My friend wants to buy my 4Runner in a few months, so I am considering replacement options.
Requirements:
- Interior space to haul my work gear
- Not really interested in a wagon at this point in my life
- Comfortable
- Fold flat rear seats
- Light off-road capability/4WD, camping friendly, some ground clearance for un-plowed winter roads in our local mountains.
Major bonus points:
- A rear window that either rolls down into the tailgate or opens separately for my 9'6" surfboard.
- Fun to drive/quick-ish
Options I am considering:
- Upgrade to a newer/nicer T4R, but they're super high resale value makes it hard to find a good deal. Mine was previously owned by my dad. He was good about regular maintenance but not about caring for the int/ext. This one has tired cloth, no moonroof, 210k miles, a timing cover leak, and throws a weird CEL every summer related to the cats.
- 60 Series Land Cruiser. I love how they look but if I'm honest, I would prefer more than 155hp if I am spending that much on gas. Also, old.
- 80 Series Land Cruiser. Not as cool as the 60 series, but more powerrrr, modern safety, creature comforts.
- 9-7X Aero. 390 hp sounds like fun! 12-13mpg does not! But I get like 16-18 now... Also I shopped the 5.3i's a few years ago and the center stack layout is not ideal. At 6'1" I felt like it was too close/too vertical (?) to make it easy to see the low CC/head unit.
I also like road trips, so Talladega900, maybe you can chime in -- what's the real world range of 1 cruising highway tank?
Maybe interested in:
9-4x Aero (prices still too high to offset concern about parts/warranties)
Jeep GCs
LR Discos (late Series II, have to check prices on early LR3s)
Wild Cards:
9-2x Aero (crap interior)
Turbo X (fun, but not sure I can make the spacial sacrifice, can't get over wagon stigma)
Not interested in:
9-3x
Edge/Explorer/Escape
X3/5
Mercs
Subarus
Chevy/GMC
Infiniti FX: Been there, done that. I loved mine for what it was (and highly recommend it in another thread) but for an SUV where it excelled in the driving and looks categories, it lacked in overall utility, mainly roof height in the rear hatch area.
Requirements:
- Interior space to haul my work gear
- Not really interested in a wagon at this point in my life
- Comfortable
- Fold flat rear seats
- Light off-road capability/4WD, camping friendly, some ground clearance for un-plowed winter roads in our local mountains.
Major bonus points:
- A rear window that either rolls down into the tailgate or opens separately for my 9'6" surfboard.
- Fun to drive/quick-ish
Options I am considering:
- Upgrade to a newer/nicer T4R, but they're super high resale value makes it hard to find a good deal. Mine was previously owned by my dad. He was good about regular maintenance but not about caring for the int/ext. This one has tired cloth, no moonroof, 210k miles, a timing cover leak, and throws a weird CEL every summer related to the cats.
- 60 Series Land Cruiser. I love how they look but if I'm honest, I would prefer more than 155hp if I am spending that much on gas. Also, old.
- 80 Series Land Cruiser. Not as cool as the 60 series, but more powerrrr, modern safety, creature comforts.
- 9-7X Aero. 390 hp sounds like fun! 12-13mpg does not! But I get like 16-18 now... Also I shopped the 5.3i's a few years ago and the center stack layout is not ideal. At 6'1" I felt like it was too close/too vertical (?) to make it easy to see the low CC/head unit.
I also like road trips, so Talladega900, maybe you can chime in -- what's the real world range of 1 cruising highway tank?
Maybe interested in:
9-4x Aero (prices still too high to offset concern about parts/warranties)
Jeep GCs
LR Discos (late Series II, have to check prices on early LR3s)
Wild Cards:
9-2x Aero (crap interior)
Turbo X (fun, but not sure I can make the spacial sacrifice, can't get over wagon stigma)
Not interested in:
9-3x
Edge/Explorer/Escape
X3/5
Mercs
Subarus
Chevy/GMC
Infiniti FX: Been there, done that. I loved mine for what it was (and highly recommend it in another thread) but for an SUV where it excelled in the driving and looks categories, it lacked in overall utility, mainly roof height in the rear hatch area.