Design Complaints on the Toyota 4Runner

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg) 04/29/2016 at 13:06 • Filed to: None

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I sort of like the Toyota 4Runner. Only sort of, I’m not crazy about it, but I think the newest version is cool rather than not. It looks like a rugged, go anywhere 4x4 because it is. In most trims, it’s a handsome truck. But I’m a guy who likes bells and whistles, which means I’d want to spring for the top trim, the Limited. I’m guessing several of you already know what gripe I’m about to bring up.

What the hell is this Godawful chrome 5mph bumper thing they have bound like a gag across the front of the 4Runner? The front of this thing looks terrible. It reminds me of a late-70's European car, originally designed with a tasteful bumper, but then when they wanted to sell it in the U.S. they just hastily glued on some massive lump of whatever to make it comply with our regulations. It doesn’t look any more premium; it looks like a tacky aftermarket bit from AutoZone.

I have another, smaller gripe as well. The 4Runner has a unique feature that allows the rear windshield to be lower into the tailgate. This is a fantastic feature normally activated by either a button inside the car, or by twisting and holding the key inside the tailgate keyhole. On the Limited, however, it would appear that the key activation has been replaced with a pair of buttons. I’m actually not 100% sure that that’s what these buttons do, but I can’t think what else they’d do. Either way, they’re only on the Limited, and look like they god swiped off an old Playstation. This one isn’t ugly like the front, but it does bug me.

Nibby > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/29/2016 at 13:11

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sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Nibby 04/29/2016 at 13:13

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Needs more Doug eyes

vicali > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/29/2016 at 13:19

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ARB >

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > vicali 04/29/2016 at 13:22

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much better

Dru > vicali 04/29/2016 at 13:27

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This is amazing.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/29/2016 at 13:27

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Roll down back window is awesome. 70 MPH all the windows down, and you get none of that horrible noise.

vicali > Dru 04/29/2016 at 13:35

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That’s a friends 5th gen, Marc is his name, swell guy..

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 13:39

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Until it fails and your only option to open the tailgate is gone.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/29/2016 at 13:39

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One way to open the tailgate? Is that a second gen thing?

Ocular Patdown > Nibby 04/29/2016 at 13:40

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I just realized how terrifying it would be to see a live action version of Pixar’s Cars .

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 13:40

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And first.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/29/2016 at 13:43

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Do they hinge from the bottom?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > vicali 04/29/2016 at 13:46

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Holy shit that’s amazing

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 13:52

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Yep, it’s a true tailgate

Ultrakill > Nibby 04/29/2016 at 13:53

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cannot unsee

Textured Soy Protein > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/29/2016 at 14:18

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I’m pretty sure the tailgate window buttons are in addition to the other ways to lower the window, not a replacement. It’s an added way to do it rather than the only way.

Personally I think this generation of 4Runner is irritating because unlike the previous one where full-time 4wd with a Torsen center differential was standard on all trims, now it’s only on the Limited. The other trims reverted to a part-time shift on the fly system. Because cost cutting.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 14:24

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Agreed. That’s the biggest thing I miss about my 3rd gen.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 14:25

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I’m sure you don’t miss the mileage or the very slow 5VZ

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/29/2016 at 14:26

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The 3rd gen hinges from the top.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 14:30

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Well I have a 100 series land cruiser, so I can't say it was much worse.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 14:36

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Hngggggg. Want.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 14:49

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Based on the rolling rear window, I seriously considered buying a first gen Sequoia. I would love to go hog wild on mods, but so far have only put on a 30mm lift, 33" tires, and TJM skid plates.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 14:53

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You could still get pretty far with those mods.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Textured Soy Protein 04/29/2016 at 14:56

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I’m sure it isn’t the only way, it just seems silly and looks goofy.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 14:56

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absolutely, and I have. Ideally I would love to add rock rails, an in bumper winch and a rear tire carrier, but we'll see.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 14:59

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I would have already done things to my 3RD gen, but 2WD.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 15:01

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Yeah, that hurts. I only went up a tire size and removed the running boards on mine. Aside from blizzards, I didn't really have an opportunity to take it off road much either.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 15:06

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I kinda want to lower it since it’s 2WD

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 15:22

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I guess you wouldn’t be losing anything. Personally I’m not crazy about the look of lowered 4runners. Something about the body lines keeps it from looking right.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 15:24

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I’m not talking full on laying frame, maybe just 3 maybe 3.5 inches lower. Get some new wheels and maybe some stickier tires. I want it to handle better on the road.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 15:25

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That might not be bad. I'll be interested to see the results anyways.

Textured Soy Protein > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/29/2016 at 15:33

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“Hey I want to open this back window while I’m back here. Where’s my key at? Oh wait nevermind I’ll just press this goofy looking button. Thanks 4Runner Limited!”

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > WiscoProud 04/29/2016 at 15:37

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Here’s a photoshop one.

WiscoProud > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/29/2016 at 15:45

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Not bad. Honestly reminds me of a early gen turbo forester

The Stig's former college room mate > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/29/2016 at 16:00

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my thoughts exactly. i think the 4runner looks worse the more expensive you go. exception: TRD Pro

Nibby > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/30/2016 at 08:52

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In the Sequoia, it will start smelling like exhaust after a few minutes of the rear window opened. :(

190octane > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/30/2016 at 13:39

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The other annoying thing besides all the chrome on the limited is the horrible wood grain crap on the interior and the gauges on all of them are ugly and dated.