2005 vs. 2012 - a few questions

[loughman]

New member of this forum, have owned several Toyota's including a 2005 4runner (no longer have this one....)

Can someone help answer a few questions, regarding 2005 vs. 2012? The local dealer has no 2010, 2011 or 2012 to view and is not able to answer the following questions.

For baseline I am comparing to 2005 Sport Edition with V6 that we owned from new (2005 to 2008). Things we really liked were the brakes (the Sport Editions had 13 inch front discs, with noticeable better braking than SR5) and XREAS suspension.

The 2005 also had the multi mode 4wd with Torsen differential (was available with the V6, all the V8s had full time 4wd).

So does the 2012 Limited 4wd model have a 2wd position? Is the 2012 SR5 capable of 4wd on dry pavement? We really liked the 4wd system on the 2005 and would like to get that, or something as close to that as we can. We also liked the XREAS so that would make us lean towards the Limited. A trail model is not for us.

I don't need or want most of the fluff that comes with a Limited, like navigation, bluetooth, smartkey - but do really want the XREAS. Back in 2005 when we bought ours, we test drove both the SR5 and Sport Edition and the XREAS and better brakes were must haves for us. The Sport Edition braked better, cornered better etc.

Does the 2012 have any more headroom than the 2005? My head used to just brush the piece of the roof between the sunroof and the door, I found it very annoying. Hopefully the 2012 has more headroom - it "looks" as if the roof is slightly raised, but maybe not so.

Thanks all for any help you can offer. We are serioulsy considereing replacing my wife's current vehicle with another 4runner. The 2005 was her favorite of all vehicles.

 

[2011T4RLE]

The Limited has 4 pot brakes up front, full time 4WD with a torsen center diff, and XREAS. I cannot compare headroom for you, but I am 6'1" and I fit in my Limited with plenty of room to spare.

My Limited does not have a 2WD option. All 4 wheels are seeing power all the time.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Do a search, this has been discussed many times. The new 4runners are stripped down compared to your 2005.

 

[LiquidGx]

Of course by stripped down he means better in every way. 4th gen going to hate.

 

[berettashot117]

xreas will be a headache down the road

 

[loughman]

The 2005 is sold 4 years ago, we are considering replacing it.

I don't know how XREAS will be a headache down the road, cost more money to replace the shocks I suppose, but that would probably be 10 years down the road or so. I guess the hydraulic lines could leak too, but again you could just replace the shocks with aftermarket at that point and give up XREAS.

I am aware the 4runner has been decontented in some areas, and yet new features in others. I'm leaning towards a Limited simply because we really liked the XREAS, it worked well for us in the past and gave what we considered great handling and when combined with the 13 inch front discs, great braking too.

For reference, my next door neighbor bought our 2005 4runner Sport Edition, still has it and it is coming up on 170,000 miles and in his words, no problems what so ever. We maintained it meticulously for the first 3 years and 50K miles, my neighbor typically follows the book, not one to wash, wax and clean the underside with a hose, etc.

So if someone can tell me the differences between the 4wd systems currently useds, that may help us decide. I know the Limited has full time 4wd with torsen. The 2005 had part time with torsen that was capable of being left in 4wd on pavement with no adverse affect at all, other than slight loss of mpg and I suppose increased tire wear. We liked that system, but it appears to be no longer offered, sounds like either full time 4wd in the Limited (with no provision for 2wd) or a part time system in the SR5 - unknown if that can be left in 4wd on dry pavement.

A trail model is not for me. The leather and sunroof in a Limited are fine with me, I could care less for bluetooth, navi and smart key but realize that is part of the package. If I could get XREAS in a SR5 with the upgraded fabric (sport fabric, appears very similar to what was in our 2005) that is what we would get. The deconted tailgate closer is no big deal. The lack of a gas tank door remote release is no real big deal either.

The wife is currently driving my old 2005 RAV4 with a 5 speed stick. It has been a great car, and the wife doesn't complain. I just am thinking of putting her back in a new (or perhaps newer) 4runner again, a bit more rugged vehicle with driving dynamics she likes and mechanical traits such as full frame, rear axle and nice v6 that I like. It will give up a few mpg from the RAV4 but for 12,000 miles per year or so, not a big deal....

On the headroom issue, I saw one post of someone saying it (2012) has more and another post of someone saying the seat (driver) sits a big higher off the floor too, so your legs aren't as straight...both a benefit to me but neither was a problem in the 2005 for my wife.

Again, thanks for any advice or experience anyone has comparing the two generations, in specific with regard to the suspension, brakes 4wd systems and interior headroom and seat position.

 

[JB.]

 

[philsey]

"a part time system in the SR5 - unknown if that can be left in 4wd on dry pavement."

Not recommended. You 'can', but straight-line driving only.

 

[LiquidGx]

The SR5 dove far too much for my liking under braking. The Limited stayed much flatter. I never plan on adding a lift, just larger tires. You should not drive an SR5 in 4x on dry pavement.

 

[loughman]

Thanks everyone.

The chart pretty much answers my question - to me the 4th gen 4wd system with v6 was the best and no longer an option. I guess I would prefer the full time 4wd and XREAS of the Limited vs. the part time system of the SR5. Not being able to use the part time system on dry pavement makes it significantly less appealing to me, and not at all appealing to the wife. She liked to dial in the 4wd on the 2005 4runner on snowy days and not have to worry about it. The 2005 RAV is full time 4wd with no switches either, so she likes that too. But the ability to put it back in 2wd was nice as I believe it helped mpg a bit.

I guess bottom line if the EPA estimates for the 2012 Limited are accurate, this should be no worse, and perhaps 1 mpg or so better than the 2005 4runner we had....