Talk me out of the 5th Gen 4Runner

[frorider]

This thread spurred me to test drive a 2012 SR5 4runner 4wd. pros: pretty proficient on the local USFS dirt road play area for a stock SUV w/ meh tires. quiet at highway speeds. good visibility. cons: a lot more body roll on hiway corners than I expected...felt mushier than a tundra. the 5th gear is very tall in order to get those hiway mpg figures, and i can see that you'd be dropping into 4th a lot.

[LightRanger]

Test drove a 2013 SR5 on Saturday. My '96 Cherokee has 240k and the dented rear bumper, epoxied-on front bumper end, zip-tied front turn signal, 14 MPG (4.5" lift + bigger tires without regearing), etc. are starting to wear on me. Need to test a Limited vs. an SR5 back-to-back on windy roads. The X-REAS on the Limited is supposed to help a ton with body roll. After the lifted Jeep, that'd be kinda nice. If we got a Limited I'd probably trade the 20s for the SR5's 17s immediately, and sell the stock tires for ATs (probably Revo 2s).

Bobcat, you end up buying one of these?

I also drove a Grand Cherokee on Saturday, but the wife wants a 3rd row if we're getting a mid-sized SUV, even though we don't have any kids yet. The Grand was fucking plush, but the 4Runner wins on what you get for the money, I think. Tested a 2.0T Ford Escape too, and a Mazda CX-5 a few months ago. Kickass little car that my wife really likes, but I told her we'd have to keep the Jeep if we got one because I want something that's actually capable for some of the outdoor stuff I do. A slightly lifted Focus doesn't cut it for that. That'd put us at three cars (other car is a 2002 Civic with 80k as a commuter car), which is less than ideal for our current living situation. Thus, the 4Runner. Only downside is that it's a bit more than we wanted to spend, but at least it holds its value better than just about anything.

Still a few months out and a new job away from buying (the Jeep's still running ok), but getting excited about the idea.

[The Reverend Floater]

This thread spurred me to test drive a 2012 SR5 4runner 4wd. pros: pretty proficient on the local USFS dirt road play area for a stock SUV w/ meh tires. quiet at highway speeds. good visibility. cons: a lot more body roll on hiway corners than I expected...felt mushier than a tundra. the 5th gear is very tall in order to get those hiway mpg figures, and i can see that you'd be dropping into 4th a lot.

Meh...If you're going to spend that kind of clams on a new vehicle, you could address that issue fairly effectively with a new set of better shocks. I rock KYB Gas Adjusts on every vehicle I own at this point. Reasonably priced and I will make the claim that they outperform Billsteins on and off road, having run both on my ranch truck. My 98 suburban had stock shocks and horrible body roll--I set it up with the KYB's and it corners really well now without being overly stiff. And their claim that they actually adjust to washboards, etc. on the fly is actually quite true--within about 30 seconds of going from pavement to brutal washboards, you can feel the suspension start to adjust significantly. Same goes with my 86 4Runner with a solid axle.

Just some food for thought.

[sb]

Whats the cost for those KYB shocks?

[Bobby Stainless]

Wait till the new one comes out and save money.

[frorider]

Rev--I have KYBs all round on my T100--corners very well but not great on washboard. The Trail edition 4runner has a nice setup in which the stiff sway bars keep body roll to a minimum on pavement, but essentially disconnect via hydraulic system for compliance and articulation off-road. Unfortunately the trail edition has a stupid rear tray setup that prevents having a flat area for sleeping.

Curious to see if this situation has changed for 2014.

[schuss]

Wait till the new one comes out and save money.

My god, it's hideous.

[Touring_Sedan]

My god, it's hideous.

Yup56789

[gointhedistance]

My god, it's hideous.

I hope that is not the new design - and just a concept... What happened to any simplicity when it comes to body styling these days... Seems like everything's got to be one upped...

They need to tone down that front end. Alot.

[schuss]

I hope that is not the new design - and just a concept... What happened to any simplicity when it comes to body styling these days... Seems like everything's got to be one upped...

They need to tone down that front end. Alot.

By tone down, you mean burn with fire, right?

Sadly, that's the production model:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2014...owertrain.html

[1080Rider]

First Generations rule. Here's Wang, my hunting rig and daily driver. Great MPG and there's literally no where I can't get to in that little rice cooker. Attachment 120233

The neighbor two doors downs has one parked on the street. I haven't seen it drive in the 6 yrs I've been in my house but they have an extension cord ran to it (block heater? battery chargers?). I'm thinking of approaching him and seeing if it runs, though I don't need a beater off-roader, I already have my '96 disco.

[frorider]

yota is just going w/ the fu manchu styling that's been going on for years now:





Remember, we have to have an angry robot face on when we pass 10 cars at 110 mph on the way from the city to the mtns. It's science.

[Skistack]

Wait till the new one comes out and save money.

Reminds me of asian carp.

[philth]

Wait till the new one comes out and save money.

PHUCK that is awful! I will always be a toyota guy but who the fuck is in their design dept? Holy shit.

[Arty50]

Ugh. The 5th Gens just keep getting worse. Hideous.

[gointhedistance]

My question is this really the Gen6 version? I'm thinking that this is just the mid generation update... similar to what was done on the Gen4's. Gen4's were from 2003-2009, with one 'update' in the middle of the run. I'm hoping this body style change is just that - they are tweaking it a bit... and that this is not the full blown new model - Gen 6... just Gen5 v.2.

Anyone know for sure...?

[frorider]

Yep. It's the same powertrain etc.

http://m.motortrend.com/roadtests/su...er_first_look/
Google is your friend.

Just a body, interior refresh. Tacoma and 4runner rumor is that next gen will have a slightly smaller direct injection motor for better power, mpg.

[frorider]

Slide out cargo tray would work well for trailhead cooking.

[The Reverend Floater]

Rev--I have KYBs all round on my T100--corners very well but not great on washboard.

Gas Adjusts or Monomax? I never tried the Monomaxes...just the Gas Adjusts.

@scottyb They're around $45 at shockwarehouse.com

[shera]

Meh...If you're going to spend that kind of clams on a new vehicle, you could address that issue fairly effectively with a new set of better shocks. I rock KYB Gas Adjusts on every vehicle I own at this point. Reasonably priced and I will make the claim that they outperform Billsteins on and off road, having run both on my ranch truck. My 98 suburban had stock shocks and horrible body roll--I set it up with the KYB's and it corners really well now without being overly stiff. And their claim that they actually adjust to washboards, etc. on the fly is actually quite true--within about 30 seconds of going from pavement to brutal washboards, you can feel the suspension start to adjust significantly. Same goes with my 86 4Runner with a solid axle.

Just some food for thought.

I just read this thread. Takeaways - want big front bumper but will settle for these shocks.

[frorider]

Rev, I have the KYB gas adjusts. More compliant than the ranchos that came with the truck, but washboard ain't pleasant. However I can pass 10 cars at once on a winding road with my hi beams on, so thumbs up on the pavement handling.

Seriously, it's ridiculous. Saying that as an owner of modded tii.

[The Reverend Floater]

Rev, I have the KYB gas adjusts. More compliant than the ranchos that came with the truck, but washboard ain't pleasant. However I can pass 10 cars at once on a winding road with my hi beams on, so thumbs up on the pavement handling.

Seriously, it's ridiculous. Saying that as an owner of modded tii.

Hmmm...well, no argument here. Obviously not the best for that truck and my opinion is based on my past shocks: Ranchos, Bilsteins, Tough Countys and various stock shocks. I will say that as far as washboard goes, the Toyota is the least pleasant of the three, but my 7.3L is also a straight axle but obviously a much longer wheel base.

[Jethro]

Slide out cargo tray would work well for trailhead cooking.

Toyota could just bring back the tailgate rear end and then they could do away with all this plastic, slidey shit

[MakersTeleMark]

Toyota could just bring back ...

FIFY.......

[Flounder]

Toyota could just bring back the tailgate rear end and then they could do away with all this plastic, slidey shit

This was one thing I thought I would hate but I like it. It may be plastic but it's rated over 400#'s. makes loading heavy items much easier. Put a 3 piece Japanese stone lantern in that weighed close to 300 with no problem. I also like that the lift gate provides rain cover for those days you're gearing up in a drizzle. Of course the down side is the lift gate struts that seem to keep blowing on people. So far mine have been ok. 3 more months of warranty and we will see.

Plus you need the full lift gate to activate "party mode".