What other vehicles did you consider buying before you got a 4runner?

I considered the Toyota pickup (1980-1995) and Tacoma (1995-2002). Also considered getting a jeep wrangler pre 2007 or a cj7 or cj5. I really liked the single cab pickups of the 80s and 90s. One of the Toyota pickups I drove was from 1994, and it was all original- even the tires were the originals dated 1994.

 

tundra (came from one), Jeep, or corvette.

 

Toyota Tacoma 6 speed for sure.

 

This is a Good Question. The answers should shed a lot of light on the reasons people choose the 4R. Interesting!

The Chevy Tahoe may have been the closest to a second choice for me. Had it been the same price similarly equipped (with three rows and the luxury type features on the 4R Limited) it might have been a toss up. But the much higher price of the Tahoe made it a non starter.

My thinking? I really wanted a lot of utility, toughness and a good reason to expect reliability and longevity.

In the Utility category, both the Tahoe and 4R have a lot of cargo space and the option of three rows. The Tahoe has more interior room, but it was also a bit big for my garage and that much more of a beast to wrangle on the road. The 4R is clearly superior off road, which I like, but I don't really expect to do more off roading than a Tahoe could handle. The Tahoe meanwhile is superior for towing, but I don't expect to be towing anything bigger than the 4R can handle. Both should be about the same in snow, though the 4R has a bit more ground clearance. So, the Tahoe and 4R were kind of a toss up in the Utility category.

In the Toughness category, both are body on frame. And both have big proven engines and transmissions. The 4R may have more in the way of skid plates, but here again it's more or less a toss up.

In the Reliability and Longevity category, one could arguable feel more confident in a Toyota than a Chevy, but the Tahoe matches the 4R in the percentage sold that exceed 200K miles out in the real world. The Tahoe might also be a tad cheaper and easier to repair out in the boondocks around the country given the vast numbers that have been sold over the years and the huge dealer and repair networks for GM products. So again more or less of a toss up, with the edge just maybe going to the 4R given its provenance.

My hunch is I would have chosen the 4R had the Tahoe been the same price, especially due to the 4R's tidier exterior dimensions, but really it might have ended up depending on something trivial -- like which dealer was less of a pain in the ass. But in the end the choice was moot, cause the Tahoe was a good 10K more.

Had neither the 4R nor the Tahoe been an option, I might have ended up with (shudder) a Kia Telluride. It is almost as big inside as the 4R, and certainly nicer to sit in and to drive on road. Plus better MPG. And then there's the excellent Kia warranty. But at the end of the day it's not proven. And it's not a real truck.

 

Looked at a f250, dodge/gmc/Chevy 2500 and a Ford Explorer. Knew I wanted the 4runner but I had to verify it lol.

however a f150 will be gotten at some point in the future.

 

Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, Dodge Challenger and Charger (before I became wise to Fiat Chrysler's crap), Chevy Colorado, Kia Stinger

Those are the big ones.

 

Wrangler JL. But I've owned plenty of Jeeps and was ready for a change. My favorite overlanding rig was actually a 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X, and the 4Runner is very similar to it (4L V6, BOF, rear locker, etc.).

I was ready to go back to IFS and less on-road fatigue. I'm excited about KDSS because the disconnecting sway bar was my favorite feature of the Jeep. And my Xterra lacked the electronic goodies, so it'll be interesting to try those out.

I briefly considered a new Defender 110, but they're expensive even in stripper trim, and they will be very hard to get through the end of 2020 due to current circumstances.

 

Due to an amazing experience with my current vehicle, we are dumping all that is domestic at this point. Previous rides in the past 20 years: Ford Taurus, VW Passat, Volvo S40, Buick Roadmaster, Buick Regal, Chevy Cobalt, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Equinox, Ram 1500 Hemi 6 spd, Ram 1500 V6 8 spd, Nissan Murano, Ford Mustang vert, Ford Mustang ecoboost, Toyota Corolla and currently in another Ram 1500 hemi lemon. It seems I am a slow learner.
So we are going full Toyota; to replace our current vehicles we looked at the Rav4, Highlander, Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner and decided on the 4R. In a few years down the road I see a Tundra in our driveway. At this point we not even looking beyond Toyota/Lexus for the foreseeable future.

 

Was driving a 2011 FJ prior to getting the 2020 4Runner TRD OR. I had bought the FJ new and loved driving it for nine years. If new FJ's were still being sold in North America I would have gone with another FJ. Unfortunately, since a new FJ was not available, I went with my 2nd choice.

 

Used Nissan armada

Used Chevy Tahoe

Never really got serious enough about either.....glad I didn't

 

Lexus GX470/GX460 then realize the pitiful barn door opening.

 

F150 Raptor. But the price tag and the reliability of fords ultimately kept me away.

 

From 2010 thru 2017 I drove Nissan pathfinders in the pre 2013 box styling......always chose the pathfinder over the xterra primarily because of the operable rear glass.....if Nissan hadn't gone gay French with the Nissan makeover I likely would have stuck with a pathfinder in a 4x4 model.

 

Kept my 2006 Nissan Frontier SE KC 4x4 - need a truck muddy bloody things.

Really wanted a 6 speed manual 4 door 4x4 Tacoma Off Road. Test drove 2 of them. The cab was just too cramped for me coming from a King Cab Nissan. Also test drove a 4 door Wrangler JK Rubicon w/ 6 speed, 3 Ford F150's, a 6 speed Nissan Frontier Pro4x, and 2 4runners.

Found the 4Runner had everything I wanted - 4 doors, 4x4, lots of interior space for adult passengers, and an electronic rear locker.

Funny note.

One of the F150's I test drove was a used 2016 w/ the 3.5 Ecoboost at a Ford Dealer. I mentioned to the salesman that I wanted the current (at that time) 2019 grill and headlights. He's like "No problem, we can swap on a 19 front end."

I mentioned that this 2016 has a check engine light on. He's like "No problem, we'll drop a new engine into it!!!"

 

I had a great deal on an orange RC-F offered to me, but the red interior and the likelihood that I was staying in Michigan killed the deal.
Now that I'm moving to Texas, I kind of wish I took the deal (because racecar) but I have no regrets about getting a Pro 4R for well under book value and saving ~$10k against the RC-F.

 

I had to google RC-F.

Ah it's a Lexus coupe.

 

With a V8 pumping out 472hp

 

Back in 1994 when I was looking to buy, it was either going to be a 2 door Pathfinder or 2 or 4 door 4Runner. I really loved the 2 door Pathy's but they were very difficult to find, as I wanted an SE model, as were the 2 door 4Runners. The 92 I bought came up for sale and I bought it for $19,000. You will never find a 2 year old 4Runner for $19,000 anymore.

 

Highlander and Taco

 

1995-97 80 Series Land Cruiser (diesel), manual, couldnt find one with less than 350000km so went for the runner with service record and 87000km on the clock....

 

BMW X5, Mercedes GLC, Highlander, Pathfinder. Did the dealership tour.
The T4R ORP is my wife's ride, I drive a Quicksand Tacoma OR. Her previous 5 vehicles were Mercedes GLK 250TD, GLK 350, Lexus RX 350, Tacoma 1st Gen, Pathfinder. We also have a YJ Wrangler and a Tundra.
Glad she made the choice. I've wanted a 4Runner in the family for 30 years.

 

Interesting that someone who drove luxury SUVs for her past three vehicles would want a 4R ORP, especially when the family already has rough and tumble trucks available, like a Wrangler, Tundra and Taco. What's her feeling about how the 4R compares to her swanky prior rides?

 

Love the Mercedes & BMWs. Deciding issue is that road maintenance on the unpaved & barely paved & potholed road out here is getting worse & worse. Looks like the next few years will be considerably worse, looking at County and State budgets and road crew allocations. Also, late at night there are now a lot of dangerous characters in this remote area, and not a great place to get stranded after dark.
None of the luxosuvs can run rubber that can handle these road conditions. Previous model years we could pull the 20" low profile stock wheels and replace with 17s and run Michelin LTX Defenders. These are great tires, though not very aggressive, but tough and can handle the chunks of sharp a'a lava rock that abound. There was also room for a spare of sorts, albeit somewhat smaller, and the computers were more forgiving to wheel & tire size choices.
The runner well setup and outfitted, can handle all this about as well as my Tacoma. Besides, it's truly a superb vehicle and a pleasure to drive, and will last a long time.

 

I had a Subaru Outback in college till the boxer engine shat the bed at 120k. I’d been a Nissan guy since then (Altima, Murano) and I wanted an XTerra at first but got-dayumm the 4Runner is too good to pass up.

Once I watched X-Overland I was sold. Toyota trucks all the way now.

 

I almost bought a new Defender and then I gave my head a shake. I had given a deposit and placed an order. The dealer was understanding and since they hadn’t processed my order they returned my deposit and cancelled it.

 

Always had a soft spot for Land Rovers. At one point a friend gave me two marginal series IIa beasties, a short and a 110, and I spent an inordinate amount of time making one good one out of the two, then stupidly sold it.
I do get excited every time a new version of British metal comes along. After introspection, I realize that my love & fond memories is still about the old ones and time spent in India & East Africa with them. At least I could wrench them into motion with my elementary skills when Lucas, Prince of Darkness reared his evil head. Many was the time I managed without lights or electric fuel pumps (you can manage with a jerry and length of plastic hose) and other niceties when the LR or Norton or Healy would get cranky. My faves all had magnetos and crank or kick start and could always be coaxed over the next hill.

 

Sadly, Starr, as you know, the new ones have veered far from their time honoured path. I learned about cars working on various British made vehicles as a boy, with my father. I've always liked LR too, and I've used an LR3, offroad, that is owned by my son in law. (btw, his old LR3 seems fairly dependable!) But, I realized, just in time, that for the trips I have planned into Canada's far north, I better have a very reliable vehicle. Which I already own, sitting in my garage ready to go anywhere and bring me back every time!

 

Reliability has become the first priority as the years pass by. It used to be a fun adventure to get stuck or have to do bootstrap repairs at backofbeyond. I love the fact that our repairs and maintenance occur in my well equipped quonset hut garage. The John Deere 5300 and heavy implements get most of the attention. Just got a TIG welding setup this week so we are now good for stainless and aluminum as well as heavy stick work for structural stuff. No more patience for breakdowns or tire drama.
Although I still carry good tools and recovery gear and other necessary supplies, I use them almost exclusively to help others out of a jam. The elements still play a role in rearranging our plans. Last week the road to town was closed for 2 days by 9 brush fires. It's the middle of hurricane season, and when it tends to wet, we get to deal with fun surprises like these:

 

Good choice of vehicles, Starr, and beautiful area. Every day is an adventure!