Why did you buy your 4 Runner?

[harper7]

Let's hear the argument for why the 5th gen is better than the 4th gen.From personal experience, and then reading the thread, I wanted to contribute.

Personal experience???You don't have personal experience owning both Gens. I have, owning a 4th gen Sport for 5 years and a 5th gen for 3+ years and I like my 5th Gen more hands down and get way more complements on it ,then the 4th Gen I owned .Loved my 4th gen and love my 5th gen even more!

Improvements

Per Toyota...Extensive frame and body reinforcements with braces have been added using high-tensile strength materials(aka new LC J150 frame),reworked engine mounts and a completely newly designed and much stronger rear 8.2" 12 bolt differential were added in 2010 .That's where the majority of the 300lbs of added weight in improvements over the previous generation are if I were to venture a guess.

Improved interior comfort with higher h-point and better headroom

New Off-Road options: Crawl Control, Multi-terrain Assist, KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System), Active Traction Control

Standard- Star Safety System 8 airbags, which includes new knee airbags and full side curtain air bags

LED Optitron gauges that take a page out of the Lexus playbook

Engine improvements.... https://docs.google.com/open?id=1VJYFQ1uBV0jbxILFOpOlbm94RAyk3_zjxFIC-UqBuHXZF3JM6fxIHLu18VuE

Limited Edition has push button start with Smart key keyless entry

Rear Gate Speakers and a sound optimization mode for tailgate listening aka the "Party Mode" switch

Sequential shift transmission shifter

Puddle lighting underneath side mirrors/LED Turn signals in mirrors

120V AC power outlets, you will get two outlets, one in the center console and one in the cargo area

LED footwell lighting, interior door handle lights and shifter lighting from roof mounted console LED's

Windshield wiper and mirror de-icer

Rear view monitor system

HomeLink universal transceiver standard on all models

USB port located in glove box

A compass has been included on the accessory meter display

LED high mounted rear stoplights

Available Safety Connect

Active head restraints

Rear seatback angle adjustment(recline)

Auto up/down switches for all windows

Two 12V power outlets up front

Hidden rear wiper underneath rear spoiler, spoiler standard on all models

Inside door handle and switch lighting

All models use the 13.3" front brake rotors

10,000 mile oil change intervals using synthetic 0W-20 oil

Min. Running Ground Clearance 9.6", the increase over the 9.1" 4th gen

Enhanced Rugged Sporty exterior styling - returns to it its roots as a truck

Probably left out a few and I admit they did delete some things from the 4th Gen that were insignificant to me and added so much more.That's why I bought another 4Runner as they keep making them better IMO,a 5th Gen and have loved every single minute of it! Smilin' as I'm about to drive it home :trophy:

A shout out to JA's 4Runner history site

Harry Morgan

 

[crunchcity]

[I seriously don't understand all the hate between the different gens on this forum. I'd gladly own any gen of 4Runner. Hell, I even love Tacomas, FJs, and LCs.

Some people's egos are so tied up with what they own they take anything that's not praise personally.

I don't mind 4th generation owers posting their opinions, you don't have to agree with them.

Some people get upset when they read opinions they don't agree with. Being on the internet must be stressful for some of them unless they get used to it (imo).

And internet forums are largely people just posting personal opinions, let's face it. Science/facts are just a small percentage of the overall traffic on the average forum.

So for those who would demand proof and scientific method in every post on a forum, if that were enforced the forum would become a ghost town most likely and they would end up talking to themselves with alternate monikers.

 

[1engineer]

Some people's egos are so tied up with what they own they take anything that's not praise personally.

I don't mind 4th generation owers posting their opinions, you don't have to agree with them.

Some people get upset when they read opinions they don't agree with. Being on the internet must be stressful for some of them unless they get used to it (imo).

And internet forums are largely people just posting personal opinions, let's face it. Science/facts are just a small percentage of the overall traffic on the average forum.

So for those who would demand proof and scientific method in every post on a forum, if that were enforced the forum would become a ghost town most likely and they would end up talking to themselves with alternate monikers.

Harper right above spoke fact.
This thread is about "Why did you buy your 4Runner" in the 5th gen forum - not the 4th gen. Not about "Why mine is better than yours." Wrong place and time.
I know of no one who owns a 5th gen to go to the 4th gen section and complain or brag or voice their opinion because it is not the correct thing to do.
In a proper place I enjoy a healthy debate but EVEN on the internet there are places for etiquette.
What 4Runner do you own?

 

[Dexter Morgan]

I still think the interior is way down on quality and offering only one engine is a shame.

 

[crunchcity]

Harper right above spoke fact.
This thread is about "Why did you buy your 4Runner" in the 5th gen forum - not the 4th gen. Not about "Why mine is better than yours." Wrong place and time.
I know of no one who owns a 5th gen to go to the 4th gen section and complain or brag or voice their opinion because it is not the correct thing to do.
In a proper place I enjoy a healthy debate but EVEN on the internet there are places for etiquette.
What 4Runner do you own?

So what's your point? I said forums are a mixture of opinion and facts, mostly opinion "in my opinion". This thread is exactly that.

Your good with facts and science but I disagree with almost every personal opinion you have since I've been reading this forum, but I support your right to express your opinion here on the 5th gen forum or any other sub forum on this site.

Why do you care if 4th generation owners come here, does it upset where you draw your own boundries, who is supposed to do what where when and how according to YOU?

You're not the arbiter of the 5th gen forum, but I get the feeling you would like to be or like to see yourself as such. But it takes more than science and facts for that...imo.

And I do own a 5th Gen, not that it's any of your business...nor would it stop me from posting here if I wanted to if I didn't own one.

I can roll with those that don't like something I own or disagree with my opinion, I just don't take it personally.

 

[Bay33saw]

So what's your point? I said forums are a mixture of opinion and facts, mostly opinion "in my opinion". This thread is exactly that.

Your good with facts and science but I disagree with almost every personal opinion you have since I've been reading this forum, but I support your right to express your opinion here on the 5th gen forum or any other sub forum on this site.

Why do you care if 4th generation owners come here, does it upset where you draw your own boundries, who is supposed to do what where when and how according to YOU?

You're not the arbiter of the 5th gen forum, but I get the feeling you would like to be or like to see yourself as such. But it takes more than science and facts for that...imo.

And I do own a 5th Gen, not that it's any of your business...nor would it stop me from posting here if I wanted to if I didn't own one.

I can roll with those that don't like something I own or disagree with my opinion, I just don't take it personally.

op2:waiting for Greg's reply.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

It would appear the 5th gen owners are actually the defensive ones, lashing out because someone has given his opinion and honestly, spoken the truth (me).

The 5th gen is the re-headed step child of Toyota's lineup, and it is a shame. They've put their resources into the Highlander.

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=48772]Jesse1983[/MENTION]

A little cleanup por favor? We did have a pleasant thread going here, pre-Dexter.

 

[crunchcity]

op2:waiting for Greg's reply.

He did via PM, he was very cordial and I appreciated the reply.

 

[phillyd2]

I know of no one who owns a 5th gen to go to the 4th gen section and complain or brag or voice their opinion because it is not the correct thing to do.

Very interesting and spot on point.

 

[crunchcity]

It would appear the 5th gen owners are actually the defensive ones, lashing out because someone has given his opinion and honestly, spoken the truth (me).

The 5th gen is the re-headed step child of Toyota's lineup, and it is a shame. They've put their resources into the Highlander.

I think it's just Toyota's reaction to the current market landscape/climate to maximize profits, that's what corporations do.

So they simplified the 4Runner and decontented some of the features and made it more like an SUV version of the Tacoma just imo.

It's a smaller market now and they adjusted accordingly.

So I can definitely see how a 4th gen owner might view the 5th gen as a downgrade. Toyota now wants you to pony up to a Lexus/Landcruiser to gain back some of those features.

 

[Asoofi87]

Whoa! I feel like i just walked into some sort of ambush!

 

[Jayhawk5G]

It would appear the 5th gen owners are actually the defensive ones, lashing out because someone has given his opinion and honestly, spoken the truth (me).

The 5th gen is the re-headed step child of Toyota's lineup, and it is a shame. They've put their resources into the Highlander.

People are lashing out because you are a troll... you came to the 5th Gen section of this forum, you then clicked on a thread about why people chose the 4Runner and started a "4th Gen is better than 5th Gen" fight which is mucking up this thread.

While I agree you have given your opinion to a question no one asked, stating that it's honest or the truth when it is clearly nothing more than opinion (and pretty thoroughly refuted I might add) makes you an even bigger troll because you continue to troll.

The one point I'm going to leave is that your V8 does nothing significantly better than my V6 other than use more gas.

 

[Asoofi87]

people are lashing out because you are a troll... You came to the 5th gen section of this forum, you then clicked on a thread about why people chose the 4runner and started a "4th gen is better than 5th gen" fight which is mucking up this thread.

While i agree you have given your opinion to a question no one asked, stating that it's honest or the truth when it is clearly nothing more than opinion (and pretty thoroughly refuted i might add) makes you an even bigger troll because you continue to troll.

The one point i'm going to leave is that your v8 does nothing significantly better than my v6 other than use more gas.

owned

 

[philsey]

Um, let's see .... oh yes, the TOPIC.

Did want:
mid-to-large SUV, pref. BOF.
Hunky looks
Reliability
Price (I can afford to buy whatever, but I start feeling irresponsible >$40k)

Did not want:
Any domestic.
Any European.
Pathfinder (because I'd already owned 2)
Lexus (see "Price", plus snotty sales rep PO'd me)
Pilot was close (Hunky fail)
4th Gen (yuck)

So, what's left?

I'm very happy with this choice. Just passed 30K of very trouble-free ownership.

 

[Jesse1983]

[MENTION=48772]Jesse1983[/MENTION]

A little cleanup por favor? We did have a pleasant thread going here, pre-Dexter.

while Dexter may be extremely jealous of the superior 5th gen, his comments aren't out of line. he is entitled to his opinion. no need for us to be defensive just because we have better vehicles.

I know of no one who owns a 5th gen to go to the 4th gen section and complain or brag or voice their opinion because it is not the correct thing to do.

Great point. This happens all the time. The older gen guys look here because they want to look at trucks they lust over. Then they try and convince themselves why theirs is still better. No need for us to feed into it.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

I think it's just Toyota's reaction to the current market landscape/climate to maximize profits, that's what corporations do.

So they simplified the 4Runner and decontented some of the features and made it more like an SUV version of the Tacoma just imo.

It's a smaller market now and they adjusted accordingly.

So I can definitely see how a 4th gen owner might view the 5th gen as a downgrade. Toyota now wants you to pony up to a Lexus/Landcruiser to gain back some of those features.

Or a unibody Highlander which gives you all the comforts of a car but the rugged stance of an SUV. NOT!!

 

[badhabits]

Or a unibody Highlander which gives you all the comforts of a car but the rugged stance of an SUV. NOT!!

Finally something we can agree on!!

 

[93toy]

This thread got crazy, I thought we were all on the same team!

I've owned three 4runners (1985, 2000, and a 2013 Trail I pick up tomorrow), and my Dad has a 2003 with the V-8. IMO, each one has strong and weak points.

I owned an 85 which most of us can agree is the holy grail of 4runners. 1st gens are, after all, where it all began. So I guess my 1985 was better than any 4th gen because you can't take the top off of a 4th gen and they don't have straight axles. Pretty lame reasoning, right? But my 3rd gen was better because it had a little more legroom (I'm 6'7"), it had the super reliable 3.4 and hey, it was a sexy 3rd gen Sport! So it was better right? Dad's has the V-8 and my 85 had a puny 22RE, so his is better? But wait, my Trail will have as much horsepower as Dad's V-8, so mines better right? And wait, what about 2wd 4runners? Where do they fit in?

Truth be told, I loved the two I've owned but I love them ALL. They're all reliable, they're all great looking, capable vehicles, they all have roll down back windows, and they're all 4RUNNERS! Can't we all just get along?

Haha! Back on topic. Picking up the Trail tomorrow because of Toyota reliability, love the looks, reliability, roll down back window, reliability, available options, reliability, body on frame, and did I mention the big one? Toyota reliability!

 

[Yogi56]

The 5th Gen probably goes back the original idea of the 4R more than any recent versions. The front end looks like a truck again instead of every Hyundai and Kia SUV and it's not bad on gas for what it is and what it does.

Need a V8? Buy a Seqouia