You should have seen my face. At the newstand I pick up magazine featuring a buyer's guide for 2003 models. I casually turn the page to the Toyota section and BANG !!! :confused:

A big picture of the 2003 4Runner and a short article about it.

The magazine is AMI Auto World Magazine (Special Edition) the October issue. It features a sporty yellow Dodge Neon on the cover. Their web site is www.autoworldweekly.com.

Now the interesting info:

The picture: I'm trying to find someone with a scanner around here for you guys. I hope to post it shortly. The picture I have looks like the green/silver form Paul S pics except in Silver/grey. Is it nice ??? Lets say it will take a while to get used to that look

The specs:
Base price: 27,500 - 34,500 (est.)
Still a rear-wheel drive (yeah)
4.0 DOHC all-aluminium V6 245HP(5200) and 283lb torque (3400)
4.7 DOHC V8 235HP(4800) and 320lb torque (3400)
Transmission 4speed-V6 and 5speed-V8
No manual transmission
Cargo
2nd row seats folded (75.1)
Behind 2nd row (40.6)
Dimensions
Length 187.8
Width 73.8
Height (with Rack) 71.2
Weight 4025-4450 (Depending on equipment)
No word on ground clearance

According to the article the 2003 4Runner is geared at offroaders and rough house action leaving comfort and convinience to the Highlander.

 

In the same magazine there is a pic of the Lexus GX470. It is quite a looker. If the 4Runner Limited is as nice it might be a very nice vehicule.

The weird fender flares give the impression of cheap plastic and that this plastic is omnipresent making the vehicule look like it is a really scaled-down version of something else.

 

can u post a direct link to the article, i cant find it.

 

They don't post the article on their site I just figured out, only in the printed version.

The article itself does not say much more than what I have put in the summary.

It is just the picture that sheds new light, I'll post it as soon as I can get somebody to scan it.

 

Here's the pic

http://community.webshots.com/script...ecurity=LQDxln

Hope the links gets you there

 

Link didn't work.

Pretty intersting that the V6 makes more HP than the V8, just has more torque.
Sounds like the Explorer 4.0l V6 and the 5.0LV8 (V6 more hp, V8more torque)

 

This one should

http://community.webshots.com/user/world_traveler_too

 

Yep, same rig as seen in the pics that Paul got for us awhile back.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/2003_4run...3_4Runner5.jpg

http://www.pnw4runners.net/2003_4run...3_4Runner4.jpg

It will be interesting to see this rig when it hits the dealers.

 

That picture is horrible and those flares could make someone puke.



I hope it looks better in person. I don't know why they didn't show a better picture.:rolleyes:

 

You know Jason, I've been looking at the picture very often since I got the magazine. I admit that the flares are not very nice at first but after a while you get used to them.

I would not go as far as saying that I like them but they don't make me puke anymore. A stomach acke at best ;-)

Maybe in person it will look better. I remember taking shots of my 4Runner when I got it a while back and except one I did not like how it look on the pictures. For some reaons it looked odd. But when I would walk around the house and look at the truck I would simply fall in love over and over again.....

 

All of that plastic reminds me of the chev avalanche!!
Hopefully in person it will look better, when I first saw pics of the Acura RSX, i didn't like it but now i do!

 

I agree with SLC with the whole avalanche thing, I also think it looks too much like the Rav4 (just bigger). The grill and scoop remind me of a Cooper S (donno why). I'm hoping it will be one of those things that i'm not really sure about when they first come out, but after a while they will grow on me. As for right now... i'd stick with the 3rd Gen anyday!

 

WORD turboale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

DANG THAT THING LOOKS LIKE WOMANS SUV NOW. Not rugged looking at all. We should all come up with a design from this forum and send it to Toyota.

 

I have your design right here.
Solid axle, removable hard top, etc.

2 & 4 door models. Think how these would sell if they retooled and offered these here? Especialy with the enhancments now since the 1st gen was born.





Ahhhh, I can dream can't I?
I bet there are some Toyota designers who have thought the same idea too with a 2 & 4 door model brought back to production.

I'd say something like this would sell.
This is Bill's rig. One sweet ride.
Corey

 

BOY! Am I glad I bought an '02!

I admit to the possibility that it'll look better "in the flesh", but I doubt it. We'll see October 15.

 

without the body cladding, it may not look as bad as it does now. Hopefully the cladding is just an option. It might look pretty good with bushwackers on it.

 

And if you add about 3-4inches of lift!!

 

Yeah, and a TMJ bullbar.

 

and some off-road tires