Toyota Land Cruiser vs. Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Rubicon

[Monte Meals]

I think that Bill needs to add a 14ers time handicap ( kinda like a golf handicap ) to our "round trip time"
for climbing a peak.

Basically, you add your BMI (Body Mass Index) to your age - that it - and then subtract that number
from the minutes it takes climb a peak !

I'm guessing that A&A can't come close to my (sometimes) negative times !

[JTOlson26]

2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition (precursor to TRD Off-Road)
2.5 inch lift
33s
Rear locker
265,000 miles
19-20 MPG highway (admittedly I have to keep it under 75 MPH if I want that kind of mileage)

I hope it never dies. I drive somewhere between 6000 and 9000 miles on road trips every summer and can get nearly anywhere I want to go while also being pretty comfortably for long stretches of time on the interstate.

My buddy is prepping this very model (minus mods) to sell for about $20k. 100k miles with almost no 4x4ing and a perfect maintenance record. Only bummer for me is that it's an automatic. I can't say no, but wonder how you felt about its capability without the lift? I got many places in a Forester before breaking it... Thanks.

Matt, it's still pretty dang capable bone stock. I don't do a ton to seek out gnarly off-road stuff, per se, though with the lift and tires I'll sometimes choose a line with a couple interesting obstacles just to have a little fun, but in general I'd say the stock configuration would have gotten me to about 98% of my desired destinations.

I hate the fact that they didn't make a manual as well. That's why I bought a 1993 Dodge Stealth with a 3.0L V6 and a 5spd to have a little fun with every now and then

[Matt]

Matt, it's still pretty dang capable bone stock. I don't do a ton to seek out gnarly off-road stuff, per se, though with the lift and tires I'll sometimes choose a line with a couple interesting obstacles just to have a little fun, but in general I'd say the stock configuration would have gotten me to about 98% of my desired destinations.

I hate the fact that they didn't make a manual as well. That's why I bought a 1993 Dodge Stealth with a 3.0L V6 and a 5spd to have a little fun with every now and then

Thank you. I will be pretty stoked once he is ready to sell it. Maybe interest rates will fall a bit by then. Even USAA bends you over for an older car from an individual seller.
Manuals are hard to find these days, to say the least. Gotta swim with the current, I guess.

[nyker]

Anyone yet drive the new '25 4Runner?
Aside from Tacoma-like front end styling and more electronics, seems the biggest difference of the 6th gen vs 5th gen will be powertrains with the 2.4L 4cyl replacing the venerable V-6...
One version of the 4cyl (in the TRD Pro apparently) does have more power adding in an electric motor but am wondering the durability of a 4cyl vs 6cyl all things equal over time. Guess we'll have to wait and see when mileage crops up.
The Bronco seems to have the 4cyl on base trim too and the Wrangler has the new plug in hybrid/4cyl as an option. Don't know what all these 4cyl engines idle at or run at, but one would think all things equal, one engine running at +1000rpm higher all the time vs another may have a shorter life...

[Monster5]

I thought the '25 4runner had even worse geometry (longer and wider) and entry/exit angles than the current gen. Crawl modes and fancy traction buttons are nice, but geometry is geometry. That's a heck of a price tag to have to modify it.

I have a '14 4runner and a '22 Prius and was hoping to switch over to a single capable 4wd in the 30 mpg range. Perhaps still a generation out as I haven't found anything that checks what I'd consider fairly standard boxes.

[wineguy]

One of the shocking features of my 2023 Toyota (Venza) is the 5000 mile service interval. All my cars in the last 35 years have had service after 10,000 miles. Toyota still changes oil at 10,000 miles, but they want to rotate tires and check fluids every 5000 miles. I told the service guy that I drive 25,000-30,000 miles every year, don't want to get service 5-6 times per year, can check my own fluids, and can live with 10,000 miles between tire rotations. He said I could void the warranty if I don't do service every 5000 miles. Online discussion groups say that they can't deny warranty coverage unless the problem is related to the skipped service, but who wants to get in a legal battle with a dealership. He said that 5000 mile service is standard on all new Toyotas, though I haven't verified that. I've only owned Toyotas and Lexus for over 30 years, but probably never again, unless the entire industry moves to 5000 mile service intervals. My likely solution is to buy used, service on my own schedule, and not worry about the warranty.

[nsaladin]

Of note, my friend who works at the Toyota dealer told me that the New Land Cruiser isn't as good as off road as the 4Runner TRD (Pro or Off-Road), regardless of trim. I was looking into replacing my old and aging 4x4 with the new Land Cruiser, but after discussing it with him I may go for the 4Runner TRD Pro instead. I'm in no huge hurry though. My 25+ year old 4x4 still runs fine and we already have another pretty new vehicle. I'm probably a few years out unless the old 4x4 decides to die first.

Having owned a 5th Gen TRD pro, 2013 GX 460, 2013 Tacoma, 2004 Land Cruiser (still own) and now the 2024 Land Cruiser. The 2024 is more capable than all of them stock vs stock. The rear locker and center locker paired with disconnecting stabilizer bar, it’s been pretty damn good at everything we have thrown at it. We have ~8600 miles on it and it has been delivering on its stated MPG promise of 25mpg highway, even with oversized KO3’s. It’s also the fastest out of all of them.

For the Yota heads, here’s a pic of it at Animas Forks this past weekend.

IMG_3239.jpeg

IMG_2557.jpeg

[climbingcue]

I've only owned Toyotas and Lexus for over 30 years, but probably never again, unless the entire industry moves to 5000 mile service intervals. My likely solution is to buy used, service on my own schedule, and not worry about the warranty.

I have a 2016 4Runner and it has been an amazing truck. Toyota has lost its place in the market as a well priced reliable car company, the reliable part was the main reason they sell cars/trucks. The new business model they are taking is only going to make them loose more customers. The new SUV's and trucks are over priced and have the wrong engine choices. And on top of that the new engines have had many issues. On their present path they will also loose me a customer in the future.

Toyota is going down hill fast the GR corollas are advertised as a track focused car, and one model even comes with a free track day. Then they are voiding your warranty for going 85 mph.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Toyota/comment ... ove_speed/

[SkaredShtles]

One of the shocking features of my 2023 Toyota (Venza) is the 5000 mile service interval. All my cars in the last 35 years have had service after 10,000 miles. Toyota still changes oil at 10,000 miles, but they want to rotate tires and check fluids every 5000 miles. I told the service guy that I drive 25,000-30,000 miles every year, don't want to get service 5-6 times per year, can check my own fluids, and can live with 10,000 miles between tire rotations. He said I could void the warranty if I don't do service every 5000 miles. Online discussion groups say that they can't deny warranty coverage unless the problem is related to the skipped service, but who wants to get in a legal battle with a dealership. He said that 5000 mile service is standard on all new Toyotas, though I haven't verified that. I've only owned Toyotas and Lexus for over 30 years, but probably never again, unless the entire industry moves to 5000 mile service intervals. My likely solution is to buy used, service on my own schedule, and not worry about the warranty.

There's no way Toyota gives anyone any kind of warranty hassle if they check fluids every 10K miles. Service guy is full of isht, like service guys generally are.

They are correct that you should rotate tires every 5K miles, though.

[two lunches]

I've only owned Toyotas and Lexus for over 30 years, but probably never again, unless the entire industry moves to 5000 mile service intervals. My likely solution is to buy used, service on my own schedule, and not worry about the warranty.

I have a 2016 4Runner and it has been an amazing truck. Toyota has lost its place in the market as a well priced reliable car company, the reliable part was the main reason they sell cars/trucks. The new business model they are taking is only going to make them loose more customers. The new SUV's and trucks are over priced and have the wrong engine choices. And on top of that the new engines have had many issues. On their present path they will also loose me a customer in the future.

if you have a 2016, you're not going to need a new toyota ever so i wouldn't sweat it...

[nsaladin]

I've only owned Toyotas and Lexus for over 30 years, but probably never again, unless the entire industry moves to 5000 mile service intervals. My likely solution is to buy used, service on my own schedule, and not worry about the warranty.

I have a 2016 4Runner and it has been an amazing truck. Toyota has lost its place in the market as a well priced reliable car company, the reliable part was the main reason they sell cars/trucks. The new business model they are taking is only going to make them loose more customers. The new SUV's and trucks are over priced and have the wrong engine choices. And on top of that the new engines have had many issues. On their present path they will also loose me a customer in the future.

if you have a 2016, you're not going to need a new toyota ever so i wouldn't sweat it...

Yeah the 1GR-FE is probably Toyota’s second best engine ever produced. Easily will go 500k with basic maintenance and even a little neglect here and there.

[k_fergie]

I have a 2016 4Runner and it has been an amazing truck. Toyota has lost its place in the market as a well priced reliable car company, the reliable part was the main reason they sell cars/trucks. The new business model they are taking is only going to make them loose more customers. The new SUV's and trucks are over priced and have the wrong engine choices. And on top of that the new engines have had many issues. On their present path they will also loose me a customer in the future.

if you have a 2016, you're not going to need a new toyota ever so i wouldn't sweat it...

Yeah the 1GR-FE is probably Toyota’s second best engine ever produced. Easily will go 500k with basic maintenance and even a little neglect here and there.

I'm curious, I'll bite. What is their best engine if the 1GR is second? I've daily driven two Toyotas and occasionally tried a couple more, they've all been good for different reasons, even the 3VZE at times lol