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2005 Toyota 4Runner
terrafirma
Member Posts: 212
That looks ugly and all squashed.
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~alpha
Here's the actual 4Runner for a same page comparison:
I knew about those sites, and found a great rig that has me more excited about the 4Runner again:
"The main reason the photo wasn’t allowed is because by having the photo show up on our site, we’re in violation of U.S. copyright law. That particular rigid rule is courtesy of the Government, not of Edmunds.com"
I see plenty of copyright images being abused on the internet. Oh well...
~alpha
The photo in question was hosted by a site that has competing automotive forums. Please see Sylvia's recent note in Ask the Town Hall Hosts for an update on this policy.
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Edmunds is a useful site. You can compete against other sites. Edmunds doesn't have to pretend that the rest of the internet doesn't exist. There are other sites that have competing automotive forums. There always will be. Some will be better. Some will be worse. Some will just be different. It's long past time for Edmunds to grow up and stand proud.
There are other sites? Really? I thought Edmunds was all there is or ever was. Long live Edmunds!
I guess in a litigious society, anything can be construed as being improper to some degree, to the point of creating complications. Sigh.
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I know you can't get the 3rd row in the Sport Edition, which seems a bit weird to me. They did the same thing with the Tahoe Z71, up until 2004, when they wised up and decided that it didn't make much sense, and was turning picky customers away. When will these knuckle heads give us options for EXACTLY what we want?! I'm still bitter that GM never offered the ZR-2 package on the 4-door Blazer and Jimmy (or even the 2-door Jimmy, for that matter!), especially since they introduced the '95 design as a 4-door ZR-2 concept!!! Idiots...
The 3rd row is an option on the Limited too, so you should be able to get a V6 without the extra seats. Now, finding a V6 Limited may be a bit of a challenge...
~alpha
Have you considered the Galactic Grey Mica?
What about Hybrid option?
By the way, there are still some 2003 4Runners with gray cladding still available to buy new here in California.
If the NAV and air suspension had been available on the Sport Edition this year, I would have saved a few thousand dollars. That said - after owning my 04 Limited V8 since December, I have no regrets in having all the features offered. The heated leather seats, illuminated running boards, homelink, auto on/off headlights, dual zone climate control, and back-up camera on NAV/radio display are some of the reasons the Limited should be considered if you can afford and prefer these options. Maybe Toyota is listening and will offer a better package for the 05 Sport.
My local dealer still has an 03 with cladding. If you like this feature you can probably get a great deal??
Both will have TRD supercharger options.
Maybe some trim changes.
~alpha
2. Rounded fender flares instead of the ugly flat surfaced ones. Take the top of the Toyota logo and duplicate that curve for the flare surface directly above the wheel.
3. Eliminate the cheap looking plastic strips on the inside door panels.
4. Eliminate the center speaker above the dash. What were they thinking when deciding to put a speaker in this location???
That's about it.
6. Better placement of the window controls so that they are in easier reach.
7. Provide an auto up/down feature for the front passenger side window controls, at least in Limited models.
8. Provide as an option the ability to have BOTH NAV system and an in-dash CD Changer.
9. Provide as an option a front air suspension system similar to the rear to improve approach angle.
10. Provide as an option for REAL wood trim, not faux plastic granite.
11. A greater selection of exterior colors.
12. Provide as an option a built in XM Radio receiver.
13. Provide as an option a hot/cold box in the center armrest location.
I love my '03 V8 Limited, but still yearn for a few improvements/changes.
Feel free to add to the list
14. Improve the quality of the clear plastic covering the gauges as they scratch too easily.
15. Improve the quality of the headliner. It seems to scratch too easily and isn't of the same quality of earlier Toyota products.
16. Offer a hybrid version (please )
That's about it for me
• Optional Power Driver's seat for SR5 & Sport Editions.
• Accessory jack for iPods/mp3 players, like Nissan has done in the Armada.
• A TRD/Off-Road package, offering a 2" lift and bigger/better tires, preferably All-Terrains.
• Optional step bars, instead of the running boards, like on the previous generation 4Runner Sport Editions.
• Tow hooks like the ones on the Tacoma.
• A little bit cooler-looking taillights.
• A nylon container case that could attach to the pop-up trash bag holder, to store things, when a trash bag isn't necessary.
These things, along with those mentioned above, would really complete an already great truck.
I have something like this that I got from Japan that is for the Hilux Surf (which is the name of the 4Runner in Japan) It fits perfect and the colors match and has velcro straps that go over the pop-up holder on each side to keep it in place. Even came in a bag straight from Toyota of Japan (not aftermarket).
15. Improve the quality of the headliner. It seems to scratch too easily and isn't of the same quality of earlier Toyota products."
Do you really touch the instrumentation cover that much? And why are you touching the headliner? I feel like if theres two surfaces in a car that rarely have contact from myself or my passengers, its those two. IMO, the expense to offer a better plastic cover for the speedo and tach far outweighs the very small marginal benefit.
HOWEVER, a great recommendation was for the power drivers seat on the SR5 and Sport, and the iPod compatabile hookups a la Nissan. And, I think VVTi for the V8 cant come a moment too soon (same feelings for the 5 speed auto on the V6).
~alpha
**I hardly touch the gauges at all, but when I cleaned them of dust for the first time using a window cleaner, the plastic became slightly scratched and hazy. I would expect better from a Toyota product, especially one which costs close to 40k. I've had Toyota's for many years and have never experienced this before. What expense is there to replace the plastic with a higher quality one? The cost is most likely marginal. I do wish that something could be done to reduce glare even further. Even when wearing anti-reflective coated lenses or polarized lenses, there are still times when I might have glare. It would be nice to improve upon this.
15. Improve the quality of the headliner. It seems to scratch too easily and isn't of the same quality of earlier Toyota products."
**I don't touch the headliner much either, but my point was that it can scratch easily. Is also appears thinner and cheaper than previous Toyota's that I have owned. It just is not representative of all the other positive attributes of the 4Runner. However this is a minor complaint of mine.
An audio input would be a nice addition. Currently, I have my ipod attached to a wireless FM modulator, which works ok, but with reduced fidelity.
* Level the front so it doesn't look nose-heavy.
* Restyle the rear spoiler. The current ones looks goofy.
* Offer some new better-looking 16-inch wheels and more aggressive tires.
* Make a more rugged roof racks.
* Color-keyed at least the rear bumper. The silver accent looks silly and cheap on non silver, gold, and white 4Runners.
* Make the exhaust tip bent to the side - looks more truckish like that.
INTERIOR:
* Get a better stereo.
* More supportive seats.
* More illuminations at night.
* 130MPH speedometer. 110MPH seems inadequate even for an SUV.
http://www.msnusers.com/2cimmflionoaijs50in55hk1i0/Documents/Pict- - ures/trash%20bag%2Ejpg
It's a minor thing but the inside of an SUV needs to be durable and that headliner has got to go.
Same with the plastic on the gauges, they are too easily scratched.
Next on the list is a manual transmission. I want to drive the car, not just steer it. Give me a five-speed manual. In addition to letting you drive the car, it offers better gas mileage and lasts longer than an automatic with less maintenance.
4 wheel drive needs to be rugged. When I slip into 4 wheel drive on my 91, all 4 wheels are hard locked to the engine. No slip differential. And no “all wheel drive” when you don’t want it. It's for off-road, as it should be.
I’m ready to buy another car before the end of summer and have looked at everything from Land Rovers to Hummers. The 4Runner is still the best quality SUV for the money (maybe any amount of money). The color choice is dismal, though. Any shade of gray you want, with lots of fancy names. How about something a little more bold? I’d settle for one of the red shades offered on other Toyotas.
It’s a minor thing, but the Toyota navigation system is poor compared to Honda’s system. And the idea of having the CD player behind the nav screen is just dumb. I like the back-up camera, though. Would be good for hitching up a trailer, but the rest of the system is poor.
So I’m stalling, waiting for something better to come along. Maybe the 05 will at least have some color options.
I'm still not clear on when the 05 comes out. The dealers say it is a well kept secret (from them)...but maybe August or maybe October. Does anyone have a good date?