5th Gen / 6th Gen Comparo

I’m guessing that back in the forum archives there is a similar thread with people fretting over the 5th gen.

 

No doubt they were bitching about the big blocky looks of the 5th gen. But they certainly couldn't complain about the drivetrain other than the v8 option being dropped.

 

No, everyone complained about the 4.0 ‘after’ their purchase.

 

At street price of >60k for an ORP, the 6th gen has some big shoes to fill for those who owned 4runners before.

 

I remember an early review of the 4.0 pointed out that it's a V6 that is putting out small block chevy numbers.

I know people want their cake and eat it too but I have yet to come across a situation where my 1GR comes up short, partly because I don't just rely on the transmission to shift itself, since S4 and S3 exists.

Not to mention the "muh 465 lb/ft" 6th gen hybrid is at best barely keeping up and often slower than the 5th gen by reviews that actually measured the acceleration times instead of the lazy "estimated" crap that Car and Driver or Motor Trend were paid to write.

 

Maybe I’m not totally correct with my statement, but I figured that we wouldn’t have endless threads about performance chips, CAI, tunes, aftermarket exhaust systems and raptor lights if the majority was happy with the 4.0. It is clear to me where the generational gaps are by the posts.

 

Agreed.

Having owned a V8 4th gen, the 1GR is definitely wimpy by comparison, at least regarding torque. The 5th gen had similar, or maybe even better acceleration. But, it doesn't have the towing power.

The 1GR is still much better than the fake Atkinson 3.5 was.

 

If you look at it with an eye for design, you can see they didn't give a fuck about how the overall vehicle flowed. Maybe the fender flare team and the door handle team don't like each other, and forgot that they had to work with the same door.

It seems like a casualty of growing the fender flares and squishing the back door rearward.

 

It's evident their departments didn't get along, at all.

Just look at this interior and tell me the various interior teams were ever in the same room at the same time at any point before the whole thing was finalized.

 

Who are these people that must have a 4runner? Professional youtubers? I’m not getting the sense that people are bustin down doors to get a 6th gen. Who knows…it might be selling ok, but I don’t know the numbers to be able to say for sure.

As far as “pending sale” on dealer websites, who knows what kind of games they play with their websites to create an impression of scarcity/urgency. So I’m skeptical of using that as a way to measure how many are being bought.

The people buying them are probably just regular folks that need a car and like the idea of a 4runner based on what they heard or read somewhere. They probably don’t care about off-roading, they aren’t on forums, and are just happy to have something with the aura of “legendary durability and reliability.” And they trust toyota to deliver that in the new model (if they are even aware it’s a new model).

Regarding the comment about cushy CUV/unibody cars, I’m mostly used to toyota and honda unibodies. The ride of my 2018 Highlander is complete ass compared to my first impression of my 21 4runner. When bought my 4runner, I was expecting a “truck-like” ride since it was my first body on frame SUV (or BOF vehicle of any kind). Instead, I thought the stock 4runner was like riding on a cloud of kitties compares to cars I’ve had before. I admit defining what makes a car ride well is pretty complex and somewhat subjective, but uncomfortable is not how I would describe a stock 4runner. Just the opposite. The reviews of the 6th gen I’ve seen don’t suggest anything has changed in this department. Granted, I’m not saying the 4runners handles well, but that it’s soft, relatively isolated from choppy roads, and pleasantly comfortable.

 

The 5th gen benefited from benign neglect and as a result still hailed from an era where Toyota buyers valued comfort. In my recollection Toyota completely abandoned cushy ride on new designs somewhere around 2012-2013 when even the Avalon got "sporty" in 2013 and was widely hated for its crap ride compared the 2012 and older. All those skinny tires on 19-20 inch wheels on camry based platforms are downright harsh in many trims.

Just look at the complaints on the LC250 riding rough. The first complete redesign since 2010 and sure enough, the Prado based vehicles are gonna get "sporty".

 

Less than a third of the way through the run of the 5th gen 4Runner, I was buying a new 2013 2nd gen Tacoma, which to me was the bees knees. I would look at the 4Runners and FJ Cruisers on the Toyota dealership lots and think to myself, "how can anyone afford those prices? I can barely afford my TRD Off Road Tacoma"...fast forward 6 years to 2019 when I was able to sell my Tacoma and a Jeep Rubicon TJ in order to afford my 2019 Off Road 4Runner. I pretty much thought I was in vehicle heaven being able to afford a new truck for around $40k out the door.

I'm back on the wagon of wondering how or why people are willing to shell out the kind of money that's now being asked for the 6th gen 4R. I do see why they are asking, though - people are still willing to pay whatever gets printed on the window sticker, which now is $50/60/70k, and even more for the top trims...

 

It’s probably a combination of people getting mortgages for cars, and people who just have the money. After all, people have been buying F150 Lariats, and cowboy fancy Rams for decades to haul their expensive SXS’s on huge expensive aluminum trailers. Clearly there’s plenty of people with this level of money.

 

You are right. I love to fish and have an older boat and a 4R. It’s amazing to me to go to my local boat ramp and see guys with $100k F150s and then towing a $100k Ranger shiny boat with a 350 HP Mercury Outboard, all sorts of electronics and of course fishing equipment. Many of them have a lot of loans in this stuff some can pay cash but really it’s all for a hobby to fish.

My buddies tease me my boat is too old or not as fast or shiny. But I live within my means and am happy.

The best part is the fish don’t really know the difference or care much how shiny my boat is versus another.

 

I realized watching people around me some years back that lift style creep with cars is particularly bad. The vast majority of people will NEVER downgrade cars. So it's a one way trip and those who don't have the cash just have to spin more plates to keep up.

I am just as comfortable driving my 20 year old Ford sedan around as my 4R. I just don't give a F anymore. LOL.

 

Strategic laziness can sometimes be helpful in containing the urge to constantly go better and fancier at every step lol. Even if I could afford all the fancy stuff, it just takes up too much space and maintenance time. It’s too easy to become a slave to your stuff.

 

I’m not in the market for a new car, but I’m definitely not interested in one with a big TV screen imbedded in the dash. I hope that trend goes away soon.

 

Nor am I. Besides the big screen TV, I cannot get past the body lines. Everyone seems to think they'll grow on people, but I had a Jeep JK years ago that I bought new, and I hated the looks of those goofy fender flares from day one to the day I sold it years later. I thought I would get used to them, but never did. Now the new Broncos are the new goofy fender flare holder.

 

I agree. While I dislike the fender flares on the new 6th Gen, those on the Bronco and Jeeps are even worse.

Who supplies Ford and Jeep with those? It looks like it’s made by Rubbermaid? Maybe you get some storage containers as a bonus with those.

 

How about fender flares with internal storage? Sounds like an aftermarket opportunity! Lol

 

Now there is an idea, safety gear, screwdrivers and flashlights all in the fender flares. Perfect! Maybe they could run some power to it too and could keep some cold lunch meat in there.

Rubber Maid and Weather Tec are you listening. They need help with these fender flares

 

I've often wondered how middle class families afford all of those toys. I feel like I'm living beyond my means just owning the 4Runner and traveling as much as I do. Then I see those families at Tigerton with brand new HD pickups towing $50-100K travel trailers, and cruising around on $20-30K UTV's. I just can't figure out how they afford it.

I know massive debt is probably the answer.

I've caught a lot of fish out of an old 16' aluminum boat with a 20hp tiller.

My favorite is when I'm fishing in a $600 kayak and catching more fish than the guys in expensive boats.

 

Massive debt plus not saving any money for retirement, college funds, etc is probably the answer in many instances.
Out fishing guys in expensive bass boats from a kayak is one of my favorite things to do.

 

The 6th-gen tail pipe placement and angle is horrendous.

 

To be fair, the 5th gen was just as bad. I buried mine backing out of a steep obstacle 2 years ago and ended up cutting off the last 8" or something.

 

So true. It was decades earlier still that the trend of taller rims and skinnier sidewalls began, when manufacturers began to follow the aftermarket.

@everybody, about the fender flares: they have a distinguished history on offroad vehicles. The idea of painted fender flares misses the point though. In the good ol’ days the fender flares were unpainted black rubber. That way, as a very vulnerable part of the vehicle, if they were damaged they could be inexpensively replaced.

 

I picked 2013 as the end of comfort oriented design when the Avalon went "sporty handling" since that was Toyota's Buick Park Avenue, when that went "European Sporty Design" that signals the jig is up. You are right that the trend started much earlier.

 

Absolutely. I feel blessed also to have a new 5th Gen 4Runner. I believe in caring for stuff and treating with TLC and get those years of use out of it. I think most of us work hard for our money so we may as well try to care for what we have. That’s a lesson my Dad taught me at young age.

 

My 2015 Avalon Limited is the finest sedan I’ve ever owned. It is safe, comfortable, agile handling, and great on long trips. It also has pretty great acceleration. After imagining I’d sell it after 10 years, my wife asked if she could sell her Honda and keep the Avalon, instead. I happily agreed.

As for Nissans, I gave up on them when they merged with Renault…

 

Fortunate to be out on vacation in Kauai, HI with family and came across this photo op while taking a drive to a Napoli Coast viewpoint.

Was interesting to see front comparison to the same exact model we have back home (have a 5th gen white TRD ORP)