hey guys, i know the 4runner is one of the better off roading SUV's on the market, but my friend doens't believe me. He says he wants proof such as articles comparing 4runners to other SUV's...he says i only say that cause i have one...anyone help me convince my knuckleheaded friend??

 

I'm a firm believer that there are many, many fine off road machines available to each individual. Jeep for one. I've owned at least 6 Jeeps ranging in years of 1948 to 1984. (CJ style) - They all performed wonderfully off road. And that is where I believe the distinction ends with the 4Runner versus all others...or at least most others. To me, the 4Runner has the style, comfort, reliability, performance, and ruggedness all combined into one. Where as the Jeeps, Broncos, Blazers, Explorers, Jimmys, Pathfinders, Rodeos, etc., just don't have the complete combination of the 4Runner.
I like the on road and off road capabilities of the 4Runner. I feel proud, safe, and comfortable going to the theater, the ball games, and hockey games in my 4Runner, and even the trips to the store.... and I feel safe and secure and PROUD to be off road with her too. Okay, I'll step down from my soap box now.

 

If you check out Consumer Reports, they compare them. I don't have the exact web address, but they do compare them. They test them for reliability, etc. and 96% of the time, the 4Runner is on top, as are all Toyotas they test. We use the Consumer reports car guide almost like a bible when we buy vehicles here at the Bingaman house. Check that out and that may help your arguments. :fireman:

 

I think Jason has the addresses for the tests.
They are from JD Power & Associates.

The Runner winds hands down for overall quality.

 

edmunds.com has articles on road tests
for all vehicles on the market and price
comparisons. What I got out of my previous research was it is the most capable and reliable in it's class.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...4/article.html

 

thanks guys! that is pretty good stuff...i'll try to do some convincing when i see my "friend"...

 

Can I ask what type of vehicle he has? :fireman:

 

Are you talking about off road capability or generally better in all areas?

Steve

 

he currently doesn't have a car in college, and i think he means overall....but who knows with this guy...i was talkin to extreme off road earlier today and i was tellin him that my friend is one of those friends that everyone has that likes to argue for the sake of arguing...you know those types of friends..i just wanted to show him up for questioning my car...thats all!!!

 

Questioning a Runner! Man I hope you find them reports...haha Make sure he sees them!

 

Hell yeah I hear ya there. Who in their right minds would question a 4Runner. I also have that kind of friend your talking about. He trys to find "flaws" in my Runner all the time. Just the littlest things too, mostly b/c that is all he can find, ex. Engine size, Jeeps have V8s, blah blah blah. Everytime he talks I find someway to make him eat his words. It's almost amusing at times .

 

Yeah, I have one of those, too. Never has anything nice to say. Didn't even mention the capability of my 2nd gen when his F-250 was stuck in some slick stuff in front of my house and there wasn't enough room to get my truck in behind him, so I just attatched my web to his hitch and pulled his truck sideways (while it was still in park!) and dragged him to a better surface. He wasn't even in it!

 

haha yeah i have a lot of friends like that. i live in a hick area basically, and everyone either likes ford chev or gmc. i like chev/gmc but i have realized how much more reliable toyota is. i get ˟˟˟˟ about having a 4cyl, but i dont mind when they spend over twice as much as me in gas. i get 18 MPG+ my friend has a F-150 with a inline 6... gets about 8 MPG. hahahahaha its 2WD too. must be because its so old. but he stopped making fun of me when i told him i could go well over 350 miles on a tank of gas. toyotas are also great offroad vehicles!!

 

Hell yes, this is what I like to hear. This is why I love this forum. Everyone here has sooooooo much pride in Toyotas. ALl my friends have lots of respect for Toyotas and Runners more specifically but it's not the same when they don't own them. I Love you guys . Proud to be a part of a great family of trucks, and kick ass owners.

 

Try asking this at jeepsunlimited, you'll get the same pride in Jeeps. They will say a jeep grand cherokee has a V8, much faster even with the 4runner's supercharger, a solid front axle, comes with more options, and is $5000 less (that 5000 number is a guess).

Of course the 4runner is soo much more reliable, which is why it's better. The piece of mind that it will start everytime is priceless. And the money that you might save by buying a Jeep or any other domestic is thown away in repairs, car rentals, and time taken off work to take it to the garage.

My friend with a jeep is always making excuses not to go off roading because of noises or vibrations. My parents S-10 has had the clutch replace 2 or 3 times, the cat replaced 2 or 3 times, the paint is peeling, the door handle return spring is broken, and he has to stick a piece of wood in the stereo to keep it turned on.

The 4runner is one of the better off roaders because of its ground clearance and large tires. The earlier 3rd gens were the best because of the locker. With the locker IFS is much less of an issure.

Steve

 

You need to set that dude straight!