I kind of hate my 5th gen 4Runner. It's the return of Gramma Ray!

I agree the 4r has slowed down my driving. I got rid of an LS430 for the 4r and joked with my wife the 4r was going to save me speeding tickets. The LS could be doing 100 and wouldn't even notice it with V8 and 6 speed.

But that was also the hardest adjustment going to 4r lacking passing power.

 

Outback or crosstrek? The Fischer price effect is tough to get by but honestly my mom has one and I don’t hate driving it. I had a ‘16 CX-5 Sport FWD before my 4runner and I loved it. The CX-50 looks sharp and with some ATs on it would go plenty of places. I think options are a bit limited but not nonexistent..

 

I drove and liked outback. If it wasn't for my wife and kid banging their head (not outback's fault -- we are so used to SUVs that outback entry takes some time getting used to) we would have bought it.

 

At 6'6" 230 lbs, my biggest complaint is that the world is built for midgets.
The 4Runner is smallish, but completely comfortable, handles well, and doesn't wear me out on long trips.

 

It's all relative. I find that the 4R could be a size bigger but then it would be a land cruiser.
I appreciate the OEM ride quality and simple utilitarian interiors but I am not a fan of it's handling. I also do not like the fact that it is a very noisy truck at highway speeds.
It is more at home off road then on it and prefers a more sedated driving style.
If I could find something in similar boxy design and size and from a Japanese manufacturer but with lesser truck feel, I would definitely give it a second look. But there is nothing out there that fits the bill. I do like the Subarus and the way they drive but they are visually unappealing.

 

It’s just Ray’s time of the month.
(apologies to the ladies among you.)

 

Haha, wrong vehicle. Buy a Camry. Life life and be happy.

 

Hey Gamma,
thanks for the rant, it was pretty funny ("BadDragon?" LOL). IMHO, I recommend you give the Subaru Outback a chance. I had a Subaru for 16 years, and it was reliable, nimble, and the AWD was pretty nice.
Carl

 

Get a trailer or something to tow?

 

Agree about the 5th gen being too large. The 3rd gen was the perfect dimension.

I'll be frank, the large size makes new 4runners simply terrible to live with. In 7 years the 4runner grew 11 inches longer and over half foot in width, but it hasn't gained anything out of it. It still seats 5 people, sure it might have more space but it was space I can make do without if it means the vehicle easily fits in most garages.

The increased size more than canceled out any efficiency gains newer engines might of had, your 2023 4runner gets worse fuel economy than my 25 year old 4runner, despite the advantage of decades of improved technology. Even 3rd gens with the 5vz get about the same fuel economy. This increase in size also is likely why the tow rating is still 5000 LBS.

And all this trouble for slightly less than 10 cubic feet of additional space over a 3rd gen. How often does 10 cubic feet make a difference? I doubt it does in most peoples everyday lives. But the drawbacks of a less nimble vehicle will always be present. I feel like Toyota made it larger for CAFE regulations, it didn't really need it.

The closest vehicle to a 3rd gen is the current Crosstrek. And up until this year you could even get a manual transmission. Toyota has never decreased the dimensions of an SUV by that much, so a return to old 4runner dimensions wont happen.

 

I have to agree with the others, the 3rd Gen was the perfect form factor. Our 99 LE is still going strong @350ish K.

It seems like a long time ago since we bought our 5th Gen. It’s a 2016, so I guess it really is old. But at the time, I had grown tired of the 3rd Gen and desperately wanted something different.

I drove everything I could get my hands on and ended up with the 5Th Gen. I’m pathetic! The others I drove felt like junk compared, so I held my nose and jumped in for another 20 year enlistment.

Only now, I’m glad I did. Our LE is “slightly modified” and it works great! The big plus being that the aftermarket support for the 5th is amazing. If you can envision it, you can build it.

Count me as a happy camper!

 

Well, 40 replies since this showed up last night, and @Gamma Ray has said squat. He's probably

 

Nice Truck, wish i still had my 96.

 

The only thing I want to be bigger is my wang.

Yeah, Subaru has CVTs. That's one of the things that scared me off of Subarus and pushed me towards the 4Runner, but Subaru CVTs aren't that bad. If they last longer than my Liberty's transmission did then OK. Really, I'd be looking at CVT no matter what, though the Corolla with the launch gear would be the best CVT. Or one of the eCVTs in the hybrids.

I've seen Mavericks. They're too big.

 

I could go with Rav4, but why not go lower and cheaper?

Yeah about the 4th gen. That's why I said maybe. Though the 4th gen still seems a bit smaller to look at it, and it is a bit lighter.

 

Bad school teacher drivers drive up the insurance on the Prius.

 

You can lick my balls anytime!

 

I actually just looked this up. The AWD isn't even that much more expensive. It's tempting. I'll have to rent a Corolla before I take the plunge. I have the luxury of doing that this time. My old Liberty crapped out and I didn't really have as much of an opportunity to be picky.

 

That's not even a real thing yet.

 

I could drive the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile if it wasn't bigger than my weiner.

 

Give it a few years. Or a few parking lots.

 

I guess so. It's just that it's bigger than my schlong. I just wanted something like my old Liberty but not a pile of crap. Liberty replacements are all puny car-based puny things these days. If that's what I'd have to settle for then I might as well get a Corolla.

 

Maybe if I was more in the natural element like this, but I'm not. Also, parking lots. Ugh.

 

If the turning radius was better then I might not mind so much. I know the 4th gen on paper has the same turning radius but people who have driven both say it's better. As for the new LC, I don't think it would fit in my driveway with all that width. It's nearly a foot wider! Holy balls!

 

So it’s not the 4Runner, but your environment. We have a Rav4 Prime that is my wife’s primary and I drive that around when running around.

 

I'm really not. I'm the one that semi-regularly waxes nostalgic about my old Liberty, the piece of crap that thing was.

 

Yes! 23! I was so grateful when my GPS directed me to 206 on the way back home. 23 was godawful, and I was going reasonably slow. I never felt like I was going to tip over in an SUV before. Not even in my old Wrangler TJ. On 23 in my 4Runner? I was praying a silent prayer around some corners. It would've been fun in a BRZ or something. I bet I would've been OK in my old Liberty. I've been in areas like that in my Liberty in the past. The 4Runner was terrifying.

 

HELP! THERE'S BLOOD COMING OUT MY DICK!!!