4Runners are as close as possible to the best vehicle ever produced in the history of the auto industry. They do everything very well.

Looking forward to the 6th gen 4Runner. It's on the consideration list for next vehicle, however I will not participate in the mad rush for early models with long waits, ADMs etc.

 

Can't tell if you're just trying to stir the pot and I'm being dumb in feeding the troll or not, but I would stronly disagree with this. They do some things very well and some things very poorly.

 

The 4Runner is pretty plasticky and cheap on the inside. The window, trunk and various controls on the left hand side were too high up. If you really only need it to be a "beater" weekend errand car, this is the perfect car for that. No one is trying to save the interior in this car!

 

Seriously? While the 4Runner is a little dated at the moment, it is an iconic vehicle and damn good. I had one before, an 05’ V8, and had only one single problem in 150k miles, a seized brake caliper due to chicago winter salt, and it happened here in DC in 2011 while we were house hunting with SW! Bet he remembers!

we drove that thing to hell and back many times. Many 18 hour drives from Chicago to eastern NC with two in car seats behind us, loaded to the ceiling. It was perhaps the best vehicle we’ve ever owned. Only thing I didn’t like was the numbness of road feedback in bad weather at hwy speed.

A MB? No. And it shouldn’t be.

i like the new ones too, but i am in love with these bronco outerbanks soft tops. Last time I felt this way about a car was in 2010, and I immediately handed the keys and title to my Lexus GS430 to the stunned kid at VW for a 2007 GTI Autobahn with 40k miles. Drove that car 1 mile and said “no way in hell this isn’t coming home with me right now.” Had a GTI all the way until 2022… I felt the EXACT same way yesterday when driving that bronco on a cool fall morning with the top back, heated seats on, and a good looking blonde next to me just giggling like two teenagers. Honestly, if you’ve not spent any time on them, even if you’re not in the market for a car, go waste an hour and check one out. I think they’re one of those rare vehicles where they got everything just right. From the power, comfort, ride, and engagement of the gadgets. HECK of a vehicle for in the $50’s!

 

The Bronco tows less than the GLS and has a LONG stopping distance. Other than that, sounds like you found what you wanted!

 

Got nothing to tow, and will let the brush guard handle the rest :-)

 

No pot stirring. The 4Runner is, has been, and I expect will continue to be, the best vehicle ever produced. It's an all-in analysis. The whole enchilada, the big picture.

It scores 10 out of 10 on very few characteristics. It scores below 5 or 6 on no characteristics. It is the best all-round vehicle in the history of the industry.

Note the use of the word vehicle, meant in a broad sense. Please feel free to disagree. Let's hear your views on best vehicle ever produced.

 

I remember the brake saga lol

New 4 Runner is right around the corner too.

Broncos are cool!

 

The 4Runner is a good off-road vehicle. Hoping this is a troll post, though. It's an ancient design that Toyota has let live in its current start for far too long, and aside from raving fanboys, really isn't class competitive as an onroad vehicle.

It has terrible ergonomics, terrible driving dynamics, is slow, is loud, is not efficient, pulls a 3 star rollover risk (literally the worst performer in the large SUV category)... etc.

 

I actually had a 4 Runner as a loaner a few months ago when our Pacifica was in the shop, and my wife and I both really liked it. It’s not a vehicle for people who care about ergonomics etc, it’s just a fun 4x4 vehicle with utility both for family use and lifestyle use with great beefy looks. They still sell as well as they do and appeal to people the way they do for a reason. I know several people with 4 Runners and they all LOVE them.

The 4Runner has a lot of charm.

In any event like I said an all new 4Runner is right around the corner. Like anytime now.

 

Ignoring sales numbers, are the Mercedes EVs being received well by customers? Any issues on the level of what the GLC has been experiencing? I still think too many of their engineers got committed to the EV push and the ICE problems w/48V are not being resolved in a timely manner.

 

EQS’s were rated high in customer satisfaction in consumer reports.

 

Sales numbers can't be ignored. It's the only power consumers have on car companies: to vote with one's feet and checkbook.

BMW spanked MB globally during Q1-Q3 2023. Tesla is breathing down MB's neck. BMW and Tesla both have the weather dial. MB is caught in the doldrums.

 

I don't really think most people consider 6% as a spank unless you're referencing different sales #s?

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a45460...e-after-tesla/
"Year-to-date sales for BMW Group, including Mini, were 277,132, up 10.9%. Mercedes, including Metris and Sprinter, was up 0.7% to 260,522 units, while Lexus was up 12.9% to 224,308 vehicle deliveries for the first nine months. Back out the sales of internal-combustion models for these legacy brands, and Tesla’s dominance is even more amplified."

 

In the auto world, 6% is a spank.

 

Yeah but I was specifically asking about EV sales, not overall.
Mercedes pooled most of their resources into the EV rollout and forgot us pedestrian ICE car users!

 

Is every car brands only desire sales volume? Do some not prefer to chase profits per car post sale customer satisfaction? I think sales numbers are not the *only* metric worth looking at. It’s my understanding that aside from EVs, SLs, and S500s, BMW has had larger manufacture incentives and dealer discounts on most of its vehicles, to push volume. So I wouldn’t look at it quite so black and white, though MB has definitely had some misses as of late.

 

This has been true of late since I cross-shopped both companies. BMW has some pretty competitive finance rates (better than you can normally get from your own bank) whereas MB has been mostly silent. At least in my area, most dealers are trying to hold at MSRP for both BMW and MB.

 

BMW has ALWAYS had much more attractive lease and finance deals than really anybody else.

 

I've never paid any attention to sales #s before so that's good to know.


Here's a historical graphic just for reference

 

Whats interesting, look how MB took a dive south and BMW a jump north arounf 2020-2021, which is the beginning of the time period we are talking about. You can absolutely make an inference here that MB vehicles put in service as 2021s arent hitting with customers like before, and that BMWs are...

 

On a percentage basis, Porsche spanked MB 2023 YTD for unit sales.

Porsche up 10%
MB up 2%

Porsche and BMW spanked MB. MB is performing below peers on a unit, and therefore market share, basis.

p.s. MB unit sales sank by 3% YOY in the U.S. M274, 48V and W/X167 reputations must be spreading.

 

Here's the latest MB quarterly report:
https://group.mercedes-benz.com/docu...rt-q3-2023.pdf

 

Tough quarter for MB.

 

Well I have purchased a new car. Tried like h.e.l.l. to stick with the brand and spent some seat time in the GLE 350, both the current style and the previous that I have always liked. Only two used models I would consider, the old style GLE and the Porsche Cayenne. Otherwise it would be a new car. The old style GLE was nice, I found two of them within 40k miles, but had the same 7G gear box as my current E350, one had the 4th gear hesitation like mine. It felt a little too similar to my E350 in general. I love my E, but I am really tired of being at headlight level with all of the SUV's out there, and tired of crawling down into it all the time. I want an SUV. I scratched the old style GLE off the list, and our GLS is too similar to the new style GLE to justify the cost. That left the Porsche, and found a couple recent model years. They are spectacular, no argument. But, a little to snug for me, and honestly, they just didn't feel right for me. I think the Porsche dream I've always had since a kid, will likely stay that way. This next car's priority starts with "fun" as the top contender. Has to be...Fun. That led me to just one that scratched that itch, along with the mid-life crisis itch as well... I know where I am here, and expect to be flamed for doing so, but I ordered a fully loaded 2024 Ford Bronco "Outer Banks". Got all of the toys it offers, from steel front bumper to dual tops and laser cruise (Luxury Package). Heck, even bought the block heater option. The only option I did not get was the "Sasquatch Package", which is the lifted suspension and 35' tires. For me, that's overkill on what it will be used for. Only rock crawling it will be doing is across a gravel driveway. It's more of a 4 door convertible than a mountain billy goat. 2.7 V6 twin-turbo with 415lb of torque. They get up and move! I love it for what it is, but even more so for what it is not! It's not ultra quiet, it's not fine leather seating and soft dash materials. It is very comfortable, but make no mistake, it is no Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche or anything else like it. When I am done setting it up, it will look just like this one, except with a few extra exterior lights on the front. Couldn't make up my mind between the hard top or soft top, so ordered both. Thinking soft top 75% of the year, hard top 25%. Total cost was about $63k all-in, and should arrive around June. I am likely to keep my E350 for a bit longer and go back/forth between the two cars, since they have completely different strengths and weaknesses, a good complement between the two. Plus will be teaching my son how to drive on the E. It may get sold to make room for his first car (I changed my mind on giving it to him, it's too much for a 16 year old). We'll see where we land later in 2024. I would prefer to keep it for myself however and just buy him a used $20k car instead.

I don't know what's going on with MB in certain models, but the ones that I can afford, really aren't that "special" feeling to me anymore. I wish that weren't the case because I do love how they cruise. But I can't justify their cost anymore for a new one. Just too damn uncomfortable for me now, too narrow in the butt. I think a simple fix for them would be to ditch the fake wood and bring back the real stuff. I think that would make a huge difference. If you're going to be wood, then BE wood!