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WooHoo a soon to be 4Runner owner!!

The SR5 is the basic Runner ( not as fancy as the Limited), The sport is the mid level (bigger brakes, hood scoop), and the Limited is the top of the line with everything.

Since it sounds like you're going to be taking it offroad a lot, I would try and get a sport if you could find it.

A nice thing about the Runner is, when you decide to trade it in, they have a great resale value.

if you go grand cherokee make sure its the v8 version, jeeps straight six is cool but it is best in the cherokee and wranglers.

Just curious why do you exclude the 04Runners for maintenance records?

Sorry, I should have mentioned this

According to Consumer Reports (I know a lot of people hate them :) ) there were a higher than average number of reliability problems for the 2004 4-runners.

FWIW,their "used cars to avoid" list includes the Chevy Blazer, TrailBlazer, and Jeep Grand Cherokee based on worse-than-average reliability from 1997 to 2004.

ya consumer reports.... I think my avatar explains how I feel about them (lol)

All I know is I've never had any problems with my 04, (which is bascally the same as the 03 and 05).

I frequent the 4Runner forums alot, and don't see anyone complaining about 04's over any other year. Really the only complaint I've seen with the 4th Gen is the sulfur smell that sometime happens on hard acceleration. Usually only noticable when driving with the back window down. There is is a TSB out for a fix for this, and Toyota is fixing it under warranty.

I've never had it done, really have never noticed it.

"A nice thing about the Runner is, when you decide to trade it in, they have a great resale value."

If it's worth having, you won't trade it in anyway

Really, the reliability of vehicles is so close to one another that in real life the difference is very minimal. If a customer complains about an ashtray rattle over a pothole, it is considered a problem by Consumer Reports. My Camry experience left me so ticked off that I finally just gave it to a Goodwill emporium and took the tax writeoff. And I feel really, really sorry for the guy that got it. That's just life, though.

If I were in a situation where I were getting a first vehicle, I'd get a truck. If you're only going to have one vehicle, it needs to be a truck IMO.

If a customer complains about an ashtray rattle over a pothole, it is considered a problem by Consumer Reports.

That is the main concern with the reliability ratings because consumers may not understand the questionnaire and not answer correctly; that's the problem with self-report research.

I think it's better than nothing at all though because people are so biased about certain makes and models that it is difficult to study. I have a friend who has spent a lot of $ for repairs on his cavalier and still tells everyone that it has been a reliable car.

Particular drivers purchase all sorts of vehicles so complaining about simple problems likely isn't a confounding variable in a reliability study. CR asks about repairs in specific areas that required service and a significant amount of the driver's time to have repaired. A rattling ashtray may cause someone a significant amount of time and money, who knows. I've heard people complain over less :)

I trust JD Power and Associates much more than Consumer Reports anyway. Any corporation that uses expert "scientists" to evaluate products, and can still dabble around and recommend a Bose stereo system that can't produce 20-20khz unless it's within a +/- 10.5db tolerance, doesn't earn a lot of respect from me. They should stick to reviewing toasters and microwaves. Automobiles require a deeper passion. The Consumer Reports formula for a good car seems to fall under these stipulations:

The exterior must be so incredibly bland that instead of noticing the shape of the car, you can only see the gaps between the panels.

The interior must be classy, but not in a sense of the intelligent use of wood, trim, or exotic materials. The interior evaluation of their "scientist(s)" will be based upon how soft the manufacturer can make cheap ABS plastic look. "It ALMOST looked like vinyl, you wouldn't believe it until you touch it!!" What is this world coming to? <sigh>

The engine must lack so much torque that the only indication of acceleration will be from the speedometer and the muffled strain of an anemic engine under severe load. 4 cylinder engines must be buzzy and not wake up until at least 5,000 rpm, so that it's earns the coveted "spirited 4 cylinder" title, which is a key element in the decision of the best car in the category. Words like "V-tec" and "VVT" add points in the evaluation, especially when strategically located on top of the valve cover to remind you of the beast lurking beneath. Add "-i" for intelligence and you'll score yourself another 10 points. It must include an automatic transmission to enhance anticipation, as when the engine finally begins to hit the lower part of it's powerband, it will shift, leaving you distressed and yearning until the next opportunity to hit that almighty torque curve arises. This adds to the "fun to drive" factor, another 10 points, I might add.

The suspension should be loose, be tuned for excessive understeer, the steering numb, and the torque steer excessive. This is a must for inexperienced drivers, except for torque steer, which simply reminds the reviewer of the super efficient FWD system that lays in front of you. AWD systems that will adjust applied torque according to wheel speed will gain points here. It's like Traction-Lock, but with that intelligence word sprinkled in!

The final evaluation is more difficult, as it will require the car to have the chassis strength of a full size truck and still retain the capability to crumple upon impact with small rodents.

carsurvey.org

Great place for reviews.

Saturday is when I'm heading out to look, hopefully BUY a used car. I am excited about the 4runner even though I love the luxury look, and the balls of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I just wouldn't be able to take warped roaters every 10,000 miles :) .

Chris, tell me more about your 4runner. I won't be able to afford the phatty 04, but give me a heads up as far as a system goes for 4runners. Easy to do?

I just sold one 1994 grand cherokee lerado that had over 220K miles on it amd all I replaced was a water pump and a starter and the battery.. and I have a fully loaded 2001 JGC Ltd now that's been great. got it a year ago for around 17K, so you can find a 99-01 now for right around your price range I think.. especially if you don't get leather interior and all the fancy stuff.

great SUVs.
nothing like a Jeep

audiocr381ve wrote:carsurvey.org

Great place for reviews.

Saturday is when I'm heading out to look, hopefully BUY a used car. I am excited about the 4runner even though I love the luxury look, and the balls of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I just wouldn't be able to take warped roaters every 10,000 miles :) .

Chris, tell me more about your 4runner. I won't be able to afford the phatty 04, but give me a heads up as far as a system goes for 4runners. Easy to do?

I haven't put a system in the new Runner (I doubt I ever will), but I had an OK system in my old Runner.




Ton of room for a box.

I think the late 3rd Gens had either 6x9 or 6.5's in the front doors, with a tweeter up toward the window.

6.5's in the rear doors I think too.

I like the 3rd gen Runners, they had more of a truck offroad look to them.