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by Kon-Peki 1262 days ago
The current generation 4Runner went on sale in mid-2009. The engine was first introduced in 2002 and the transmission in 2005.

It should be half the price, but people will apparently pay Toyota just about anything for it.

2 comments

Yup. I recently bought a 4runner, not top of the line mind you, and it cost the same as my wife's Tesla Model Y. Love that thing though ... specifically bought the non-pro model to get the simple three knob climate controls. Ridiculously overpriced but no direct competition in the current US market.
The climate knobs are so great. Try them when going 60MPH in the sand (out one the desert) and it’s incredible how you can still adjust them accurately!
Relative to the market it is still a good deal, especially if you actually off road and camp with it. There is a reason there are so many here in Colorado.
> it is still a good deal

In my mind that is debatable, unless you sell it after a few years to take advantage of the market price for used ones.

There is no doubt at all that it is a durable and dependable vehicle. But you're discounting how good everything else has become, with lower operating and repair costs. My parents used to be die-hard Camry fans and just wouldn't consider anything else. I totally understand how this fandom comes about :)

The Land Cruiser moved to an 8-speed transmission 6 or 7 years ago. Lexus is chock full of reliable, highly-advanced engines and hybrid drive systems. With your Colorado elevation and joke 85 octane gas, you really need the modern tech in your cars. You'd have much improved performance and dramatically lower running costs.

Toyota is taking advantage of you.

If you actually use it for its intended purpose and not a grocery getter it will withstand more abuse than virtually anything else on the market. We do have 91 octane... and our 4runner is supercharged to compensate for the only real failing of the vehicle (power plant output). For the $$ into it you still won't find a more capable vehicle for its intended purpose. Every Jeep I know about destroys its axles with even moderate duty off roading (part of this is self inflicted, they almost always oversize the tires because they have the space for it, but don't upgrade other components). I went pretty deep down this rabbit hole and could not find a less costly alternative in the new car market (right before supply crunch became really deep). On the other hand, if you are just fetching groceries and need something with AWD, sure, go find some market alternative. I am not a price sensitive shopper so it is just below my threshold of caring.
See, that's the thing! The Sequoia has the same twin turbo V6 and 10-speed transmission as the J300 Land Cruiser (reliability already established as it's been in the Lexus LS500 for 5 years now) but with the addition of a hybrid system. For $60k, you get a much larger vehicle with more power and better fuel economy!

Take that already-in-mass-production drivetrain (or ideally something a little smaller) and put it into a 4Runner type vehicle and you have something absolutely amazing. For the same cost. That's my beef with Toyota.

Probably a better choice than a bronco for just a few more years as ford irons out the kinks
Reviews and personal experience with new Bronco (not sport) are overwhelmingly positive, though. No real issues. Let's see how the power plants hold up.