My wife: A brand new 4Runner Limited or a 3 year old 200?

[rscoleman]

Acura MDX or RDX easy to lease, 100% reliable, perfect mall grocery store SUV, mostly meets the Upscale be seen factor.
Good Luck do not envy you.

 

[James Grant]

My wife and my sister-in-law both have 4Runner Limiteds. I sold my 2017 LC 200 and bought a 4Runner Off Road. The 4Runner is 1200 pounds lighter, which makes it more nimble on the road, with lighter, faster steering, better comparative braking, and better (but not a whole lot better) mpg. By comparison the 200 felt clumsy and slow-witted on blacktop, and ponderous on narrow trails. The upside was a feeling of vault-like strength and quality. Very much a case of judging on what it's going to be used for. We live way, way out in the wilds (10 miles from the nearest pavement) where dependability is key. The 4Runner feels great for that. In suburban or urban environments, it will feel a bit agricultural. It's totally tough and old-school, in a different category altogether from the European alternatives you mention. I'm very happy with mine (again, after two years of direct experience with the 200) but my nearest mall is about 500 miles away.

 

[Markuson]

My wife and my sister-in-law both have 4Runner Limiteds. I sold my 2017 LC 200 and bought a 4Runner Off Road. The 4Runner is 1200 pounds lighter, which makes it more nimble on the road, with lighter, faster steering, better comparative braking, and better (but not a whole lot better) mpg. By comparison the 200 felt clumsy and slow-witted on blacktop, and ponderous on narrow trails. The upside was a feeling of vault-like strength and quality. Very much a case of judging on what it's going to be used for. We live way, way out in the wilds (10 miles from the nearest pavement) where dependability is key. The 4Runner feels great for that. In suburban or urban environments, it will feel a bit agricultural. It's totally tough and old-school, in a different category altogether from the European alternatives you mention. I'm very happy with mine (again, after two years of direct experience with the 200) but my nearest mall is about 500 miles away.

The 200’s admittedly clumsy” feel *dramatically* improves with a suspension upgrade...

 

[Hammeredsole]

I'd get the 4runner for variety. I absolutely love my Land Crusher, but the MPG gets old when it's for hops around town and feels like a mighty big vehicle to just take to the gym. I cross shopped 4runners when looking at 200's, with the disparity in price for planned upgrades to the 4R (suspension, supercharger, etc), but when it came down to it I wanted a big family vehicle that had lots of room for comfort and unequaled presence. I am happy with my 200, but I do like variety..

 

[James Grant]

"The 200’s admittedly clumsy” feel *dramatically* improves with a suspension upgrade..."

No doubt, but I gathered the OP was leasing, so the comparison needs to be stock-vs-stock, probably.

 

[Markuson]

"The 200’s admittedly clumsy” feel *dramatically* improves with a suspension upgrade..."

No doubt, but I gathered the OP was leasing, so the comparison needs to be stock-vs-stock, probably.

Ya, his decision is already made...so just a general observation re stock clumsiness remedies...

 

[Mogwai]

Try out a Porsche Macan?

Looked at these recently with my pops (and the Cayenne), was wayyy turned off at first, but upon further review reliability so far has been reported as very good and they've been out for a while now, resale value good, and from what we saw in the used market don't actually cost an arm and a leg.

I could personally never drive a Porche SUV but I'd happily take (almost) any of their 2-seaters.

 

[mcgaskins]

Looked at these recently with my pops (and the Cayenne), was wayyy turned off at first, but upon further review reliability so far has been reported as very good and they've been out for a while now, resale value good, and from what we saw in the used market don't actually cost an arm and a leg.

I could personally never drive a Porche SUV but I'd happily take (almost) any of their 2-seaters.

The Macan is an awesome ride. I loved my S model that I sold to a Porsche dealer to facilitate getting my first 200 a couple years ago. The Macan feels a bit old at this point, but they're getting refreshed now. A 3 year old Turbo model is definitely the one to pick up for a value play.

 

[splitshot]

70 series.

 

[SWUtah]

The LC and the LX570 weigh 6000 lbs. way over built and super HD. God gave me only one body I’m gonna protect it like it’s the only body I’m ever going to have and that means I drive a LX570. My criteria is safety reliability and luxury, I don’t care about cost I don’t care my miles per gallon to each his own . I’d drive an armored vehicle but it’s just not practical

 

[sacmaster]

My advice is to look past the grill on the GX 460 and get that. My wife has driven a 4Runner limited for the past three years, and we just got her a GX. It is head and shoulders above the 4Runner in every category. Much more of a 7/8ths size Land Cruiser feel to it, whereas the 4Runner feels like a tatted up tractor.

I've been driving the 4Runner since we got her the GX to keep the miles off my 100, but now I'm considering trading the 4Runner in on another GX. I just can't come up with any reasons, other than not wanting to drive a Lexus, to prefer the 4Runner at this point. They literally cost the same o the used market.

 

[M1911]

My advice is to look past the grill on the GX 460 and get that. My wife has driven a 4Runner limited for the past three years, and we just got her a GX. It is head and shoulders above the 4Runner in every category. Much more of a 7/8ths size Land Cruiser feel to it, whereas the 4Runner feels like a tatted up tractor.

I've been driving the 4Runner since we got her the GX to keep the miles off my 100, but now I'm considering trading the 4Runner in on another GX. I just can't come up with any reasons, other than not wanting to drive a Lexus, to prefer the 4Runner at this point. They literally cost the same o the used market.

I test drove the GX. I really didn’t like it.

Yes, the engine is smoother and more refined than in the 4Runner, but it isn’t fast. The interior is nicer than the 4Runner but I found the driver’s seat to be uncomfortable. It felt to me as though there was a ridge around the edge of the seat bottom that dug into my thighs.

I hate the side hinged rear door. Between the small window, the spare tire, and the thick D-pillars, visibility to the rear is poor.

The built-in third row seats take up a huge amount of room and can’t be easily removed. When folded flat, the third row seats are about 5” above the bottom of the door height. When you fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats, you only have 60 cu ft of space in the GX. When you fold the 2nd row seats in the 4Runner, you have 80 cu ft of space.

I greatly prefer my 2013 LX over the GX.

 

[Docboy]

I'd get the 4runner for variety. I absolutely love my Land Crusher, but the MPG gets old when it's for hops around town and feels like a mighty big vehicle to just take to the gym. I cross shopped 4runners when looking at 200's, with the disparity in price for planned upgrades to the 4R (suspension, supercharger, etc), but when it came down to it I wanted a big family vehicle that had lots of room for comfort and unequaled presence. I am happy with my 200, but I do like variety..

MPG is the biggest downside to the 200 IMHO, I'm getting 11-12mpg in the city with constant stop and go traffic.

Otherwise this beast is just a beast!

 

[40Man]

I test drove the GX. I really didn’t like it.

Yes, the engine is smoother and more refined than in the 4Runner, but it isn’t fast. The interior is nicer than the 4Runner but I found the driver’s seat to be uncomfortable. It felt to me as though there was a ridge around the edge of the seat bottom that dug into my thighs.

I hate the side hinged rear door. Between the small window, the spare tire, and the thick D-pillars, visibility to the rear is poor.

The built-in third row seats take up a huge amount of room and can’t be easily removed. When folded flat, the third row seats are about 5” above the bottom of the door height. When you fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats, you only have 60 cu ft of space in the GX. When you fold the 2nd row seats in the 4Runner, you have 80 cu ft of space.

I greatly prefer my 2013 LX over the GX.

I couldn't talk my wife into getting a 200, she thinks they are too big, when they are very close to the same size (difference in length between the 4Runner and 200 is 4 inches where the difference in length between the 200 and LX is 5 inches. The width of the 4Runner is only 2 inches smaller than the 200). Rear cargo room in the 4Runner is slightly better compared to a 200/LX with the third row in place. And with the sliding cargo tray in the 4Runner, the rear seats fold down to create a flat platform, which can be very useful.

We looked at the GX (new). For the difference in price, I didn't think it was much of an upgrade from our 2012 4Runner Limited considering the difference in price. The extra weight negated much of the extra power from the V8. I also hated the side swing door (but my short wife loved it). Ultimately we have been contemplating a new 4Runner or a used GX as the GX has crazy depreciation in the first year. We haven't pulled the trigger yet, and may wait until the '21 4Runner is announced. If I had to guess, we will end up with a last of the 5th Gen 4Rs as I am anticipating the underwhelming 3.5 V6 from the Tacoma migrating to the 6th gen 4Runner.

We haven't built up our 2012 4Runner, and I think it has plenty of power for on or off road. It has also had lower maintenance costs compared to the 200. 4Runner has only had fluids change in 75k miles and no issues other than the Takata airbag replacement. 200 has had a new water pump at 70k, radiator at 100k and cool box at 103k and now has its own recall fix pending.

I agree with @SWUtah, I picked up the 200 for safety reasons. On road trips, there is no question we are taking the 200.

 

[M1911]

It has also had lower maintenance costs compared to the 200. 4Runner has only had fluids change in 75k miles and no issues other than the Takata airbag replacement. 200 has had a new water pump at 70k, radiator at 100k and cool box at 103k and now has its own recall fix pending.

That wasn't my experience with my 4th gen 4Runner. That truck ate brake calipers as part of its steady diet.

 

[luke27617]

Get both. I drive 16 LC200 which I love. Just bought my wife 18 4Runner that she loves. Got them both in same color so we can share touch up paint.

 

[40Man]

That wasn't my experience with my 4th gen 4Runner. That truck ate brake calipers as part of its steady diet.

I have a 5th Gen 4Runner. Brakes have been great. Haven't seen issues on the 4R forums with calipers issues like the 4th gen had. Many 4th gen owners upgrade to the 5th gen calipers, as they don't have the same problems. After 170k miles, my '03 V8 went though a total of six calipers. While I only owned it for 50k of those miles, I had all the maintenance records, and outside of the brakes, it also had zero issues. I am a big fan of Toyota rigs built in Japan!

 

[LoveHateToyota]

There's a trading paint joke to made here somewhere....

Can't explain why but this is where my mind went

Get both. I drive 16 LC200 which I love. Just bought my wife 18 4Runner that she loves. Got them both in same color so we can share touch up paint.

 

[M1911]

I have a 5th Gen 4Runner. Brakes have been great. Haven't seen issues on the 4R forums with calipers issues like the 4th gen had. Many 4th gen owners upgrade to the 5th gen calipers, as they don't have the same problems. After 170k miles, my '03 V8 went though a total of six calipers. While I only owned it for 50k of those miles, I had all the maintenance records, and outside of the brakes, it also had zero issues. I am a big fan of Toyota rigs built in Japan!

I went through a lot of calipers in 13 years. They would freeze up and need to be replaced. But I live in the Northeast where they use a lot of salt in the roads. Folks in warmer climates likely didn’t have the same issues.

 

[40Man]

I went through a lot of calipers in 13 years. They would freeze up and need to be replaced. But I live in the Northeast where they use a lot of salt in the roads. Folks in warmer climates likely didn’t have the same issues.

I think all the 4th Gens went though the caliper issue. I found that regular greasing and brake fluid changes (to reduce moisture) helped a bit. Thankfully the 5th gen design is a bit better, and I've never of a frozen caliper issue with the 200s. I'd still probably take a new 4.7 4runner with crappy calipers over the 4.0 current design. the V8 4th gen was a great vehicle.