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Take it for what its worth.
http://www.top-spy.com/Contact/Car05/car05.html
Toyota Landcruiser 90/Prado
At the 2002 Detroit Auto Show, Lexus introduced its new GX470 Sport Utility Vehicle. Here is a photo of Toyota’s sister-model, the Toyota Landcruiser (Prado). The two vehicles share the same size and shape, however, front-end design, lights, bumpers, trim, side moldings, and spare tire location are different to give each one its own unique style. The Lexus is powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine, but the Landcruiser (Prado) will likely stick with a variety of 4 and 6 cylinder engines, leaving the V8 to the luxury division. The current model, also known in some countries as the LandCruiser 90, was introduced in 1996. It is sold in many countries around the world.
I heard today that the 03 4Runner will be on the lots by mid September, my source also told me no 3rd row seat at release.
Secondly, here's a quote from "Testdriver" on another forum:
"I drove a new 2002 4-runner this Friday. Salesman told me that one of their truck drivers had seen the 2003 4-Runner sitting at the port of entry in Houston."
Not sure what that means for the release schedule, but it made my heart skip a beat!
And finally, I think that link in Nodefect's post shows the 4Runner, not the Prado. It's the same vehicle that was shown in Truckin' a couple of months ago, from a different angle, but you can see more detail on Top Spy's site. If this is the Prado, shouldn't it have a fender-mounted mirror on the left fender, and shouldn't the steering wheel be on the right side? As far as I can tell, this looks like what all the insiders have been describing as the 4Runner. Maybe you guys can shed some better light? And what's with the rear gate tire mount?! I don't want that!!! Maybe this is the Prado...
From the K & N site they mention a 28% increase in HP and roughly 23% increase in torque. But they dont have the exact figures for the 4runner.
So my questions are
1) what is the increase in HP and torque..if any?
2) any one have a long term relationship with the Kit?
3) any one found the Kit for less than $276?
Thanks everyone, have a good one.
http://www.top-spy.com/Contact/Car05/car05.html
is NOT the new 4Runner. Doesn't even look like it. That car there is a Prado. I have seen and driven Prado in other countries. That is not a 4Runner, senator!
I'm just obsessing and looking for answers, because I'm with Nodefect, and concerned about the styling. That roof looks like it slopes down in the rear, like the Highlander or Axiom, which is something I don't like, and this vehicle has the same swing gate as the GX, but with a built-in tire mount (minus the tire), which is something I REALLY don't want. It's also contrary to what several insiders have reported about there being the same kind of liftgate with power window on the '03 as the current model, but with a new close-assist function. Those fenders do resemble the GX, so I'm really confused about what we're looking at here.
To everyone who has actually seen the new 'Runner, what do you think?
Also, Nodefect, I believe the pricing on the GX is supposed to fall between the RX and LX.
Short answer: NO
Long answer: I am 6'4" and I bought a 4Runner without a sunroof. Barely enough head room and at stop lights you have to bend your head down to see the stop light. The current generation 4Runner is somewhat narrow and suffers in hip room, I am over 100 pounds less than 340, (still I am a big guy) and the fit is snug. At 340 pounds it well might be too snug. My advice is to look at the 2003 4Runner or to stick with your Explorer.
tbcreative- You are right ! that is a Michigan plate !!!!!
I guess we can speculate all we want, it's kind of fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love my 99 SR5, but I want more size and more safety features, my 99 can roll pretty easy, I want more stability and side curtain airbags for my wife and son. For these reasons a new 4Runner or GX 470 interest me. I do not want to pay the Lexus price tag, but if I have to, I will ! My 4Runner goes in for gas, oil changes and routine maintenance PERIOD !!!!!!!!!! I thought I would never own a Japanese car, but I had had enough with repairs. I have a 94 Accord that is fantastic and the 4Runner's quality is even better. I will wait for Toyota to build a car that suits me. When the American manufactures decide to build better cars, I will buy one. It's ashame, we have the technology to build the best cars in the world and we refuse to do it! Cars are too expensive to replace when the warrenties run out. The nice thing about Honda and Toyota is that you can trade them in when you want to, not because you have to.
They also said that employees will not be able to order one until January or February. (I'm glad I was going wait until then anyway, or I'd be ticked.) They want to make sure the dealerships get as many as possible.
I asked if any were coming in soon and they said that they are a ways out yet; not until (as I said before) August for the dealerships and September for consumers. (This is pretty standard) I asked about the possibility of a 2003 in Texas (Gulf States Toyota) and they couldn't confirm or deny that, but said they "doubted" it. Gulf States and Southeast Toyota are independantly owned ports dealing directly with Toyota in Japan.
As for the spy shot, I can't tell anything. It's so heavily disquised that it's hard to tell what it is. As if it wasn't bad enough they stick that great big "Top-Spy" right on top of it. (That's about useless.) But I've seen the Prado and it doesn't appear to me to look like a 4Runner at all.
What do you think of the fact that that vehicle in the spy shot has a Michigan plate? Do you think it's more likely to be a 4Runner? It is annoying that Top Spy couldn't have been as subtle as Brenda Priddy & Co. with protecting their photos.
This will all be over soon, right?
---start here---
#1525 of 2072 4Runner electronic mods by wally27 Apr 26, 2002 (07:26 pm)
...My point with this post is to find out if anyone is interested in a few 4Runner circuit mods. I have the $250 shop manuals and can, disable the daytime running lights (with a better method than disconnecting pin 2...), shut off the key reminder chime, and turn the power outlets on the dash to full time (not switched) so your cell phone charges full time.
---stop here---
I've got a 2002 4Runner, and I would LOOOOOVVVEEEEEE to shut off the damn key reminder chime.
Please post how to do this (or post a URL).
Thanks,
mark
How come Toyota does not have an on/off switch for DRL on their trucks/SUVs? And how much shorter bulb life is there due to the DRL? I don't do mods or maintenance on cars or trucks, just drive them. I love my 2000 4Runner Ltd, but wish that it came with a DRL switch or autosensor.
Is this a know issue?
I'm preparing for a x-country trip in my '02 4WD Limited. I'm going to be towing a small (5'x 8')
U-haul trailer. According to the manual this should be well within the 4Runners 5000 lbs capacity.
I'm new to towing and I would appreciate any insight and experience that one could share. I'm driving from Illinois to California.
I had a few questions off hand :
1.)What gear should I use for towing ? I always heard that you should not use the normal drive gear (with o/d engaged). Does anybody have any experience here on what would be optimal ?
2.) Is it OK to run A/C while towing ?
3.) Is it OK to have cruise control engaged while towing ?
4.) Would you have radiator flushed prior ? Any special considerations for transmission fluid ?
This will be my first towing gig and I want to make sure to get it right. Also, I want to make sure that I do not harm my beloved 4Runner.
I would appreciate any insight that anyone could share.
Thank You
We all make errors in typing, spelling, grammar etc. And anything posted on the boards is open to general discussion by anyone anytime. Let's be a bit more tolerant.
tidester
Host
SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
>spy shot has a Michigan plate?
Toyota has a technical center in Michigan, but as far as I know they design for American plants. It's possible they had an SUV of some sort that they were evaluating. I know that Georgetown has its own test track, and there is a big one in Arizona. On private property you don't need a tag. OTOH, if they wanted some opinions from the quality people they may ship over just about anything, put a tag on it and let them drive it on public roads. But the 4Runner is so close to market that it's long past any of that. They are in production now; they won't change anything unless there is a very good reason (i.e., safety or quality). When the Sienna was there for the Detroit (1997?) auto show they just drove it up I-75 from the plant.
>Do you think it's more likely to be a 4Runner?
If it is, because of the cladding, I can't tell anything. I'd rather see a real photo of the real, unclad, vehicle. I'm content to wait for that. Personally, I'd like to see the interior again, since that's where I'll be spending most of my time. :-)
>This will all be over soon, right?
They keep saying August, but it's almost August now, and the port says it doesn't have any on the radar yet. I'll be glad when they get here so I can take an up close look. Pictures just don't do it for me. :-(
Hang in there! (Think how much fun it will be in here after they arrive. I hope it stays civil and doesn't become like the other discussions in here.)
Right now where I live in Northern California, Toyota's offering 1.9/2.9/3.9 percent financing for 3,4, or 5 years, respectively, OR $1300 cash back. For Toyota, those are pretty attractive incentives.
How much better will it get? I went to get my routine service for my Tacoma today and walked around the lot a bit. I noticed that there were still over a dozen 4Runners on the lot--mostly 4X4 SR5s and a few 4X4 Limiteds. There was only one 4X2, however. Coincidence?
Here's my quandry: my wife and I want to get a 4Runner, but, in relative terms, I'm not sure that we'll find the 2003 much of an upgrade over the existing model. We're on a budget, and if the past is any indicator, the 2003s will be selling at or above MSRP for quite a while. Plus, the low finance rates make the 2002 a real looker. Don't get me wrong: the 2003 will be awesome.
But this may be an example of when an existing model, coupled with attractive incentives, may just create a more ideal package than the newest machine at steeper prices. For us, anyway.
Anyhow, any guesses on how the Toyota incentives will go?
We may be tempted to pull the trigger sometime soon. Although having the 4Runner's ground clearance will come in handy during some drives into trailheads during our vacation in the Sierras this week--it ain't gonna happen too soon. Too bad my Tacoma Prerunner can't haul all five of us!
muskadine
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A18A24CF
I thought you had seen an actual photograph of this new design. I guess Toyota is keeping tight raps on that as well. It's a real mystery as to why they decided to release photos of the GX 470 and display it at the auto shows, unless they wanted to build some initial hype for an all-new product to help boost sales. And of course, they don't have to worry about dealers trying to get rid of '02 inventory on it either.
The Aussie site further confirms my feelings that the Top-Spy picture is NOT a Prado, because again, the steering wheel is on the right side of the Prado, but on the left in the spy pic. I'm pretty sure that the Prado is a right driver only. As far as all of the spy shots of the '03, all 4 were shot in snow of 2 different vehicles that resemble each other, from different angles. So I'm guessing it was some time last winter, probably in Michigan, which leads me to believe changes could have been made since these photos were taken. I don't know why they've taken so long to filter down to the public though.
Again, thanks for your input, Rward99. It is going to be a lot of fun coming to this forum after it hits the dealers! I hope it stays civil too, otherwise I'm outta' here.
Food for thought...
Why isn't Toyota going to offer a 3rd seat in the 4Runner? It does not make sense since the Gx 470 will have one.
Just give yourself plenty of room to stop and turn the overdrive off. Also, make sure you load more weight on the front of the trailer than on the rear. You don't want to be lifting the truck up.
I believe all of the newer model 4Runners have transmission coolers.
Keep the overdrive off. Another participant questioned this, but he is ill informed. Even though the Runner does have a transmission oil cooler, you will really strain it if you let it get into 4th gear. Yes, the RPMs will be high, but this is a DOHC engine that performs well under those circumstances. It is really designed for higher RPMs.
Yes, you can use the AC. Don't worry about that one at all.
Cruise control *may* be able to be used. It really depends upon how heavy the trailer is. I'd rule against it, but if the trailer is fairly light (as in less than 1000 pounds), I don't see why not.
My typical towing involves highway speeds (70 to 80 MPH) and quite a bit of up and down driving down I-95 in Virginia. This isn't mountain driving by any stretch. I usually have the AC blasting. I use the 3 gears at my disposal and a heavy foot on the gas to keep up with traffic. I also leave more room for stopping, although the brakes on my trailer will stop me nearly as fast as I can when unladen (disc brakes on BOTH axles).
Oh, and I personally never use cruise control.
BTW, left / right drive isn't difficult. These plants build cars for all over the world. Shifting production is fairly routine. One comes off the line right behind the other.
So let's say the spy shot IS the new 4Runner. Do you like the redesign? Is it the complete make over you expected? What do you like best about it?
That is indicative of the incentives working very well in a marketplace fraught with serious competition. Even some of the Toyota product competes with itself. Limited 4WD 4Runner buyers are definitely smart to instead look at a Limited Highlander, and a Sequoia for similar pricing. That sort of competition is very different than what the market was in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
But for me, even more generous incentives would be fantastic.
I'm not holding my breath, though.
muskadine
"The issue of identifying prototypes is always a difficult one, especially when the car/truck is heavily disguised as is typical of Toyotas. I also originally thought the truck shown in the Top-Spy site was the 4Runner. What changed my mind is when we also got photos of a different Toyota SUV, also being tested at the same time as the Prado. I believe the other SUV, not shown on the Top-Spy site, is the
4Runner. It is a completely different-looking vehicle than the Prado. One major difference is it has the rear tailgate with retracting rear window, typical of the 4Runner. The Prado has a side-hinged door [like the GX 470]. A [spy] photo of the 4Runner appeared in the June issue of Truckin', and [another] in the July/Aug issue of Truck Trend, in case you would like to get a look at it. Having left hand drive and no fender mirrors on the Prado is not all that unusual since the Prado is sold in many countries outside of Japan.
As noted on our web page, we sell automotive prototype photos to major periodicals only. We do not sell or provide photos to the general public. If you represent an automotive periodical and are interested in buying photos for publication, then please give me information about your magazine's content and circulation and I would be happy to discuss prices and publishing rights with you."
So he confirms your logic, Rward99, that the steering wheel and fender mirror are not indications. I realize that your link was to the Australian site, which is what I meant in my post in reference to "Aussie." I was just making the point that it was the same vehicle as the one on the Japan site. Sorry you can't get that link to work. Some people seem to have trouble with Yahoo! Photos, and some don't. It usually helps if you register with them, if you haven't already.
As far as the new design meeting my expectations, I'm with you. It's just too hard to make an assessment at this time, with all of the black-out on. From what I know so far about the interior and many of the new features, I'm sold! I like the basic shape of what we can see, and the front end looks pretty cool so far as I can tell. If it looks as bold and beefy as the GX, while retaining the sculpted accents of the current design, then sign me up for a Sport Edition 4x4 in black please! Of course, like you, I'm waiting until after the V6 becomes available to test both engines, and I'm able to get close to invoice for it too, maybe with some 2003 incentives as well.
You won!
1) The 4Runner has 265/70R16 tires, with the rear tires showing more wear than the front. I don't know if they've ever been rotated (heck, I don't know if they're even original equipment -- did the 4Runner come stock with Wrangler RT/S?) How often should I rotate the tires?
2) Much to my chagrin, I noticed a few days ago that I don't have a spare tire. There's a rim, but no tire (I checked the rest of the truck over at the dealership, but it never occurred to me to think that a truck with 27,000 miles on the odometer wouldn't have a spare). What size spare should I be carrying? The truck came with a Toyota trailer hitch, for what it's worth.
3) I'm getting close to the 30,000 mile mark, and due for both an oil change and scheduled maintenance. I'm considering switching to synthetic oil. What brand works best in the 4Runner? What about differential fluids?
4) Speaking of oil changes, should I stick with the Toyota oil filter, or is there another brand that works as well? What about the oil plug? Do I need to stock up on crush washers or the like?
I really like the truck so far (even though it wasn't what we were looking for to replace my S10, but that's a different story). Thanks for the help!
Mark
That spare is a full size spare !
I changed my oil every 3,000 miles and it ran like a top !!! I just always used manufactures suggested oil and always took it to Toyota for $19.95
The service manuel I believe wants the tires rotated evey 7,500 miles, I am not sure. Those Wrangles are great!!!!! my tires had a long way to go even with 40,000 miles on them. I am very disappointed my new Sequoia has Bridgestones on it. I tried to get Goodyears, but they could only offer Dunlops, so I left the Bridgestones.
The only reason I traded my 4Runner is because I wanted vehicle skid control and side air bags for my wife and son. My 99 Sr5 was great !!
As far a drain plug washer, Toyota uses a special thin "teflon like" washer that cost about a buck apiece. I have never seen other companies use this type of washer.
I use Toyota filter but I heard Mobil 1 and Amsoil filters are good. I know to stay away from Fram filters.
Edmunds Maintaince. Forum is a good place for more opinions on these questions.