Just bought a 03 4Runner Limited

[landtank]

Holy crap what a lot of options. Everything from surround sound to night vision rear view mirror. My head is still spinning.

Actually bought it for the V8 and air bag suspension to replace my 80 as the designated tow vehicle.

Any problems out there with all these systems?

Very nice ride though.

 

[CHWTOY]

The only thing my wife's 04 has bothered me with is the low tire system. If you run winter (or for that matter any non-stock) wheels it sets off the system and you have an annoying indicator light on all the time. Oh and the sensors are around $200 a piece and you need one in each wheel...

Besides that it's smooth sailing, we have over 50k on ours and not one single hitch. Did the 03 get the 5-speed auto with the V8? I hope so, it's the first auto I have every truly thought that there is no reason to want a manual.

 

[landtank]

Yes the truck has the 5 speed. Looked through the manual today and no tire inflation system which sounds like good news.

The rear of the truck does seem to sit a little high in normal mode. I've got to check out some other trucks when I see them.

 

[sisukid1975]

Yes the truck has the 5 speed. Looked through the manual today and no tire inflation system which sounds like good news.

The rear of the truck does seem to sit a little high in normal mode. I've got to check out some other trucks when I see them.

My 2003 SR5 sits with its ass up in the air, too. I dunno, makes it look kinda aggressive? Also to allow room for it to settle when you're towing and stuff? I don't mind it at all, really.

So far, we have 85,000 miles on it, and not a single thing ever wrong with it. The sunroof developed the well-known rattle, but I fixed that myself.

IN my opinion, the V8 4Runners are one of the best values going: Lots of comfort features; decent off-road ability; V8 and 5 speed auto with permanent 4x4, A-Trac and VSC just like the UZJ100; Better mileage than a UZJ100; And, half the cost of a UZJ100.

Good luck,
Fred

 

[landtank]

I took that thing out in the snow we had a few days ago and I'll tell you, traction and control like my 80 never had. What an impressive vehicle. I'll watch for the sun roof rattle.

 

[sisukid1975]

I took that thing out in the snow we had a few days ago and I'll tell you, traction and control like my 80 never had. What an impressive vehicle. I'll watch for the sun roof rattle.

If you develop the rattle, some heavy weight moly grease smooshed into the tracks along the side where the rattle is, to damper that rod in there (the root of the rattle) will shut it right up.

Oh, also make sure to lube the slip joint and yoke on the rear driveshaft every oil change. If you don't, it'll develop this really annoying clunk whenever you stop and start again.

And I agree, the snow traction is excellent. My wife got run off the road this winter into a 3 foot snow drift. She drove right out, without so much as hesitation. No damage to the truck, either.

I really like ours, and I'll bet you'll enjoy it, too.

Soon, I'm going to be putting a Navigation unit in it from a wrecked 2003.

 

[landtank]

Soon, I'm going to be putting a Navigation unit in it from a wrecked 2003.

So far the worst thing in the truck, I hate that thing!

I have a garmin 330 that is way easier and better than the NAV unit on these Toyotas.

I drove from Maine to home today and figured I'd test in out. Seems that no matter what route type I choose it will not want to use the highways. Every exit it insists that I get off and go some crazy ass way home. And using the address feature you would think it would first ask what state, but no it wants the zone and then the street. God forbid you select round house street instead of round house road. That puts you on the other side of the map of zone 8 which is a different state all together.

Sorry for the rant but here is the North east where states are small there is a lot of similar or duplicate names and this thing is the most frustrating device I've had to use. Good luck with yours.

 

[KliersLC]

How does the interior space compare with the 80?

 

[landtank]

How does the interior space compare with the 80?

It looses there significantly. I'm 6'6" tall and if it didn't have the sun roof it would still be tighter than the 80 with it. The rear cargo area is smaller as well.

Two different vehicles with two different design goals. For me they compliment each other nicely. The 80 has been reduced to utility/play while the 4Runner is for DD and comfort.

 

[KliersLC]

Is that compared to your seat modded 80 or before the seat mod??

I register at a lowly 6'5" so I have a bit more room, but I have been contemplating one of those for a while now. I still have yet to even sit in one......

 

[sisukid1975]

...
I drove from Maine to home today and figured I'd test in out. Seems that no matter what route type I choose it will not want to use the highways. Every exit it insists that I get off and go some crazy ass way home....

Well, it is a 4Runner, after all. It doesn't surprise me that it would say "Hey, lets get off this boring interstate and take a more interesting route home. I know this sweet shortcut along a fire trail we could take..."

 

[sisukid1975]

Is that compared to your seat modded 80 or before the seat mod??

I register at a lowly 6'5" so I have a bit more room, but I have been contemplating one of those for a while now. I still have yet to even sit in one......

I'm 5'9", and I have difficulty seeing how anyone too tall could have any head room in the 4Runner....

 

[landtank]

Is that compared to your seat modded 80 or before the seat mod??

I register at a lowly 6'5" so I have a bit more room, but I have been contemplating one of those for a while now. I still have yet to even sit in one......

As far as leg room goes the unmodded LC looses to the 96+ 4Runners.

If you have an 80 and are 6'5" tall you should really get a seat kit for it. The 100.00 isn't that bad once you've sat in one for any time at all. I know this might seem like a shameless plug for myself but you really should consider it.

 

[KliersLC]

As far as leg room goes the unmodded LC looses to the 96+ 4Runners.

If you have an 80 and are 6'5" tall you should really get a seat kit for it. The 100.00 isn't that bad once you've sat in one for any time at all. I know this might seem like a shameless plug for myself but you really should consider it.

Oh I have considered it many times, but I didn't pull the trigger because my little boy sits behind me on that side in a car seat, and I think if I went back any further, he wouldn't have any place to put his feet. Besides, I am kinda used to folding myself up into rigs, my DD from 97-03 was the 81 pickup in my avatar, then a Camry for a short bit, a second generation 4runner, and now the T100. The T100 has far more room than any of the others, including the 80....

 

[landtank]

Oh I have considered it many times, but I didn't pull the trigger because my little boy sits behind me on that side in a car seat, and I think if I went back any further, he wouldn't have any place to put his feet. Besides, I am kinda used to folding myself up into rigs, my DD from 97-03 was the 81 pickup in my avatar, then a Camry for a short bit, a second generation 4runner, and now the T100. The T100 has far more room than any of the others, including the 80....

I just modded a LX for a guy today. I did both seats and his girl friend sat behind me when we went out for dinner. I'm sure your son would fit just fine behind you. You do realize that you don't have to put the seat all the way back, right.

 

[KliersLC]

I just modded a LX for a guy today. I did both seats and his girl friend sat behind me when we went out for dinner. I'm sure your son would fit just fine behind you. You do realize that you don't have to put the seat all the way back, right.

Sorry for the Hijack, but the only way I can see that I could move the seat back and not hit his feet (carseat makes feet stick out kinda straight) would be to increase the head room so that I don't have to recline the seat as far. If the seat base could go back, but allow the seat back to come up, then I think it would work, but my impression of your brackets was that they move the seat bottom back and up so I would still have to recline just as much....

 

[landtank]

On my truck I keep the seat back as straight up as possible but before the mod I did have it reclined to help with the lack of room.

It's been a while for me with kids in car seats and I forgot how their legs come straight out. I'm not sure now if you would have the room while he's still in the car seat but once he's in a booster you should be fine.

 

[LXPearl]

I had no problems with my 4Runner. It was great for running around town and on forest roads. Compared to the 100, it was very sporty, responsive, yet gave confidence in adverse road conditions (V8, 4WD).

My major issue with it was the driver's seat. I did not have enough thigh support even with the power seat. For trips less than 3 hours it did not matter much. But for trips of 5 hours or so, it was significant for me. In this case, it was being compared to a 100 which is great on long trips - e.g. 10-12 hrs per day.

The DAC really works. I went down a steep hill in a snow storm that had a curve and traffic signal at the bottom. About half way down I noticed a Jeep Wrangler (among others) had not made the curve and had slid off the road. I just kept inching down with DAC, and although rather noisy, I had no trouble with traction or slipping. No problems going up the hill on the other side. Yes, I had a smile on my face regarding how the 4Runner handled the wintry weather.

I am 6'2", so I suspect shorter people would have no problem at all with the 4Runner seat.

The 4Runner is made in Japan, so I consider it an excellent vehicle in a reasonable price range. I have only had one American made Toyota (recent) and it was not a pleasant experience.

 

[honk]

Landtank,

Any consideration of a seat track modification for the 4Runner similar to the one for the 80 series?

I've been toying with the idea of buying a new 4 runner but when people say it's even tighter in the driver seat than it is in the 80's I tend to balk.

 

[landtank]

Landtank,

Any consideration of a seat track modification for the 4Runner similar to the one for the 80 series?

I've been toying with the idea of buying a new 4 runner but when people say it's even tighter in the driver seat than it is in the 80's I tend to balk.

LMAO, NOT what the wife wants to hear!


But I'll take a look and get back here.