We have a 2004 limited V6 purchased in 2003 and it’s been excellent. 16 years!

I LOVE the 4-Runner. I bought a new 4-Runner sport in 2007 and just upgraded to a 2019 Limited Nightshade 4WD last year. Great car, highly recommended.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hunter62,

We have a 2013 SR5 4wd with 70k on it. Bought it thanksgiving week 2012 with insurance money from a wrecked xterra. Never any problems. I’m trying to convince my wife to upgrade to a 2020 while it still has significant trade value or drive this till the wheels fall off. Which at our mileage rate of ~10k per year will be around 20+more years. Milage is high due to several multi thousand mile road trips throughout the western states. Only thing that bothers me is we are on 3rd set of tires but that could be from the ridiculous amount of stop and go suburban traffic my wife does vs the every other year road trip. I change the oil with synthetic every 10k religiously. Haven’t gotten to the milage level to do a timing belt/water pump yet but will probly do it at 100k or 10 years which should come right about the same time.

Stock, the vehicle is a pretty capable 4wd, off road vehicle. It is cab on frame construction. aftermarket market is pretty accommodating. Drivetrain has a high millage history.
Toyota is not as comfrtrouble in my opinion as some other mfgs. Interior features lag behind some competitors, however I hear that the 2020's will have carplay.
Overall a solid vehicle if you need/ want 4wd. If you keep your vehicles, this one should provide a long life.

I have a 2016 SR5 after having a 2000 Durango, a 2005 Grand Cherokee, a 2007 Pathfinder first. I got 247k, 235k, 331k miles respectively on each of them. The Durango 4.7L v8 lunched the tranny at 108k miles, but a rebuild by a good shop and it ran better than that oil-guzzling valve tapping pig of an engine for the rest of its life. I kind of loved it though, at the time with its 3rd row seats it was bigger than any compact SUV but smaller than Expeditions or Tahoes.

The Grand Cherokee I will skip over, that was like a boring meal. Hated the ABS that always felt I was out of control, could never threshold brake in it.

The Pathfinder was a true love/hate, mostly because Nissan is such a screw you company. Had several large and well known issues with the 05-12 series but Nissan would not recall anything. It was a solid car, though, just got to the point to get it through Pennsylvania annual inspection as going to require a total front suspension rebuild and to chase down yet another check Engine light.....but how can I really dis a truck that covered 331k and is still running? But then Nissan turned the Pathfinder into a station wagon with a CVT, and I wasn't going to buy that crap.

Always loved 4Runners, always wanted one but the original cost of purchase was just out of my range, but found my 2016 in late 2017 with 38k miles on it at really good price, so I finally got into one. I do love it, like every vehicle nothing is perfect. I'm pretty low maintenance myself though, so a couldn't care less if it has Apple Play or other fru fru stuff. It has XM radio for my long rides, the 4wd is still selectable electronically with 4-hi and 4low, which I use once or twice a year on the relatives farm. And this summer I got 8 square bales inside with the seats down.

No, not usually a hay wagon, and I am still cleaning straw out of crevices, but it was about to rain and the hay wagon was full. Anyway, you can probably see that I use my trucks, with all the miles on them, and use them for whatever I need to do at the time. Haven't towed with it yet, but have been looking for a 12-foot utility trailer that will probably get hitched to it soon.

The things that you notice are that the 3.5L v-6 is smaller than the 4.0 v-6 that was in the Pathfinder, and acceleration to me is not great. All season tires were getting me about 18mpg (mostly highway), but switching to a more aggressive tread dropped my mpg to just about 17. Folding the rear seats is quick and easy, even some hidden storage for headrests, but all of the dash cubby holes are freaking useless. Aside from the two cup holders, all of the other open storage in the dash is useless. Center console storage is standard for other SUV's. It's all just dated a bit in the interior considering when you travel and rent a new SUV or van, and you see what some of the other companies are doing for storage and ergonomics and you start to realize that Toyota is just squeezing as much out before having to make changes. Rear seat leg room is great, no passenger complaints. I don't get off the road but once or twice a year in the fields like I said, but the 4wd has been great, and also good on the snow here in Western PA so far.
I'd definitely buy another 4Runner, but hope by the time I'm ready to, its a bit spiffier by then.

My parents had 2 in the past.

2003 SR5 V6 4WD
Bulletproof & ran great, had no problem towing a pretty heavy cargo trailer.
They got rid of it for a Silverado that my dad bought from his brother.

2005 Limited V8 4WD
Noticeably more torque, but developed a coolant leak & the transmission was starting to slip.
Traded off for a Duramax, then a Camry for my step-mom.

quote:

2005 Limited V8 4WD
Noticeably more torque, but developed a coolant leak & the transmission was starting to slip.

As discussed in another thread on transmissions... the WS fluid is not truly "lifetime" fluid. It pays to change the transmission fluid.
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...090064754#5090064754

I just test drove the limited, with brown leather, decided I would just keep driving my 07 mazda 3; did not want the payment.
I will say it was freaking nice.

I worked a wreck where a kid put an '01 with over 300k on the clock through a woods (literally ran over several small trees and bushes), down an embankment, and onto it's side in a creek. The hood area was about half submerged. He climbed out the side window unhurt, and we got a wrecker out there to flip it over and pull it out.

The fender was a little bent, it had a broken headlight, there were a lot of scratches, and there was water running out all over the place, but it fired right up and ran like a sewing machine. His older brother drove it home. Doors even opened and closed just fine. I've wanted one ever since.

I love my 2012 4Runner 4x4, and even though I got the SR5 version, I do wish I'd gotten the leather.

I did install a Shrockworks bumper on it. Now they have the rear end for them and even a cargo rack for the roof as well. Photos of the process:

Reliable engine
Bad seating
Under powered
Cramped cockpit
Tired design using Old technology
Above average resale
Nice exterior styling and trim packages

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I worked a wreck where a kid put an '01 with over 300k on the clock through a woods (literally ran over several small trees and bushes), down an embankment, and onto it's side in a creek. The hood area was about half submerged. He climbed out the side window unhurt, and we got a wrecker out there to flip it over and pull it out.

The fender was a little bent, it had a broken headlight, there were a lot of scratches, and there was water running out all over the place, but it fired right up and ran like a sewing machine. His older brother drove it home. Doors even opened and closed just fine. I've wanted one ever since.

I believe it. 4Runners are built on truck frames, as opposed to upgraded car frames. It drives like a truck, not like a sportscar. The downside is speed and agility. It does not do well over 65-75 mph, and even at lower speeds can flip over, so it's not a good car for a kid.

quote:

Originally posted by 9mm_shooter:
I believe it. 4Runners are built on truck frames, as opposed to upgraded car frames. It drives like a truck, not like a sportscar. The downside is speed and agility. It does not do well over 65-75 mph, and even at lower speeds can flip over, so it's not a good car for a kid.

I beg to differ. My 2007 will cruise all day long at 80 mph, and I have the speeding tickets to prove it.

I purchased a 2018 TRD Off-Road Premium in May of last year. It has been rock solid. It does seem a little underpowered, but it gets out of it's own way, does fine on the highway and does great off road. Seats and ride are comfortable, and it doesn't get worse for me on long trips. I got the KDSS option, so I don't get a lot of body lean at high speeds. I enjoy driving it.
All I can suggest is take one out for a test drive and see if it's for you.

Maybe you are talking about the V6? My V8 has more than enough power and 80-90 mph on the highway is no big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by RichN:

quote:

Originally posted by 9mm_shooter:
I believe it. 4Runners are built on truck frames, as opposed to upgraded car frames. It drives like a truck, not like a sportscar. The downside is speed and agility. It does not do well over 65-75 mph, and even at lower speeds can flip over, so it's not a good car for a kid.

I beg to differ. My 2007 will cruise all day long at 80 mph, and I have the speeding tickets to prove it.

quote:

Originally posted by BennerP220:
Maybe you are talking about the V6? My V8 has more than enough power and 80-90 mph on the highway is no big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by RichN:

quote:

Originally posted by 9mm_shooter:
I believe it. 4Runners are built on truck frames, as opposed to upgraded car frames. It drives like a truck, not like a sportscar. The downside is speed and agility. It does not do well over 65-75 mph, and even at lower speeds can flip over, so it's not a good car for a kid.

I beg to differ. My 2007 will cruise all day long at 80 mph, and I have the speeding tickets to prove it.

I do have the V6, and as I said, it has plenty of power to get me into trouble. It also has plenty of power for towing, at least up to 3,000 pounds which is the capacity of my trailer.

The only issue with the 3.5l is it doesn't start to produce a lot of power until it gets above 3200 rpm. That makes for a transmission that hunts gears above 70 mph and downshifts too much.
Off of the line and city driving is no problem though. My Tacoma will bark the tires if I floor it anywhere under 30 mph.

No personal experience, but my sister, who lived in a remote part of N. Carolina. Had many miles to drive to work each day, managed to go over 400K with no major issues, just normal maintenance.

I have always liked them!

Gotcha. I understand the enough power to get ya in to trouble lol

quote:

Originally posted by RichN:

quote:

Originally posted by BennerP220:
Maybe you are talking about the V6? My V8 has more than enough power and 80-90 mph on the highway is no big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by RichN:

quote:

Originally posted by 9mm_shooter:
I believe it. 4Runners are built on truck frames, as opposed to upgraded car frames. It drives like a truck, not like a sportscar. The downside is speed and agility. It does not do well over 65-75 mph, and even at lower speeds can flip over, so it's not a good car for a kid.

I beg to differ. My 2007 will cruise all day long at 80 mph, and I have the speeding tickets to prove it.

I do have the V6, and as I said, it has plenty of power to get me into trouble. It also has plenty of power for towing, at least up to 3,000 pounds which is the capacity of my trailer.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
The only issue with the 3.5l is it doesn't start to produce a lot of power until it gets above 3200 rpm. That makes for a transmission that hunts gears above 70 mph and downshifts too much.
Off of the line and city driving is no problem though. My Tacoma will bark the tires if I floor it anywhere under 30 mph.

The 4Runner still has the 4.0 liter but also has a 5 speed auto. Little more skinny pedal takes care of the hunting for gears issue