What was the #1 reason you bought a T4R instead of anything else?..

[serpico6969]

Hi gang,

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
Its been a while since my last post-remember I was the guy who posted a novel 10 pages about getting the first trd pro in AG and paying $57k..ok now you remember.

I am enjoying my new rig and am super happy I got it, its the best SUV i have ever owned.

The main reason I bought a T4R (never mind the trim) is because of the durability of this beast. I needed and wanted an SUV that could do 200k miles with no problem.

I am curious why you guys bought one, any generation really, 3rd, 4th, 5th, just curious what the #1 reason was that you got a T4R over the multitude of other options in the SUV world.

There you go, short and sweet post!

Ok thanks and I look forward to hearing everyones thoughts/reasons.

 

[Maadcaap]

My friends have jeeps and we did a lot of camping and exploring.. I wanted my own rig.. I chose the T4R because I can still go all the same places and travel at highway speeds In quiet and comfort..

 

[mcat707]

Yes I remember your original thread on your AG TRD Pro. I didn’t comment in it but it was entertaining to read.

As for why I got a 2015 T4R TRD Pro...

1. I had a 2015 Tundra DoubleCab with 6.5ft bed that was a beast to drive and maneuver in tight parking spaces so I wanted something that can handle tight spots with less effort and less chances of getting door dinged for being so wide with the Tundra. I do miss my Tundra though for all sorts of reasons. Mostly for the V8 power and truck bed capacity.

2. I knew it had to be a Toyota and I’ve always loved the look of the 5th gen 4Runners.

3. Reliability was extremely important, the reason I chose to go with Toyota and the 4Runner was rated one of the most reliable vehicles in the world.

4. Made in Japan. Less and less Japanese brand vehicles are actually made in Japan, so this was also important to me.

5. One of the few BOF - Body on Frame SUV’s on the market. Most of the vehicles I’ve owned in my life have been BOF and I want to keep it that way.

6. Fell in love with it after I test drove it and the rest is history.

 

[Ogre75]

I swore off 2wd vehicles 25 years ago after I got my Thunderbird supercoupe stuck in an inch of snow on flat ground (high performance tires, light, RWD, and an admitted young mans lack of experience at the time). From then on I've had a '93 Yukon, '99 Tahoe, '01 Expedition, '95 Pathfinder, and until 2 years ago, a '03 Sierra HD.
I was ready to get something new and spare myself of a possible injector replacement cost of the GMC, but I wanted a real 4x4. Not AWD, and not a fake SUV crossover. That left me with the Big SUV's again, but I couldn't get myself to spend the crazy money on a Yukon, Tahoe or Suburban. That left me looking at Xterras, 4R's and Jeef Wranglers.
I don't trust Chrysler products, much less Fiat influence Chrysler products. So I test drove a couple Xterras and 4R's. The Xterra isn't bad, but in terms of reliability, Renault/Nissan made me queezy. So here I am.

Basically, a true chassis on frame 4x4, that was reliable hopefully for over 200k miles with minimal non PM repairs.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

I wanted an F150 but it didn't fit my current living situation. For SUVs, nothing else had real 4wd and a solid rear axle in the Runner size.

 

[Muff Muff]

I was fortunate enough to be able to save up every paycheck I made my last semester of college towards the down payment of my 2017 Mustang GT with the intent of taking it to track days and autocrossing. I bought that car brand new in the fall of 2016, two weeks before I graduated, and about a month before I met the girl who would become my wife. We (me more than her) enjoyed it for the first year of marriage, but we are pretty outdoorsy people, and slowly I started to realize that I was never going to race it, I didn't even drive it fast, and it just wasn't practical for us anymore despite being paid off. We weighed whether to keep it, because no car payment is best car payment, or to get something that better suited our desired lifestyle (beach days, weekends at the family ranch, etc.) We considered a new Outback (we had got a 1st gen for free from a a friend of ours, and while we only had it for 6 weeks, we had more fun in that car than the 2.5 years with the Mustang) but I didn't like the idea of a CVT for longterm reliability. Our focus then shifted to keeping the Mustang and buying a 100 Series cash, but my wife didn't like the idea of having three cars. Finally we came to the conclusion that trading the Mustang for either a 200 Series or a 4Runner were our best options. Couldn't find a 200 Series cheap enough, but there were plenty of TRD Off Roads that were right in our desired price range, and here we are.

TLDR: I bought a Mustang when I was still single, had it for a month before I met my wife, and over the 2 years we've been married (as of yesterday) she slowly convinced me to trade it in for something more practical.

 

[08TxRunner]

I bought my 4th gen because several friends with 4Runners and Tacomas spoke very highly about them. Absolutely loved my 4th gen, and just upgraded to the 5th gen because I wanted something new. I also have 3 Tacomas (kids).

 

[kenwilliams0803]

I can't pick a single reason. There are too many to list.

Top of the list was reliability. I don't need to get stuck broken down 9 hours from home on a work trip and have that screw up my weekend and maybe the next work week too.

Next up was split between real 4wd and ground clearance. Strictly for NE snow purposes. The JK does any severe duty but I'm not driving it 9 hours somewhere, I'd rather shoot myself first. I traded in my G37X (which was perfect and I adored the car) for the T4R because I wouldn't have been happy with it in some of the snow storms we can have where I travel regularly.

Or like if I come home after 3 days on the road and there's a 1-2 foot snowbank where my driveway meets the road. G37X ain't getting through that so I can get in and plow it out myself. Not without body damage, it's too damn low. The 4Runner will.

 

[Ventil8]

Number one was was that I thought it was a chick magnet and I could definitely get laid. I was a young 26 y/o then. 15 years later, I’m still driving that beast

 

[rushrunner]

Really, the only reason is the auto back window down. I have two. Otherwise, not really sure what else to get.

 

[sawman1]

#1 Reason

My reasons mirror many in the above replies. I have had 19-20 vehicles of all brands, makes, and models in my nearly 33 years of driving. I had a neighbor with a 4th Gen that I liked & drove a couple times, but especially like the looks of the 5th Gen. I had a 2005 TRD Tacoma, and sold it after having just a few years. I missed it badly after selling it, and knew that I really wanted a 4Runner after going Toyota-less.

This past January, I went on vacation with my family and had the option to take a nearly-new 4Runner as a rental vehicle, which I did. That lit the fire. Two months later, I purchased mine.

To answer the question: "The #1 Reason I bought a T4R over anything else was because I wanted to have a do it all vehicle that made me smile every time I parked it and turned around to take a look at it".

 

[nevada]

i had an 85 pickup previously. not enough leg room, and my knees would get sore. picked up an 85 4runner. solid axle and EFI was also a big reason.
the next one I bought was an 06, "because it had the v8" and was a 4runner. lol.

 

[Finslayer83]

manual transfer case.

 

[Toffees]

The #1 reason was because it ticked all the boxes for me

 

[blksubykid]

Needed something more practical than a 370z. Deciding factor on a 4R was that I wanted something reliable, capable, and relatively comfortable as I didn’t want a dedicated rock crawler. I intended it to be my DD but I find myself driving the Z more. I only take it out on trips or to Costco LOL

 

[Daikon]

I have a 1st gen Tacoma Xtra cab with the 2.7 and it has over 321,000 miles. I didnt want another pick up so I went with the T4R.

But now I am thinking about selling the truck and feel like I don't want to be without an actual truck.

Now I am considering selling my wifes Prius, my 1st gen, and picking up a 3rd gen DCLB and making the 4R her daily driver.

 

[IslandJim]

Made in Japan

Needed a truck that could tow my boat and be completely manufactured in Japan.

Had the 3rd Gen Tacoma, and it was a pretty good truck, at 40,000 miles the transmission started to slip due to the fact the engine and transmission are assembled in Japan but installed in the US. Tacomas with the tow package had a transmission cooler but when assembled they never added tranny fluid to account for the additional cooler, so was basically driving it around one quart low for 2 years.

The Tacoma otherwise was alright, as soon as the transmission started to slip, traded it in on the SUV that was always wanted. Use to drive Bronco II and a full size Bronco, and am interested to see the new Bronco if they ever come out with one...but am definitely satisfied with the 4Runner.

Magnetic grey is the best color I think too, had the white which I always wanted but every little scratch on the bumper showed the black plastic underneath so I upgraded to the ORP and Magnetic Grey....very happy now...Rock on 4Runners...:guitar2:

 

[Blue 4ever Runner]

A couple of reasons, actually. Number one was reliability, though. That plus I just love the looks of these things!

 

[ads2539]

Bought my ’04 V8 because I needed the 7,000lb towing capacity in something “small”, and because of Toyota reliability. At ~180k miles, it’s just getting broken in. I have also previously owned/driven a Sienna, 2 different Corollas and a Camry, so I was already a fan of Toyotas.

 

[mteolus]

The Jeep JL Rubicon is a nicely designed vehicle and the most capable 4x4 you can buy stock. You can put 35's on it without any modifications. Has an automatic unlocking swaybar, solid front axle, and locker front and back. It also has the option of a manual transmission. Has more aftermarket goodies than the 4Runner. I think the Wrangler ride is improved in the JL so not much worse than the 4Runner now. At least tolerable.

Two problems though. Not big enough if you have kids, and then there is the reliability part. Inexcusable to have welds coming apart and sand in the engines.