Good Looking Value
Written: Dec 08 '04 (Updated Jan 11 '05)
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Pros: Solid and smooth. Lots of almost luxury items for a base model
Cons: Gas mileage slightly less than EPA. Would take another 10 grand to meet luxury expectations
The Bottom Line: Would buy it for the good ride and company reputation.
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| fixthat's Full Review: 2004 Toyota 4Runner 4WD |
We bought a used 2004 4Runner after seeing basically good reviews for all Toyotas in Consumer Reports We bought the base model, a SR5, and Toyota has a few strange ideas about "base" luxury. It has a six way driver's seat but it is not power. You have to crank knobs and pump levers to get the individual sections to move. Once I found my comfortable position I have not had to adjust since. It has power locks, security keys and a "panic button" or "locater" on the key remote but not an intrusion alarm. It will not power lock if a door is open. It has a computer to tell you gas mileage or miles to empty, and outside temperature, but needs a compass. It has fog lights that come on with the low beams, and the low beams work really well in the fog, but no daytime running lights. You could leave the lights on all the time and they will turn off 30 seconds after you get out and lock up, or off immediately if you double-click the lock. Also, the dash is lit full time when the car is running, so you might think the lights are on in those twilight hours. The car has a "Battery Saver" that will cut off power after 10 minutes, which saved me once when I left the door open after unloading.
It is a big mid-size SUV and gas mileage for the V-6 is a little under 20. The ride is smooth and mostly quiet, the power is mostly adequate, but the traction control sometimes feels like it's binding gears if you take off from a slippery stop. It has a "slippery" warning light if it slides, and a little beep if it slides a lot. No such problems if you have it in locked 4x4. You can leave 4x4 on full time, and then you can lock the transfer case if you need even more traction. The brakes work well, they have a "panic stop sensor" that according to the book, if the pedal is pressed suddenly, it will apply more pressure to the brakes than a gradual pedal pressing. The engine is also available as a V-8. It has long life plugs, but they are iridium, which I never heard of before.
The rear seats have sufficient room and fold down with the headrests on. There is lots of cargo space and rings in the floor to secure things and little compartments in the sides to stow ropes and jumper cables. I could even fit my trailer hitch bar in with the jack. It came with 2 inch square receiver hitch and 7 pin plug, you could add a trailer brake module to the dash and there is a wire already run to this plug. The rear hatch has heated glass, a wiper and a button on the remote to lower the glass to drop your groceries in. The side glass has the radio antenna in it. It works as well as the mast antenna in my other cars. The cd\cassette combo is loud enough, but has too much bass, even with the control turned all the way down. It is still clear though, and doesn't buzz the speakers. The automatic climate control takes time to settle in at the set temperature, it seems to go way above it, then cuts off until its too cold, then comes back on to eventually moderate heat output.
I have just recently come through my first snowstorm with it. If you are going to drive "in a hurry" you need the transfer case locked, or it will take a second of slipping around before power is automatically transfered to the needed wheels The steering is quite nice, you don't get that little kickback like when driving other "locked" in 4 wheel drive trucks until you turn really hard, like backing out of a parking space.
The front wipers are two different sizes, which the guy at the auto store tells me is becoming common. The Toyota rubber is narrower than narrow replacement rubber so I had to get all new blades.
I have only had the car a few months, and I am counting on Toyota's reputation for reliability to last me a few years, as I put on a lot of miles driving to work. I just wish the mileage was just a little bit better.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 24000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: Base SR5 4WD V6 Automatic
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Epinions.com ID:
fixthat
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Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 0 members
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