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When he asked when I would be buying one, I replied, "Never". He asked why? I said I actually tow a 5,000 pound trailer with my '05 Sport V8. He said this was on the edge of the specs for the 2010. I replied when towing you really only want to be at about 90% to allow for cargo, passengers in the vehicle doing the towing. He looked at me and agreed, and said "Yes someone like you will have t look elsewhere".
TOYOTA HAS BLOWN IT BY NOT OFFERING THE V8 FOR AT LEAST AN OPTION!!
I agree that the stock pictures don't do the redesigned 4Runner justice. I love the new rugged look that it now has. Unfortunately, that's where the love affair ended. Prior writers have noted the cheesy plastic covered dashboard that it now has. Although my interest is the Limited, I also looked at the SR5. It was parked next to a Highlander Limited. The Highlander's interior far surpassed that of the 4Runner. At least it offers the genuine imitation fake wood grain to accent the interior. No such luck with the 4Runner.
Other disappointments:
-no in-glass antenna for the radio
-cross bars for the roof rack are now optional (sheesh)
-no running boards (the salesman assured me I could get it as an after market item - why should I have to?)
-very imited color choices (the saleman did find that one blue vehicle is due to be delivered 200 miles away; the only one expected on the east coast for now)
-the new V6 engine (I agree with the one who noted that it has the get up of a tired dog)
-lastly, what up with the positioning of the the window controls?
To those who have purchased the new 4Runner and love it, I'm happy for you; truly I am. It just didn't have the same appeal for me. Fortunately, I'm still in love with my '05.
-no running boards (the salesman assured me I could get it as an after market item - why should I have to?)
-very imited color choices (the saleman did find that one blue vehicle is due to be delivered 200 miles away; the only one expected on the east coast for now)"
It's the strike of the bean counters! (i.e. the number crunchers at Toyota). The cost cutting on this vehicle is painful!
Go buy a Lexus!
I'd much rather have Toyota spend their 4Runner dollars on a Torsen center differential in the SR5 and Trail models and/or optional V-8 than FAKE WOOD TRIM and RUNNING BOARDS.
Off-roaders/towers have lost most of their choices to the crossover/cute-ute buyers. Leave us what little scraps we have and don't try to take them!
not the first person who is hesitant to buy one. Some of my impression
after the short test drive of an SR5.
1. Exterior
I basically like the shape of this 5th generation. Looks solid and tough.
Looks a little nicer than the 4th generation because of the lifted face.
It is a purely personal taste, though.
2. Interior
- After adjusting the seat, I found myself easy to get in and out. Headroom
is fine, legroom is fine too. I am 6'2". Rear legroom is better than the spec'ed
32.8".
- Simple and plain console layout, which I like.
- Plastics doesn't look cheap to me (on the contrary to some other reviews on other forums
- Limited version doesn't have an upscale interior than the SR5.
3. Performance
- Overall feels a little underpowered, "pick up" on highway is not there. Didn't have this feel on a 09 V6 or V8. This is the biggest disappointment.
- Drives buoyantly, or the suspension is too soft for my taste.
One thing that is tricky to me is the gas pedal. Whenever I tried to step on the gas after a stop, my right foot was somehow always stuck by the the left bottom part of the console housing that is close to the gas pedal. I had to carefully adjust my foot to step right on the gas. This never happens on any vehicle that I have driven/tested. Perhaps my seat wasn't very well adjusted? I really doubted it.
I had thought to use the 4Runner as my commute car plus weekend/holiday recreation vehicle. The on-road performance is equally important as the off-road ability. I am now hesitated...perhaps I ask for too much?
This not a function of lack of horsepower so much as it is a function of a lack of midrange torque.
Truck engines, even DOHC Toyota truck engines, are not normally tuned to rev to get to the meat of their power band - it is supposed to start BELOW 4000 rpm. But this 4Runner V6's torque peak is at 4400(!) rpm. That is very high for a truck engine, and is probably both a symptom of the undersized nature of this engine as the topline option (which therefore forced Toyota to wring every bit of torque they could from it, driving the rpms higher), and a cause of the underpowered feeling on the highway, where you have to floor it to pass someone whereas the older 4Runner had power in reserve...
no hid lights
no led tail lights, or leds all around
no lock on gas cap
antenna on front passenger side.
also someone above pointed out. weird location for window controls.
also drove test drove the sr5 and highlander sport back to back. THe sr5 felt spongy compared to highlander, but i think it is because of the tires . The limited should have a firmer feel with lower sidewall width tires and xreas sport suspension.
Also in response to murano above. Murano drives much better and handles better, but good luck when CVT starts failing. The more you gun it, the worse the cvt gets with time (hesitation).
Also the new 4runner does in fact have less pick up than old v8 runner. They are pushing folks to go after the new lexus gx 460 which should be on the website next week.
I dont know why toyotat didnt include a 6 speed transmission and an option for 2wd vs 4wd like on sr5 for limited. What sense does that make? Toyota skimping out on stuff here that wont fly with many buyers here
no led tail lights, or leds all around
no lock on gas cap
antenna on front passenger side.
(all cost cutting measures).
http://www.insideline.com/lexus/gx-460/2010/2010-lexus-gx-460-first-drive.html
I am going back to the money tree in the backyard and pick off 50 Large Ones!
Gimme a break!!
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there is no section for new lexus gx460. please ask your colleages to create new thread
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We took out a Blizzard Pearl 2010 4WD 4Runner Limited with NAV (base MSRP $39,800 + $2,638 Options + $795 Del. Proc Handling for Total $43,233) for a short ride because it was being traded between dealers tomorrow.
First impressions - exterior seemed a little wider (OAW 75.8"/OAL 189.9"), had 9.6" clearance with P245/60 R20 tires and a higher cowling. It reminded me of a small armored car look, subdued but somewhat menacing.
Once inside we enjoyed the higher front passenger seat position, thicker steering wheel and improved instrumentation, including digital temp readouts and voice activated touch screen NAV system. A 5 speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) and sequential shift mode along with Full-time 4WD with Active Traction Control and Locking Center Differential control knob in place of the usual 4WD L/H shifter was a welcome addition. After switching to the drivers seat I immediately drove in a tight circle a couple times at increasing speed while the X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension kicked in to keep the truck as level as possible - it cornered very well for a curb weight of 4805 lbs. plus 4 passengers.
Venturing onto the road we appreciated the smooth new 4.0 L DOHC 24-valve EFI dual independent VVT-i V6 that produces 270 HP 5600 rpm / 278 lb-ft 4400 rpm, rated to give a 4WD gas mileage estimates 17 city/23 highway/19 combined. The coil spring independent double wishbone front suspension w/ stabilizer bar and coil-spring independent 4-link lateral rod rear suspension with stabilizer bar isolated our butts over pot holed macadam road, dirt road and interstate. The 4 wheel ventilated disc brakes w/ 4 wheel ABS, EBD and Brake Assist were very competent as it began raining on the interstate, afternoon dodging traffic. It doesn't have the acceleration of the 4th gen V8, but it was enough for my needs. Wish it had in glass antenna and LEDs too, but I'm guessing these were cost savers for Toyota.
Sadly, we had to keep the drive short because they were to ship it out to another dealer and didn't want much mileage on it. All I can say is after a couple months of looking at most of the Asian CUV/SUV's out there and budgeting $35K, we now are seriously looking to spend $40-45K to get this vehicle. It has the road handling we need for 85% of our driving and I'm sure more than meets our need for the 15% on mountain snow, muddy dirt roads and sandy fishing trips on the OBX our family needs. Check out this fine road handling tank (5th generation 4Runner) if you can find one. Get it before the sliding US$ and customer demand drives the price up!
No V8 &/or AWD on base models = no thanks. Btw, I saw a recent Car and Driver issue where the 4.6 4Runner is coming out in late 2010, but haven't read or heard this anywhere else.
This has to be specified somewhere as well.
BTW-if you can afford the boat you can almost certainly afford the hitch. Do a search on google for an "Equalizer Brand" WDH.
Non in CA seems to have one.
very interesting comments . I went through all of them because I'm really interested to buy the new 4runner. Live in Montreal,Canada and the 5th gen is not yet avail. here but should be soon . Driving SUV since many years and want to trade my 05-Pathfinder. Will be my first toyota experience . technically speaking I believe it is a good pick despite some minor irritants. My Path has almost the same HP and torque(V6) and never had problems towing my 3000pound boat however it is consuming much more than what toyota said about the 4runner. any real life experience from new owners about driving experience, torque and MPG ?
don't want to hear that you are missing the V8..it is not and will not be there ..
http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/4runner/2010/consumerreview.html
What a POS! The aftermarket system on my old car was good to 600 feet.
I'm just curious but why would you want to start your car from 200 yards away?
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