I have a 91 T4R and love it. Just yesterday had to rent a vehicle for work and the one provided was a 2012 Tacoma 4dr, 4WD, auto, back up camera, plenty of get-up-and-go. The thing is, I didn't like it. It felt too high-end; as if it would not be very capable off road. It honestly felt like a mall crawler. Those of you who have up graded from an older Toy to a new (2009 and newer) regret the decision? Do you miss the old Toy that you used to beat around in? I really could not justify giving up my 4Runner for a brand new one even if it were half price.

 

I've never driven any of the newer Toyotas, but I have this same feeling about all newer vehicles. They're all cheaply made, they have weird futuristic lookin' designs, and full of electronic crap. I just feel awkward driving them. I don't like heated and power seats and touch screen navs and 6 disc stereos and the dreaded "Sync" used in Fords. If I had a choice, I would have a steering wheel, pedals, shifters,a few gauges, and a seat. It doesn't even need to be padded. It can be one of those cheap molded fiberglass racing seats from Jeg's. That's all I need. It is making crappy drivers even crappier by putting the attention on the useless crap, instead of actually driving. They are making them "safer" so people think they can drive as crazy as they want and think if they crash, they'll be fine. They build them with all this electronic crap so it is almost impossibly to work on them. I couldn't agree more about them being worse off road because they all have plastic bumpers that hang down to about 4" above the ground. The first time you go through a trail, it'll be ripped off. Plus it seems like everyones phasing out the maunal tranny. Everybody is always so concerned with gas mileage and stuff. Cars with manual transmissions generally get better gas mileage...again...laziness...

Sorry for the rant.

 

I was in the dealer to get a part yesterday and they had a bunch of new FJ's and 4 runners on the floor, I was looking at them and then I looked at the sticker the 4 runner I was looking at was priced at 47 thousand fully loaded. That alone is enough to never own any new vehicle IMO.

 

To me its an evolution of the beast...companies need to make money and that's what people with money to spend want. We're not their customer anymore, maybe we were in 1991 or whatever year your truck is but I know when I got my truck in 91, there were people that thought my truck was all "luxo'd up" but now it's "basic" in comparison...
We are now customers of the aftermarket though

 

X2, new Yotas are for suburgatory living. not for wheelers. There made for people who have trucks to just have them. its a status thing. No SUV is made for offroading. When I took my DD(2010 Fusion) for a oil change at the dealership,dam warrentys, I saw a Cabelas edition F250, beauty of a truck but why have a hunting label on a truck that you dont want to get dirty. It was to dam fancy and it was over $50,000!!! its nuts. No one woould crawl in that thing with elk blood on them in dirty clothes, its a mall crawler, fancy rig. it sucks

 

I like both. I have a 2011 Tundra and 4Runner for daily driving, kid hauling and towing. Will they go wheeling? No but 4WD is still needed sometimes.

When my 88 3.4 swap is done I'll drive it on "me" days for fun and then of course I have just a few other old Toyotas.

:wabbit2:

 

I have an 03 TRD Tacoma and love it, but when I was shopping for them I looked at a few newer generation models. I liked the power and space, but the rest of it felt too car-like. I'll be keeping this one as long as I can.

 

I upgraded my 88 4X4 to a 94, good thing I kept the 88 because the 94 is 1/3 the off roader as the 88. Suspension is way to soft and mushy. Both are stock other than 88 has almost bald 31's. I was going to put 31's on the 94 but it is hard enough to get rolling with 225's.

The 94 is much smoother/quieter on the road than the 88, but niether is the build quality of the 78 2WD that I grew up in.

If I had to buy another it would be a southern 80's model.

 

I've been following that Facebook. Can't wait until it's done!

 

Don't get me wrong, the '12 that I drove was nice. Had plenty of power and was very smooth for the 600 mile trip. But if I had my choice, I'd rather drove my 4Runner for the trip. Hopefully, someday soon I will make the same trip to see the Wabbit for a parts pick up.

Wab, ever venture over towards Alexander City?

 

I'm very much a home sector body. I don't go off much unless it's to a wheeling event

:wabbit2:

 

Meh, if I could afford it I'd DD a newer yota. And frankly, as an expo rig, a newer truck is better. Say what you want, age affects reliability. And don't you wish your truck came from the factory with lockers and bilstiens? We don't see many people truly building the newer rigs on these boards, but people do, and the results are sweet.

I don't believe in trashing newer/better tech just because I can't afford it, and that goes beyond just this hobby.