hi... i am trying to come up with the budget for the 4Runner and trying to decide which options I want or should get. originally, i was thinking sport edition, but after i drove the limited with its leather, nav, and back-up camera, i think i want the limited. so the question: is it worth getting the rear air suspension with x-reas on the limited? what advantages does it give?

It all depends on what YOU like and what YOU may plan to use your 'runner for. The limited is not worth the xtra cash. The sport is great for all types of driving. Right now, the standard is the best bet for lifts and....the budget.

just my opinion...

Except that the Sport comes with X-REAS, which seems to make lifting the truck impossible.

Well, if he's debating on rear air suspension, you can rule out that he's planning on lifiting to begin with

All the 4runner models are great Just a matter of which one you want with which options and color!

Good luck!

so is the rear air suspension option useful for improved ride or handling, or is it only useful for carrying heavy loads or towing?

I would say heavy loads / towing. it'll help to keep the vehicle level when the rear gets overloaded.

thanks

yea... i am tempted about the fully loaded Limited, but i cant afford it... sport edition sounds pretty darn good, except i'd really love to have the navi and the back-up cam. choices choices...

excellent truck, though. when you drive it, it pretty much rides like a car, while having the might and the driving position of a truck.....

Hey man,

I would go with the Sport. I just special ordered one, and I thought it was the best value. I could have opted for a Limited, but the $4,000 price difference was just too much. I researched it and read a lot of reviews, and not many of them mentioned the rear air suspension. I'm sure its nice, but I doubt its a must have option. The sport suspension (xreas) is supposedly worth it. When I drove it I hardly noticed any body lean. Anyway, just my two cents.....

yea, i heard a few good things about x-reas. i guess ill have to give up the gadgetry of rearview camera and nav and think real sport edition i can certainly afford.

thanks

PS - congrats on the order! did you get a v8? v6? 2wd? 4wd?

1. If you have no plans to get a lift, get the Sport.
2. If you have the money, get the Limited.
3. If you want X-Reas and have the money, get the Limited with X-reas option.
4. If you want to lift, get the Standard (for now anyway).

5. Check this link out. Everything you ever wanted to know about the 4th Gen and X-REAS:


http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/htruong/2003_4Runner.pdf

2003 Sport V6

Deniss....

Thanks. I got a V8 Sport 4wd Titanium. It should be here in January....pray for rebates when it arrives!!!!
These are the options I got.

EJ JBL Synthesis 3-in-1 Stereo w/6- Disc Changer info
GY Curtain and Side Airbags info
PN Anti-Theft Alarm System info
RF Rear Spoiler info
EC Electrochromic Rearview Mirror info
CM Double Decker Cargo info
NA 115V AC Power Point info
RL Daytime Running Lights info


I paid invoice + 95 doc fee.

I would recomend you getting the V8 if you buy a Sport. I test drove a v8 and he let me floor it and I was sold. Wow, that thing took off! Basically, I did a hard look at what I wanted and what I didn't.

Oh, and one more thing. If your going to buy wait until the last day of the month....you will get a better deal that way.

thank you, arouth!

yes, i will certainly get the v8: that i was sure of from the get-go. first, it's lexus-designed/built. second, it's got a LOT of power and is very soft and refined at the same time. third, it comes with a very sweet 5-speed tranny. i have to say, it's one of the best trannies out there, and i hate most auto trannies... i like manuals, but i can more than live with this one.

actually, yours is exactly the car i was thinking to buy! the exact same options, sport, and a v8 with 4wd.

it's pretty sweet that you paid invoice for it! that means i can fit it into my budget rather well.

what did you think of the JBL system? i thought it doesn't have quite enough bass, but good sound quality otherwise. i wonder if the speakers that come with this JBL system are good, or if a speaker upgrade can significantly improve the sound....

thanks.

First off, it's not lexus built/designed. In Japan there is no such thing as Lexus Just Toyota. Toyota just made a Lexus division in the US so that they can split the luxury division from their regular division (just to compete against MB/BMW etc etc)

Secondly, the JBL system sucks! You're better off getting an aftermarket radio installed with the money you will pay on the JBL system

sorry about the lexus comment. i was sure, though, that i heard it was built for lexus cars. i guess in japan, it's all the same.

so im not the only one on the JBL thing. i was under the impression that audiophiles frequent JBL products. The only reason I'd get the JBL system is because they come with more speakers, and if i were to replace JBL system and speakers with something more serious, there would be more places to install the better speakers.

i am not sure what the problem is with audio systems in cars/trucks these days. Acura came out with this new Panasonic DVD-Audio, and it was respectable. Volvo's Premium audio system is respectable. Infinity sound system available on Dodge/Chrysler cars is probably one of the better ones out there. Still, no "stock" car audio compares to my 300-dollar pioneer home stereo with power amp and twin-reflex bass speaker system, which i bought at sam's club why oh why can't car manufacturers just solve this problem for good?

If they ever built the perfect vehicle w/ all the trimmings, then there will be no need for aftermarket stuff

Unfortunately, the auto mfg's aren't perfect. They build vehicles on a limited budget, thus meaning trimming on some parts which is why the aftermarket world exists.