$48k?!?!?!?!?! For what??? It's just a freakin' 4runner! It'd better be takin' out the trash, movin' the lawn and takin' care of business in the bedroom for that much dough!

Honestly, how can Toyota justify that kind of expense? Then again, how do any of 'em... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I test drove an '04 limited, just for kicks; That one had a sticker just over $40k. Sorry to say, not even close to being worth it. I'd probably be willing to pay up to $30k; Not one cent more. One thing I'd love to know is how has that vehicle quadrupled in price over the past 20 years? I'll concede that it's seen some major improvements, but enough to warrant $48k? I don't think so... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

Sorry... I'll get off my soapbox now.

4xGeek- Dude! We speak the same! I'm not the only one that sees that the new Toyotas are WAY over-priced.

I understood their prices in the 80's when they WERE built in Japan and we ate the tariffs. But since everything is built or assembled here, the tariff BS doesn't apply.

1985-SR5 4Runner was $13900 (I bought one)
2004-SR5 4Runner is $38900
(A 2004 SR5 4Runner in 2010 will be worth $13900)

Prices have tripled in 19 years. Reliability, materials, quality of salespeople and value have not.

for 48K, i'd buy a new lexus gs430.

You mean a LS430?

You're right GS, LS is about 10K more <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

my mom has the LS. big sedan. very nice, but big sedan. the GS is way more sporty and badass.

My mother in law has the LS also...........it is very nice.

Don't know about the GS.

The GX is the 4Runner maxed out.
A very nice vehicle, but small.
My GF has the LX470 - it's a tank.

The GS is a sporty mid-size sedan.

i think you are thinking of the GX. i am talking about the GS.

Oops! your talking sedans... My bad.
LEXUS

The LX is the Landcruiser based and the GX is the 4Runner based. I'd rather spend the $48k on either one. The price that was in the magazine was "with options as tested" They also mentioned that the S/C was a $5,000 upgrade option <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I have to venture a guess that 99.9% of these new 4Runners never would see dirt outside of their front yard by the original purchasers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I have noticed that the Tundras price is also going up quite fast also. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />