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2005 Toyota 4Runner

24

Comments

  • ohtomaohtoma Member Posts: 28
    Looks like there's some good dirt on the '05 4runner at t4r.org, such as the 270HP V8 with VVTI, with certainly better gas mileage. The 2005 Sequoia is reported to have a 282HP engine with VVTI, 325Lbs-ft torque, and 16/22 MPG!! Maybe I'll wait for the '05 after all ...
  • chbchb Member Posts: 2
    Just had confirmation by a Florida dealer that 05 4Runners are on a boat already in, or headed for Jacksonville, and will be on the lot before the end of July.
  • toyboxxtoyboxx Member Posts: 150
    Their made and on the boat but no one knows for sure if they have an upgraded engine????? I don't know about that. But we will see. Why don't you call your dealer and ask him what the changes will be to the '05 and see if he has an answer.
  • sbell4sbell4 Member Posts: 446
    new V8 VVT-I engine which begins in November production (270 hp, 330 ft.-lbs torque). V6 matched to 5 speed automatic transmission.

    New color keyed rear spoiler

    4Runner will be available in Salsa Red Pearl for 2005.
  • toyboxxtoyboxx Member Posts: 150
    Do you have a link to this information.

    I have seen nothing official about the 4Runner getting this upgrade to the V8. I'm not saying that it is not, just that I haven't heard anything official from Toyota. Same with the V6 getting the 5 speed AT.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    For what its worth, sbell has NEVER missed the mark... ie... everything that he states is generally based in fact that non-Toyota insiders here are not privy to, and has historically been correct. Toyboxx... are you a dealer or Toyota employee? Perhaps you are and therefore your suspicion. If not, however, how would you see something official from Toyota that hasnt already been made public?

    ~alpha
  • slandyslandy Member Posts: 46
    Changes for the 2005 4Runner include the new V8 VVTI with 270 HP, beginning with November production, 330 FT lbs torque. Both motors will get the 5-spd automatic transmission, and a new shift control system for handling up-down grades is newly installed. The system regulates throttle openings and vehicle speed to help reduce unnecessary shifting uphill for achieving optinmal driving force and help shift down automatically to achieve optimal engine braking force downhill.

    An auto LSD (Limited slip diff) switch introduced as the escape function exclusively for 2WD vehicles replacing the current TRAC OFF switch.

    Cruise control cancel has a memory function to reset to original "cancelled-at" speed, even when car drops below minimum speed.

    AUTO LSD indicator added to gauge cluster

    Rear Spoiler design changed to enhance deflection performance.

    Front passenger airbag sensors added.

    NAV system now available on cars with third row seating - Limited only, and will include JBL audio with 8 speakers, no cassette, non-synthesis.

    BTW: Salsa Red Pearl will be added for 2005. No other color changes other than interior is now called taupe rather than oak or beige.
  • tbcreativetbcreative Member Posts: 357
    Very exciting news! Thanks everyone, for the great updates! Now I know for sure that I'm going to wait until January before I buy a 4Runner.
  • toyboxxtoyboxx Member Posts: 150
    I don't work for Toyota but anything official from them makes it around the internet almost instantaniously.

    And Slandy, I wasn't looking to be made happy. But you still didn't cite where you got that info from, for all I know that is internet heresay. Direct me to where you got the info so I can read it for myself. Again I'm not saying it is not true, I just want to read it myself.
  • chuck999chuck999 Member Posts: 38
    Any word on side-curtain airbags ... i.e. will it be possible to get them on other than Limited without a "special order"???

    Thanks
  • slandyslandy Member Posts: 46
    I got it from Dianne at Carson Toyota. She is a major player in sales at that dealer. She is very well respected at Tundrasolutions.com. She has never supplied us with bogus info.
  • jcliffrojcliffro Member Posts: 108
    I live in New Orleans and checked buyatoyota.com which lists dealer inventory. Out of over 200 SR5 and Sport 4Runners (V6 or V8)...I did not check Limiteds because I don't want leather interior...there were none in Louisiana inventories. I next plugged in a Houston zip code and out of 147 SR5s and Sports in their inventory, one, yes ONE, had the side air bags option. I think that is ridiculous. Who would rather pay $1114 for a stupid "extra mile option" than $680 for side air bags and air curtains? I think Toyota should be ashamed for offering an option that they obviously discourage anyone from having. I would love to get a 4Runner, but am holding out until I can find the one I want with side air bags and air curtains. Perhaps I will look into ordering, though my understanding is that Toyota discourages that as well. Sooner or later I may give up and go with the newly designed Xtrerra, assuming one so equipped will be easier to find.
  • beanctrbeanctr Member Posts: 99
    Couldn't agree with you more on your comments. There are a few of us out there that wish the side/curtain airbag was more widely available on the 4runner. I have already written to Toyota about my displeasure about this. Hopefully other people have done the same and perhaps they will make changes in 2005. If they don't, they may lose me as a potential customer. I don't think I want to hassle with trying to find a dealer that will do a special order just so I can get this important safety item. My next vehicle purchase must have this safety feature.
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    I recall from years ago that all Toyotas in the S and SE were imported through a distributor (Gulf Coast something-or-other) that made it all but impossible to get certain option combos and routinely added all sorts of port-installed options to drive up the price. The dealers were completely hamstrung by this distributor who had some kind of long-term exclusive agreement with Toyota.

    Don't know if things are the same, but it discouraged me twice from buying Toyotas when in lived in NC - I bought a Mazda and a Honda instead.

    - Mark
  • rjlaerorjlaero Member Posts: 659
    It doesn't make sense that a $17,000 Scion has side airbags, and a $30,000 4 Runner doesn't. It should be stardard. But it's also a way the car companies make people buy the more expensive higher end models when they really don't want to, just to get a few safety extras.

    For a comarison, you can buy an 04.5 Mitsu Endeavor XLS that has standard ABS, side Airbags, traction control, power seats, and a six disc changer for $28,500 MSRP.
  • toycashtoycash Member Posts: 139
    And in two years, that Endeavor will be worth $15,000 if you're lucky.

    The reason 4Runners are hard to find with side airbags is because the regional offices, not Toyota, decide how to order the vehicles. Most regions believe that the majority of people who will pay for the side airbags, will be Limited buyers. If this is to change, people must vote by telling their dealers, who will pass it on to the regional offices. You can special order a 4Runner with any options you want, but it will take about 3 months to get it.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    Are the Endeavor's side restraits seat mounted chest/thorax ONLY? If so, they afford precious little extra protection. Curtains and/or seat-mounted bags with head protection get the job done.

    "For comparison" where is the Endeavor's stability control system that even the cheapest 4Runner has standard?(or for that matter, a 20K RAV4).

    ~alpha
  • chuck999chuck999 Member Posts: 38
    I TRIED to "Special Order" a 2004 V8 Sport WITH side curtain airbags from two local dealers. One said "Toyota doesn't build them - It can't be done". The other would "Try" but at list price and told me I'd have to wait at least 3 months .......

    I'm sorry but I find it hard to believe that REGIONAL offices are COMPLETELY responsible for building decisions made by Toyota. If so, then why did RAV4's suddenly start appearing with them? Do you really think that the REGIONAL executives who called for them?

    My guess it that Regional executives preferences are taken into account by corporate but that if corporate makes a major decision - like "We will build most 4-Runners with option GY (side curtain airbags)then the regional guys and dealers just do their best to figure out how to sell them ...

    Just my 2 cents. I'm no corporate exective so take it for what it's worth ...
  • atl4runneratl4runner Member Posts: 1
    I recently took my leased Ford Escape with 35,300 miles to the dealer and had the following work done
     1.)Recalled power train, Recalled Seat belt
     2.) Two new tires replacing tires that came with the car and had a 12,000 tread warranty
     3.) A rear passenger door that could not be opened from the outside or inside (dealer went 80/20) because I was 38 months into the car.

    I can't wait to purchase my 2005 4runner. I am sure it will be very similar to the 2004 and I know it won't have as much problems as my Ford did.

    Does anyone know with standard tires on 4runners how long the Manufacture warranty runs? It has be longer than 12k right?
  • rjlaerorjlaero Member Posts: 659
    Alpha,

    You do make a few good points. The endeavor doesn't have curtain overhead airbags. They come out of the side of the seats. Obviously it's not as good as a full curtain system,, but it's better than having no side airbags at all. I've been driving one as a company car for over a year and I've been really pleased with it.

    I was considering getting a 4 runner. But I can't afford the higher end LTD models that have power seats. I hope Toyota fixes the problems with the manual seats on the base model 4 Runner for 2005. It's embarassing to be selling $30,000 SUVS and the seats don't work properly. Even the lowly Mitsubishi doesn't have customers invoking the lemon law to buy back cars because the manual seats rock back and forth and "can't be fixed". A high resale value is nice, but you shouldn't have to put up with those kind of basic defects.

    My Solara had the same problem with "rocking seats". After numerous trips to the dealer and almost $2000 in warranty work, they finally got fixed.
  • jcliffrojcliffro Member Posts: 108
    I think about a year ago I emailed every single Toyota dealer in Louisiana, Southern Mississippi and Alabama about their equipping more SR5s and Sports with side air bags and side air curtains. I think I heard back from a total of two dealers and I think maybe one of them suggested a special order (probably with little discount). So if any of you out there would consider taking the time to write the dealers in your area about this, perhaps it would have an impact. I will do the same again. I hope the dealers will be able to make a connection between a ton of unsold 4Runners on dealer lots and emails from potential customers complaining about the way those models are equipped. Of course, that presupposes good logic, intelligence and a sense of integrity on their parts....
  • beanctrbeanctr Member Posts: 99
    just to add to your comments, send Toyota USA an email or call their 1-800 number too. You can find the contact information on Toyota's website under "About Toyota".
  • sgtswifesgtswife Member Posts: 2
    Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and all of you seem very knowledgeable on this topic. That is why I am here...
    I am going to purchase a new 4Runner soon, very soon...I can't decide whether to wait for the 2005's to be released or purchase a 2004. I'm sort of in a hurry to purchase. This is where your opinions come in...is it worth waiting??? And if so does anyone have any clue when they will release the 2005's???
  • toycashtoycash Member Posts: 139
    '05 4Runner V6 will be out second half of August, V8 not until November.

    chuck999, any dealer can special order the vehicle for you, there's no try about it, unless there is a difference between regional office policies that I'm not aware of. As far as price, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get the same deal as a stock unit, keeping in mind that there is no price protection from Toyota, and that incentives can change. And yes, it was input from dealers that caused the distribution manager for the Chicago region to increase the percentage of side airbag orders.

    As far as sales of 4Runners go, in our area we have not had that much demand for side airbags, and we have very few available units.
  • sgtswifesgtswife Member Posts: 2
    Thank you for the info...I think you just convinced me to wait...That's ok about the V6, I simply want a SE 4WD V6, so that is perfect!
    Ok one last question...if I ordered one immediately when the 2005's were released when is the soonest I will receive it???
  • toyboxxtoyboxx Member Posts: 150
    Since '05's are being produced right now I'm sure you could put an order in for one now. You definitly couldn't "order" an '04 now.
  • chuck999chuck999 Member Posts: 38
    Toycash ..

    I agree with you - any dealer SHOULD be able to special order an SR5 or Sport with side airbags. I think that the reason the Baltimore Area dealers were so unhelpful is that their lots are FULL of unsold units - it was much more in their interest to try and hardsell a Limited than to actually help. Certainly regions are different - interesting that there are few unsold units in your area. If you want to see some inventory - go to www.carmax.com and look at the stock of 4runners in Laurel MD - I realize that they're a huge dealership but they have way over 100 in stock with 2005's just months away! (and no rebates yet .....)

    What convinced me that I want side curtain airbags is this website:

    http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ratings.htm#sideairbags_- 04

    Check out the honda accord WITH vs. WITHOUT the side curtain airbags. While side impacts are less common than front, and vehicles like SUV's and pickups put the driver's head above the typical bumper, the momentum of a side impact WILL drive your HEAD into the glass window - and given the choice, I'll pay pretty good cash to have my HEAD crashing into a soft inflatable pillow instead.

    BUT - not $6000 which is how much more a V6 limited cost than an SR5....

    Just one man's opinion ....

    P.S. The crash photos on the above website are very cool ......
  • jcliffrojcliffro Member Posts: 108
    So I am wondering if there could be any correlation between lots of unsold 4Runners on dealer lots and the equipment that are on those unsold units? If you eliminate the double decker cargo thing, daytime running lights (just turn on the lights if you want them on) and those Extra Mile ripoffs, you can more than pay for the side air bag option. Perhaps more people would be willing to put forth the money for a vehicle they felt might keep them more safe. A dealer told me that they get very few requests for side air bags. But that just tells me what I already know: as a general rule, the general public is stupid.
  • threxxthrexx Member Posts: 42
    Hey all, I've been surfing Edmunds for years, but just now decided to join the forum.

    I have a 2005 4Runner V8 Limited 2WD on order for my fiancé. They say it will be produced in November and delivered to us sometime in December (whether toward the beginning or the end, they don't know yet). What that means is that if any of you are considering waiting for the '05 models, you can expect to get your car in December.

    We ordered an '05 partly because we wanted the VVT-i i-Force V8, but also because we both had no desire for a sunroof (extra cost, loss of headroom, and possible maintenance frustrations later on in life since we plan on keeping this thing until it dies).
  • raiderraider Member Posts: 12
    Threxx, I'm seriously thinking about ordering a 2005 4-Runner
    with the new V-8 engine. I actually am considering ordering a 2005
    4-WD 4-Runner Sport with the V-8 engine. I would be interested in your opinion (or the opinion of others) regarding the new V-8.
    I believe the torque goes from 320 to 330 and the horsepower goes from 235 to 270. Although I don't live in a large metropolitan area, I do live near and use an interstate highway frequently,
    usually for just a few miles each time. The interstate runs right through the city I live in and it is necessary to use it to get around town efficiently. Therefore, if there is a significant increase in acceleration power in the new V-8, it would be very important to me. I would be interested in an explanation of the advantages of the VVT on the new V-8. I also want to obtain side and curtain airbags on the Sport 4-Runner I will purchase. Apparently, side and curtain airbags rarely come with the Sport. That fact is another reason why ordering a vehicle coudl be the appropriate choice for me. Thanks.
  • threxxthrexx Member Posts: 42
    Raider, I'll answer in two parts:
    First about the history of the i-Force V8.

    The i-Force is a beautiful engine even without VVT-i. It may not make class-leading power, but it is by far the most solidly constructed and (I and many others predict) the most durable V8 truck motor on the market today. Plus I'd go so far as to say that it's about the smoothest and quietest truck motor out today.

    It's actually 99%+ identical to the V8s currently used in all of the Lexus SUVs, and made in the same factory in Japan. The basic architecture is closely related to the V8s found in Lexus' cars such as the 4.0L V8 in my 99 GS400 or the 4.3L V8 in the 2001+ Lexus vehicles. There are some pretty significant differences, though, as well. One of them being VVT-i, another being displacement, but others such as intake and exhaust ports and so on. But the thing that remains is that it's a motor that Toyota/Lexus has spent a lot of time and experience obsessing over and has spared no cost in developing and building it.
  • raiderraider Member Posts: 12
    Threxx, thanks so much. Can I ask you how you were able to do in the pricing area with regard to orderin the 2005. How much off MSRP was your dealer willing to go? I haven't talked to any dealers yet about ordering a 2005. Thus far, I've test driven some 2004's at two dealerships. Is the new V-8 a 4.7 liter engine? My Ford Explorer Sport has about 160,000 miles on it and is about to die so I'm worried about keeping it going until December. It has a knock in it. Of course, I could sell the Explorer and then rent a car for a few months. I would assume that if I want to get delivery by December that I need to be getting my order in very soon.
  • threxxthrexx Member Posts: 42
    The way VVT-i works and how it will affect the i-Force.
    (part two of the question at hand)
    All engines have cams. Cams have profiles, which effectively means what timing they use to open and close the exhaust and intake valves. This may sound pretty minor, but by modifying the profile of a cam you can make the same motor very "torquey" (low-RPM off the line grunt, useful for towing and for being able to leave casually from a stoplight without revving the motor very high. But at the same time, the more torque-biased the cam profile, the more the motor will loathe high-RPM and thus feel 'out of breath' when revved), or you can make it very "peaky" (which will give a significant bias toward high-rpm horsepower, but will give a pronounced lack of torque, thus causing the motor to have to be revved up quite a bit even in day-to-day casual driving).

    The old-school solution most manufacturers used with this dilema was to base cam profiles on the type of car they were put in: In trucks you'd see low RPM torque-biased profiles and in compact sporty cars you'd see high RPM horsepower-biased profiles. In "in-between" vehicles such as vans, family sedans, and so on, you'd most often see neutral cam profiles that gave about as much bias toward torque as they did to horsepower, thus giving those cars a more comfortable "flat" power delivery that would be usable in any situation.

    You may also notice that in race cars and such, they always seem to be idling rough... some to the point (on some drag racing cars and such) that the driver has to constantly give it gas to keep it from dying. This isn't necessarily the sign of an unhealthy engine, it's just a very radical cam profile with high lift and high duration. This makes more power all across the board as long as the heads and valves of the motor are able to take advantage of their extra breathing room. But at the same time it makes the motor run much rougher.

    Then came "VTEC" (Honda), "VVT" (Toyota), and some other companies had other names for the same basic concept using slightly different methods of implementation. This new technology in general allowed the use of two seperate cam profiles in the same motor. Thus a manufacturer could put in a low RPM torque-biased cam profile that was designed to automatically switch at, say, 3500 RPM, to a high RPM horsepower-biased cam profile. It's not always this simple depending on the engineer's intentions, but that's the basic conceptual benefit. Thus trucks using VVT could now breath much better at high-RPM, and 4-cylinder compact cars didn't have quite as much of a lack of low-RPM grunt (although many still do because of their small displacement, it is at least not as 'bad' as it used to be).

    The newest technology (i-VTEC and VVT-i) just builds upon the same concept of 2 switchable cam profiles, except it adds "intelligence" (that's what the 'i' stands for). The intelligence adds the ability for the vehicle's onboard computer to monitor all sorts of things such as throttle position, RPM, rate of acceleration, traction control, and driver's habits to determine when the best time for the cam profile shift is, or if it would really make sense at all (for example, if you are accelerating moderately and the computer knows it's going to be, at the current rate of acceleration, shifting at 3600 RPM, it probably won't bother to shift the cam profile toward high-RPM and then shift it back again after the transmission shifts only for 100 RPM of benefit). Sort of the same way as electronic throttle control in toyota vehicles already manages throttle position for both the transmission's shift points as well as the traction control system.

    The end result of the addition of VVT-i to any motor is mainly that the motor makes up for its weaker trait. Thus giving a smoother, flatter power curve, better overall performance no matter what, often times slightly improved gas milage, and sometimes a slightly smoother running motor if the original single cam profile was more radical than the VVT-i cam profiles were.

    In the i-Force's case, it was a truck motor and thus was very torque-biased. Because of this, its already high 320 pounds of torque was only increased by another 10, as the new profile really couldn't get all that much more torque-biased than the original profile already was. But the original cam profile definitely had issues in the horsepower department... thus why the horsepower figures previously were in the 235-240 range at a slightly lower than ideal RPM (peak horsepower was very noticably before actual redline). The addition of VVT-i will boost the power figures to 278 horsepower (I know others here have heard 270, but I've heard 278.. not sure if my info is accurate, though. They may just rate it at 270 and rate the GX470 at 280 for marketing purposes), with the powerband being much flatter and continuing on to 2 or 3 hundred RPM closer to redline.
  • threxxthrexx Member Posts: 42
    The i-Force has been 4.7L since it was released, and will continue to be for 2005. Some sources say they may increase the displacement and change some pretty significant details when the move production over from Japan to Alabama here in the next year or two, though.

    The first dealer I talked to told me the best they could do was 800 over invoice. But that was without negotiating or anything. I ended up getting it for about 1100 under invoice when I ordered it, but I ordered from a fleet sales guy that I know personally... that sort of deal is not accessible normally unless you know somebody that does fleet sales personally. From what I've heard the best deal you should shoot for at a dealership is between 200 under invoice and around 500 over invoice. Anywhere in that range you're doing good.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    With all due respect, I can't imagine ordering a vehicle like that with 2WD. Why? If you want a 2WD wagon-type of vehicle, which is what you've ordered, virtually every car-based wagon will drive better, handle better, get better mileage, etc., than a truck-based wagon, which is what you've ordered.

    Bob
  • threxxthrexx Member Posts: 42
    Well this is for my fiance. She'll never be off-roading. Even when I drive it, the worst I might do is some slightly muddy trail running (for camping and such). We also live in an area that sees about an average of 1 (very weak) snow fall that actually sticks to the ground for more than a few minutes.

    So with all of that mentioned, 4WD would do nothing but:
    Increase the price of the vehicle
    Decreased the gas milage
    Worsened the acceleration, handling, and braking capabilities somewhat
    Added a maintenance and future reliability issue

    So yeah, then you ask "why not just get a unibody SUV"? Well because she decided she wanted something bigger than the Highlander, and I don't particularly care for the Honda Pilot, so our only real options past that were body on frame. I like body on frame anyway because of the fact that you can beat on it all day long and it loves it. We both also like the way it feels when driving in an SUV. And lastly, she has been slightly accident prone in the past, and I like the fact that body on frame vehicles are much less prone to structural/irreversable damage when in minor and even moderate accidents.

    Oh, and if you couldn't tell already, I love the i-Force. I prefer it 10x over the V6 offerings in the unibody SUVs.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    So with all of that mentioned, 4WD would do nothing but:
    Increase the price of the vehicle

    True.

    Decreased the gas mileage.
    Only very slightly

    Worsened the acceleration, handling, and braking capabilities somewhat.
    Again, only very slightly

    Added a maintenance and future reliability issue.
    Not true, especially not true being a Toyota.

    On the flip side, a 2WD SUV (of any brand) will bring in a much lower resale value upon trade-in. In addition, a 2WD SUV will be much harder to sell, if you decide to sell it yourself. There's a tiny market for that kind of vehicle, as compare to a 4WD SUV. So whatever money you save up front at the time of purchase, you will most likely lose at the time of trade-in.

    I wasn't thinking of car-based SUVs, like the Highlander, but car wagons (Legacys/Outbacks, Mazda 6, Passat, Volvos, etc.)—all of which will drive much better than any truck-based SUV.

    I can understand the appeal of the Toyota V8. :)

    Bob
  • sbell4sbell4 Member Posts: 446
    In Alabama, we do not have snow, ice and other inclement weather to deal with. 99% of all of our 4Runners will be 2WD. 4x4 doesn't add much value if it isn't needed. A ten bedroom house would have more value then a three bedroom house but value for your money comes in to consideration.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    99% of all of our 4Runners will be 2WD.

    I don't believe that for a moment. Even if you don't have snow, some of those owners will use their 4Runners off road, or at least on muddy roads and/or trails. Even if they don't go off-road, many will buy 4WD, just in case...

    Bob
  • threxxthrexx Member Posts: 42
    The factors such as worsened handling, gas milage, acceleration, braking, etc are all minor, but they are all factors none the less, and are just as major of factors to me as things like 'just in case' and 'resale' are for me since I don't plan on actually using 4WD.
    Even things that appear minor such as 1 MPG worse with gas, amortized over 100,000 miles (and actually I plan to keep it longer), this equals over $650 @ 2/gal (and we all know gas will be going higher). If you figure the same thing happens with your struts/brakes/etc to where they have to be replaced slightly sooner, the money starts adding up out of nowhere.

    I don't know about where you live, but here in Memphis, TN the extra money spent on 4WD on a new purchase will depreciate at just about the same rate as the rest of the money spent. So if the 4Runner depreciates 50%, so will the 4WD.

    In other words, it's not an investment item.

    If there is such a tiny market for 2WD SUVs then why are the majority of new 4Runners sold in my area 2WD? That makes no sense at all.

    There is added maintenance and reliability issues with 4WD in any vehicle, especially if you're talking about keeping one as long as we plan on keeping this 4Runner. True with Toyota it's less of a question mark, but it is there nonetheless. The more parts you have to break, the greater chance you have of something breaking. And 4WDs do usually involv a bit of extra maintenance such as the transfer case fluid and a couple of extra points that need to be routinely greased for factory-smooth operation (just ask the 4WD GX470 owners about a binding issue they have where they'll just be sitting at a stoplight and *bam* feels like they've been rear ended. Nope, they just need to get regreased)

    And car-based wagons are not all that different from car-based SUVs. Many of them even share the same chassis and drivetrain. It's just a matter of if people like to sit up a little higher or have a little more headroom/cargo room (which isn't always the case when comparing unibody SUVs to unibody wagons, but is most common none the less).

    Body on frame definitely has a more of a 'wet noodle' feeling than unibody due to its inherently lower torsional and bending rigidity and lower natural resonent frequency. But at the same time it has the advantage of being 'disconnected' from the actual structure and cabin of the vehicle, thus meaning when you hit a bump or irregularity, it is the frame that is absorbing the impact rather than the entire car as you see with unibody.

    Body on frame definitely makes the ocupants feel chassis flex moreso, but to say unibody is a "better" ride is like saying apples are better than oranges. Some people flat-out prefer body on frame (ask anyone who insists on driving a truck or truck-based SUV or one of the big-body cars (Lincolns/Cadillacs/Crown Vics/etc).

    I say this as someone who owns a 99 Lexus GS400 (unibody) and who recently sold a 2000 Chevy Silverado. The ride of the two was completely opposite, but I enjoy(ed) both in their own seperate rights, just as I enjoyed driving the 2004 4Runner they had at the dealer's lot.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    and they never cost me any extra money in terms of maintance. I'm speaking of a '84 Trooper, an '86 F-150 (both bought new) and 2 Subarus (both bought new, and 1 with 116K and the other with 66K). Extra wear & tear has not been an issue at all.

    As to car-based SUVs vs. car-based wagons, the big difference is center of gravity, which is higher in the SUVs. So yes, there is a considerable difference in terms of handling.

    You know the market better in the south than I do, but here in Maryland 2WD SUVs are pretty scarce, and certainly are a liability in terms of resale.

    Bob
  • richinraleighrichinraleigh Member Posts: 18
    Bottom line is, it's your money, buy what will make YOU happy, not some future buyer 5 or 10 years from now. Personally, I have a 2wd SR5 V6. Fits my needs perfectly. Had a 4wd prior to this for 3 years, used it once. You will be lucky if you get the additional cost back for the 4wd when you get rid of it....just my opinion of course.
  • biglatkabiglatka Member Posts: 78
    Although I own a V6 4WD 4Runner, because I live in an area that gets a lot of snow, I have agree with those from the South who buy 2WD because they feel they have no need for the off-road capabilities of 4WD. There aren't many areas where I live to go off road and I don't live near a beach where I can drive on the sand (both opportunities I would love to have) so I would buy a 2WD too, if it weren’t for all the snow and dangerous icing conditions we get. The 2WD's are cheaper, lighter, require less maintenance, and get better gas mileage. I would think though, that given TRAC and VSC operating on 4 driven wheels that the 4WD would handle better in all situations. Actually I was looking at RAV4 and a CRV before I bought the 4Runner. But after driving the 4Runner and factoring in its size, comfort, handling, power, towing capability, and safety margin the 4Runner was the choice, hands down. I took a hit in the mileage, but for a mid-size SUV it's not too bad at 17 to 23 MPG.

    If the price is a bit of a problem, for some, I would opt for the 2004 over the 2005 models. The 5-speed in the V6 or the VVT-i in the V8 is very tempting, but my feeling is that because of that, there will not be much of an incentive to mark them down, at least for the first year anyway. Judging from the forums I've been on, there seems to be a lot of pent up demand for the 2005's. I think there are some very good buys out there on the 2004’s for that same reason.
  • sbell4sbell4 Member Posts: 446
    DRATS!! You saw through my evil plan to trick you. You are too smart for the rest of us.

    I should have known you knew our inventory and demographics better then I did.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,145
    Let's cut out the negative tone. Bob explicity said that you know the market in the south better. Just leave it at that.

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  • jcliffrojcliffro Member Posts: 108
    I have to support the statement by Sbell4 that "99% of the 4Runners in Alabama are 2WD". About a month ago when I checked on SR5 and Sport models in the Gulf State area, they showed 147 unsold SR5 and Sport models, of which 145 were 2WD and 2 were 4WD. Thus, I would not beat up on Sbell4 because 98.63945% of 4 Runners in his area are 2WD rather than 99% as he claimed. Believe it or not, only a few people will pay extra for 4WD in the greater New Orleans area...that goes for Xterras, 4Runners, whatever model is available in 2WD or 4WD.
    And, to Raider, don't give up on that side air bag/air curtain demand, buddy. I am holding firm and giving all my area dealers hell for not having more 4Runners with that option, especially since so many have a stupid extra mile option protecting paint and seats instead (and it costs more than side air bags). Did any of you happen to notice that when the Insurance Institute side crashed a RAV4 without side airbags, it got a POOR rating and indicated the driver faced near certain death? When Toyota asked them to retest the RAV-4 and sent them a model WITH side airbags, it got the HIGHEST rating; in fact, it got a BEST PICK. So I went to BuyAToyota.com and checked to see how many RAV4s in the entire Gulf State region had the side airbags/air curtain option. Want to guess? Out of over 200, NOT A SINGLE ONE. I think Toyota should be boycotted for putting a death trap like that on the market while not offering consumers the life saving option (which is apparently an option in name only).
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    Drama, much?

    If you dont want a "deathtrap", simply dont buy a RAV4 without the curtains. For what its worth, both RAV4s w/ and w/o curtains are readily available in the Northeast. You have the unfortunate condition of being relegated to the horrid business practices of Southeast Toyota (SET) Distriubution.

    ~alpha
  • beanctrbeanctr Member Posts: 99
    The side curtain air bag option is such an important safety item that they do not equip ANY of their RAV-4's in the State of California with this option. Why does Toyota have such an aversion to equipping their vehicles with this safety feature? It is any wonder why anyone would buy the RAV-4 without the curtain air-bag feature especially after seeing the Insurance Institute's test. I hope Toyota gets it right for 2005, especially for the 4-Runner.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    About a month ago when I checked on SR5 and Sport models in the Gulf State area, they showed 147 unsold SR5 and Sport models, of which 145 were 2WD and 2 were 4WD.

    That could also be interpreted that Toyota is having trouble selling 2WD 4Runners, and that 4WD 4Runners are hard to keep on the lot, hence so few...

    Bob <playing the devil's advocate>
  • jcliffrojcliffro Member Posts: 108
    rsholland, it would probably just be easier to admit that you made a mistake on the 4WD issue in the deep south, man.

    alpha01, it is great that your distributor has a conscience up there in the northeast, but I don't think it is "drama" to be ticked at a vehicle manufacturer that knows it can build a much safer vehicle, be it a Camry, RAV4 or
    4Runner and neglects to do so. Your "don't buy a RAV4" comment is shortsighted and is not the way to improve life on the planet.
This discussion has been closed.