Love / Hate Relationship - Have a long courtship before you marry
Written: May 13 '04
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Pros: Great build quality and legendary Toyota Reliability
Cons: Pathetic driver and passenger comfort. Absolutely non-existent.
The Bottom Line: I CANNOT recommend this vehicle based on comfort. If, after a long test-drive, you're comfortable - then go ahead and buy it - but don't say I didn't warn you.
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| rush1169's Full Review: 2004 Toyota 4Runner 4WD |
I have always been attracted to Hondas and Toyotas for their legendary build quality and nice interior trim levels. For 2004, I decided on a V8 Ltd 4x4 4Runner. . .
The build quality and interior trim is fantastic, but there is one serious fault with this vehicle. . .It has become glaringly apparent that driver and passenger comfort was not high on the list for the engineers. I now have 2,000 miles on this truck and a for sale sign in the window. It's that bad. If you are considering purchasing a 4Runner, do yourself a favor and really pay attention to your butt during your test drive.
I actually did notice a somewhat uncomfortable seat during my test drive, but talked myself into buying it figuring I just had to get used to it.
Here's what I've decided makes the seating so pathetic: The seat cushions are at a height between what you'd expect from a sedan and a truck. For sedans, the seat cushions are typically angled so that your thighs are slightly higher than your butt which effectively distributes your weight evenly from your lower back to thighs. For trucks, the seat cushions are several inches higher such that you are seated like at the kitchen table. This arrangement also distributes weight evenly across your 'contact patch'.
Now, enter the 4Runner seats (if you dare). The seat cushions are basically flat (like a truck), but are positioned much lower than a typical truck. The result is that your thighs to the bottom of you butt don't carry any of your body weight. Consequently, your 'contact patch' is tightly focused in the center of your butt (where you transition from torso to legs). All your seated weight is concentrated in one place and, even on short drives, becomes quite uncomfortable.
If the seat were lower, you'd get more thigh support (and thusly, better weight distribution), however, then you'd be too low for a truck. If the seat were higher, you get more thigh support as you'd be forced to bend more at the knees to help even out our weight. Unfortunately, the seats can't adjust high enough to help (In the sunroof equipped model, expect your head to hit the ceiling in all but the lowest seating position [I'm 5'8"]).
When you do a test drive, pay close attention to your weight distribution in the seat. Notice how the running boards are too high to use to get in and out and get in the way when you don't use them.
Yep - the 4Runner has all the quality construction one would expect from Toyota. The interior trim is right there with the best of 'em. Technically, the 4Runner is a great truck. Unfortunately, Toyota didn't pay attention to the most important aspect of this vehicle - The DRIVER.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 37800
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: 4Runner Limited V8 4x4
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Epinions.com ID:
rush1169
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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