2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition: Review and Pics (TruckTrend)

[Alex1911]

The Limited they had at the Texas State Fair had a nav system and also had the nub for the mast antenna on the right side. See the pic I posted in the other thread. I remember looking down at one of the 4Runners (don't remember which) and seeing a screw hole. My bet is they're all non-powered.

Yeah, I was under the impression from reading the .pdfs and what not that the Limited gets the shark fin and a cap where the mast is on the SR5/TE.

Personally, I think a mast is way el cheapo... Really, how much more can it cost to run some wires to the rear of the roof and stick on a fin antenna or something low profile? (rhetorical question)

They probably could have stuck the ant in one of the roof racks, probably gotten decent reception that way.

Personally, I think it's tacky.

 

[Uneek]

PARTY MODE?!?!?!

i wanna party
how can i get this button

Looks like it's on all 5th gens.

A “party mode” setting raises the bass and transfers the equalization to the rear of the vehicle to provide excellent outside audio for tailgating. Party mode benefits from rear hatch-mounted speakers and is actuated by a switch, installed in the instrument panel to the right of the driver’s seat (rear hatch speakers function with, or without, party mode).

Link

 

[Kenn]

I didnt like the looks of the 4th gen when I first saw it. But the looks grew on me.

I am starting to like the looks of the 5th gen. I dont like everything about the 5th gen's looks, but overall I think it is ok. The more I look at it, the more I like it.

I dont like the name of "Party Mode". Kind of lame.

 

[M1911]

Exactly. They unscrew the mast antenna to photograph...and at car shows.

Incredible.

 

[Yogi4]

Exactly. They unscrew the mast antenna to photograph...and at car shows.

They take the antenna masts off at car shows so people won't steal them.
Bill W

 

[M1911]

They take the antenna masts off at car shows so people won't steal them.
Bill W

And they also take them off for pictures. Check out the pictures on Toyota.com -- no mast antennas visible.

 

[jmc8387]

They take the antenna masts off at car shows so people won't steal them.
Bill W

I don't know who would want to steal something they can probably go get at a parts store for $10 bucks. I guess I could see people actually wanting t steal these 15 years ago, but now with most cars having an in-glass antenna, seems odd. Of course there are punk kids who don't care what they steal, they just are out to cause any sort of trouble they can.

 

[Alex1911]

And they also take them off for pictures. Check out the pictures on Toyota.com -- no mast antennas visible.

Because they know it's cheap and looks tacky.

 

[Gromulus]

Mast Antennas

They serve as a good self-defense weapon in a pinch.

 

[Scoobs]

And they also take them off for pictures. Check out the pictures on Toyota.com -- no mast antennas visible.

That's so the photographer won't steal it.

I mean how cheap is this. A Toyota Matrix has a mast for ch....sakes

 

[M1911]

Because they know it's cheap and looks tacky.

Bingo!

 

[Alex1911]

I honestly don't know which is more tacky, the mast antenna or the cap on a $40k Limited model. Can the Limited at least get a color coded plug...

 

[Uneek]

They take the antenna masts off at car shows so people won't steal them.
Bill W

Same with the radio knobs and cigaratte lighters at SF International Car here.

 

[*wishlist*]

everyone keeps griping about the mast antenna. it's not that big of a deal to me. however, for those who care, i remember reading that the certain models (likely the sr5) is getting a mast ant. while others (likely limited models) get a retractable antenna.

my biggest problem with that is it would be another part that can break and need replacing in the far future. what bugs me more is the gas filler door pull hole thing. but again, for the most part, it looks great on the outside. the inside looks nice to but it sucks if what others are reporting is true about it having no soft touch on the dash/doors/etc.

and again... no v8 or diesel option sucks.

 

[024RunnerSE]

I find it amazing that so many posts crying about a simple antenna setup that can be converted for cheap if it bothers you guys. I thought you guys would complain about the more important stuff such as the protruding lenses that will get damaged very easily offroad or the lack of a front locking diff, true offroad tires, unique ground clearance increase and lack of sliders on the Trail edition.

But hey, lets all complain about having the ancient mast antenna.

 

[sandcrawler]

i think it's fair to say that the mast antenna is emblematic of the cheap shortcuts Toyota seems to have taken in a number of areas with the 5G... and that's why it's been harped on here. the "sleight of hand" they've played with the touted "increased ground clearance" (just taller tires, in fact) is another one. i'd bet rock rails (not hd sliders, per se) will become an available option shortly. but i'm certain the lack of front locker and true offroad tires will remain the province of post-purchase upgrades. just my 2¢.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

We get a rear locker and someone complains of the lack of a front? That's funny but really,how many 4Runners do you see with front lockers anyway?

I think most of us are expecting too much and should be happy that Toyota didn't turn the 4Runner into a glorified stationwagon and still has a semblance of off road capability and gave the off road crowd a good starting point.

Toyota still has to sell these to the masses and the majority will never see off road or even be used primarily for towing and the majority pays Toyota's bill much more so and that's how Toyota has to do business.

 

[M1911]

We get a rear locker and someone complains of the lack of a front? That's funny but really,how many 4Runners do you see with front lockers anyway?

I haven't seen anyone complaining about the lack of a front locker. I've seen many people, including me, complaining that the SR5 and TE no longer have a center locking differential.

 

[024RunnerSE]

We get a rear locker and someone complains of the lack of a front? That's funny but really,how many 4Runners do you see with front lockers anyway?

Then we should all go back to complaining about how cheesy the antenna is lmao

 

[GatorGreg]

I've seen many people, including me, complaining that the SR5 and TE no longer have a center locking differential.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that all the new 2010 4x4's, including the SR5 and TE, do have a locking center diff. When you put it in 4WD, does it not lock the center diff so it's 50/50 front/rear split? I believe it does, just like my old '00 SR5 did. From what I've read, I believe the problem is that the SR5 and TE no longer have the ability to run in 4WD on dry pavement (what Toyota used to call "multi-mode" in the olden days.) In other words, the only way to activate 4WD on the new SR5 and TE is to lock the center diff. So yes, they DO have a locking center diff, that's how it gets power to the front axle.

I believe it was the '98 Limiteds that first got the socalled "multi-mode" 4WD system that would allow you to run in 4WD on dry pavement (a feature that became standard on all trim levels in '01). The multi-mode would provide power to both the front and rear, but it did NOT require you to lock the center diff in order to provide power to all 4 wheels - therefore allowing you to run on dry pavement because there would be no binding. Of course, with multi-mode you could ALSO lock the center diff if you wanted to for more heavy duty 4WD applications.

All 4WD fourth gens with the torsen center diff could also run in 4WD on dry pavement because the center diff didn't have to be "locked" in order to provide power to front and rear. But once again, you had the option of locking it when you wanted to. This was an ideal system IMO, made better only by the addition of a rear locker on the 4th gen '09 Trail Edition.

So to summarize, it's not the loss of a locking center diff that we should be lamenting. Rather, it's the loss of the ability to run it in 4WD with center diff UNlocked which is what you need to run 4WD on dry pavement (except for the Limiteds of course which retain this feature in '10).

I'm still not sure though that I've read anything definitive on this yet - I want to wait until I actually sit in a 5th gen and read an owner's manual for an SR5 4x4 to be sure. I say this because I still can't believe they would take such a major step backwards on non-Limiteds until I read it with my own two eyes