Greetings all!

Glad I could join up on this forum. I'm anxiously awaiting the day I get my 2010 4Runner (hello tax refund!). I've test driven a couple. I've sat in them. I make my wife drive through the local dealers' lots on Sundays so I can see the inventory. She might call me obsessed.

However...

I feel stuck.

I love the aggressive stance of the Trail, my wife loves the more subdued look of the SR5. I have some discernible differences that are front and center about both, and I can't shake them. If any of you have faced the same dillema, I'd welcome your feedback.

Let me start off by saying that this would be used for commuting, family road trips, and (possibly) some light towing of a small trailer with a 4-wheeler or motorcycle. I don't see me using it off-road much. It will be used in Maryland winters (occasional snow and ice) and Maryland summers (hot and humid).

To try to compare oranges-to-tangerines (i.e. as fair a comparison as possible), the "SR5" in this discussion has the leather upgrade (and stereo upgrade that comes with that package), rear backup camera, and moonroof. The TE would be one without the KDSS and Navigation System.

I will list my pros/cons between the two, and please don't take offense if I say something about a feature that you like! LOL

If you have solutions or similar conflicts...chime in!

Thanks!

PROS and CONS of SR5 vs. TE

Why I like the TE:

TE has a better stance.
TE has pull-out cargo tray.
TE has cooler wheels.
TE has a cool looking (but nonfunctional) hood scoop.
TE has black trim vs. SR5's chrome EVERYWHERE (note: I hate the chrome, wife likes it).
TE comes with cross bars on roof rack (no extra cost)...and the roof rack isn't chrome.
TE has nice blue-colored lights for dash, SR5 has orange.
TE would look sweet in black, with it's black trim and smoked lights, & aftermarket tinted windows.
I will need to put steps of some kind on this thing for my short wife and young son, and I'd prefer Nerf or Westin bars over running boards. I think the TE would look sweet with some aftermarket step bars...the SR5 has all that chrome on that panel under the doors and it might look weird.

Why I like the SR5:

TE is going to be about a $1000 more expensive.
I don't need most of the off-road stuff on the TE's overhead console.
TE has water-resistant fabric seats to SR5's leather HEATED seats (note: dealer says he can heat TE seats for $650 more)
SR5 has back-up clearance sonar
SR5 has puddle lamps and turn signals in side mirrors
SR5 has color-coded body mouldings (which I like, but hate the chrome)

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Sorry to have such a wordy, mundane post my first day! Thanks in advance for your opinions and patience.

The SR5 also has the pull out cargo tray, unless you find one with a 3rd row seat, which are hard to find! (It is suppose to be an option on the SR5 but I have yet to see one in my area with out the tray)

I would have loved to get the TE but for me the black plastic trim was a dealbreaker, it looks nice now but over time that black trim tends to fade to a gray color, which I am not a fan of. If that trim was all color matched I would have gone with a TE hands down. I think someone here actually had that done or was having it done. Think down the roads and how these things will hold up over time. Just my 2c's

Welcome aboard!

My dilemma was very similar. I much prefer the look of the TE over the SR5 because I think the plastic trim makes the truck look less bulky. The problem, specifically, is cost. It would cost me $1000ish more for a base TE versus a loaded SR5. Hard to justify the extra money when you won't be getting heated or leather seats and 90% of the time, this thing will be on road for trips and winter driving. Plus, if I got the TE, I'd have to get the KDSS, which adds more money. Every parent I've talked to says that leather is the way to go for having children for cleanup purposes alone. Finally, the TE isn't available in white and my wife won't have any color other than white. So, a white, loaded SR5 it is. I think I'll order the pullout tray, though. The load floor isn't completely flat w/ the middle seats down w/out it.

I personally love the exterior of the Canadian model SR5.

If that Metallic Grey SR5 in your signature is the Canadian model, then you're right. Much prefer that to the chrome-adorned look (chrome door handles, etc) of the U.S. SR5.

Quentin - your arguments are right in line with my wife's claims! (she wants the SR5).

I just...can't...get past...all that chrome!

That isn't my signature. I just tagged an image I found online. That is the Canuck SR5. My complaint w/ the SR5 isn't the chrome but rather I prefer the bumpers on the TE much more. Just more rugged looking.

The lady types have their moments of clarity and practicality. I couldn't argue w/ mine that the TE was what we really wanted because her points were valid. I feel fortunate that she's so gung-ho about the 4Runner in the first place. She was resistant of a 3rd car for quite a while.

As far as the chrome, just get a black one and black out the chrome. I'll look sharp.

I agree with you on all points...and your last sentence is how/where I'm starting to think I can kill the chrome.

I see where you're going with the black-plasticy thing. Didn't 3rd gen 4Runners have black trim? Has that faded out over time?

Would be interesting to find out.

Also, I've seen a half-dozen SR5s around here. One or two had leather. None had the pull-out tray. But the tray isn't uber-important, if i'm being honest. Nice feature to have, since it's standard on the TE.

FWIW, I initially had a similar dilemma. I ended up ordering a TE w/ the NAV/KDSS option. I like the idea behind KDSS and how it benefits handling. I don't like being forced into the NAV package but such is strategy for Toyota planners. Leather is definitely great and easy to clean but, for me, the TE won on the +/- s. I figured I'd get some miles (and funk) on the equipped cloth seats and possibly upgrade to leather down the road (probably $1K-$1.5K aftermarket). I could have had the dealer just add the leather but it seemed a waste to toss perfectly good seating covers and still pay the extra cost. I've survived cloth (and vinyl) seats in other cars.

I own a '96 SR5 (amazing vehicle) and it does have similar black plastic trim as the TE. Has it faded? Probably, but it looks good for it's age; just like the paint. People are always surprised at the age of the car. As with any plastic trim you'll need to keep the wax away.

Good luck and Go Os, hon! (nothing against Indy but it's still pains me to see those horseshoes on the sides of their helmets...miss the Balmer COLTS)

I put the Toyota black trim kit on my 99 SR5 when it was new. I have to put Mother's Back to Black on the mudflaps and wheel trim twice a year. It takes care of fade and car wax overspill just fine.

I have seen an SR5 without the tray and it does offer a little more clearance due to the lower flooring (which is flat). There was one at Koons Toyota in Westminster, MD. This was a few months ago though, and I haven't been back since I bought my TE at a different dealer.

So, they are out there... just few and far between.

~ Ryan

My TE has Orange dash lights. Who's got blue?

~ Ryan

I think he's referring to the Optitron dash gauges, vs the SR5's orange

you saying your Trail doesn't have the Optitron gauges? that would be really weird as they're standard on the TE. SR5s are amber only with carbon fiber-y backing.

No, it does. But it glows orange. Isn't that normal?

~ Ryan