Finally test drove a 5th gen

"adamftw" (adamftw) 11/02/2020 at 07:40 • Filed to: None

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So, with baby number one due next month I figured it was time to move from inhaling every single forum post on trucks I’m interested in to actually sitting in and driving them. I found a nice black 2013 Trail (I prefer the pre-facelift 4Runners) with 55k on it locally at a Toyota dealership and went to give it a go.

What an utter fucking disappointment.

First, I know Toyotas have a low seating position. I had a T100 for a while, a bunch of my friends have and have had Toyotas, but it always is weird to me. Anyway, something I’d have to get used to. I wasn’t happy that I couldn’t rest my arm on the windowsill comfortably either. Outward visibility was meh. Not a lot of modern cars do this well.

The nail in the coffin was the drivetrain. It’s like the motor is speaking one language and the transmission another. The motor can make power, but the transmission just won’t let it. The motor has mid range power, but revs too long and high, and the gear ratios seem wrong. Around town and doing lazy/normal driving it is perfectly adeq uate , but try and get some power out of it or accelerate from 55 to 75 and its just a lot of noise and no action. I can’t believe people actually tow with these things, it must be maddening.

The rest of the truck is great though. The chassis is very stout, the steering felt good. It just feels well put together, there were no noises or squeaks from anything, the ride is very comfortable and I felt it was roomy enough for a family vehicle. I had plenty of room behind the driver’s seat as a rear passenger.

Well, cross that one off the list. Definitely going to try out a GX460, but they were never really my thing. I’m going to look more seriously at getting back into a Rover, albeit a more modern one.

avalonian > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 08:32

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If you look at a rover. Try and find a 17 and up discovery very reliable and they come with great standard options plus they have depreciated okay. Also, the 15 up range rover sport will be great options. Don't forget the VW touareg. 

adamftw > avalonian 11/02/2020 at 08:40

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Way out of my price range. V8 LR3s, late 12-13 LR4s, and 07-09 & late 12 L322s. Ideally I’d like to stick with the 4.4 V8 over the 5.0. The Touareg is more trouble than it’s worth IMO.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:05

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Should consider a 4th gen with the 4.7 V8 option. That’ll give you that pull that the 4.0 is missing.

adamftw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/02/2020 at 09:13

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That’s another option. I’m not a huge fan of the 4th gen’s styling, but I’d give one a go. They get better fuel mileage than a 100 series LC I’d guess ?

Textured Soy Protein > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:29

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If you think the 5th gen is sitting on the floor, the 4th gen is like sitting in the basement.

These are body-on-frame trucks. On-road driving prowess has never been their strength. Me personally the only ones I like to drive as regular-ass cars are the 5th gen 4Runner Limited (it’s the only 5th gen trim that still has the Torsen center diff) and the 1st gen GX470. The 05-09 of that has the upgraded VVTi version of that motor. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:32

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Maybe 2 whole mpgs!

Nothing > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:47

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Ya know, I consider myself “in like”, not “in love” with my 4Runner. It’s ok enough. Your drivetrain experience is the same as mine when I first bought it. I know it has additional weight over the Tacoma, but for the modest bump in power compared to a 2nd gen Taco, it feels slow.

I fit almost comfortably. No sunroof would be a lot better, and a little more range on the telescoping steering wheel would be great. Seating position is definitely a compromise . The driving position in my wife’s Grand Cherokee is much better .

Overall, it’s definitely a solidly built vehicle, and it does work well most of the time. I’m starting to feel that it’s a little like a house guest though. The things that were merely an annoyance to start with start to dig at you more and more as time goes on. If I went off-road more often , I could probably live with the shortcomings a little more. My wife and son, however, do not enjoy it...the level of off-roading they are comfortable with is easily done in her Jeep, or basically a 2wd vehicle with a little clearance.

It does look cool, though.

adamftw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/02/2020 at 09:48

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I’m getting 15/19 right now, I just don’t want to get any worse.. lol.

nermal > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:49

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Why not look at a pickup instead? Any of the domestic 1500 crew cabs from the last 5 years will be better in nearly every category except for parking. You may even be able to do a 96 month loan on a reasonably optioned new one to keep your payment about the same.

“Toyota reliability” and the “Toyota tax” comes at the expense of horrible MPGs and the dumb seating position on the 4runner / Tacoma.

adamftw > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2020 at 09:51

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My buddy had a 4th gen that he loved, I just don’t remember it well. The GXs do look like they sit higher up, again I just never was a huge fan or even a big Toyota guy. Just looking for a new friend to hang onto for the next few years.

adamftw > nermal 11/02/2020 at 09:53

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I’ve been driving a 2005 1500 ECSB Silverado for almost four years, I’m just not into pickups. I like wagons.

Gerry197 > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:57

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Try a new RAM just for giggles, a lot has happened in 15 years.  

adamftw > Nothing 11/02/2020 at 09:58

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I have always loved the early 5th gens, they are a real throwback to the 3rd gen body. I sat in a sunroof and non-sunroof truck, and yea its a little better but I’d hit my head on the ceiling above the door opening if I went much higher with the seat regardless.

I’ve spent a lot of time in WK2s, my dad has had two of them. The driver position is better but there is a lot less glass as well. I’d have to give one another go to remember. Thankfully my wife is down with the occasional wheeling/camping trip (and hopefully the future kiddo will be as well) and we also enjoy driving out and spending the day on the beach. If I didn’t need the extra capability of the occasional trailer tow (probably getting a small camper in the next couple years) I’d be all over a Forester or Outback.

Textured Soy Protein > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 09:59

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The GX doesn’t so much sit higher up as it has a much taller body on largely the same frame. There’s a lot more height to the interior, so the seats can be mounted higher off the floor. The 5th gen 4Runner body is also a lot taller than the 4th gen.

That 05-09 GX if you can get one with no 3rd row and no nav is a bit of a sweet spot. The air suspension can lead to higher maintenance bills but it’s not catastrophically expensive. It’s a cleaner simpler looking vehicle vs the 2nd gen imho.

The 2nd gen GX before it got the predator grille is alright. It has a more modern drivetrain with another 25 hp over the 05-09 VVTi, and a 6-speed auto, but it’s a more complicated vehicle overall than the 1st gen.

adamftw > Gerry197 11/02/2020 at 10:00

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All my buddies drive new (within the last 4-5 years) pickups. They’re great. They just don’t do it for me. I have some time though and will probably just drive everything for shits and giggles.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 10:00

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Welllll....

https://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/4runner?engineconfig_id=5&bodytype_id=&submodel_id=



adamftw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/02/2020 at 10:01

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Yea thats about where I’m at.

adamftw > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2020 at 10:02

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I like the looks of the 10-13 460s, but yea all the added electrical doodads give me pause. I’d rather get into a Rover if I have to deal with that shit because I know I’ll love the truck more.

avalonian > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 10:10

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Ah, gotchya. My bad chief, then yeah 2014 Tahoe and send it lol. That would be awesome, or even a grand Cherokee! Those are like 30 thousand miles for like 15-25k. 

adamftw > avalonian 11/02/2020 at 10:34

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Super familiar with the Chevys, they’re low on my list but they’re there.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > nermal 11/02/2020 at 10:39

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96mo loan? Yikes.

nermal > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 11/02/2020 at 11:02

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How else are you s’posed to afford all of the extended warranties?

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 11:29

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GX > 4runner. we test drove 4runners and i was surprised how much I didn’t like it. But GX don’t pull the “gotta look butch” act and as such is taller and uglier which lets you see out and sit comfortably. To say nothing of the power. Though be advised that everyone I’ve talked to say the 4.6 liter engine feels less strong than the 4.7, despite it having more power. It’ s probably plenty though.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 11:32

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Thats about par for the GX.  I get that in my 470.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2020 at 11:34

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I see no reason to skip the nav, its fine.  It’s not going to break.  I would also rather have the 3rd row as it has a higher payload rating.  The air suspension is fine, Im on my 2nd set of airbags and 165,000 miles and my adaptive suspension still works and my air compressor still works.  I LOVE having the airbags on it, for towing reasons.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch 11/02/2020 at 12:05

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The no nav is because I hate crappy old nav systems, I use my phone anyway and the ugly ass screen is worse than plain buttons. Plus  the non-nav head unit can be replaced with a modern double DIN carplay/android auto capable one. Didn’t know about the payload rating on the 3rd row, I just think that row of seats is worthless enough that it’s easier to live with the vehicle without it.

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 11/02/2020 at 12:05

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I’ve heard that as well, and I’d want to try them both anyway but I’m starting to think I’m going to like the 470 more since it is older.

adamftw > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2020 at 12:07

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Its easy enough on the 470 to swap in a real aftermarket head unit, so that’s a no brainer for me.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2020 at 12:08

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I see your point on the nav, but no nav is what EVERYONE is looking for so if you want a good deal...get the nav. I don’t use the NAV either, but it does everything else it needs to competently and I don’t really have any fears of it breaking outside of damage.  I don’t think its worth the price premium of not having it.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 11/02/2020 at 12:10

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It’ s getting harder to find low mile 470's. I wouldn’t worry about the nature of the 460's electronics, they aren’t that much different really. I mean when a 2021 4runner is where it’ s at, how electronically integrated can it be?  The beauty of the 460 is timing chains and 6 speeds. 

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 11/02/2020 at 12:25

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Yup those are two big plusses. I never loved the GXs, but you can never tell until you drive one.