trkaiser
Minneapolis, MN
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Hello everybody,
Just got back from Toyota's launch for the new 2010 4Runner SUV in Santa Barbara, CA. Tons of rain prevented us from doing as much off-roading as we planned, but we spent an entire day piloting the handsome new rig around the hills of south-central California.
It's a pretty sweet SUV - designed for off-roaders more than soccer moms. Some of its off-road technology, especially on the Trail version, is amazing. We'll have a full review in the upcoming Buyer's Guide issue of ATV Magazine.
Check out a photo gallery of some of the pics from our test at http://tinyurl.com/n2peju - or you can just go to atvmagblog.com or atvmagonline.com and click Photos.
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GreyGrizz
Ma.
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4-runners have always been good little off-roaders. Their weight is better balanced that the p.u.'s, along with a smoother ride. I leased a 4-runner back in 01 and loved it. Do you know if the newest generation is still a full-frame truck? I'm still not convinced with uni-bodies for dedicated off-road vehicles.
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trkaiser
Minneapolis, MN
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Yes, it's still a body-on frame design. Just finished the full review, and that's definitely a theme - with all these crossovers hitting the market, many automakers are abandoning body-on-frame SUVs. No more Trailblazer, the next Explorer will be car-based, etc...
It's a very cool truck. I really enjoyed it, and like the looks of it.
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ktmguy70
Greensboro, NC
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"Tons of rain prevented us from doing as much off-roading as we planned"
IM sorry, thats a funny line, after all it IS a 4-runner!
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trkaiser
Minneapolis, MN
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I'm with you - it would've been such fun weather to bomb around off-road in that thing, but we were on a private resort and they apparently had a bad experience when hosting an automotive intro a few years back. Apparently some foreign journalists were just tearing around, drifting through corners and rolled a vehicle on their property. It was a really nice ranch, and they didn't want us destroying it. If only there were no consequences...
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bbqmaster
KUNSAN AB ROK
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really you expect to fully test the off road abality of a vehicle in SANTA BARBARA CA you are kidding right???? that is one of the most tree hugging places on earth!!!! if they wanted to test it in CA they would of went out to the mojave desert where you can really thrash on any motorized machine..about the only thing to do in SB is go down to isla vista and party with all the little hotties going to school at UCSB
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drake317
Troy Michigan
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To bad you werent test driving a Hummer. The weather would not have slowed you down!
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jhess
usa
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Bad weather? Bring it to 'Bama,we can try it out!
Willie
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bbqmaster
KUNSAN AB ROK
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i have seen hummers in the desert out in hesperia ca they are to wide and take up the whole trail...not a thing i wanted to see blasting around on my xr650r at 50-60mph and see a bright yellow hummer coming at me with no where to go looking at a head on
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trkaiser
Minneapolis, MN
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In conjunction with the launch of its 2010 4Runner, Toyota has launched the Trail Tracker web site. It's open to the public and allows anyone to upload and download detailed trail information - at www.trailtracker.com.
Just checked it out and it looks handy, although tailored to off-road trucks of course. It's a nice benefit for anyone looking for a good off-road trail in unfamiliar territory.
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