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

[1moreBru]

Because its a TOYOTA

Dad had a first gen (stolen), replaced it with second gen with the 3.0L and it had over 500K miles on it with original tranny, and drive-train but did need 4 headgaskets done. Dealer did two (under warranty) and I did two. I have many Toyota's and not one has ever left me stranded, even when it was running on 3 of 6 cylinders.

Bought my 2017 pro (1st new car) to go on adventures with wife and dog and know we will not have any mechanical problems for years...actually for decades!

 

[LandCruiser]

Taco has a weird seating position, is too long with the long bed and 4 door configuration. I had looked at the holy grail short cab short bed MT 4x4, tho. It was sweet.

The GX was an alternative at the time and still hadn't got ugly.

My FJC was being traded for its second crapped out T/O bearing.

TLC was too expensive.

Xterra was on its way out.

Wrangler was a hot mess.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

I needed to replace my A4 with something a bit (lot) more reliable and functional, especially with a 9 month-old. I didn't have time to be in the garage most weekends dealing with a moderately modified German sedan, so I looked for something more practical. I was set on a Taco, 4 door, but the car seat test failed. My wife dropped the car seat into one of the 4R's in the showroom and it passed.
Went with a Pro to try to curb the mod bug.

 

[<<<<]

Frame

 

[TRDHULK]

Reliability
Ruggedness
Color
New tech for 2020

 

[JLTD]

Years ago, I researched 4Runners but the previous gens were too small inside; so I had a reliable and paid off 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee and was happy to stay with that...until I got rear ended and it never drove right afterwards. Past '04 the model changed and reliability was no longer good. At the time I lived in rural Montana and needed a pick up. It was a showdown between Tundra and F150. Ended up with the F150 as 5mpg made a difference with the amount of driving I did.

Fast forward several years, new wife came with 2 kids who didn't fit in the extracab pickup (which was starting to have some leaks and functionality issues) so started looking.

Thought to check out the new gen of 4Runner, lo and behold with no sunroof I was good! Test drove the one I sat in and it was a very easy decision. Didn't hurt that the 4R is top 3 in the world for reliability AND longevity.

Only thing I would change would be to buy new (mine's ex-Ohio with some pesky rust)

And maybe manual 4wd engagement and rear locker. Maybe.

 

[Rack]

Ok I'll Bite

Mine is a 2011 SR 5, it's simple, its a basic Truck. I'm a truck guy, always have been.
My First truck I bought new was a Datsun pick-up after that it was a line of 3/4 ton 4x4 pickups . I still have a K2500 Suburban to tow the boat but needed something small to go Fly fishing.
My 4R is not a daily driver.
I have fun doing some Mods I have picked up on this Forum. Its kind of a hobby.
After-market parts have become more accessible as the 5th gen goes into its tenth year of production. Not to different than the Chevy 1973 through 1989 pickups.
I intend to keep this till the wheel fall off.
Sure I have a number of other cars with all the Bells and Whistles, but this one has become a favorite.
After hearing from a lot of you on this site about the changes that Toyota has made to the truck in the last few years, I'll just hang on to mine.

 

[<<<<]

Reliability is great but not outstanding for 5th gen especially Air Pump re-circulation systems. I had to replace Bank 1 Valve already ($140 part) and 2 rear shocks ( thankfully $38 part each). 4th gen was truly bulletproof unless it was X-REAS suspension. Only if Toyota would not put that spider of afterthought Air Pump System it would be perfect evolution of reliability (I don't want to hear about emission, the only real emission was me cussing at this damn bunch of hoses pump and air valves on perfectly good engine.

 

[Jemplyr77]

1. Reliability - nuff said!
2. Looks - I have loved the appearance and style of both the 4th and 5th Gen Runner and always wanted one.
3. Ride - I have driven trucks for work for years and the Runner has a very similar ride with its BOF design.

 

[skre0860]

1.Reliability enough said right there plus I have proof, 300k on a 03sr5sport

2. Way better looking than a Jeep imo

3. Great in Colorado


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[DallasTRDPro]

I picked the 4 Runner because I had death wobble for the first time in over a decade of Jeeps. I probably jumped the gun and wish I wouldn't have bought it one month before a pandemic. There is better than 50% chance I won't be able to keep it, but I sure hope I can. I really like it a lot.

 

[Paragon1]

Im on my second 5th gen, with a temporary lapse of reason getting me into a 2015 F150. Its the perfect combination of utility and practicality. The only shortcomings are the stock headlights, the seats, the dimwitted gearbox, and the lack of power. The first and the last have been addressed (thank you magnuson/Xenon Depot, Cali raised and Rigid), but the seats.... dammit toyota, wake up! The gearbox.... also... WAKE UP TOYOTA!!

Its a compromise though. Simplicity speaks for itself, and is always easier to maintain.

Finally, there's few SUVs out there that are as customizable as a Jeep, but only with better road manners. I love this thing.

 

[DKsnap]

Reliability.

 

[17KT4R]

I got into my 17 because I gave into a guy at work who wanted my TJ badly and about the same time became aware a neighbor was the Sales Manager with my local Toyota so he set me up nicely with a cash deal on one they had sitting in regional storage (there was 3 there so I got to choose between Black, Black or the Black one) :noidea:

Guess I got a mid week built Jeep because it served me perfectly for exactly 17 years (07/00 - 07-17) for 250k (kilometres) and I still got 6500 Canuck Bucks for it. Put in a couple rads and water pumps, usual brake stuff but was even on the OEM exhaust and all underbody lines (yearly rust proofing). I was seriously considering a Rubicon before the neighbor brought over a couple different 4Runners for me to drive and the rest was history... it really wasn't on my radar. But so glad I found mine and found this community too ! :rockon:

The TRD OR would have been my trim choice however for best combo between daily driver and occasional camping rig which has been the extent of my purpose for it... hope to own it forever

 

[90Duck]

Fast Decision

It was the summer of 2018 and on the way back home from a Rogue River float trip towing the boat behind our '04 Honda Pilot with 150k we grenaded the transmission (3rd gear at least). It limped us home, but we only had a week before we were turning around and heading east to float the Middle Fork Salmon in Idaho, so we had to get something right away that could tow the boat (our other car is a 2016 Subaru WRX).

The wife and I looked at each other and the word 4Runner came out of our mouths at the same time. I was pleasantly surprised how affordable they really are for what you get compared to everything else out there. Plus, Toyota reliability, tows well, good medium size, body-on-frame, low-range transfer case, looks cool as hell, and that roll down rear-window is awesome. Two years later, no regrets at all.

 

[loud0g40oz]

Had a 18 JKU Rubicon that I loved, but it just didn’t have enough room for trips with kids. I got tired of stressing about figuring out what to take and what to leave at home. The T4R TRDORP isn’t as good as the JKUR off road but it’s good enough. Much more comfortable and has enough cargo space to do what I need it to do. It’s a better fit for me right now, and I grabbed the last 19 at my local dealership because I didn’t want the nanny stuff on the 20.


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[MillerPKA]

Got my first 3rd gen back in 2007 through a family friend just by chance. Ten years of confidence and capability. I may branch out but there will always be a Toyota or 4Runner in my stable.

 

[mbumpus11]

Reliability, rear roll down window, body-on-frame, 4x4.

 

[DAF54]

We were looking to replace my wife's 2002 K2500 Suburban. Didn't need seating for 8 anymore. She wanted to downsize so started looking at Jeep Grand Cherokees. We'd owned one 20+ years ago and loved it. Daughter has a 2018 GC and we were not impressed with it's 4WD abilities. No locking diff in her model; it literally got stuck in 3-4" of snow on a slight incline this winter in CO. Our old GC plowed thru snow that was rolling off the hood!

So, started researching and was really impressed by the 4WD system and body-on-frame construction. Better interior and comfort than Jeep Wrangler. Love it so far!

 

[jinta1]

I needed something bigger and 4x4 is always nice to have for adventures