What is so special about the 4Runner?

[beeran]

I just read a post that basically stated that most people with 4Runners don't know that they have something special...my guess is that he/she would probably include me in that statement. Don't get me wrong, I love my 4Runner, but I don't seem to be as enamored with it as some other people are. I bought it because I wanted my first SUV to be something reliable and I've always liked Toyotas.

Someone let me in on the secret please.



P.S. Sorry if this post sounds retarded, work has fried my brain.

 

[olliebear]

You gotta live with a POS first....

endure those years of endless repairs, lousy designs, brain dead engineering, etc. to appreciate a 4Runner. Then all those memories fade as you realize hey, this car works! These knobs are feel nice. Windows don't rattle when I close the door. Wow, I don't have to slam the friggin' rear lid down to get it closed; just gently close it and the automatic feature just sucks it in and locks. Heavens to Betsy, this V8 is smooth. It does not sound like a '89 Dodge diesel with 4 dead injectors and a bad ring job......is the motor still on? I can't hear it....maybe I need to start it again.....whoa! this auto-crank feature locks me out if the motor's on so I don't fry the circuits, and holds crank with just a twist on the key ring.....you mean I can fold hte floor flat by just tumbling the seats forward and pulling the back down? I don't have to yank and pull and dissassemble half the back end to have a 45 degree floor? I can turn the defrostesr on and have the windows cleared in a minute!

I guess one has to endure some vehicular hell before one appreciates the heaven of a well made quality vehicle.

I was kinda blase about it when I first bought it. I had wanted a Dodge diesel for a long time znd was willing to live wiht the rest of the truck falling aprt around the Cummins just to have a Cummins....then my brain over rode my heart and I bought what I really needed.

Then as I became accustomed to the features I realized hey, this is what a nice luxury vehicle feels like without a luxury price.

That's my take on it.

 

[Gryphon]

For me, I cannot afford new rigs, so I am stuck with vehicles that are 10 years old or so. When you shop in that age range, you find out quickly what survives the years and what does not.

Toyotas and VWs both live very long lives if taken care of. Toyotas are excellent off roading rigs, another selling point for me. The 4Runner offers everything I need, several features I like (such as the 4x4, tough axles, clearance for 31" tires and the clutch interlock bypass starting switch.)

Add to this all that I have lusted after a 4Runner since the mid-80's, I am very happy with my rig. I have driven Fords, Chevys, a Mazda, several VW's as well as several other brands, and all various models of these. I really like my 4Runner more than even the 79 Ford Bronco that was my favourite rig until I bought my T4R.

I guess it is all a personal preferance, but some marqis really inspire a devoted following, and the 4Runner is one of those.

Like a friend of mine in the VW Cabriolet forums says: It's a VW thing!" It fits here too, at least for me!

Vroom!:driving: :rocker:

 

[Jimbo]

I agree with the above posters...

You may have to suffer with a lesser vehicle before you can appreaciate a 4Runner.

Here's how I settled on the 4Runner:

- 1999 Land Rover Discovery II with 45,000 developed a slow coolant leak
- Dealer informed me I needed a head gasket replacement, and probably a valve job, too. ($2,800) Oh, and the check engine light was on because my evap system purge valve had failed, again. ($300)


My 3 main criteria for a new SUV were reliability, reliability, and reliabilty. I subscribed to consumer reports online and poured over their data for 3 days, trashed the edmunds website, talked to 3 4Runner owners in my office, then bought a 4Runner of my own.

I was ecstatic that the 4Runner was not only the obvious choice from a reliability perspective, but that it had so many other great features that made me WANT to own it. Competent offroad (and many available mods), plenty of power, solid construction, and a 3rd row of seats, the only feature missing that prevented me from buying one in 1999.

 

[Iowa4Runner]

I just read a post that basically stated that most people with 4Runners don't know that they have something special...my guess is that he/she would probably include me in that statement. Don't get me wrong, I love my 4Runner, but I don't seem to be as enamored with it as some other people are. I bought it because I wanted my first SUV to be something reliable and I've always liked Toyotas.

Someone let me in on the secret please.

P.S. Sorry if this post sounds retarded, work has fried my brain.

I think the secret is the "group hug" effect of the forum. Everybody gets all warm and fuzzy when they come here to chat with their 4Runner friends.

I'm like you, I'm not thrilled to tears with my 4Runner but it's not like I regret the purchase. Maybe if the V8 wasn't a dud below 2500 RPM and the mechanical issues could be fixed BY THE DEALER, I'd be a little more excited about my 4Runner.

 

[kimboy]

1) It's special because the 4runner led the way to the SUV craze
It may not have been the first, but it has evolved into a winner.

2) It's not a Ford, GM, Chevy...

 

[jazzy jae]

nothing special. just soo damn cool. ask the ladies.

 

[24runners]

Also keep in mind that the 4Runner is still a TRUE off-road capable vehicle....most of the SUV's today are just glorified station wagons for soccer moms....check out the ground clearance, awd/4wd options, protection (under body plates), brakes, comfort, handling, and most of all...RELIABILITY...and you'll keep coming back to the 4Runner I'd gladly take my 4Runner off-road over a ford exploder I'd be scared to take most other "SUV"s across a median *LOL*

from Edmunds.com review:
"With rugged good looks and true off-road capability, the 4Runner has earned a reputation as a stout no-nonsense sport-ute. While other SUVs in its class have evolved into kinder, gentler versions of their originals, the 4Runner has retained much of its truckish character. This might seem like a misguided philosophy when you consider that few SUV owners actually go off-road, but Toyota looks at the situation a bit differently. It sees the 4Runner's all-terrain capability as a selling point over its rivals. If you want a "soft roader," there are plenty to choose from (the Toyota Highlander being a convenient suggestion). But if you want a real sport-utility vehicle, the 4Runner is still the real deal.
...
Taken off-road, this Toyota is right at home, tackling steep passes with little drama."

 

[XM DUDE]

Re: You gotta live with a POS first....

endure those years of endless repairs, lousy designs, brain dead engineering, etc. to appreciate a 4Runner. Then all those memories fade as you realize hey, this car works! These knobs are feel nice. Windows don't rattle when I close the door. Wow, I don't have to slam the friggin' rear lid down to get it closed; just gently close it and the automatic feature just sucks it in and locks. Heavens to Betsy, this V8 is smooth. It does not sound like a '89 Dodge diesel with 4 dead injectors and a bad ring job......is the motor still on? I can't hear it....maybe I need to start it again.....whoa! this auto-crank feature locks me out if the motor's on so I don't fry the circuits, and holds crank with just a twist on the key ring.....you mean I can fold hte floor flat by just tumbling the seats forward and pulling the back down? I don't have to yank and pull and dissassemble half the back end to have a 45 degree floor? I can turn the defrostesr on and have the windows cleared in a minute!

I guess one has to endure some vehicular hell before one appreciates the heaven of a well made quality vehicle.

I was kinda blase about it when I first bought it. I had wanted a Dodge diesel for a long time znd was willing to live wiht the rest of the truck falling aprt around the Cummins just to have a Cummins....then my brain over rode my heart and I bought what I really needed.

Then as I became accustomed to the features I realized hey, this is what a nice luxury vehicle feels like without a luxury price.

That's my take on it.

Hey I'm driving a 2003 Jetta wagon right now and I like besides the fact it is small and I missed my jeep until I discovered the 4 Runner, now it's not a Jeep thing anymorenow my oyes are opend to real quality.

 

[Hoomiester]

My 4Runner is my first and will not be my last. I've been through about 19 other vehicles - mostly because I could and did enjoy buying a new one, putting 20-30K on each and then selling them for a newer one.

This one, although not my first Toyota, is my first "quality" vehicle. Not in price, not in status, but in plain quality. Thigs are put together correctly, the ride is pretty darn good, the construction is top notched. The things are built to run and not break down. Toyota has learned what it takes to get my business for life. Unless their standards drop significantly, I'll be owning a 4Runner for life.

If you can't tell the difference in your 4Runner from other vehicles, either you've driven outrageously priced vehicles or you don't care much about what you drive. The difference is crystal clear.

 

[hre814]

Having owned a Ford Explorer, there is a huge difference! Not only in the vehicle but service, or lack there of on the side of Ford.

 

[Northof49]

I think a lot of people jumped on the bandwagon when the 4rth gen's came along. Don't get me wrong, this is a GREAT thing, the 4rth gen is an awesome vehicle and anything that expands the community is A-OK by me

_BUT_

Comments such as "The V8 is lacking power" should make the longer-term 'Runner fans just giggle themselves silly....Remembering back to the day of 22RE's and pulling my cousin's 19 foot Campion up Canada's highest paved road, wound right out in 2nd gear just trying to make it period LOL. Thinking the 3.0 V6 in the 2nd gen was a godsend, even tho it was barely faster than the 22, and got worse gas mileage than the V8's do now lol. I remember when the 3rd gen came out it was like driving a fuckin rocketship compared to previous Runner's, nevermind the new 6's and 8's!!!

I remember sitting my cousin's brand new 88 SR5 way back in the day and thinking it was the coolest thing ever.....still do!. The seats were nice, the driving position was perfect, hell you could take the fuckin ROOF off! How cool was THAT for a kid growing up in the 80's?? hahahaha I remember being scared Toyota sold out the Runner when the roof didn't come off anymore.....let alone when they started putting leather, heated seats, remote door openers, VSC, A-TRAC and all this other fluff in them

When I sold my MINT 2000 full load SR5 V6, I actually got a full load 1994 SR5 5-speed on trade. I had just as much fun driving that thing for a month than I did with my brand new 1st-within-500-miles 4rth gen!! Sure the 94 was slow, had zilch for features compared with what we're used to on the new trucks and got horrendous gas mileage, but it just drove cool.

I'm sure I'm taking this a little serious compare to most.....but I grew up with these trucks and, financial situation permitting, will have a 4Runner, or at least some form of 4WD Toyota in the garage for the rest of my life

For some morons, like myself, these rigs were an addiction long before words like "powerful" or "luxury" were anywhere near a 4Runner advertisment. They were (and still are) cool looking, fun-to-drive, reliable, capable 4wd vehicles with little compromise. Also, it was one of the original SUV's in the modern sense, and easily the only ONE that has aged the best


- Jason

PS: Who remembers these?

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

I do!! I come from the time when people WANTED the 4 banger instead of the 6 because the 4 banger had more torque for off roading.

I picked the V8 over the current 6 because it has more torque in the low rpms where you need it. I don't care about drag strip high rpm horsepower that I'll never use.

Bling don't swing my thing!!!

 

[Pribilof]

This is my third 4Runner, and the fifth in my family. I'll never buy a different SUV in my life after the wonderful experiences owning these vehicles. The quality in other SUV's is just not the same as the 4Runner. I've even had friends who have sold their cars and gotten 4Runners after riding in all of mine.

 

[peter78]

I think it is a car guy thing, or maybe I should say it is a car person thing. Most people on this board are car guys, or they wouldn't even be on the board. A non car would be tempted to buy a Ford Explorer, it has more room, lots of incentives and amenities.

We have all seen non car people, they have no idea if they have a DOHC engine or VTTI or what they even mean. Here is a list of people at work and what they drive and whether or not they are a car person.

3 Saturns- all 3 are non-car people, they are the most non-car people.

1 Ford Escort- non-car person.

1 Toyota Corolla- non car person

1 Toyota Camry- non car person, she didn't even know if it was a V6 or 4 cyl.

2 Toyota Tundra- both car guys.

1 Nissan Maxima- A car person.

1 Buick LaSabre- No way a car person.

1 Nissan Sentra- not a car person.

1 4Runner (me) A car guy.

1 Nissan Pathfinder- a car person

Non-car people can buy a 4Runner, but they may be tempted towards a less expesnsive alternative. My take on this argument anyway.

 

[fastlif306]

Because its the best looking and driving product for the money.

 

[Border411]

If you really study the 4runner, here is what you will see:

1) A quality built truck that offers a lot of refinement and sofistication for the money. Look in a similarly priced Ford Explorer and you see the hinges for the rear seats exposed! Just throw on some more plastic (cheap stuff at that) and cover it up Ford!

2) A truck that has SERIOUS offroad abilities, AS WELL AS great road manners and safety features to keep you on that road!

3) Comfortable seats (unlike my wifes new accord. Do japanese people have flat backs? They must have also modeled the cushions after a floor-ie-nice and hard....just like the floors they are used to sitting on!)

4) Great resale value--enough said

5) Very few recalls or TSB's, unlike BMW's, Chevy's, Ford's, and the list goes on and on.

6) A truck that will look like new in terms of styling 20 years from now.

7) And finally-part of a community that has some of the most informative and die-hard lovers of their truck.

This was my first new car ever, and I couldnt be prouder of it! No regrets, and hell, not even any major complaints (other than the easily chipped windshield and the sulfur smell with the rear window rolled down). But guess what, who gives a rats @ss?! I love my truck, and I am sure, deep down inside that sweet little V6, it loves me too!

Oh jes---I promised myself I wouldnt cry! I am all vaclempt!