6 Gen reliability

That's a very bot thing to say!

 

I think all Acura's from the late 90's and early 2000's are like this. My next door neighbor has a Gold/Champagne color'd 2006 Acura RL. He's owned it since new and the outside is holding up pretty well (plus it has like 280k on the clock). But the interior is just like you described. The dash has cracks in it, the seats are worn-torn-ripped.

He will not get rid of it though; because to quote him "It keeps starting, still runs and drives okay." He can look past the ugly interior.

 

Pro Owner, 3500 miles, no issues except the initial setup of the program on the seats. Once the Dealership figured it out, good to go. I've had it in town, long trip hgwy, and it has performed flawless. I've had it to Off Road Parks 3 times so far, first trip was with OEM tires. Can't tell you how impressed I am with the performance out of the box. Camera system is awesome. Drove through many tight spots using just the camera.

Second time first gen buyer. Did the Rampage in 81, can't really say anything bad or problems except they forgot to weld one of the door hinges, sold it within 10K. for something different.

 

Care to shed some light on what you see that makes you think the underside is built better than the past?
Did you notice the single shear lower shock mount up front on the lower A-arm?
Did you notice the fiber inner fenders rather than plastic?
Did you notice the fiber front skid plate rather than metal?
Did you notice the half gas tank skid plate except for the trailhunter model which gets a full skid under the fuel tank?
Did you notice the lack of a spare tire, or only a donut except for the high end trims like Limited?
Did you notice the massive solenoid hanging off the rear brake caliper for the new electric parking brake?
What did you see that you liked versus the older model?
There is no real change or upgrade underneath the vehicle, so much so that no mechanic and especially no woman is going to roll under one of those things and say
>man this thing sure has been upgraded under here
This is why i fully believe you are a bot or a salesperson, spitting out sales propaganda to trick people into buying these vehicles that Toyota cut corners left and right to save money yet went up +10-15% in price. If you are a salesperson, you should talk to your superiors about the center console and ask them what they were thinking. You have potentially 8+ inches more depth wasted in the console. The center console is less than 4" deep, its the size of a newborn baby shoe box. You cant fold a single piece of paper in half and put it in that console flat, it wont fit length ways or sideways. WTF were they thinking? It wont hold a bank deposit slip laying flat you gotta roll them up or let them bend. The center console is utter shit. How did they manage to make the vehicle +3" wider than the 5th gen but almost -2" narrower inside between the door panels? How come the sunroof is half the size of the 5th gen and why does it take up 3" more headroom than the 5th gen. I know Japanese people are smaller on average than us Gringos in the states but even a 5' 3" person hits their head getting in and out of the back seat. Please explain all these things and what makes you think its a great first year buy.

 

Super rude and misogynistic. How surprising. Im not a bot, not a mechanic, I don't sell shit in the private sector but im a woman. So excuse me for being inferior in your plethora of knowledge about a stupid console storage bin that is obviously not big enough to hold your tampons! For as much as I thought Toyota tried to make improvements, there are many areas besides the ridiculous cost that I prefer the 5th gen over. If you don't like the 6th gen truck then don't buy it. I am considering all of the 4 Runners because I haul a dog trailer for quail hunting and due to my interests, I need a 4x4 for overlanding. My jeep is not going to give me the reliability I need much longer since my mileage is high. I design heavy duty equipment, so I look at products from a design and function stand point. If that causes you pause ... it's not my problem. Thanks for the welcome to the 4Runner community pal! Hoping others aren't nearly as condescending. Maybe you and I shouldn't respond to each other going forward. Have a nice day.

 

Not likely

 

Let's see the Cybertruck you bought/mortgaged in the two months since you made that comment.

 

What

Go back to China

That's a reference to Donnie darko before you go ape shit on me

 

I used Meguiar's Natural Shine Protectant on my Acura for the dash/plastic and didn't get any cracking, same with my 14 Mazda and now my 19 4Runner.

 

By your logic, Cybertruck is better than 5 because it has no curves.

BTW, for the longest time I thought Donnie Darko was a sequel to Donnie Brasco

 

My comment had no logic that 5 > 6 because it has less curves !! Think with your dipstick mate!!

 

On a positive note, 6th Gen 4Runner is not nearly as ugly as the 2026 Outback , but it tried.

I also expect that tow receiver on 6th gen attached better than on a cyber truck and should be more durable.

 

Wife just picked up a 2025 Touring the other day. Kinda wild to get picked up from the airport in a subie opposed to my Tundra or the 4Runner.

Will have to report back once i get to check it out.

 

I was looking at commercials and it resembles the Hyundai Santa fe - same shape, boxy arches.. same "low" stance

Outback 2026 is gonna be 6th gen killer -

 

The new outback looks like an it took the SUV shape of an older Forester rather than a wagon. Kind of strange.

 

This is my Dads old TL (not the same Gen you guys refer to this is 2003). I bought when I thought I was getting engaged 10 years ago for my ex. I bought it off Dad to give to her and she called it off two weeks later so I kept the car. It only had 21k miles on and still drives like a champ with no issues.

 

I'm sorry, bud, I have to disagree. The upcoming Outback is just plain ugly.

 

I consider the 2018 facelift and the sixth gen pre-facelift to be peak Outback design save for the original.

I get what Subaru is going for, but eh.

 

According to EricTheCarGuy you're on borrowed time with the transmission lol

 

I agree with you on the ugly part. There are way too many exterior plastic trim pieces and those multi piece flat bottom fender flares are horrendous.

 

Sorta reminds me of the "gray plastic monsoon" of the 1980s GM products.
It was as if GM got a really good bargain on gray plastic, and had to use it stinkin' everywhere!

 

You guys listen to these youtube autists like they preach the Bible

Had a 03 tL type s go up to 200k

 

Replacing two transmissions each week colored his opinion. Seems you were lucky that your TL wasn't on its third transmission at that mileage: https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-transmission-problems-2003-2004-tl/48795/18

 

I know someone personally with that set up and boy do I think it looks incredibly dumb…

 

I had an 08 TL Type s and traded it in for a '21 Venture about 8 months ago. Had 197,000 when I traded it in. Incredibly reliable with regular maintenance. Miss that thing

Sorry for hacking the 6th gen thread LOL

 

This takes me back... I had a 91 Acura Legend that got totaled in a hail storm in 2004 (I was 20 years old). I really wanted to upgrade to either a 2003 Acura TL Type S or a 2001 Infiniti Q45 to replace it, but ended up getting a beater 4th gen civic (best car ever!). My research at the time was pointing out failures in that generation of TL's transmission and I was too paranoid to roll the dice. I started a new job shortly after where a manager drove a maroon TL same generation. Maybe after 2-3 years working there, my fears were validated when his transmission failed. In his case, his car abruptly stopped while going on the on-ramp on the highway and he was rear ended. He did upgrade to the newer TL generation after that was the same color.

I'm paranoid and like to drive proven reliable cars after they have been on the road for a while - This is why I have a 5th gen 4runner and an 8th gen Honda Civic (previously drove a 4th gen Civic for over 20 years). If there is any trend of a failure point in specific model generation, I stay away. The 4th gen Civic was a proven reliable car and I can confirm that for driving it over 20 years.

 

My buddy has an 03 TL Type S and has 225k on the clock. He bought his weeks after my dad bought his that is mine now. His just had a lot rust spots which is understandable given it gets used a lot in winter where as mine is barely used.