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5k+ miles in 3 weeks in our Anniversary Edition – my review

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Upnorthmn, Mar 21, 2023.

  1. Mar 21, 2023 at 10:22 AM
    #1
    Upnorthmn

    Upnorthmn [OP] New Member

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    We just returned from a major road trip in our new 4Runner, and I thought I would share my impressions of the SR5 platform – and the Anniversary Edition version.

    First the background. My previous SUV was a 2004 Land cruiser. But I wanted something newer and searched for a month for new and used 4runners and was leaning towards a Limited, but this Anniversary Edition became available at MSRP and was on the ground for our trip. We bought it, had PPF installed the next day, then left town with 60 miles on our new 4runner!

    IMG_8422.jpg IMG_8452.jpg IMG_8432.jpg IMG_8557.jpg IMG_8480.jpg IMG_8811.jpg

    5,300 miles later here are my likes and dislikes:

    Things we loved.
    • Modern controls and navigation!
    • Cruises all day at 80 out west.
    • Seats are so much more ergonomic compared to LC!
    • Love having the retractable window for our dogs.
    • Spouse loves driving it.
    • Two dog crates fit just fine side by side. Phew!
    • Stripe makes it easy to find in a parking lot full of white 4Runners out west...

    Things we did not like or missed from the Landcruiser:
    • The stripe in person was a bit much to take in up close. It is better at 50'. But it does get a lot of compliments from strangers and is growing on me...
    • No dual climate control for the driver and passenger. There was a lot of adjustments from my wife and I as she operates in a different temperature zone.
    • No tailgate. I loved the tailgate on the LC and used it all the time.
    • V8 power. I rarely floored the LC in 100,000 miles of ownership. The V8 has so much torque in the low end of the RPM range. In the mountains the 4Runner is really underpowered.
    Most importantly...

    We love this SUV and have no regrets getting an SR5 (OK Anniversary Edition). I am not an off-road driver except while hunting upland birds. So if you're looking at all the versions of the 4Runner like I was, my advice is do not dismiss the SR5!
     
  2. Mar 21, 2023 at 10:46 AM
    #2
    4oreigner

    4oreigner New Member

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    So you were standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, with a flat-bed Ford? Great pic!
     
    DUSTYDOGDAN, Curt56, Yazzman and 4 others like this.
  3. Mar 21, 2023 at 10:57 AM
    #3
    Texoma-Brad

    Texoma-Brad OK Yota

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    Great report. Looks like a couple of English Springer Spaniels in there! Best pheasant dogs ever!
     
    Upnorthmn[OP] likes this.
  4. Mar 21, 2023 at 11:15 AM
    #4
    josephp732

    josephp732 New Member

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    Awesome! Hopefully he doesn't have "seven women on his mind"!
     
  5. Mar 21, 2023 at 11:30 AM
    #5
    Upnorthmn

    Upnorthmn [OP] New Member

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    Yes to the ESS question!

    IMG_8551.jpg
     
  6. Mar 21, 2023 at 11:40 AM
    #6
    Texoma-Brad

    Texoma-Brad OK Yota

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    Awesome! Thought so. Here’s one of mine working. Didn’t mean to hijack the thread! Just couldn’t resist.

    D271C073-A95C-41ED-866E-2A83EB54FF97.jpg
     
    YetiMtnBkr and bigshmoop like this.
  7. Mar 21, 2023 at 4:05 PM
    #7
    4Runner_Patrick

    4Runner_Patrick New Member

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    Great pics! Glad you enjoyed the trip!
     
  8. Mar 21, 2023 at 5:01 PM
    #8
    steelevo

    steelevo Not so new anymore...

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    Welcome. Great pics!
     
  9. Mar 21, 2023 at 6:32 PM
    #9
    CandyManDan

    CandyManDan New Member

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    Working on it
    Sounds like a great trip. Glad you were able to take the pups... they hate being left behind!
     
  10. Mar 21, 2023 at 7:46 PM
    #10
    RedRunner87

    RedRunner87 Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    Fun fact as a former resident of Flastaff, AZ...that song was actually written about a corner in Flagstaff. The more you know!

    "But the girl in the Ford? That, according to Mr. Browne, “was an image that came from east Flag.” He says that particular experience occurred outside what used to be a Der Wienerschnitzel in east Flagstaff, on what’s now the corner of US 180/Business 40/Historic Route 66 and Switzer Canyon Drive."

    https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/highway-history-standin’-corner…-where
     
  11. Mar 21, 2023 at 7:53 PM
    #11
    DadOperator

    DadOperator New Member

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    I was gonna guess Brittany but couldn’t tell from the first pic. Nice truck and/or dogs!
     
  12. Mar 21, 2023 at 8:12 PM
    #12
    IVRunner

    IVRunner New Member

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    "Such a fine sight to see..."

    Nice report. Thanks.
     
  13. Mar 21, 2023 at 8:33 PM
    #13
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Nice write-up. Hope you enjoy the vehicle. A tailgate would be nice, but then rear hatch window makes it pretty close to an even trade! It feels nicer than a convertible with all the windows and the rear hatch window open.
     
    rickystl likes this.
  14. Mar 23, 2023 at 10:33 AM
    #14
    TRD8

    TRD8 New Member

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    Did you change your oil, or are you going to wait until 10k miles? Oops, probably already mentioned on another post.

    But seriously, thanks for the great photos of your 4Runner, scenery, and beautiful dogs!
     
  15. Mar 23, 2023 at 10:57 AM
    #15
    Upnorthmn

    Upnorthmn [OP] New Member

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    Had the oil changed the day after I got home. 10,000 mile intervals are not in my DNA.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2023
  16. Mar 24, 2023 at 10:54 AM
    #16
    croused1

    croused1 New Member

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    Just purchased a 2023 ORP and went on a 2500 mile trip. I can say with certainty that I agree with everything you said. However, I have noted that if you keep the A/C off until it is actually needed that the hunting between 4th and 5th gear on the hills is kept to a minimum. We averaged 17.6 mpg with 4 people and all of our shit. Not too bad if you ask me.
     
  17. Mar 25, 2023 at 10:25 AM
    #17
    topdec

    topdec New Member

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    On paper it's not much bigger but after two round trips to CA with the last one being ~5000 miles (MN->San Ramon->Lake Tahoe->Yosemite->MN), I found that the 255/75R17s were overall a better match for the transmission on my stock 2016 Trail, but more especially on inclines.

    I'll be looking to trade-in the stock tires for another set of 255/75R17s right after the break-in period of my 2023 ORP (should be here in 4 weeks).

    Here's how the tires look on a stock Trail. https://www.4runners.com/posts/383203/
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2023
  18. Mar 25, 2023 at 2:23 PM
    #18
    DUSTYDOGDAN

    DUSTYDOGDAN New Member

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    bone stock for now
    Speaking of the rear hatch. We are in our 9th month of ownership of a new 2022 and the other night it was raining hard and my wife just got home from getting groceries and while unloading it she made a comment about how she liked how it was a nice rain roof when getting stuff out of the back.
    I also had them change the oil at 5000 miles instead of the 10,000 they wanted to change it at.
     
  19. Mar 26, 2023 at 7:33 AM
    #19
    Late Life Crisis

    Late Life Crisis New Member

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    none yet
    10 thou in miles is not much if put on in under 1 month

    it is the stop and go traffic for 2 miles to work that causes wear and tear on the engine and shorter oil change intervals

    travelling across the USA and back in a week or 10 days has little wear depending on how you use the engine
     
  20. Mar 27, 2023 at 6:28 AM
    #20
    Foothills

    Foothills New Member

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    Great write up and nice truck. Noticed that your tail pipe goes straight out the back into the negative pressure area and wondering if you've noticed any exhaust fumes in the truck or discoloring of the head liner toward the back.
     
  21. Mar 27, 2023 at 9:08 AM
    #21
    STrooper

    STrooper Let’s Go Places!

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    @Upnorthmn - Correction, that's not a simple SR5 - What you have my friend is a SR5 PREMIUM 40th Anniversary Edition, it's a huge difference!!!!!:thumbsup:
     

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