[AndyJeep]

I am new in the “Jeep World”. I bought my first used GC Limited a few weeks ago and truly love it. Before I bought this Jeep I was looking at the Toyota 4runner. I don’t know the in’s and out’s of both vehicles to even begin to compare the two. I have and do own Toyota vehicles (Seinna) which has been great. Punch for Punch, pound for pound, which vehicles takes the crown? 4Runner or Jeep?

Andy

[j_bydesign]

First welcome to the jeep family... second figure out what you are really going to do with your vehicle... not what you day dream you might want to do.... then you can begin to develope an idea as to which vehicle would better suit your needs... I have owned a bunch of jeeps... and a couple of Toys... hard core wheeling... ? rocks? or a lifted grocery getter with a little attitude? I will assume that we discussing late model vehicles... not mid 80's 22R powered Toys with the partail pop top...? most of which were automatics...?

[GraKee99]

You are posting this on a jeep forum. I think the answers are going to be a little biased same as if you posted this on a toyota forum. Also, you didn't specify what year 4runner you were looking at.

You also were also nto spefic on what kind of comparison you wanted between them.

Both have there advantages and disadvantages. Let's just leave it at that.

[painted600rr]

if it were me a 04wj compared to a 04 4runner. stock for stock id go with the 4runner but since the price tags are different its not always easy to make that kind of decision.

[flexsaharatj]

you also have to take into consideration I don't know much on toyotas, but do they come with optional v8/ v8 HO as to what you got?

I like the look of my 04 GC, but also do like the window that goes down in the rear of the 4runner

[CanadianZed-J]

Originally Posted by GraKee99

You are posting this on a jeep forum. I think the answers are going to be a little biased same as if you posted this on a toyota forum...

No, they'd agree the Jeep is better.

Originally Posted by flexsaharatj

you also have to take into consideration I don't know much on toyotas, but do they come with optional v8/ v8 HO as to what you got?

Generally speaking, Jeep (Chrysler) likes to offer ridiculously-large engines in their vehicles. Toyota tends to do the opposite where their optional large engine is equivalent to Jeep's base engine.

Originally Posted by flexsaharatj

...I like the look of my 04 GC, but also do like the window that goes down in the rear of the 4runner

I've never had a rear opening window on an SUV, but I would imagine it would be useless on anything other than a clean road. The air curls around the backs of these things, and if there's no window there, it's all coming inside. Try driving your WJ down a dusty road with the flipper glass open. You'll choke in minutes. And coincidentally, the rear windows on older 4-Runners are known to leak water inside and rot out the tailgate, far worse than any ZJ. That's not to mention the water also kills the power window motor giving you a non-opening window and no flipper.


Before I got into Jeeps I was actually looking for an early-90s 4Runner. What I found was they were all very pricey, all rotten, and all underpowered (3.0 V6 was the "big" engine. Ha.). Ended up going for a 5 year newer ZJ for the same price, no rust, half the mileage, more power (it was even a 4.0...), and haven't looked back.



CZJ.

[SnowLeopard]

The 4Runner is more refined in a lot of ways, more car-like in ride for years now thanks to the IFS, costs more, costs more to maintain, but won't likely need as much maintained and replacement of parts. Then it all depends vehicle to vehicle. Some people have nothing but trouble. Others have great experiences. The Japanese rate their engine HP a lot differently it seems than US companies. So the V8 equipped 2003+ 4Runner might not have the power of an '04 with the HO 4.7, even though it's rated at higher HP.

For a major off-roader, Jeeps are likely the better choice. For more comfort and likely less irksome little problems that constantly crop up, the 4Runner has the advantage.

I had the same decision to make years back, and I got a Jeep because it was cheaper. But that was initial cost. Since then the cost of maintenance has made it about equal, however, any costs beyond the purchase price of the 4Runner would leave me ahead once again with the Jeep.

I honestly haven't noticed the superior build quality Toyota totes, but reliability-wise, just maybe a bit. Chrysler isn't known for being good in this regard. I honestly get tired of fixing a million little things on my immaculately maintained ZJ. I'm crazy obsessive about it, and it's still always giving me headaches. That said, it is over 12 years old. Electrical issues crop up, vacuum issues, fan clutches, actuators, etc. The 4.0 runs like new without any ticking, and the transmission shifts as smooth as any 4.0 Jeep I've driven. Not that that's saying a lot. 42RE, bah.

[paddingtonbear]

Three friends started out with equal age and mileage vehicles, two 4runners and one grand cherokee. My grand is the only one still on the road. Mine has had little problems all throughout owning it, but my engine hasn't exploded and my drive line hasn't fallen apart. "cross fingers" like the 4runners did. I don't want to say to much, but i think general rule of thumb for me has been jeep = lots of finicky things, yota = nothing until something major happens.

[SnowLeopard]

I forgot to mention that the second-gen 4Runner, or maybe it was the third, had an optional e-locker in the rear diff. They also have strong rear axles as far as I know, at least up until 2003's model. I don't know about them. The front is IFS, and that's likely a weak spot. Repairs will be pricey.

The interior is much nicer in Jeep GC's, btw. More ergonomic, better laid out, but lacking cup holders. I mean, if that's your thing. They just seem to have a lot of nice touches. You couldn't find a 4Runner with the interior bells and whistles of a '97 Laredo even in 2000. Overhead console, all the vehicle stats, auto headlights, VIC, lit door switches, etc. Everything earlier than 2003+ models were very cramped for anyone tall, also. I know these might not seem like important factors, but they were to me.

[Mike97ZJ]

Only thing I like about 4Runners is that on some of them you can fit 31's stock. A woman I work with has a late 90's/early'00's with 265/70's on it stock, and the thing sits higher than my 3" lifted ZJ on 31's. There's nice rocker clearance there w/out the side steps too.

BUT, I imagine the thing is a dog, even compared to my 4.0, and I feel that my ZJ has much more potential with less work. Toys may be more reliable, but you pay for that in high purchase price, no matter what the miles. And like someone said above, a bunch of little things on the Jeep, vs. some major thing on the Toy.

I wouldn't trade my ZJ for the same year 4Runner, and I think the OP made a good call getting the Jeep. I have 146k and counting on mine, and it runs like a top.

They new ones are supposed to be pretty good though, I just read in 4Wheeler that they went with the Toyota engineers over the Rubicon with them. IMO they don't really compete with the GC though, the GC is more of a luxo 4x4, while the 4Runner is more on par with an Exterra.

[SnowLeopard]

The later 90's model 4Runner had an okay engine, though it was supposed to suffer from oil starvation. As far as I know, none of the newer engines they use have that problem. The issue with Toyota engines vs the American engines in Jeeps is not only the HP rating but the torque curve. Jeeps have a lot of low-end torque. Lacking this, at least in earlier than '03 model 4Runners, they just started out with 3.92 gearing or something around those lines. Then again, you could get a stock equipped 4Runner with 265's, as stated above. For a stock setup, they could be pretty nice. Unfortunately, just as finding a Grand Cherokee with the Up-Country package seems few and far between, fully off-road equipped 4Runners seem rare. Often they won't have the rear diff e-lock. Only a few year's models had that, and then they did away with it in favor of brake traction control in like 2001.

[CanadianZed-J]

I can't say I completely agree with the "fitting 31s at stock height" benefit argument. Yes, it's true, but to me it's so cheap and easy to install 2" on a ZJ that it's really not an issue and it certainly wouldn't have any impact on my choice of vehicles. That said, a big difference between the two is how inexpensive and simple it is to life a common solid-axle Jeep compared to anything IFS.



Funny, just tonight I saw on Kijiji Sudbury a '97 4Runner with 400,000 km (249,000 miles) for $6000 certified. Sure, it looked to be in good shape, but to me that owner is on crack like so many others. What would a mint '97 ZJ with that mileage fetch? $1000 max?




CZJ.

[Mike97ZJ]

Originally Posted by CanadianZed-J

I can't say I completely agree with the "fitting 31s at stock height" benefit argument. Yes, it's true, but to me it's so cheap and easy to install 2" on a ZJ that it's really not an issue and it certainly wouldn't have any impact on my choice of vehicles. That said, a big difference between the two is how inexpensive and simple it is to life a common solid-axle Jeep compared to anything IFS.
CZJ.

No, I agree with you, I wouldn't buy a vehicle just for that reason. But it IS nice. Alot of those Japanese SUV's can fit a big tire w/out much work. IIRC older pathfiners and Rodeos came with 31's, and you can fit 265's on Montero Sports, IIRC.

Of course they NEED the big tire to make up for the lack of front suspension travel, as they're all IFS.

[Mark4883]

I used to have a 1990 4-runner with a manual V6, I have really fond memories of it. It had a ton of ground clearance and torque, it was pretty damn good offroad. I like both a lot but I would prolly get a 4-runner just because of the sentimental value.

[doogie]

I can't comment on 4-runners but I've had 5 Toyota trucks ranging from an 82 to a 93. Toyota's are good vehicles I really can't knock them. I haven't owened a V6 but none I know like the V6's. I would say this....if purchase price wasn't a factor and I wasn't going to modify the vehicle I'd get the Toyota.

Notice I made 2 huge points....generally purchase price is a huge factor and I doubt you would even be on a forum if you had no intentions of modifying anything on your Jeep. You can get a much much newer, nicer Jeep for the same money or less than an equally priced Toyota. The solid front axles on Jeeps lend themselves to be offroad proven and much more lift friendly than the IFS of a Toyota. Yes there does seem to be a host of minor issues that plague older Jeeps. Nickle and dime crap.....but when that Toyota breaks be prepared to call it a total loss or dip into your life savings to fix it. You already bought the Jeep....trust me never second guess....just run what you brung, or recently bought in your case.