MM Retro-Write-Up: 1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner
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The JGCs of that period had slightly better road-manners, but, especially in those days, were simply no match for a 4Runner in build-quality. The JGCs also used cheap materials inside up until the excellent 2010-2011 redesign (which I did a full-review on)
Explorers of that period sold like hotcakes, but were plagued with an ancient front suspension dating back to 1964, truck-like road manners, poor resistance to rollovers, and, of course, the second-rate Firestone Wilderness tires....most of us already know that story.
Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 14, 2023 at 01:40 PM.
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The JGCs of that period had slightly better road-manners, but, especially in those days, were simply no match for a 4Runner in build-quality. The JGCs also used cheap materials inside up until the excellent 2010-2011 redesign (which I did a full-review on)
Explorers of that period sold like hotcakes, but were plagued with an ancient front suspension dating back to 1964, truck-like road manners, poor resistance to rollovers, and, of course, the second-rate Firestone Wilderness tires....most of us already know that story.
Explorers of that period sold like hotcakes, but were plagued with an ancient front suspension dating back to 1964, truck-like road manners, poor resistance to rollovers, and, of course, the second-rate Firestone Wilderness tires....most of us already know that story.
JGCs of this era had pretty nice materials inside, the issues were with the WJ generation and the WK generation.
Also, Explorer in 95 got an all new independent front suspension, and upper trims had air suspension in the rear.
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JGCs of this era had pretty nice materials inside, the issues were with the WJ generation and the WK generation.
Also, Explorer in 95 got an all new independent front suspension, and upper trims had air suspension in the rear.
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Oh, definitely. The Explorer, despite rather primitive mechanicals in the early versions, sold like hotcakes.....I thought I made that clear. market-wise, it was the right vehicle at the right time....and, at the time, probably did more to get people out of minivans and into family-SUVs than another single vehicle, with the JGC right behind.
IMO, no comparison between the pre-2011 and the 2011 redesign, which (below) was light-years ahead of the former.
Actually (although this is only a technicality), the ancient 1964 Twin-I-Beam suspension on the first Explorers was also an independent front design.....perhaps (?) the first one in history for a mass-produced pickup truck. Each front wheel went up and down independent of the opposite one. But, no, as you say, it was no comparison to the '95 redesign.
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Also, back on topic, I suspect that one reason why more of that-generation 4Runner was not sold is the fact that the were simply so well-built. Owners simply didn't need to replace them very often. They routinely went 200-300K.....dealerships sold them, used, between 150-200K. I still see some of them on the road today, as with the 3rd-Generation Camrys.
Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 14, 2023 at 03:50 PM.
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Also, back on topic, I suspect that one reason why more of that-generation 4Runner was not sold is the fact that the were simply so well-built. Owners simply didn't need to replace them very often. They routinely went 200-300K.....dealerships sold them, used, between 150-200K. I still see some of them on the road today, as with the 3rd-Generation Camrys.
Most people replace cars before they "have to", you included.
Like I've said lots of times, the car that sells the most Is not always the best car. No question those 4Runners were better built and more reliable than an Explorer or Jeep Grand Cherokee of their time, but they just weren't an overall package that had the same appeal to consumers.
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Oh come on lol, it just wasn't as appealing to consumers. Using your logic why have Camrys and Corollas and Accords and Civics always sold so well when they are so reliable?
Most people replace cars before they "have to", you included.
Like I've said lots of times, the car that sells the most Is not always the best car. No question those 4Runners were better built and more reliable than an Explorer or Jeep Grand Cherokee of their time, but they just weren't an overall package that had the same appeal to consumers.
Most people replace cars before they "have to", you included.
Like I've said lots of times, the car that sells the most Is not always the best car. No question those 4Runners were better built and more reliable than an Explorer or Jeep Grand Cherokee of their time, but they just weren't an overall package that had the same appeal to consumers.
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It didn't sell as much because it just wasn't as appealing a package to the consumer. The American SUVs offered more space, more features, beefier style for less money, thats why they were more popular. We looked very breifly at a 4Runner and it was just too small and spartan insofar as features was concerned and we didn't consider it when we got the Explorer in 1995. We did consider the Grand Cherokee and the Chevy Blazer. The 4 door 4 Runner was the same length as the 2 door Explorer...4 door was 10 inches longer.
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It didn't sell as much because it just wasn't as appealing a package to the consumer. The American SUVs offered more space, more features, beefier style for less money, thats why they were more popular. We looked very breifly at a 4Runner and it was just too small and spartan insofar as features was concerned and we didn't consider it when we got the Explorer in 1995. We did consider the Grand Cherokee and the Chevy Blazer. The 4 door 4 Runner was the same length as the 2 door Explorer...4 door was 10 inches longer.
I can understand your attraction to the 2010+ JGC. Like I said earlier, it was light-years ahead of the previous version. I've always had qualms, though, about Jeep reliability...I know you owned two of that-generation JGCs, and, as I recall, said one was acceptable in reliability and the other wasn't.
Since you mentioned two-door Explorers, they were called Explorer Sport. Mazda had a more-or-less rebadged version called the Navajo, but Ford, back then (who owned Mazda) would not allow a Navajo four-door.
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Yes I know they were called Explorer Sports and I know Mazda had a Navajo version. I am a car enthusiast and my Explorer was my first car, you don’t think I knew that?
My 2011 Grand Cherokee was a terrible vehicle from a reliability perspective, but we got another one which shows you how great a vehicle it was otherwise.
My 2011 Grand Cherokee was a terrible vehicle from a reliability perspective, but we got another one which shows you how great a vehicle it was otherwise.
Last edited by SW17LS; Oct 15, 2023 at 08:47 PM.
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My 2011 Grand Cherokee was a terrible vehicle from a reliability perspective, but we got another one which shows you how great a vehicle it was otherwise.
I did that myself in the late 1970s and early 1980s.....bought several new American-designed Chrysler and GM products. They were all so bad that I kept each one only one or two years. Finally, in 1984, I said enough, I had wasted enough money, and switched to Japanese brands, starting with Mazda. Didn't consider another domestic product until the excellent Saturn S-Series came out.
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I’ve spoken many times about having an Explorer including in this thread. Continuing to try and teach us things we clearly know is what’s condescending. I think I have demonstrated I am a very knowledgeable car enthusiast…give me the benefit of the doubt.
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My wife had one of these for a while, she went into one after her WJ was totaled by someone else. She didn't like it nearly as much and it felt much more primitive/one generation older.
Main thing I remember is that it felt like you sat on top of it not inside it, it was also not as smooth as a WJ and has worse audio etc. Engine was there, so was the trans. I still have my old WJ and it's still decent, by no means good but among the dozens of cars I drive a month it's still fine. Even 24 years later you can tell what segment it's from vs lower end cars in how it was designed to feel etc....
Both suck vs the VW in all aspects.
Main thing I remember is that it felt like you sat on top of it not inside it, it was also not as smooth as a WJ and has worse audio etc. Engine was there, so was the trans. I still have my old WJ and it's still decent, by no means good but among the dozens of cars I drive a month it's still fine. Even 24 years later you can tell what segment it's from vs lower end cars in how it was designed to feel etc....
Both suck vs the VW in all aspects.
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I owned a 98 SR5 4Runner - I absolutely loved that truck. I bought it a few years old and put almost 70k miles on it in one year (my first full year in sales) - I was on the road non stop through rural parts of Georgia starting around 4:30am each day. That truck never once made me nervous about being unreliable. I have a buddy who still has a 1996 - I believe he has owned it for 20 years now. I can't even describe the beating that thing has taken and it refuses to die. Mine was an auto and his is the 5 speed of the same V6 engine. My biggest knock against it was how narrow it was - it sometimes seemed like you were going to rub shoulders with your front passenger. I went from that gen 4Runner to a Sequoia, and then from that to a 2004 4Runner. I liked the 98 better than the 04.