Why did you buy the 4Runner?

[shawnstcyr]

I was a Heep Grand Cherokee Laredo owner. The only thing good about that suv was the 318ci engine, just can't kill one of those. I got tired of always fixing the thing, needed to trade it in. I had seen my 4Runner on a lot a few months before. High miles , high price. I let her set another 3 months and went back. I test drove it and found a spongy brake pedal and a severe vibration at 60 to 65 mph. Being a mechanic, I knew that all she needed was a tire balance and a set of brake shoes. The car lot knocked another $1500 OFF, BECAUSE EVERYONE was afraid of the high miles. Not me. I had seen to many high mileage Toyotas getting oil changes and nothing else( save a few CV shafts) over the years at my shop.

I don't regret it. I am so amazed with her performance offroad. I've had it in the California mountains, desert, and sand dunes. She always performs. It goes with me to the Dakotas and anywhere else I go in my travels. I only leave it at home if I'm working in a state where they salt the roads. That's what rental 4Runners are for. I love my 3rd gen and wouldn't rade it on any other suv, not even a 4th gen.

 

[cmb]

Like Muskie Junkie, I came out of a Tundra (06 DC V8) and I was getting the same 16 mpg as he was, at close to $4.oo a gal. Too old to work at the trade where I needed a pickup so I sold the "air hauler" and bought the 4R SE V6 4X. There are a couple things I miss that were on the Tundra though.Maybe by 2010 they'll light the switches and homelink controls, interior lighting is really sorry so I'll probably have to do the maplight mod. I disabled two of the 'nanny chimes' and changed to LEDs inside.Looked at Explorer and Trailblazer, liked the Ford better but 4Rs reputation edged me over.

 

[Pound]

2 summers ago, I spent 25 - 30 days camping / fishing in the Sierras, and it was begging to get a little ridiculous packing down a

 

[JAC]

I always wanted an SUV my uncle which is a mechanic...always been crazy about the Nissans in general over te Toyota and always said that nissan was the sh.t...I always wanted a bigger car or SUV and when I went hunting for the new toy I had the Nissan Pathfinder and Armada in my mind. Thats was what i was looking for...but I ended up at the Toyota dealer(Toyota and Kia) where I purchased my previous used Plymouth a long time ago, something just told me to go there again ...I believe because of the good customer service they gave me back then. Well....Drove a Kia Sorento....fair enough but did'nt like + too small, drove other sedans just because the sales man was suggesting and to just go for a ride(but I wanted an SUV). Then... then I looked up and saw those 4runners sitting there...and I told the guy..hey what about those 4runners?...I drove it and fell in love right away even tho it was used/...it felt way smoother than the other new ones. So I took it home...+ I knew already about the reputation of Toyota products . I was about to take a SIlver v8 4wd but because of the gas prices at that time I opted for the v6 2wd. I f I only knew about this site before I would have gotten the V8 4x4 not for the bigger engine but for the 4wd. But well..I dont have regrets I don't go wheeling anyways so I am happy that I own T4R and I am planning to keep her for a couple of years and pass it on to my oldest son which is 14 right now.

 

[wombie]

There is but one reason: The garbage bag holder!!!!!!

kidding.
We've only ever had 4Runners (three now). Husband used to go mudding, sand duning, and skiing in the first one (so that made sense). Second one was seriously awesome - for so many reasons - I wish I still had it.

But, since I wrecked that one, my main reason for replacing it with another 4Runner is safety. Walked away from the wreck with not a scratch on me, and that was all down to the truck.

And in no particular order: looks great, fun to drive, still feels like a truck, great for those days when the weather is cruddy, it's reliable and pretty cheap to maintain, and it's a tailgating champ Oh, and the mpg isn't so bad either.

If couldn't have a 4runner? Well...I'd kinda like an old murdered Bronco, but I keep getting shouted down on that one

 

[EEtM33t]

I previously owned the previous generation Nissan Pathfinder. Just after the 3 year warranty ran out the rear wiper stopped functioning. Not too big of a deal but then I started thinking of issues I had while the warranty was still valid. I then started looking around at other vehicles. I quickly narrowed the field to the 4Runner and the newer generation Pathfinder. Nissan could not find me a Pathfinder with the options I wanted and I could not get over the issues I had experienced with the previous Pathfinder so I went with the 4Runner. I've been happy ever since.