So I tried to get a 4 runner...

So my dudes... I test drove a 4Runner Trd PRO today... I drove the taco there so that I can have exactly apples to APPLES comparison right away.

Overall... I came out... not exactly with a home run here

+The rear space is certainly far more than 32" as per the online stats, I can sit behind myself without my knees touching the front
+Overall size is good
+Color is great (Solar Octane)
+Familiarity is great... I knew exactly what to do
+Visibility is good
+Suprisingly little wind noise with the ugly rack
+Door cards are nicer and pleather/leather?
+Interior looks nicer in person than in pics where it looks cheap.
+Keyless is nice
+The Auto climate/dash etc look a bit better than the taco

-This rode worse than my Taco. It transferred more of the road imperfections/bumps into the cabin and was overally just worse.. IMO the TRD Pro tacomas ride nicer..I expected more (tire pressures were 35 all around)
-Road noise (from tires) on the freeway was more than in my taco.
-Predator steps are an abomination. I can't get my feet into them... and they literally destroy your shins. I would take them off immediately
-No memory seats and 56k MSRP?!
-Smaller screen center gauge than in the taco
-Rat fur headliner is just a joke, I don't understand why they couldn't use the same as the taco which is nice and modern and black material. It isn't 1995 anymore toyota.
-Steering felt looser than in the taco... :-/ IT was ok... but the taco steers with more feedback and doesn't wander as much on the freeway. This was surprising...
-Brake pedal was touchy ... I think that's an automatic+whatever that toyota thing is for the 4x4 system... reminded me of the first auto tacoma. Manual tacomas brake booster/master doesn't have this weird issue.
- Rear headroom sucks for anyone over 5'10", I can't sit up straight and have to gangster lean...
- the 4.0 that everyone says is oh so great and so much better than the 3.5... well felt the same... Still a lugging old POS just like in my taco
-The exhaust note is kind too droney ... Kind of like the taco but worse.
-This "bulletproof" trans fucking hunts gears also... who said that it won't?! It felt dated... hunting when you have only 5 to choose from is unacceptable.
- Some of the paint looked a little spiderwebbed already ?! Perhaps the dealer already scratched it up... my tacoma is flawless.

Overall the tacoma is a far more engaging and BETTER vehicle to drive period (with the manual)... Just unfortunate IMO, I really wanted to like it and trade my tacoma for it but I am going another route. I am just not sure it is worth even $1 premium over the tacoma... and I don't think the expectations that I had for it were fully filled...yes it is more practical from a back seat perspective but that's essentially it.

That's all... keeping the TURD gen. Vehicle in question... I really wanted to like it... but I just can't..

///COOLSTORYBRO

 

Can’t believe there’s no market adjustment.

 

Note that the current 4R is a very very old platform ~ 15 years, so it will drive like one. Funny thing is, all those cons you listed are what the cult is drawn to on the 4R. They want an old school - very capable 4x4 that is light in electronics modern conveniences.

 

Ironically this is why I bought a 3rd Gen taco.

 

Same can be said here. 4G sub is full of
"I don't want an iPad on the dash!"
"Turbo hur dur 4 cylinder bleh blah"
"Why can't I get me a carburetor now"
"Back when Betty White and I used to go slice bread together when it came out, we didn't need no dang gum 8 speed transmissions"

 

I like the wife's 4Runner quite a bit, great for taking long trips but the power seats drive me crazy at times, I HATE that it doesn't have memory seats. She is 4'11" and I'm 5'11" so it takes me forever to get it where I'm comfortable. I find myself still playing with the seat some 10- 15 minutes into the trip.

I jump into the Tacoma and the driving position is perfect, no fiddling up or down or playing with the lumbar support.

I get better gas mileage in my Tacoma with 285s and a 2 inch lift than I get with the 4runner on stock suspension and tires.

Fit and finish in the 4runner is really good, I love the oversized AC controls.

 

Drove my dads 2015 4R multiple times and I prefer my Tacoma in almost every way.

3.5 has more balls at higher RPMs, where the 4.0 runs out of breath. Torque wise, they felt the same. 4R also uses more fuel.

Not sure why so many folks praise the 4R over the Tacoma. I guess a lot of these folks never driven one and think just cuz it’s made in Japan, it’s superior product. It’s not though.

 

The noise u experienced more than likely from the tire on it not the vehicle to blame .I looked at one awhile ago and didn’t find the seating an issue was very comfortable and I’m 5’11. Didn’t get a chance to drive it since my truck was done with service . So can’t comment on power compared to the Tacoma .

 

Yep, I love how old school my truck feels.

Planning to take it for at least 300k miles, only have 48k currently.

 

I have the same feeling. My GF has a 4R, and while it is nice, I just don't see why some rave it is so much better (or even remotely better) than the 3.5,, it's just different. I suppose like everything else on here, people like what they have best.
In the end, both are dated, heavy, un aerodynamic, semi off-road boxes. I like em, but highway cruisers, and eco maheens, they are not.

 

I have to momentarily derail this thread to ask…What 285’s are you running and getting that kind of MPGs out of?

 

Get the new Land Cruiser when it's available.

 

Most of the 4runners in my area are driven by women, it seems to be the quintessential soccer mom ride in the mid Atlantic. I don't feel quite as "manly" behind the wheel of the 4Runner as I do in my Tacoma, it almost feels like I'm driving a "chick car ".

 

Nitto Terra grapplers SL weigh 45lbs per corner.

 

Nice. Thanks!

 

I'd say 8 out of 10 times I see chicks driving 4Runners at least when it's a 5th gen, older gens and modified 4Runners, that does change. I thought about buying a new 4R before, I always go back to it's a chick car, and I don't really need an SUV.

 

Sounds like someone is trying to justify the 60k they spent on a tacoma lol.

I've driven a bunch of 4runners. They are no better or worse that a 3rd gen but have a much better engine and trans.

If you think a 4runner trans is worse shifting that a 3rd gen tacoma, I need some of whatever you are smoking.

 

You must be on crack. The 4runner doesn’t hunt for gears at all. The engine and trans are superior to the 3rd gen tacoma. Honestly the post just sounds like youre trying to make yourself feel better for buying the Tacoma. Either that or reading the post about the 4runner being superior tickled you wrong.

 

I wouldn't say the 4.0 and 5 speed is all that better, it seems really anemic above 70mph and really does need another gear.