What minor designed details do you appreciate most on the 3rd gen?
- Thread starter 4flyer
- Start date
I think in the united states they were not available. It was actually a government plot to cut down on teenage girls getting pregnant
TorqueOfTheDevil
Member
Ha! Really?
Ha, just remember that actually "we" didn't get anything, it was never sold here, all the UK ones are imported form Japan (hence weird stuff) but off the top of my head:
- Field Monitor
- From parking mirror
- Rear electronic deploying parking mirror
- Full digital climate control from '96
- Multimode 4x4 from '96
- Reclining rear Seats
- Electric folding door mirrors
- Rear spare Tyre carrier
- Diesel engine (I removed mine)
- At least 4 variants of factory bull bar
Not sure if you guys got the electronic Hard/Soft dampers, or had the option of the air cabin purifier?
Toyota have always been weird with what they choose to sell in different markets. When they sold the supra here they decided no one would want the Aerotop (Targa) roof so it wasn't an option, and they also decided no one wanted the 2.0 or 2.5 twin turbos outside of Japan. They also decided that the "Soarer" (Lexus SC300/400 to you) simply wouldn't be wanted in the UK, but they are really popular imports (I've had two) and that in the US you'd not want the twin turbo version.
We did actually get the 4Runner in the UK, but only in 1st and 2nd gen. they dropped it for the 3rd gen as they sold the Landcruiser Colorado (called Prado everywhere else) instead... although both were sold in Japan anyway.
John7M7
New member
WTF?! I would LOVE to have extensions for the sun visors!
I don't really have a favorite "feature". But I love my truck and I especially love the design, it looks amazing. It's dynamic, beefy, without being heavy looking or too much.
Way better than the gen 4 IMO.
On the dark side: I hate the fact that the remote has a button to roll down the rear window but not to roll it up, and I think we lack storage space (who designed these door pockets?!).
tS_kStin
Member
First would be the size of the back for sleeping in. I work at a local mattress factory and so I have direct access to really nice foams for a mattress, so when I went to make my mattress I measured the rear space I would have and it is a standard full size! Give or take an inch but that is such a nice thing. Us mattress makers get excited over weird things....
Second would be the rear window being able to open and close.
Second would be the rear window being able to open and close.
fan of fanboys
New member
I agree with many posts in this thread but certainly this one. My ex-wife had a 2012 jeep GC and the side mirrors were tiny. made backing up my boat a real pita. when I had my wrangler I was spoiled with how easy it was to back due to being able to see so well. I have not backed boat yet with 4runner but was one thing I noticed and was happy about
Hepar
New member
So much hate for the auto windows! I guess one man's trash...
Yep. One of the first things I did as well. It's just the first vehicle I've ever owned where it was so necessary to do so.
Yep. One of the first things I did as well. It's just the first vehicle I've ever owned where it was so necessary to do so.
zanes71
New member
This isn't my favorite thing about it, but I just found it today and already really like it, a card holder in the "secret" compartment of the upper center console for 99's and up.
Some of my favorites would have to be the 4 precut switch spots to the left of the steering wheel, the roll down rear window, or like many of you have said, how it feels like a big truck but also like a small car. Compared to the way my dads Jeep JK Wrangler drives, the 4Runner is a sports car, and I can park it as easily as my BMW, but when I'm going down the road I'm still taller than most of the other cars
(sorry, I don't know how to rotate the pictures without going into photoshop and I'm too lazy right now)
Some of my favorites would have to be the 4 precut switch spots to the left of the steering wheel, the roll down rear window, or like many of you have said, how it feels like a big truck but also like a small car. Compared to the way my dads Jeep JK Wrangler drives, the 4Runner is a sports car, and I can park it as easily as my BMW, but when I'm going down the road I'm still taller than most of the other cars
(sorry, I don't know how to rotate the pictures without going into photoshop and I'm too lazy right now)
/\ /\ /\ Never noticed that.
I like the auto up and down windows, it's just a matter of learning the subtle difference between 'non-auto' and 'auto'.
Something not mentioned yet: Auto open on the sunroof. How often do you want to open the sunroof only partway? Never! But normally you have to hold your hand up there forever while it opens. One touch, opens all the way.
Then there's the very minor PITA of needing to hold the button down to get the sunroof to close, but it stops half way. Then you need to press and hold it again. I'm sure someone got themselves trapped in a closed sunroof at some point.
I like the auto up and down windows, it's just a matter of learning the subtle difference between 'non-auto' and 'auto'.
Something not mentioned yet: Auto open on the sunroof. How often do you want to open the sunroof only partway? Never! But normally you have to hold your hand up there forever while it opens. One touch, opens all the way.
Then there's the very minor PITA of needing to hold the button down to get the sunroof to close, but it stops half way. Then you need to press and hold it again. I'm sure someone got themselves trapped in a closed sunroof at some point.
I really like that material - whatever it is - that comprises the headlight lenses. It's quite similar to the vehicle's windows. Get this: it never yellows! And it's (almost) scratch resistant.
Would that I could get headlights in that same miracle material for my '02 Tacoma, my '01 Outback, my '93 SC300...
Would that I could get headlights in that same miracle material for my '02 Tacoma, my '01 Outback, my '93 SC300...
StreetCreeper
New member
Haha — yeah I kind of grin when I see fancy newer cars with nasty dingy yellow-ish looking plastic headlights. New isn't always better — I'll take both my old-ass whiskey in a glass and my old-ass headlights too...
sdwaltz
New member
1) Sunglasses holder - I don't know how often you see them in vehicles but all I know is I've never had one and I love having it.
2) "Secret compartment" above the center console
3) I absolutely love the lines that run down the side of the 3rd gen. That little extra flare that starts at the headlight, runs midway through front door, stops, picks back up midway through the back door, and runs all the way to the top of the rear taillight. Aesthetically gorgeous and in my mind the primary differentiator between the 2nd and 3rd gen.
4) Tailgate window rolls up and down, along with auto up AND down windows
2) "Secret compartment" above the center console
3) I absolutely love the lines that run down the side of the 3rd gen. That little extra flare that starts at the headlight, runs midway through front door, stops, picks back up midway through the back door, and runs all the way to the top of the rear taillight. Aesthetically gorgeous and in my mind the primary differentiator between the 2nd and 3rd gen.
4) Tailgate window rolls up and down, along with auto up AND down windows
Later model here:
Things I really like:
- Auto up down. I always either have the window 100% up, or 100% down, so having to hold the switch is a real pain. Wish they were all Auto.
- As stated, big mirrors
- garage door opener hide away yet allows you to push the button above the rear view mirror
- head rest holders in the bottoms of the back seats. My dad and brother have a 97 and 98, and neither has this, so they have to stash the headrests somewhere when they have the seats down.
Things I don't like
- manual seats. I need to swap in some electric ones, but the crappy seat construction combined with the notches are just perfect to make me uncomfortable after about 2 hours driving. That, of course, is just personal preference and sizing.
- lack of window channels. I'm sure these have their problems too, and I imagine they were deleted for better aerodynamics, but my old first gen had drip rails, and the third gen doesn't.
This means in snowy/sloppy weather, the front windows get totally covered in snow, water, and slime, making them near impossible to see out of after 5 minutes. Didn't happen in the first gen.
- Interior held on with clips. Can't get away from it these days, so not a 3rd gen specific complaint, but sure wish things were bolted down. I'm slowing buying new clips for every panel and going through and replacing them so it stops rattling
- Oil filter.
- engine bay space. Fine if you don't want to add anything, hard if you do.
One thing that I have a love/hate relationship with is the key fob for my 99. It has a button for the rear window. This is extremely helpful with my tire carrier, as I can just push it, and load groceries in, easy. But, on more than one occasion, its gotten bumped in my pocket and opened the rear window when I'm inside and its parked outside. Have come out more than once to find a wet cargo area.
Things I really like:
- Auto up down. I always either have the window 100% up, or 100% down, so having to hold the switch is a real pain. Wish they were all Auto.
- As stated, big mirrors
- garage door opener hide away yet allows you to push the button above the rear view mirror
- head rest holders in the bottoms of the back seats. My dad and brother have a 97 and 98, and neither has this, so they have to stash the headrests somewhere when they have the seats down.
Things I don't like
- manual seats. I need to swap in some electric ones, but the crappy seat construction combined with the notches are just perfect to make me uncomfortable after about 2 hours driving. That, of course, is just personal preference and sizing.
- lack of window channels. I'm sure these have their problems too, and I imagine they were deleted for better aerodynamics, but my old first gen had drip rails, and the third gen doesn't.
This means in snowy/sloppy weather, the front windows get totally covered in snow, water, and slime, making them near impossible to see out of after 5 minutes. Didn't happen in the first gen.
- Interior held on with clips. Can't get away from it these days, so not a 3rd gen specific complaint, but sure wish things were bolted down. I'm slowing buying new clips for every panel and going through and replacing them so it stops rattling
- Oil filter.
- engine bay space. Fine if you don't want to add anything, hard if you do.
One thing that I have a love/hate relationship with is the key fob for my 99. It has a button for the rear window. This is extremely helpful with my tire carrier, as I can just push it, and load groceries in, easy. But, on more than one occasion, its gotten bumped in my pocket and opened the rear window when I'm inside and its parked outside. Have come out more than once to find a wet cargo area.
Where is your sunglass holder?
tgreenwood75
New member
The sunglass holder is right in front of the rear view mirror, integrated with the front map lights.
