought an sr5 expecting a sport ride - sounds like you didn't research or test drive much.

Toyota can engineer a vehicle that drives like the MDX, but that wasn't the target for the 4 Runner. I have a tough time understanding the thinking behind sports car handling in a crossover package. Although the MDX is interesting to me (more so the RDX with the turbo 4), I become as confused as I do when I see the Porsche Cayenne. You can drive that SOB like a mad man thinking the whole time that you are the next Schumacher, but everybody outside will know that your wife was at Safeway yesterday buying groceries with it. The fact that people cross shop the 4 Runner with crossover packages is more a testimony to the brilliance of the 4 Runner than a commentary about its shortcomings.
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^^^ This ^^^
 
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