Question on Manual, or Electronic Transfer Case
 

Since I'm new to the forum and looking for my first 4 Runner, I would like to know which would be the best for me. I'm either looking at a TRD Off Road, or a SR5 4wd, both with the Premium Option. I did state in another post that I would not be off roading this vehicle, but thinking about resale on down the lime if I so decide to, say 5-10 years which would you think have the better resale. Due note both of these vehicles have about the same list price. I have driven both and personally the difference is so slight, the SR5 did have the on/off wheel option like the ones on the TRD Off Road comes with and which I think makes them somewhat equal, what do you think.

What I think is that your priorities are so different from most people who buy 4Runners that we can't give you a good answer.

On a scale of 1 to 10 of why we buy 4Runners, resale value would be about 11. NOT why we buy 4Runners! If you are not going to take your vehicle off pavement why even consider a 4Runner? There are much better AWD SUVs for pavement pounding out there.

Ture, I'm buying this as another TOY to go with my other TOYS, probably only will be driven some 3000/4000 miles per year. For me it just says old school, that's why I like it.

We found the TRD Offroad with Kdss had better street manners than the SR5. I also prefer manual transfer case.

If you want it to work and always work you want manual. Electronics will usually fail you when you need it most. Electronics are more costly to fix. If you want it to work............"Keep it simple STUPID!"

I think if you are looking at re-sale value, you can't go wrong with the TRD. The off roading options will be highly desirable to potential buyers. Personally, I think the Pro is too much and may not be desirable enough in the future to pay a premium. Any 4runner will be a good candidate for high re-sale so I think they will all work for you but my personal opinion is the TRD is the sweet spot.

I was thinking the way you think on reliability, resale, and model choice. For me the TRD Off Road is the best bang for the buck even if it never goes off road and is only driven some 3000/4000 miles per year. Thanks

I like the look of twin sticks on the floor. My old 4x4's had that. I did not trust electronics, nor did I like the look of a column mounted transmission and buttons/dials on the dash.

In '02 I bought a new Tacoma TRD with 5-speed manual and the optional transfer case lever with a 4WD button on the near side of the knob. The lever only engaged high and low ranges. I didn't want that feature, but the rest of the truck was equipped exactly like I wanted. Living in an area at the time where the highway may be dry in one spot, icy in the next, slushy in the spot beyond that, hub deep snow in the next, then dry for a mile afterward, it was handy for engaging the front end on the fly. And after 250,000 miles, the system has yet to develop any issues. So I don't mistrust Toyota electrics anymore.

Now that I'm a solidly senior citizen, bad knees screamed for an automatic transmission. Two small dogs fighting for real estate in my disabled wife's lap dictated a larger rig, the 5th Gen 4Runner is substantially larger. Real world value told me that I don't kneed a rear locker anymore; and that the transfer case twist dial will likely work for the life of the rig; so I bought my '18 4Runner SR5 after a lot of researching into my wants versus real needs.

My wants told me to buy a TRD Off Road Premium for the twin stick look and rear locker (plus I like heated seats). My pocketbook and desire to remain debt free told me that since an SR5 is 98% mechanical content of a TRD Off Road Pro, there was no real need to spend far more money. I gave my grandson my Tacoma and he still has it.

Now, as to what appears to be your primary query, dial versus lever, my observations over my several years of actual use:

The dial is in a rather awkward place. I think it could have been incorporated into the dash face like the 4th Generation rig. It's a bit of a reach, especially when wearing a heavy winer coat. And awkward to manipulate with heavy winter gloves.

After decades of levers, getting used to the dial took a while for me to get used to and able to manipulate without looking.

I've forgotten and left the transfer case in 4WD for miles on dry pavement and highways because I didn't notice the dash light and there's no lever in my peripheral vision that when in 4WD catches my attention due to its position. In its defense, though, I'd done the same on my Tacoma after knocking the button into 4WD position when vacuuming. I've experienced no mechanical issues with either rig after driving miles in 4WD on the pavement. In these cases upon making a turn off the highway onto another street or road did I realize what happened when I felt the "crow hop" or drivetrain binding.

The 4-Lo safety nannies are irritating (beeps and tones) if you don't do the proper sequence when going into that range. I'd prefer the light grinding of actual gears of my old rigs.

I have no regrets buying my SR5. I do use 4WD on a near daily basis since I live and travel on dirt roads. I use my rig for work on my property, like pulling my railroad rail drag to clear brush, driveways and plowing snow (or whatever word is applicable for actually pulling snow with the drag). I haul a ton or two of heating pellets annually with a utility trailer. I use it when mending fences and pulling fence poles straight. I've yanked tree stumps out of the ground with it. I do some off roading now and then, especially during hunting season.

It may not have the bling of a TRD Off Road Pro in Lime Rush, but I'm too old to care. And since I live far from town over dirt, snowy and muddy roads thus nature washes my 4Runner more than I do, my rig's silver color is a great one for planned neglect.

I understand your post completely, what you said about the shifter being electronic and not needing all the features that come with the TRD Off Road. Like i said, I will not being off roading this vehicle very much, if any. I now have a RAM 4x4 1500 and it has the electronic shifter and it has never given any problem and the most it ever gets used is the try it every couple of months to see if it still works. I'm not really looking at the price of the vehicle, as much as what I would like to have that I feel makes me happy and personally either one would work for this old guy. Since there is only around $2000 difference between a SR5 Premium and a TRD Off Road Premium it pretty much a tossup for me and considering I will probably never use the added off road features that the TRD Off Road model has. Thanks for answering the question.

If this is just a toy that's barely going to be driven and not at all off-roaded, I'm not understanding why you'd want a 4Runner.

There's nothing special about the 4Runner just driving on pavement, reality is you'll enjoy LOOKING at it more than driving it.

For a non daily driven TOY, get a 2 door Wrangler. It will also suck to drive on pavement, but you'll be doing it with doors and roof off while rowing your own gears and not looking like a soccer mom. Resale value is also stupid high, and reliability shouldn't be a concern since you'll barely be driving it.

I bought a 4R because I knew I'd be driving it 20k+ miles a year, if it was only 3 or 4k, damn straight I'd have gotten a Wrangler.


All that said, for the 4R I'd go TRD Off-road, for the simple reason of the manual 4wd lever being cooler.

I’m with Horsethief. If you want a toy I’d even consider a K5 Blazer or a 3rd or 4th Gen Bronco.

I understand these vehicles may work for you, but for me they wouldn't. I have several vehicles as Toys, one being a 2004 Jeep TJ with 86,000 miles and like new. Why do I want a 4 Runner, because I can, has nothing to to with anything else that might be a concern for others.

Get both the SR5 and the off-road.

Edited to add:
The Limited, Sport, SR5 and SR5 Premium trims can all be had with 2 wheel drive only.

I bought mine as an appliance, it seems so strange to me to buy one as a "toy" while there are so many other fun vehicles available.

But your money, so you do you.

If the resale value on the 4 Runner is your main issue then you might also want to consider that the SR5 will likely be an easier sell since it will appeal to a wider audience of buyers. This could be good or bad depending on the supply/demand at the time you choose to sell, but it will be easier to sell.

The TRD on the other hand might only appeal to a certain kind of buyer, and so long as you know who your target buyer is and are willing to hold out and wait for them then you can probably maximize your resale.