Let me start by saying: Hi everyone! This is my first post. I've been lurking for a while now.. I don't own a truck (yet), but I've been considering one for a while now.
My question is: would it be completely stupid for me to get a 4Runner or a Pathy knowing that I will probably never take it offroad?
I drive a mini-van (97 dodge caravan.. the short one) now :eek: and truth be told, it's been pretty good to me. It gets good gas milage (compared to trucks), has more cargo room then most suv's (with 1 or 2 row(s) of seats out) and handles really well.
Only problem is.. I'm bored with it. I know, not a great reason to get something else.. terrible reason, in fact.
I *could* get a new Caravan, or I could get a SUV. I don't have kids or anything.. it's just me and my wife. I use the van to drive to and from work every day as well as LOTS of mountain bike trips on weekends and longish trips in general (love to travel).
I can't see myself going back to a regular car. I'm too used to having lots of room.
So.. would a 4Runner or Pathy be a good substitute for my mini-van? I DID test-drive both 4Runner and Pathy. I'll gladly post how I thought they compared (on the road), if anyone is interested
Thanks

 

First and foremost welcome to the board, this is a great community to learn and grow in. Next I would definatley interested in how you viewed them both and which one you enjoyed more. I sure others would be too, so let us know. As for if I would suggest a 4Runner or Pathy to you, heck yes I would. It may not get the same gas mialage as your van, but if your looking for a change this would be the way to go. Now I will tell you that I am partial to the 4Runner just like MOST EVERYONE here. I made the comaprison b/w the 2 (Runner and Pathy) when I was shoppin garound and I didn't like the reliability factor of the Pathy, there were alot of places where the Pathy lacked and the Runner exceled. I would suggest a 4Runner all the way, not just b/c I own one but b/c it is the best dang SUV out there. Now I could just go on and on and on about why I beleive this but I will rather just let some others chime in on this and let you hear many angles of approach. Once again welcome and good luck with your decesion making.

 

Hello and welcome!
Both the 4Runner and the Pathfinder are an excellent way to go. If you're looking for a vehicle to tinker with and upgrade, go with the 4Runner.
Here's another option for you, a Honda Odyssey. Yeah, its another van, but they're deceptively fast. And, I believe Honda or Mugen make aftermarket parts for them.
Just a thought...

 

Hello ERC,

I am in the same category as you. I like SUV despite the fact that I do not take it seriously offroad. I need towing power but quite frankly the Odyssey could easily pull my boat.

But I like SUV's looks, high driving position, power feeling, etc. It is simply a type of vehicle I like and I don't see why I should not get one of those if I like it (offroad or not).

Anyway if I was into offroading I would buy an old model that I would not be worried to scratch or break.

I am cross-shopping the 4Runner and the Pathy too. (For the record I currently drive a 99 4Runner). I do not consider myself biased, the 4Runner is a great truck but it is not the only great SUV out there (at least for normal day-to-day use).

I am also due for a change. I like changing vehicle type once in a while (I would change every year if I could afford it). So for me the 2003 4Runner is a new vehicle to some extent. If the model would have stayed the same I would have changed and would most probably be driving a loaded Pathy right now. (No flame please). But Toyota is pushing back the new 4Runner introduction to Oct 15, even November here in Canada.


ERC, I'd like your test drive impressions of both the 4Runner and Pathy. I recently test drove a 2003 Pathy LE fully loaded and I was quite impressed. It is also considerably cheaper than a similarly equipped 4Runner (Limited).

 

Hello ERC, welcome to the forum. You will find this place has all the answers that you need. I have a 4Runner, but I don't take it off road. I would if I had a place to, but the area around me has no trails or anywhere else to drive, so unfortunately, I have no way or where to go off-road. I use my 4Runner to commute 50 miles each day to school. I love it. Just the security I feel alone would recommend this option to you. I also know that if it is snowing when I have to go to school, this will do great and I will get there no matter what. I would totally recommend getting a 4Runner even though you are not going to go offroad with it. :fireman:

 

I fogot to mention that I don't go off-roading either, it's kinda hard being 2WD :cry: (my only regret) and all my buddies that I could go w/ all moved away to colllege. But I just enjoy my Runner all around, saftey, high ride, power, ect.. I am really getting the mod fever and after I do a few more things I am thinking of going to some truck/car shows w/ my friend and his Ford Ranger. So either way you look at it, the 4Runner is a great SUV. So is the pathy I have one friend w/ one, but she kinda wishes she had something diff. now.

 

How about an Acura MDX? It is based on the Honda van chassis. I like the looks inside and out, have not driven one. I have a friend that has one and says he likes it. It would be better in acceleration than a third gen 4Runner. I believe MDX requires premium gas I do not go off road and if I were buying now I would look hard at a the MDX. The third gen 4Runner is lacking in interior room, in my opinon. Also, the seats are not the best. 4Runner steering, in my opinon, could be better. It does not have a good on center feel during highway driving.

Having said all the negitives, my 2000 4Runner is a nice piece of machinery. Well built, seems to have the Toyota reliability that we expect. I like the small exterior size for city driving, would not want one of the big SUV's. I wish I had just a little more interior space for my 6' 2'' height. The 2003 4Runner may be a better comprimise for exterior size and interior space.

 

I don't offroad much, maybe camping and go fishing once in awhile but I picked the 4Runner just because the LOOKS and it holds its value very good (low depreciation cost). Last year, my friend and I took his 2000 Limited 4Runner up to Rocky, we went to the Royal Gorge(right name?), it was so good, so I chose the 4Runner after that.

I say 'go with the 4Runner'.

 

Thanks for all the replies.
I am hoping to keep it under 30k if I buy (lease is not out of the question). This rules MDX out. I think it's kind of a chick car anyway even though it accelerates really well and does have a very nice interior.
Honda van is really nice, but if I were to get another van, it would have to be another Dodge. I have nothing bad to say about mine and I like the available short version.
Now for driving impressions..
4Runner:
It felt somewhat slow off the line, but I think I could deal with it. It hosetly felt a little slower than my van, but not much if any. Engine sounded loud and truck-like.. appropriate, since it's a truck
Steering did feel somewhat dead on straight highway driving, but not terrible. It also just felt heavy when stepping of the gas and just letting it roll.
It didn't lean too much in turns. Brakes felt very good. Seats felt fairly comfortable. Rear seats are pretty good too. Not too hard to get into and out of (although I think running boards don't help at all to climb out).
Suspension felt very firm and unforgiving. I quess that's what a real truck is supposed to feel like. There was also a lot of wind noise (no more than in my van though).
I like the looks of 4Runner MUCH better than the Pathy. Love the roll-down gate window. Interior is pretty nice in my opinion, even though dash board is a little plainish.

Pathy:
I got to drive both SE and LE (SE had regular fuel while LE was filled with Premium). SE with regular fuel did not feel any faster than 4Runner. It felt worse in turns (but that could be due to 250 pound salesman in the back seat )
Suspension is much more forgiving. Steering feels a bit nicer, a bit too responsive, if anything. Rear seats are horrible!! Quite difficult to get into. Once you're in, there is NO foot or knee OR head room. They're very low to the ground, so there's no leg support for taller people (I'm 5' 10"). They do recline though, so that may help with the headroom issue. Climbing out of them is even harder than getting in. Running boards totally get in the way instead of helping (they'd be the first to go, if I got a Pathy). None of this is a major problem though. I hardly ever have people in the back.
LE with premium fuel was FAST. Engine sounds JUST like Maxima's.. probably because it IS from Maxima.. DUH
LE also turned much better, not sure if it was due to larger (17") wheels or lack of heavy salesman in the back seat. Dashboard is much more to my liking on Pathy, but that's just personal preference.

Both trucks had things that I liked and didn't like. I *think* I could be happy with either. Reading all the problems people seem to have with Pathy's is definitely a turn-off. I would sooner lease one than buy one.

Of course, there's also the 03 4Runner.. I LOVE the interior (from pics) and while the huge unpainted overfenders do look cheesey, all in all, I don't hate the exterior. I will definitely have to drive one before getting 02 runner or Pathfinder. It's strange that while it looks bigger than 3rd gen, it has 75 cubic feet of cargo space, while Nissan has 85. 75 should be plenty for me though.

Oh.. I also drove 02 Grand Cherokee V8. That thing is insanely fast off the line, but handling is terrible compared to others. That thing was all over the road.

So many choices..

 

I would say go with the 4runner. I drive a toy pickup and drove it today after driving my mustang for the past two week.. and seems its gonna be another (need time to change the timing chain guides). Anywho after driving the automatic mustang and then changing back over to the truck to get it registered I felt more at home in the truck. I love the manual tranny, the higher ride, even though the suspension is a lil rougher I like it.

Also for information purposes only, a 4runner will hold its value well too. When I went to register my truck and get the title transfered 3 weeks ago they wanted me to pay taxes on it as if I payed 6100$ for it. I only payed 2000 for my truck, and it was well worth every penny. I already had one guy offer me twice what I payed for it to take it off my hands and told me if i ever wanted to sell it come to him first.

I probably wont ever buy a different brand vehicle. And I know I wont ever buy a newer toyota cause of the looks ( IMO the new 4 runner looks like something rubber maid would make).

 

I'm with the majority here, when I say get a 4Runner. I guarantee you that you won't regret it. I Drive a 1991 4Runner with about 165k miles, and it still drives great, and i've only had some minor problems, which were easily fixed.

I personally would not get a Jeep. Before I got my 4Runner, I drove a '93 Jeep Wrangler (My first car ) and that thing was breaking down atleast 3 or 4 times a month, causing me to dish out $200-$500 a few times a month just so I could keep it running. Don't get me wrong, I still like Jeeps (Not nearly as much as I like Toyotas though ) but their reliabilty sucks. It's not just with the Wranglers in my experience either, my uncle drives a '95 Cherokee, and his breaks down just as often as my wrangler did. With my 4Runner i've never had any really serious problems (a few leaks there, a cracked belt there) but all were easily fixed, and few and far between. I'd say that's pretty damn good for a truck that's close to 12 years old

You definitely won't go wrong with a 4Runner. I can't really speak for Nissans, but from what i've heard, and read about them, there reliabilty isn't very good. If you want something you can count on to get you somewhere, or get you out of somewhere, buy a 4Runner

-Braden

 

Just a thought of justification for a SUV.

I take mine on light offroad a fair bit to get to places
I want to hike or mountain bike without some boring
long approach. It sounds like you do some serious
mountain biking... Wouldn't ya love to be able to get
just a little further out there?

That was pretty much my motivation for getting one.
(Of course, after I got it, I realized what a blast just
the driving on those forest service roads can be!)

And if you're going to be wandering a bit afield, the
reliability of the 'runner is *really* nice to have in your
court.

 

If you are trying to stay under $30K, I dont think the new 2003 4Runner will fit the bill .. I have heard estimates in the $40k plus range.

I have heard numerous complaints from the Grand Cherokee crowd when it comes to mechanical failures, handling and alignment issues.

 

If you are trying to stay under $30k, I don't even think that the Pathfinder LE will be an option for you either. You will even have to get a lower end 3rd generation (current) 4Runner to stay under $30k (or right at it).

I just picked up a 2002 4WD SR5 Sport, and it came in right at about $30k.

 

for about 27k you can get nicely equiped 4Runner SE (not sure for color picking).

If you read my previous post. Now when my cousin (the one I said choosing the 02 Pathy over the 02 Runner because the only avai. color for the 4Runner is RED, she hates red) parks her rig next to mine and you know what?

My 4Runner looks a lots buffer and nicer and stronger than hers....hahahaha

 

maybe once you do get an SUV you'll take it off road and find that you like it, and go more and more, and end up becoming like most of us. in that case, you'd be better off with a 4runner.

 

I definitely think that you need to ditch the van and go with an SUV. It will make you feel younger and make your life better. In addition, by owing the 4Runner you will be a better person.

 

Make me a better person, eh? heheheh
Thanks again for all your input! Yeah, 03 4Runner is probably going to be far over 30k (even though I'd be looking at plain SR5 with 6cyl.. I would want a few options).
Pathy would have to be SE, and I'm fine with that. 02 Runner SE with the options I want should be 29.3k, according to Edmunds.
I'll still have to try 03 Runner though. If I like it THAT much better, I won't mind coughing up extra 5k or whatever

 

As far as reliability and style and overall toughness, I would go with the 4Runner.

 

Come on man