Would you still buy a 4Runner if you plan to never offroad?

[Uneek]

Fixed the title for you.

Yes. For having almost the same versatility as a truck, capable 4WD system and the creature comforts of a car. Too many outdoor activities for me that a I can't accomplish by owning a car.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Also the region might effect my decision also but here in Colorado AWD is good for all but the deepest snow but in Florida I'm not sure if I'd own a 4Runner at all.
Overall I like driving my 4Runner on a daily basis but I see the trails more than just a few times a year but my truck really came in handy during our multiple camping trips we took.
Just packed two large camping tent pads and crashed in the back and me and my wife stayed warm with just one sleeping bag over us while the tent dwellers were chilled with high 30 degree temps in the middle of August up in Granby.

 

[Ryan F.]

The title should read "Would you still buy a 4Runner if you plan to NEVER offroad?" sorry for the mistake.

Yup. Maybe I'm crazy, but I love the feel of the ride, the potential of being better equipped to get through the crap, the vault like cabin, and the reputation that the 4 Runner brings. This is a truck with soul. Would I ever consider off roading? Sure, but more than likely, my truck will see the street and an occasional trail to the prime fishing/camping site. This is the greatest vehicle that I have ever owned.

 

[scagin]

Interesting question... I would have to guess that 80-90% of 4runners never go off road, at least off road in the sense that I think you are speaking. For me, I feel there are a lot of other virtues other than its capabilities off the pavement. At the end of the day, there aren't too many other cars I can think of that give you the reliability and resale value of a 4Runner.

So far I love this car and hope it will treat me as well as my former 2002 Tacoma.

 

[Riser]

I won't do alot of off-roading in my 4Runner (when I get it). I'm an outdoors guys so biking, kayaking, light trails, camping, exploring etc. I am buying it for the functionality, dependability that Toyota is known for and relatively cheap maintenance/repair costs. It may not have all the bells and whistles like the new Explorer, JGC etc. but that keeps the cost down as well. I want a vehicle that will fill all my needs and last 10+ years, I think the 4Runner fits the bill perfectly.

amen

 

[Riser]

I would yes. We don't do much offroading at all. But we do get bad winters here, will have a dog soon and take road trips to the mountains....

 

[BHH]

I agree with what most people said that there are better choices for fuel economy and ride. However I feel that it is damn hard to find a car that will age well. I figure since the 4R is meant for offroading it should be able to handle every day wear and tear better than most.

Living on the east coast of Canada we get some weather that pretty much erases the road so I am sure I will get some designed use out of it.

My only concern is did they build this generation as tough as all the last ones. It has only been out a little over a year and since the board isn't littered with QC Complaints I hope that it is every bit as tough and than some. I want to buy the most durable SUV that I can in the Limited price range.

Thanks to everyone for their replies and thoughts.

 

[Snowfox]

All I want to say is cars just like everything else is a 2 ways street, You are taking care of it , it will be taking care of you.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I absolutely would. Around here, and some of the other states, just living through winter makes you appreciate the 4runners capabilities and height. The back roads (where I dwell) don't get plowed. Also, the roads are so shot and the hack patch jobs the town and state try to do makes them seem more like a rough cobblestone road than pavement. That can't be good for a car's suspension or wheels especially the low profile ones. Yeah they are all around here but for how long? I do think visiblility is better with the 4runner. For me, trucks are just easier to work on. I don't like to take my vehicles to the dealer or any shop if I can help it. I fix what I break and try not to break what I can't fix. Also the fullsize spare is a major plus. A lot of vehicles are lacking a fullsize spare these days. I go places that don't have a tire shop so having the same spare makes it easy to keep on trucking. I do hit the trails once in a while. So for me its almost perfect.

 

[nothardly]

I did. Just got the 2011 SR5. I bought it to go see our grandkid down the freeway about 500 miles and for my wife to cruise around town.
I am very happy with the choice, I spent most of 2010 driving various vehicles, I liked the EX35 fun fun but a little small for loading stuff to take to Texas. Pilot is nice but a little bland, new Jeep is impressive but I don't need the risk of first year change. CX9 had everything anyone could want but I just could not feel good in the seat. That is the refined list. I read this site and many others for six months and though 4Runner people like to nitpick things a little, everyone seems happy with their choice.
Now that I spent my money, I am still happy too. Everything is well thought out on the 4Runner and when you reach for something it's there. Handholds, big knobs for radio and air, extra bottle space in the doors, and so on. But the coolest thing is how it runs across the speed bumps in my neighborhood. Off road is just a bonus compared to that.
Trade in was my 94 Grand Cherokee with 210,000 miles, it hardly ever saw four wheel drive but it got us home several times when without it ??? worth the extra gas to tote that capability around.
Besides I have my super gas efficient Element, great value but speed bumps, not so good.

 

[sevenstorydrop]

I would and did. I even bought a 2WD. I have two kids, a big dog, and 4 bicycles. I looked at station wagons, but I didn't like the Venza and I couldn't get the Outback with the options that I wanted. Everything else was too small. I looked at the Pilot, and Highlander. Pilot seemed like a minivan and the Highlander I liked better, but I drove it back to back with the 4Runner, and liked driving the 4R better. I liked the Forrester too, but the rear was cramped for a rear facing car seat. I could have bought an F150 Lariat but it wouldn't fit in my garadge. For the price I paid for my SR5 with premium pack, there wasn't much that could touch it as far as price and features, except maybe an Explorer, which has no 2nd row room, and it's significantly inferior. When I go to mountain bike races, I sometimes need to run down fire roads and park in fields, and that's something that Im not confortable doing in cars and lower riding CUV's. I had a 2008 Acura TL before this, and it was a PITA. My parents have some land with dirt roads and water crossings as well, so I think that this was the best choice for me.

 

[TTown]

I would and did. I even bought a 2WD.

Me too. I had a 4x4 SR5 that I never put in 4x4. Decided on the 2wd this time and don't regret. Some say the car based SUVs are better for this, but I love how the 4Runner handles the road. The size is perfect for our needs and very versatile.

I would do it again, but hope to keep this a long time.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Since I work for Mercedes-Benz, I feel I must chime in.

For the same price I can get a Mercedes GLK fully loaded

GLK's are the cheapest and crappiest Mercedes SUV made. They're small, 3.5 V6, they're ugly IMO, and they've got about the same amount of interior quality as the SLK (god awful interior, even worse than the C-Class).

I'd rather have half a 4Runner The amount of on road utility exhibited by the 4Runner easily crushes that of the GLK... not to mention the better resale and all that fancy stuff.

--Mercedes will cost three times as much to fix when it breaks and service it.

3? More like 5!

haha at least in my personal experience. Brakes on 4Runner = $300. Brakes on C230 = $1400 (well of course I didn't pay that, but if you owned that car, you would've!)

Just hope to god your car doesn't have any other problems... they sure love to eat tires... especially the GLK that comes stock with 20's.

 

[Jed]

The title should read "Would you still buy a 4Runner if you plan to NEVER offroad?

Well, think about it this way--- of all the people who buy 4Runners, it is estimated that more than 90% of them never offroad. Then again, what is your definition of offroad driving? A gravel/dirt trail? Mud bogs? Rock climbing?

I don't drive offroad a lot, but my 4Runner is still completely useful for the things I like to do. It's great for camping (and you can even sleep in the back with the rear seats folded down). It's perfect for kayaking & mountain biking (two of my favorite things to do). It's a beast in bad weather & deep snow. It never fails to get me up to my cabin, which is not an easy task in the winter. I've used it to pull stumps out of the ground. It's just an all-around versatile vehicle. That said, I would NEVER buy a 2wd 4Runner...mine has to be 4wd no matter what.

 

[Jed]

I agree with what most people said that there are better choices for fuel economy and ride. However I feel that it is damn hard to find a car that will age well. I figure since the 4R is meant for offroading it should be able to handle every day wear and tear better than most.

I think that's a good point and it's right on target. The 4Runner is definitely more heavy-duty than your average car. So it makes sense that a 4Runner would be able to better handle every day things like potholes/bad roads better than the average car. I've sailed over stuff in my 4Runner that would have made me slow to a crawl in my car, for fear of bending it's 19" wheels with those low profile tires. That's just one example...

Living on the east coast of Canada we get some weather that pretty much erases the road so I am sure I will get some designed use out of it.

Same thing here in New York. I live on the ridge of a mountain, so I have to go uphill and then downhill to go home (or to leave home too, now that I think about it!) and I have no problems in the winter months, given the 4Runner's capabilities. Gotta love that!

My only concern is did they build this generation as tough as all the last ones. It has only been out a little over a year and since the board isn't littered with QC Complaints I hope that it is every bit as tough and than some. I want to buy the most durable SUV that I can in the Limited price range.

There's no doubt that Toyota cut costs on the 5th gen and eliminated some of the nice touches that us 4th gen owners have, but I wouldn't say that the 5th generation is any less tough than the earlier generations. I really don't think Toyota cut back on quality or the inherent ruggedness (is that a word?) of the 4Runner. It's still a boxed ladder frame, with a live rear axle and basically the same mechanicals that carried over from the 4th gen. What makes you think it's not as tough?

 

[Maritimer]

So it makes sense that a 4Runner would be able to better handle every day things like potholes/bad roads better than the average car.

Amen to that. In Nova Scotia the temperature is so often around freezing in winter (not incredibly below), and there is usually slush and water on the roads, making for nasty freeze and thaw conditions which do a serious number on our roads.

 

[Chrisinvermont]

"Would you still buy a 4Runner if you plan to NEVER offroad?"

Well I don't plan to never offroad but I don't offroad often. I wanted the 4runner for the size, the towing and the ability to go offroad. Frankly up here during mudseason I have a couple of friends that I wouldn't be able to visit unless I have an offroad capable vehicle. That and the ability to get to the ski area during powder days are the reasons I bought it.

 

[simonpsu]

Yes!

I would and did. I had a '97 4-Runner for 9 years that got me and my family anywhere I ever wanted to go, all the while knowing I could go even further if I wanted.

I like feeling passionate about my vehicle, and I feel that with the 4-Runner. A sports car just does not cut it for a family of four.

Also, as others have mentioned the drop down rear window and sunroof open combination is incredible.

I am not sure if this makes sense to anyone else but me, but I like the ability to know I could go anywhere, even if I don't.

 

[hdoggie24]

i myself bought my '97 about 5 years ago with 115k on it and the thing now has 162k and only thing i had to replace was a bad fuel injector. mine is only 2wd as only offroading i do is trails, camping, dirt roads. im also moving back to socal soon and this is was our daily the past 5 years. just because something else drives better and gets better mpg, doesn't mean i "want" to drive it. I love my 4runner and all i have done to it is put some agressive 31's on it. gonna tho put a small lift on it soon so now ill love it even more then. i have 3 lil boys and they love it too.

 

[Jed]

I am not sure if this makes sense to anyone else but me, but I like the ability to know I could go anywhere, even if I don't.

I think that makes sense to just about everybody. In fact, I think that's what sells more SUVs than anything else.