The Toyota Urban Runner is a version of the company's mid-sized sport utility vehicle, the 4Runner. Introduced in 2008, the Urban Runner features package was designed to bring technology and upscale luxury features to an SUV that has long been known for rugged performance.
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Hey guys I posted this over on the new member page but it doesn't seem to get much traffic. So I am looking to buy a 4th gen converting over from a Tundra, I have narrowed my search down to 2006-2008 and prefer the look of the black sport editions.However I came across a 2008 black Urban Runner yesterday with 73k miles on it and the dealership wants $19,500 and it has a clean one owner Carfax. I'm not real thrilled with the seats or the head unit, but everything I have seen that is way under what most are being sold for so I guess I am looking for a little guidance if I should pull the trigger on it or not?Pros for me on the Urban Runner are; color keyed(hate chrome), v6(better mpg than my Tundra), and 4x4.Cons for me are; not pumped about what looks like suede seats, black wood grain?, and heard the head unit is garbage(easy fix)Thanks and here are some pics of said Urban Runner. It's funny how the main selling features of the Urban Runner (Tom Tom HU @ Alcantara seats) over the Sport Edition are the ones people hate the most about them. Hahahaha.It's a nice truck though.
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I'd buy one if you could get UR's with a V8. Not willing to pay extra for the bells and whistles though.Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested. Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.Yep, that's right. When you're searching for such a specific used vehicle, you're really at the mercy of what becomes available.I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one if you bought it, but you always have the option of holding out until that 'perfect' one shows up (if it ever does). Like you said, your gripes are rather minor and easily rectified.
You can see my build thread for some options with the seats (seat covers) or you can try to trade like somebody already mentioned. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to find somebody willing to trade.Also consider expanding your search beyond DFW, if you really want to find your vehicle. I've seen folks on here look for several months and travel half way across the country to get 'the one'. Some aren't willing to settle. Some can compromise. Either way, you're gonna love the 4Runner.
Coming from a Tundra, I'm sure we don't have to tell you how great of a vehicle these things are.Good luck with whatever you decide. Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.Yup, if you have exact features you want it'll take longer to find that perfect car. I'm with you - the seats in the Urban Runner are what killed it for me. I ended up expanding my search radius and found my 4Runner in Kansas City. I flew up there and drove it home.
It's your call but if you plan on keeping it for a long time make sure you get what you want. Pros for me on the Urban Runner are; color keyed(hate chrome), v6(better mpg than my Tundra), and 4x4.Cons for me are; not pumped about what looks like suede seats, black wood grain?, and heard the head unit is garbage(easy fix)Thanks and here are some pics of said Urban RunnerI think the Urban Runner is the best looking trim package available, but I agree that the seats are a little weak. I have a Limited and I swapped my running boards out for some Sport-style tube steps.
I didn't bother with the roof rack, but with that being said I like the tube rack better, too.As far as the seats and head unit go, I don't think either of those would be a deal breaker for me. One of the first things I did when I got my Runner was to remove the factory head unit and install the single DIN Sony I had in my previous 4Runner. It's not the greatest unit, but it provides me with Sirius, Bluetooth, Aux-In (never use since I have Bluetooth), and a remote.
I decided against purchasing the unit to connect the steering wheel controls because I've always got the credit card-sized remote in my hand, anyway.As far as price goes, I got mine for $19,000 in June 2011 with 72,000 miles on it. It had originally been listed for $20,000 but an accident came up in the CarFax history so they knocked some off. I'm sure lots of people here will say they wouldn't have bought it or I should have gotten way more money knocked off the price, but after putting almost 30,000 miles on this thing over the past 18 months I can say that it's a perfect truck. Everything on it works perfectly, it tracks perfectly straight on the highway, has no wiggle at all in the steering wheel, and purrs like a kitten (granted, a kitten with a noticeable ticking noise from the injectors ).Anyway, I think you're basically getting a slightly better looking rig than I got for almost exactly the same price, with no accident history, that is two years newer.
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If you've got the resources, I say go for it. The head unit isn't that bad. Not as good as aftermarket, but when is a factory ever that good?
I still don't understand why people knock the seats? That was one of the pluses for me. Didn't want cloth or leather really, so it met right in the middle.
I also wanted the color keyed handles and grille, the hood scoop and the better looking 18' wheels. For me it was the perfect mix of a sport and limited for the price of a sport. I payed 26,7 for mine in Feb 2010 with 25k on it cpo. Haven't looked back since. If the HU is your biggest gripe I'd say go for it considering the price is good for your area and swap the unit down the road. The head unit isn't that bad. Not as good as aftermarket, but when is a factory ever that good?
I still don't understand why people knock the seats? That was one of the pluses for me. Didn't want cloth or leather really, so it met right in the middle. I also wanted the color keyed handles and grille, the hood scoop and the better looking 18' wheels. For me it was the perfect mix of a sport and limited for the price of a sport.
I payed 26,7 for mine in Feb 2010 with 25k on it cpo. Haven't looked back since. If the HU is your biggest gripe I'd say go for it considering the price is good for your area and swap the unit down the road.Was able to go check out a white one during lunch today and yeah having personally sat in the seats I actually like them so I guess I am sold on the Urban Runner and now that I have seen the white in person I am conflicted on black or white.Decisions decisions. I have the black and it looks awesome when it's clean, but it sure is hard to keep clean. My neighbor has a Blizzard Pearl white Limited and I think it looks mighty fine.Double Deuce, I see you are in DFW as well. According to toyotacertified.com this is the only certified used Urban Runner in the metroplex:Yeah that's the one I went and checked out yesterday, the black one I am looking at is in Lawton, Ok so I haven't actually been able to see it in person yet since it's about a 2 hour drive from the DFW area. I actually just went to check out the white one to see how I would like the interior and ended up liking the blizzard pearl paint job.My Tundra is black and I love it when it's clean, but yeah keeping it clean is almost a full time job.The differences between the two are:Blizzard Pearl: 60k miles, CPO, two owner, and asking price is $23,900, only had vehicle for a month or so.
Also 5 minutes from my work and can get new car finance rates through Toyota since it's a CPOBlack: 73k miles, not certified, one owner, and asking price is 19,450, 150 miles away and wouldn't get as good a rate on financing, been sitting on the vehicle since July.
Hey guys I posted this over on the new member page but it doesn't seem to get much traffic. So I am looking to buy a 4th gen converting over from a Tundra, I have narrowed my search down to 2006-2008 and prefer the look of the black sport editions.However I came across a 2008 black Urban Runner yesterday with 73k miles on it and the dealership wants $19,500 and it has a clean one owner Carfax. I'm not real thrilled with the seats or the head unit, but everything I have seen that is way under what most are being sold for so I guess I am looking for a little guidance if I should pull the trigger on it or not?Pros for me on the Urban Runner are; color keyed(hate chrome), v6(better mpg than my Tundra), and 4x4.Cons for me are; not pumped about what looks like suede seats, black wood grain?, and heard the head unit is garbage(easy fix)Thanks and here are some pics of said Urban Runner. It's funny how the main selling features of the Urban Runner (Tom Tom HU @ Alcantara seats) over the Sport Edition are the ones people hate the most about them.
Hahahaha.It's a nice truck though. I'd buy one if you could get UR's with a V8. Not willing to pay extra for the bells and whistles though.Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested. Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.Yep, that's right. When you're searching for such a specific used vehicle, you're really at the mercy of what becomes available.I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one if you bought it, but you always have the option of holding out until that 'perfect' one shows up (if it ever does).
Like you said, your gripes are rather minor and easily rectified. You can see my build thread for some options with the seats (seat covers) or you can try to trade like somebody already mentioned. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to find somebody willing to trade.Also consider expanding your search beyond DFW, if you really want to find your vehicle. I've seen folks on here look for several months and travel half way across the country to get 'the one'. Some aren't willing to settle.
Some can compromise. Either way, you're gonna love the 4Runner. Coming from a Tundra, I'm sure we don't have to tell you how great of a vehicle these things are.Good luck with whatever you decide. Yeah it's all about finding what you can and can't live with I guess, but I have had hell trying to find a black v6 4x4 sport edition in the DFW area so when this Urban Runner popped up and had both of those features that's what got me interested.Yup, if you have exact features you want it'll take longer to find that perfect car. I'm with you - the seats in the Urban Runner are what killed it for me. I ended up expanding my search radius and found my 4Runner in Kansas City. I flew up there and drove it home.
It's your call but if you plan on keeping it for a long time make sure you get what you want. Pros for me on the Urban Runner are; color keyed(hate chrome), v6(better mpg than my Tundra), and 4x4.Cons for me are; not pumped about what looks like suede seats, black wood grain?, and heard the head unit is garbage(easy fix)Thanks and here are some pics of said Urban RunnerI think the Urban Runner is the best looking trim package available, but I agree that the seats are a little weak. I have a Limited and I swapped my running boards out for some Sport-style tube steps. I didn't bother with the roof rack, but with that being said I like the tube rack better, too.As far as the seat.
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