End of the 4runner?

[elripster]

I'm not exactly sure where to post this so I'll start here and it can be moved accordingly if necessary.

So I have had what started as the blessing and has turned out to be the curse (It's taken up my entire vacation so far) of standing next to SDSU's hybrid Chevy Equinox at the San Diego Auto Show and telling the world over, and over, and over, and over... what it is.(It's a diesel electric plug-in hybrid conversion on a stock Equinox)

So I get bored and decide to wonder the show a bit. I head over to the Toyota section which is quite impressive. I notice something. Out of the 30 or so vehicles only 2 are 4runners and they are not particularly noteworthy. I mean there have to be at least 5 Tundra's and 4 FJ's. Since I'm working the show and have to get there early, I head out behind the SD Convention Center where the Toyota Off Road Experience deal is going on. Here you get to take a Tacoma, Tundra filled with bails of hay, or an FY Cruiser on their off road track set up in the parking lot where you can lean them over to about 40 degrees max. The 4runner is clearly missing.

Given the 4runners new dimensions is seems to be encroaching on the Highlander's turf. However, it's off road roots could be seen as treading on the FJ's turf. I have to wonder if this is the last generation of the 4runner. Has anyone else noticed this or gotten this impression?

Frank

[fustercluck]

I'll bet they have something up their sleeve.....

[elripster]

Ah now we're talking. I like the stretched look on that FJ styling.

Frank

[Paul H.]

I highly doubt the 4runner will go away. The 4th gens have been the most popular and best selling 4runner ever.

[YotaJunky]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/2044672089_9799abae13_b.jpg



wow, I really like the look of that...

[Rock Slide]

Yeah, I personally don't see the 4Runner falling from the line up either.

Although, I am curious to see what the 5th Gen will look like...I hope it's not completely "mall crawler" ish.

[dontdo_that]

sorry to revive a dead thread, but I had to...

Anyone know where that picture is from?

I can see Toyota moving to a mix 4runner/FJ design and making the 4runner even more off-road friendly and allowing the Highlander to take its place as a mall queen. By providing the 4runner and the FJ cruiser, but making them related and similar in style and mechanical design is VERY analogous to the Wrangler Rubicon and Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited... But at the moment, the FJ Cruiser wheelbase is around 105in while the 4runner is 109.1 in, a mere 4 inches longer.. I wouldn't be surprised to see a slightly longer wheelbase on the 4runner.

[elripster]

I'm glad this was revived. I just got back from the Toyota San Diego dealership where I ordered some parts. There are all sorts of 'yotas on display in the show room and in front. Guess how many 4runners. Zero. There are four FJ's, no 'runners.

I think either something big is planned or it's just being allowed to fade away.

Frank

[YotaFun]

Save The 4Runners!!!!

My first car of choice (after I wrecked the car that was given to me) was the 4Runner.
Sometime I wish I had bought a pickup but the runner has come in handy so many times, and with the trailer we have, I don't really need a bed.

Curious, Does the new Sequoia have the roll down rear window anymore?
How about the land Cruiser?

I know thats one advantage to the 4runner I love, the roll down rear window, I can not think of any SUV after the early 90s accept Toyota to have that feature.
I could just be young and naive though...

The 3rd Gen was out 7 years before they did a total redesign.
The 4th Gen now has been out 5 years so I give it another year or so, maybe they might incorporate the Diesel engine that will be offered in 2009, 2010.
Oh what a thought that is....
*Drools*

Come to think of it the 1st gen lasted 6 years.
The second Gen lasted 5.

It seems the more popular gens lasted the longest lol!!

Anyway, back to class and looking out the window at a great Toyota parked in the parking lot :D

[traben27]

Maybe an odd thought, but how many college students, and young grads pick up these as their first vehicle??
I know out here, next to all the little commuters, they are still in use, and popular.
*You can goto Cosco, throw 2 kegs, a couple of 12 packs, some snack food, tent, sleping bags, 1 friend, and three hotties in back for a trip to the Lake/Camp/River.

..ahhhh memories. :D


I'm one of them! I ended up getting my truck as my first vehicle just before senior year of high school. I'm so glad I did. I've been able to go on several camping trips to far away places and unlike a lot of my friends who have enough room for all the crap we bring, I'm the only one that can drive right up to most of the primitive camp sites. I'm gonna miss it when I sell it :(

[Lee]

yup, i graduated college in 2003, got a job and went out and financed an 01 4runner :D

[tulsa_sr5]

Frank, I'm kind of concerned too, and have had the same thoughts as you about where it fits in their lineup. I searched around for sales numbers by year & couldn't find much, although I did find numbers for the first 11 months of last year they sold 80k + not counting the lexus version. That puts it just outside of the top 10 best selling SUV's, with soft-roaders dominating the class. The RAV4 and highlander both sell more per year, but not as many more as you might think. I think the rav was at 150k and the highlander 100-120k. The FJ sold 50k+ and the sequoia was down around 20k units. By my count this is the 6th yr of the 4th gen, so those numbers don't look bad at all to me.

If I had to guess I'd bet it stays pretty much the same for the 5th gen with new sheetmetal and some new bells and whistles. Longer term I have to wonder where they take it. I see the whole SUV segment shrinking a lot over the next decade or so.

[elripster]

Well one interesting note. When I was getting my parts I was approached by salesmen in droves and one of them remarked that I need to get into a new 4runner. I replied that I like my current one. He said that's the problem, it's not that the old ones last forever, they don't, it's that people like them so much they just fix 'em and keep 'em going. I remarked that maybe Toyota should take a look at what was so appealing about these underpowered gas hogs that so many are kept after all these years... any put those qualities back into the rather large somewhat station-wagon-esque 4th gen.

Frank

[Brenjen]

Or they could just hop on the forums & see what it is people do to them (& with them) & just build one with good armor, bumpers, lockers, taller tires, four wheel disc brakes & more ponies under the hood as options on the most popular body style or even offer more than one style, say hard top or removable, solid axle or IFS etc. Something a rural guy could buy off the lot & go play without doing anything to it.

[neliconcept]

no need for bumpers and armor from a factory vehicle, but some stout solid axles with 265/75/16 tires is a good start with lockers, keep it looking factory, but put a front axle under it (one that can be modded to withstand 37s) a nice suspension geometry that rides comfortable and im set.

though id end up throwing a dana 60/70 combo under it and giving it hell later lol

[paddlenbike]

This is supposedly the 2009 4Runner/Lexus GX:
http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/september2007/toyota-4runner-1.jpg

[elripster]

I have seen that. It sure looks awfully large for a 4runner. I hope that's not it.

Frank

[YotaFun]

IT isn't, Its the new Land Cruiser iirc

[Rock Slide]

That thing's got "mall crawler" written all over it.

[Vermejo]

If the new 4Runner came with all the off-road features we dream of I'd still have issue with driving a new 30k+ vehicle on trails that called for the goods. What it would mean to me would be buying a better platform "used" 5+ years down the road just like my 3rd gen. The FJ is where Toyota seems to be putting all the off-road attention. I like my 98 more and more seeing that we have to dream about the newer vehicles being as capable as the old ones. Wider, longer, lower and more power are a mixed bag off the pavement.