'01, '02, or 4th gen? X-Reas? Looking for my first 4R

[scottm]

I've had two 80-series Land Cruisers, wife currently drives the 100, but I want a 4R this time. This will probably never go off-road, I need a rugged, AWD vehicle to get me through wicked snowstorms on the highway. I commute to fly out of O'Hare, 200 miles from my home in Michigan, and I can't decide not to go when the weather is bad. And it gets really bad downwind of Lake Michigan in the winter. I've hit five deer, so an ARB will be mandatory.

So I've done my homework, studied each model year on Top4Runners, decided I need stability control and AWD, so it'll be an '01+. How much more stable is the '03 vs '02 on the highway? How much does the X-Reas improve stability? How pricey are new X-Reas shocks?

 

[boostedprozac]

It really comes down to price and affordability. There is nothing wrong with the rugged 3rd gen.. but I love the 4th! I've had teh 3rd and now.. 4th. I love them both. They both have their pros and cons. The 4th has more cabin room but is a bit lower in stance compared to the previous generations. But the 3rd lacks a bit of power compared to the 4th gen. Simplified, XREAS has hydralic lines connected to your shocks that pressurizes when there is sway or body roll. There is a noticable difference from a 4th gen XREAS and non XREAS unit. I know because I bought an sr5 and returned it 3 days after purchansing it for the Urban Runner. The body roll was significant enough to notice on the first test drive. They are very pricey to replace so most ppl just wait till they're out of warranty and they replace them with stiffer aftermarkets. This is all just my opinion but I hope it helps.

 

[scottm]

Thanks, highway stability is my biggest concern. I'm not planning to spend a lot, but I've got a friend looking for me at dealer auctions, so should be able to get into an '03-'04. I made a list of preferences for him for different years, tried to keep it simple, but I'm picky. If he finds a smokin' deal on something outside my preferences, I'll take it. I really wouldn't mind an older 3rd gen, especially a stick.