In a serious car dilemma, help wanted.

That's incredible. I would rather leave the car stock at first though. It's much easier to get a stock car which can do what you want, and mod it after you get over that new car centimental feeling.
Does the pro runner come with some cool road lights like the rigid ones in the taco?

I tested both of them, but wasn't fortunate enough to drive over any bumps. They were very protective of the cars.

 

The 4 Runner is a much better made vehicle period, not just the pro. It is night and day quality wise.

 

You guys think that's because it's a jdm made car? It is only a couple grand more- not that much in the long run...

 

agree 100%

4Runner > taco

Except limited 4 runner

Mouth is ugliest vehicle ever

 

Okay well it sounds like the 4Runner is the better car on/off road, now the question is how far behind is the taco?

 

Made in Japan

Made in USA

 

are you just waiting for someone to say buy the Tacoma?

 

I'm trying to get a perspecive, and set a perspective for future people reading this forum.
We have people saying 4 runner and people saying taco.
More people are saying 4Runner, but instead of going by opinion- how close are the two.

Is it a matter of preference, or is it a matter of the taco not being able to go there the runner goes

is it depending on which one absorbs more bumps on the way, or which one can get you there.

Sure the runner sounds smoother/more solid, but can it take you where a taco can't? or vice versa

 

yes, maybe, sure? I'm not willing to push a stock rig to that point to find out. They are both fully capable on and off road, do you need the bed or not? do you like a motor that revs higher to make moar powah? 4runners have built a reputation for dependability and the ability to get you where your going and to be pretty comfy while doing it, the 3rd gen tacos haven't shown me that...just yet.

 

It's one of those scenarios where i can live without a bed if the cars much better, or i can take advantage of the bed if they're almost the same car.

 

at this point do you even know what you want? It sounds like you are going to buy one and wish you had the other for some reason.

 

Let me explain my general hobbies in my free time:
I surf (Bed or Roofrack)
I go off-roading
I park on the beach and hangout (Beach chairs in pickup vs sitting with trunk open)
I go hiking
I ride a onewheel (like skateboarding)
I like ATVs but fitting one in a taco bed would be a huge challenge.

I don't do things that really require anything specific. They just require getting there. That's the challenge

EDIT: I'd use a bed for sandy/muddy clothes. Tossing all my stuff in the bed. I'd have one of those flat top covers on it.

 

It must be easier to drift in the taco on a dirt road? that would be fun!

 

if it helps, i have put 21k miles on my 3rd gen tacoma and am seriously looking at trading it in for a 2015 4runner.

 

I've been driving a 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road for a bit over a year. My wife keeps telling me to switch to a 4Runner.... and I can't get myself to do it for ONE REASON: manual transmission. I like shifting gears, and not because manuals are better than an automatic (they're not). It's simply more fun! When I get behind the wheel, I want to optimize for driving enjoyment. If they made a 4Runner with a stick, I'd be the first in line at Toyota.



If that doesn't matter to you, just go with the 4Runner.

 

I think the fact that it is 100% made in Japan and shares the same platform as the Land Cruiser does make a difference. I am thinking the factory has higher standards than the ones the Taco's are made at.

 

For what it's worth, I test drove a 2011 T4R 2 days ago with 41k miles on it just to satisfy my curiosity. Trail edition w/ KDSS. I currently own a 2013 Taco DCSB OR. My impressions from driving the T4R was that it was more refined of an on-road drive. It was definitely quieter than my taco (however not apple to apples since I'm running Duratracs on the taco vs whatever stock tires were on the T4R) and the interior plastic bits and pieces felt more solid. Not sure if T4R's have the hydraulic brake booster that Taco OR's have but the brakes on the T4R were noticeably softer than the raw sudden stopping power on my Taco. The T4R accelerated comfortably in that refined SUV sense but at 4700lbs curb weight, my 3900lb taco with a few less horsepower definitely feels more peppy. The T4R of course had multi terrain select and power sunroof, power adjust everything seats - bells and whistles my taco doesn't have. In terms of spaciousness, the T4R with the rear seats folded down had more cargo area than the 5' bed of my Taco but at the sacrifice of not being able to have anyone in the back seats. I feel this is a win for the Taco since I've got the bed cargo area for oversized items or lumber and I can have a couple of friends in the back seat also. Without the rear seats folded down the T4R has about maybe 3 feet of depth of cargo space which for me would be filled up really fast. In the end, there weren't enough of the "oh wow this is so much better than my taco" moments to make me want to trade in my '13 on an '11 T4R TE especially considering that I wouldn't be getting anything for any of the aftermarket stuff on my truck for the trade-in (BAMF sliders, AllPro rear dual swing out plate bumper, ARB twin compressor OBA) etc. so I'd be better off taking my truck back to stock and selling that stuff privately or selling the truck privately. For whatever it's worth they offered me 24k for my taco with 38054 miles on it.

 

That's a pretty truck. I was checking out the manual too. I'm a petrol head, so i'm pretty excited they allow that. Im thinking as much as the runner could be better off road, the taco could be a lot more fun! drifting the back out and stuff would be a ton easier in a taco.

Yeah, that makes sense. And it sounds like the taco is more of a fun/playful car rather than the more refined runner

 

I think it really comes down to the bed. What are you going to use more? After driving an Xterra for 10 years I decided I wanted to get back to a pickup truck. I do a lot of work around the house and figured the bed would come in handy. Well after having my 16 Tacoma Off Road for about 5 months now, I'm wishing I went with a 4runner.

Why? The kids! I find it's so much easier throwing their stuff in the back of an SUV than the back of a pickup. Not to mention the difference in back seat space. I'm 5' 8" and my tiny twin 5 year old girls have to squeeze into the back of the Tacoma. The 4runner has gobs of space in the second row and a ton behind it. I also have nowhere for our dog to go. We have to take my wife's Highlander if we go on a trip because we are not putting our dog in the bed of a pickup.

Yes the Taco is way more updated inside with technology, etc. They did a great job designing the interior, not talking quality but layout. The info screen between the gauges is nice and high res, the entune screen is bigger than the 4runner, the knobs are all in the right spots. The 4runner seems scattered compared to the new Taco. I was hoping the 2017 Runners would get an interior update. Maybe the 2018.

Transmission on the Taco is weird. I cus it quite a bit. 4runner is smoother but no speed demon. I was surprised at how slow my sister-in-laws was compared to my Xterra at the time.

So, I'd say if you don't need a bed as often, get the 4runner, or wait and see what 2018 brings. If you know you'll use the bed, get the Taco.

 

I'm thinking the taco would be more of a fun car. I am in college, so i kind of just decide to go do something on the spot. Not to mention my obsession on swerving around on dirt roads and stuff. It seems as if the taco might fit a college kid a bit better than someone else.