So far this is a lot to take in. To add a little info, I only purchased the BMW x5 3.0 because I needed a car when moving from overseas and it was a great deal (in 2014 it was $6k, but had a few repairs like rear bearings). Personally while sad that I lost it, I'm happy to be rid of it since I do all my own maintenance, and other than an oil change and spark plugs you need a rocket surgery degree to work on a BMW.

The reason I am looking at 4Runner is a combination of a couple of things. I love Colorado and the outdoors, and I feel like this will open up some new possibilities of enjoying what I have around me. Second, it looks awesome! And third, if I do end up getting into modding the vehicle (who am I kidding, I know myself, I definitely will) I want something that I can see and feel the differences to year-round.

Since you're in Colorado, the only advice I can give is to help you decide between a Limited vs other models.

With the Limited, you have full time AWD and can lock the rear diffs with the transfer case knobby thing. So, you'll never be in RWD and risk spinning out whereas if you have any other model, do you mind fandangling around with the transfer case by frequently putting it in and out of 4H from 2H?

I was going to give my 4runner to my wife and try to find a GX 460/470 but I had a couple of hiccups while driving in 2H this winter which I don't think my wife would have recovered from. So, I don't want her having to fandangle with the 4H/2H since she should be concentrating on driving. I also don't really trust her to not be in 4H when she shouldn't be or switch to/from 4H when she should without destroying the transfer case.

So, when her 4th gen kicks the bucket, I guess she'll get the GX 460/470. I'm so jealous lol

But yeah, if you care about the ****ing around of 4H and 2H, take that into consideration.

With 9 years in, the short list is what I don't like:
1 - Cruise control; too touchy. It slams the gas.
2 - Temp, clock, compass display; can't see when sun shines on it
3 - The dreaded 65 mph shake

What I do like:
Everything else. It's still as solid as the day I bought it.

My CC just can't keep the speed in the mountains. It's either 5 too low or 5 too high. It seems to do fine on flat surfaces, tho.

I hate that you can't set the clock to 24 hours. Every digital clock needs this option.

Rather than specific answers, here's my 2 cents;

In addition to other Toyotas, I have/had 4 different generation, 4WD 4Runners all of which see/have seen frequent towing duty:

1990 2nd gen - sold at 205,000 miles. I only recall replacing an axle boot other than PM (preventative maintenance). A friend bought it and he traded it in with over 400k miles.

2000 3rd gen - sold at 152,000 only because the market tanked in 2008 and new cars were easy to get great deals on. No significant maintenance.

2008 4th gen - still have it as my DD and main tow vehicle with 172,000 miles, still strong as the day I bought it. Front wheel hubs is about all it needed so far.

2019 5th gen - I've had it for 8 months and only 2700 miles on it. Still a baby.


Every yota I've owned (add 2 Camrys and a Celica to that list) has been superb. And each generation 4Runner is hands above the previous.

My 2016 trail premium will take me essentially anywhere with upgraded tires. The biggest difference will be understeer and that losing that comfy suspension coming from a sporty vehicle.

I'll see if I can find it again but there was someone making HUDs for Tacomas and 4Runners. It is installed in the speaker section on the far left of the drivers side dash.

I disagree with the first

Can you elaborate? I'm not sure if I should get KDSS on mine.

KDSS won’t cause a lean when lifting, people who have a lean played around with the valves on the actuator per several recommendations by some members on this forum. I feel like it’s a great system and quite reliable. Drive both and see for yourself if you like it or not. I personally love it.

I'm in CO in a gently used 14 TEP w/ KDSS which I bought about 6 months ago. I was in a 2004 Sport before which had a V8. I miss the bigger engine a little. There are many things I wish Toyota did better, but nothing that would prevent me from owning the car. Things like: It doesn't have Apple Play (Entune is a joke), It has an old style key fob and no push button, the stock headlights suck and dash computer graphics are pitiful! My 04 had full time 4WD, this one has a locking rear differential, which means a 2WD/4WD lever.

The style of the 14+ is slightly different than 10-13.

There are pages of threads on this. Start here: Mods on a budget, Easy Weekend Mods

It's my DD and it's great. I commute about 20 miles each way and it's fine. No issues. It's no BMW off the line or on the highway though.

Phone mount, additional USB's, Weatherproof floor mats (if they didn't come with it), XID headlights,

Personally I don't know why you would. Get yourself a truck and start driving. Do your research and learn by others experiences.

That would be a really cool addition!

The Limited doesn't have locking rear diff. Did you mean lock the center diff to change it from "AWD" to 4wd?

That's a good point about the limited though. The 4th gen 4runners had a center diff and you could be in 2hi, 4hi (without the center diff locked it was like full time AWD) then 4hi locked, then 4lo.

If it were bad out or even wet you could be in 4hi without locking center diff and make turns, drive around without binding. Now with my 5th gen if I go 4hi, you basically need to be offroad or in real bad snow to avoid binding.

One thing I wish my 4runner had that is available is the sliding cargo tray. Being able to fold the seats down and have a flat surface would be nice, then also being able to slide it out and access things in cooler, etc could be convenient.

I also wish there was a heated steering wheel option.

Binding isn't as terrible as people make it out to be. I drive with it in 4H on snow and ice with transitions to dry pavement and just ignore it. The biggest downside is the decreased turning radius when you're essentially skid steering it.

I agree with you on the CC. It seems to be all or nothing. LOL

I wish I had the dash display from my '10 TE in my ORP. On the new ones, it only displays the clock. It is in blue letters and easier to see in the sun but, we lose the mpg/compass/temp and it's really stupid how those things are now displayed on the 2020 system.

As for the 65mph shake, I haven't experienced that in either my '10 or '20 so I cannot comment on that.