'03 SR5 & SE owners - Cladding

[pdoel]

Do you ever wish you had waited, and ended up with an '04 without the plastic gray cladding?

I'm torn. I definitely have no complaints about the looks of my '03 SE. I think it looks awesome. But sometimes, I see an '04 of the same color with the painted cladding, and I feel torn.

 

[Auburn 4Runner]

Sometimes I have mixed feelings too. Just a little piece of advice, don't use bug and tar remover on the plastic cladding because it is very difficult to get it off.

 

[toybox]

In silver I like it better with the cladding for sure. other colors like balck I like the cladding painted.

I do feel my silver sport is becoming more unique as more runners hit the road with the painted cladding. And that imo is good.

 

[SteveM]

The painted cladding was a late 2003 model year change - we got a rebate on our 2003 because of that change.

My wife likes the cladding dark gray (4R is Silver), but I prefer the painted cladding. It's her car, so she won.

I use Vinylex to clean and polish the cladding; it seems to work pretty good.

 

[Mark86]

I have mixed feelings about it. I really don't mind the cladding with the silver, but I think the 4Runner's look richer without the cladding. It also irritates me to think about how much this truck cost and why it would be built with such a cheap material. My opinion is that my truck has not given me any problems so far and that is all that matters. The looks don't effect the way it drives and the fun I have in it!

 

[Cleric]

I chose the gray cladding because it stands up better to the debris that wheels throw up at it. I plan on adding 20x9.5 wheels which will stick out far enough to throw a lot of gravel.

Also, the gray cladding came with a free replacement warranty if scratched.

 

[jharris2]

Also, the gray cladding came with a free replacement warranty if scratched.

Tell me more about this -- I was not aware there was that kind of warranty....

I like the fact that I have the only silver with gray cladding and spoiler in the area -- there's one other, but without the spoiler. So it's easy to pick out in the parking lot. Then again, if you flip someone off, you're easy to remember!!

 

[Cleric]

I think it's part of the VIP Package option. It includes Pin-Stripes, Door Edge Guards, & Lifetime Warranty for these plus the cladding. I'm not sure if other dealers did this or if it was just a local option, but it sure helped sell me on the gray cladding.

 

[Sac State]

Do you ever wish you had waited, and ended up with an '04 without the plastic gray cladding?

I'm torn. I definitely have no complaints about the looks of my '03 SE. I think it looks awesome. But sometimes, I see an '04 of the same color with the painted cladding, and I feel torn.

I am the same way. A little dose of envy. But, if I had a painted cladded rig and saw a grey color cladded rig, I'd probably want the grey cladding.

Human nature is to want what you don't have. The automobile manufacturers know this, that is why they continually change the exterior of vehicles and market them as 'Swiss Army knives' capable of taking you anywhere or saving your life.

I like the grey cladding as I have absolutely no scratches or door dings and it is a snap to wash/wax. Plus, it is unique. I see color cladded Runners everywhere, but only see a few of the grey cladded vehicles.

Check out pics of Japanese Runners, the grey cladding is being used over there.

 

[Luxury]

Re: Re: '03 SR5 & SE owners - Cladding

....Check out pics of Japanese Runners, the grey cladding is being used over there.

Yes, but most of those pics have a caption saying something in japanese and then it says "American Version". Unless we are looking at different pics. The grey cladding is definitely more unique and I am liking it more an more.......but I still prefer without.......but I don't have an SR5 or SE so I didn't vote.

 

[Sac State]

I like the cladding with the silver accents of the Sport. The accents definately add a nice touch to the grey. My '02 was monochromatic black. It looked nice, bit after awhile it was just black.

I hope the Surf bumper piece is the same brushed silver as the other accents. It is hard to tell if it is bright chrome or silver colored.

 

[Sac State]

Re: Re: Re: '03 SR5 & SE owners - Cladding

Yes, but most of those pics have a caption saying something in japanese and then it says "American Version".

Thats right baby! 100% red blooded American.

 

[Luxury]

I like the cladding with the silver accents of the Sport. The accents definately add a nice touch to the grey. My '02 was monochromatic black. It looked nice, bit after awhile it was just black.

I hope the Surf bumper piece is the same brushed silver as the other accents. It is hard to tell if it is bright chrome or silver colored.

I'd say closer to silver than chrome. But brushed aluminum is about as good of a description as you can get. I was worried how it would look next to the silver accent on the bumper but it looks good IMO.

 

[Hitman]

I think the unpainted cladding looks okay, especially on a silver 4Runner. but I would never buy it that way.

See, my '02 Ford Escape had unpainted cladding. After 3 years of driving it through all kinds of weather, I ended up with a "sand blasted" surface behind the wheels. It looked kinda rough and felt even worse than it looked. Road tar is almost impossible to get off the plastic without using a solvent that discolors the cladding.

I'll stick with the painted cladding from now on.....

 

[Jim_Chow]

Toyota ought to get rid of the plastic fender panels and stamp the body components out of one piece of steel like on the 1st/2nd gens and 100s.

 

[Sac State]

It would be nice if they gave us the option of having certain body pieces stamped out of stainless or aluminum. Make it a 'package'. It would cost more, but I would love to have aluminum quarter panels, hood and other areas exposed to salt and corrosion.

Rust is about the only weakness a Toyota has.

 

[jharris2]

I think the unpainted cladding looks okay, especially on a silver 4Runner. but I would never buy it that way.

See, my '02 Ford Escape had unpainted cladding. After 3 years of driving it through all kinds of weather, I ended up with a "sand blasted" surface behind the wheels. It looked kinda rough and felt even worse than it looked. Road tar is almost impossible to get off the plastic without using a solvent that discolors the cladding.

I'll stick with the painted cladding from now on.....

Haven't had a problem with anything really sticking to the cladding. Bugs are really easy to clean off of it.

 

[Hitman]

Toyota ought to get rid of the plastic fender panels and stamp the body components out of one piece of steel like on the 1st/2nd gens and 100s.

I like the plastic.... less parking lot dings....

 

[Sac State]

Haven't had a problem with anything really sticking to the cladding. Bugs are really easy to clean off of it.

Plus the mud guards and tube steps that I have keep almost everything off of the cladding. I have had tar and black road grim on the cladding a few times and it just wiped off.

 

[Cleric]

Plus the mud guards and tube steps that I have keep almost everything off of the cladding. I have had tar and black road grim on the cladding a few times and it just wiped off.

What kind of mud guards do you have? I just installed my tubes yesterday.