Here is my 2000 4Runner SR5. I purchased it new in August of 2000 at Austin Toyota. It is without a doubt, the best auto I have ever owned. In 24 years, I have had no issues whatsoever with it. It is used every day and still runs great.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MG34_Dan,

Here's our 2003 Limited V8. Son loves it.

He's turned down numerous unsolicited offers to buy it which says volumes.

I hesitate to hijack the thread, but I have 4Runner questions too.

I'm thinking I'll be looking at a 5th Gen late this year, so I'm trying to do some studying now. I've primarily been looking at the SR5 Premium and TRD Offroad Premium models, baseically because it looks to me that getting the Premium pack is what it takes to get the sunroof. I do want that.

I despise our local Toyota dealer, and won't set foot on their lots during business hours, so my hands-on research is so far a bit limited. (I'll go visit a different dealer in the coming weeks.). Something I've noticed just by peeking through windows, though, is that the 4WD control on the SR5 versions is a knob while the TRD versions get a lever. What's the difference? Is it a different transfer case, or just a different "interface?"

Is the KDSS suspension worth its cost, or just added complexity? I get "off the path" sometimes, but I don't do any serious off-roading.

Since I just got a 2024 5th Gen 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium Plus the end of April, I can answer some questions.

First, don't plan on getting one later in the year, it took my dealer over a week to find one that I wanted in my second choice of color last month. Toyota will be switching over to manufacturing the 6th Gen 2025 later this summer (probably sooner that later).

As far as I know, the whether it is a knob or the lever, it is basically the same, just that some people are old school enough to want the satisfying feeling of a lever. . Now, the extra goodies such as ATRAC and Multi-Terrain Select, along with a locking rear differential are in the Off Road Models. I have heard KDSS is great for extreme off road and have also heard is it good for road driving in windy conditions and winding roads but I have never driven one with KDSS so I can't tell you.

I got the Off Road Premium Plus Package for the Multi-Terrain Monitor (similar to the Panoramic View monitor), and love it for parking in both my home and work garages, along with going off road and seeing what is exactly ahead and to the sides.

I own a 2019 SR5 with 25k on it and a 2023 SR5 with 13k on it, both are 4 wheel drive.

The 2019 has been flawless. I bought the 2023 last year and it developed some vibration in the steering. It is intermittent and a common issue if you browse the forums. Toyota claims they cannot duplicate the problem so it still happens every once in a while. They did an alignment but that was it. I suggest test driving whatever you plan on buying. It’s hard to find since it seems random.

I will add that if you plan to tow anything on a regular basis pick the Tundra. It tows light stuff fine (like my ATV) but I was towing an empty U-Haul dual axle trailer and got 12 mpg empty and it seemed to struggle (it would not stay in overdrive so I was driving in 4th gear). I never got to tow it with my side by side in it, no telling what it would have gotten. I was wishing I had the 5.7 Tundra when I was towing.

Other than that, I like that they are made in Japan. If only I could get the vibration issue fixed.

We bought a very low mileage 2021 Highlander for my wife. Wanted the V6. We talked about a 4runner. She was going from a nice RX330 lexus and wanted the comfort.
I rarely drive her rig. But am regretting not getting the 4Runner.
The Highlander has so much useless tech it is ridiculous.
Having said that it gets 27mpg at 75 mph on the highway
In another year maybe I will talk her into trading it for a lightly used 4Runner

I have a 23 ORP. It has 9500 on the clock. I have zero complaints and plan on keeping it a long time. If you are into modifying your vehicle, the sky is the limit. The reliability of them is legendary. Just do the required maintenance and expect minimal issues.

With the 6th gen ramping up you may be limited to the gen 5 you see on the lots. I went with an SR5 in 2018 and did a small lift and another add ons. I did not want KDSS just to keep it simple. The T4R has a soft suspension and shocking nose dive with braking. After market shocks are a bit firmer and help cure that. The T4R 4.0 engine lacks low end torque. No one will say it’s powerful and responsive. It’s truely weak and gutless on mountain passes or the highest roads in Colorado and such. If you want responsive look elsewhere or maybe see what the 6th gen has to offer. The T4R is popular only because, for what it is, it has been a proven reliable package.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:
First, don't plan on getting one later in the year

I appreciate the warning... but house economics dictate it'll probably be November, earliest.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:
some people are old school enough to want the satisfying feeling of a lever.

That'd be me!

Thanks for the input on KDSS, too. I did some reading on that last night. What I learned is that a lot of people like it, and that it's really expensive to fix if it goes foul.

quote:

Originally posted by jed7s9b:
The T4R is popular only because, for what it is, it has been a proven reliable package.

And that's exactly why I'm going to be shopping for one.

- - - -

I'm a "keep a vehicle a long time" guy, my current SUV being 22 years old and showing over 320k miles. If I could get a 5th Gen 4R this year and keep it for 20, I'd be tickled pink.

I'm just going to leave this here...




Coloradohunter, I've got a question or three about yours. I'll email you after while.

vthokey, well done and congrats. You won't regret it. My 2019 TRD Premium just hit 15,000 miles. It will most likely outlive me. I haven't been off road with it yet but, I am fully confident that if I had to, I can. It drives great in the snow also.

ETA- I really need to update my avatar, Ha.

Congrats...I especially like the Underground color!

Details?
Options?

quote:

Originally posted by sgalczyn:
Details?

My apologies, y'all, I kinda left you hanging there.

This one's a TRD Off-Road Premium.
I got the moonroof, the Off-Road Premium Plus package, door edge guards, the all-weather mats and cargo liner, and the Predator tube steps.

I asked the dealer to get me the roof cross bars and the cargo cover. Getting those after the fact saved me about $75 over getting them pre-installed. I did the install myself -- the cargo cover takes all of 60 seconds to put in, and the cross bars took about 10 minutes.

I've spent WAY too much time thinking about mods/upgrades so far. I believe the first mod will be to overtint the windows.

I can't comment on fuel economy -- haven't drained the first tank yet. I know it'll suck, but that's why I'm keeping my diesel sedan as my commuter.

I know I said just a month ago that I'd be shopping "late this year." I really wanted to wait a couple of months, but the '24 model is on its way out and I really didn't want the '25. Given that, I didn't want to let this one slip away once it hit the dealer's inventory, particularly in this color. The in-house "ministry of finance" and I had a good long chat about things.

Fun story: this one wasn't even on the lot when I went to visit. Their web site said it was there, but it hadn't actually arrived. We met, came "close enough" on numbers, and I left a deposit. "Call me when it gets here." Twenty minutes after leaving the dealer (an hour away), I ran up on a transporter in the other lane carrying just two vehicles. One of them was "my" 4Runner. So I figure it arrived there at about 8pm that day; at about 2pm the following day I was picking up keys.

As jsbcody mentioned, the Multi-Terrain Monitor is great for parking in my garage. I haven't had it off-pavement yet.

quote:

Originally posted by jed7s9b:
a proven reliable package

Exactly why I want the 4Runner. This is intended to be another 20-year vehicle for me.

I love the gray! That was the color I wanted but they couldn't find one near me. I have your same equipped 4Runner but in black. I really haven't noticed much of a difference in MPG from my 2023 Tacoma. I do drive it sanely and it seems to have a bit more power than the Tacoma (without using the ECT).

Two things I have installed in mine:

Seat Jackers: lifts the angle of the seats to make it more comfortable for 6 foot tall people (also enough room under the passenger seat now for my cable pistol lock box).

Rear window Molle Panels: Got mine in. Have a IFAK with some extra medic stuff and a large flashlight on left side. I have a small shovel, gloves, and an extra multi tool on the right side.

Getting the rust protection in a couple weeks and window tint in August. I will add a power controller for extra lights (probably going with some stealth grill amber lights and maybe some ditch lights.....really thinking about the raptor lights in the grill too).

I have done a bit of light overlanding so far but nothing major. I think this winter or next spring I will get 5 black wheels and KO2s or KO3s or Falken Wildpeaks for much better "all terrain" tires than the ones currently on it. The tires and wheels will do for now.

I was going to look at a black one originally. I've driven black vehicles for 25 years or so, so it was time for something different.

I've heard about seat jackers. I'll definitely want to look into those soon, particularly if they provide a bit of room underneath the seats.
Molle panels? Tell us more, please. Got pics? Do they interfere with the cargo cover?

As much as I rant against daytime running lights, I'm more than a little tempted to look into some grille lights. And I'm certainly going to mount one or two lights under the back end -- great for hitching the trailer at night. I'm as curious as can be where to tap into some power [correctly] for things like that.

I found that the big, chunky TRD wheels offered on the Pro model (and as options on others) are available in a graphite color (P/N PTR20-35110-G4) as well as the black. I'm way tempted to find a set of the graphite ones, provided I could sell the ones I've got. That particular upgrade will wait for a good while, however.



Wheel link

I got my dad the graphite pro wheels with the gloss finish and really like the look of them.

Those look great!

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:
I love the gray! That was the color I wanted but they couldn't find one near me. I have your same equipped 4Runner but in black...

They used to make a color called shadow mica. It's close to black, but it's got some sparkles when it's clean. I wish they still made it.

I've got a 2008 in shadow mica.

Congrats vt! Looks great.
Long been a T4R fan, and my parents have had 2.
I briefly thought about it prior to the Explorer, but the expansive difference in MPG between them swayed me to the Ford.

I put many miles on the above 2 (03 & 05) and never had any seat comfort complaints, not sure if the newer ones are different. And I'm 6'0" with 34" inseam.

Those TRD wheels will look great, I'd lean toward the graphite, between the 2.

A guy on another forum I'm on has those cargo window panels, nice little accessory.
Here's an example: