2014 4Runner

[BltByKrmn]

I bought my wife a new 2014 4Runner SR5 Premium. Dark Blue.... Anyhow, I am alarmed by the recovery rate on the factory shocks. I took it to a dealer this afternoon, they of course racked it up and looked over everything. Then they drove it, compared it to others on their lot, and came back with the old "normal" thing. Sorry, but the recovery rate on these shocks is appalling. Damn thing bounces up and down four or five times before it can recover fully. Front end nose dives in braking, hard braking must be avoided altogether - hoping I never have to actually do that.

The thing just wobbles like a shrimp trawler. I took a look at the front end tonight for the hell of it over at my buddy's house. He's got two late model 4Runners in his garage and he's a master mechanic. He looked at the front end and noticed that the springs are larger than on his, but then again, the 2014 gains a hefty 1000 + lbs over the prior model. Our collective guess is that they stuck with the same stock shocks as previous models, and yes - the recovery rate is very alarming. Originally, even he thought I was over exaggerating the whole thing until he went for a ride. It is a high sitting SUV that has a lot of weight (over 6000 lbs) to haul around empty. He was surprised at the nose dive on braking and the 4.5 bounces counted before that thing stopped. Was even better at night - you could see the headlights bouncing up and down repeatedly well after stopped. Not the springs, they are quite large, has got to be the cheap shocks they threw on these to save a couple dollars on each unit.

Ok, question, is anyone else experiencing this? And if so, have you had any success at the dealership with shock replacement? Sorry, turning into a three question quiz...... A am interested in something like CaveTroll did as a fix, if this is what he experienced. I was already playing around at the Bilstein website looking for replacements. Found 24-187541 Front & 24-187558 Rear.

I own a 2014 SR5-P and 2007 FJ Cruiser, the SR5 is nowhere near as bad as the FJ was when it was stock. Unless you're coming out of another modified truck, I would say the nose dip you're explaining is not normal on a 2014 4Runner. Is there some mild dip under hard braking? Yes. Is it dramatic? Not really.

If you can't find something wrong and it really bothers you that much, I suggest you switch to the Bilstein 5100s. I have the 5100 on my FJ and they are great.

 

[NoDak]

THIS WILL BE MY LAST UPDATE ON INVENTORY LEVELS FOR 2014 MODELS


i have redone the breakout by model and color each week instead of an overall look. hope this helps those looking for specific model and colors.

(please note that the numbers dont add up due to NOT posting unknown colors/models and numbers are approximate)

.

2014 Inventory Breakout
 
Model :      SR5    SR5p    TE     TEp    LE
                                            
4x4 :                                       
Black        202     86     63     27    174
Blue          43     13     14      3     21
Grey         133     57     52     12    114
Red          110     50     24     13     74
Silver       188    131     96     32    194
White        238    161     79     18    173

RWD :
Black        117     37                   58
Blue          16      4                    6
Grey          85     23                   51
Red           71     10                   23
Silver       134     46                   61
White        257     98                  109
 
Overall Inventory By Year
          Last    Current
 
2014 :    4063     4455
2013 :     773      623

THIS WILL BE MY LAST UPDATE ON INVENTORY LEVELS FOR 2014 MODELS

 

[lmtdgov]

My wife and I are looking to add another 4runner to the stable to go with our 2000 SR5 4x4. They wife wants luxury this time so we are looking at the 2014 limited. One of her must haves is rear seat entertainment for road trips with the kid. I have not been able to see a factory kit installed in a 5th gen, but I'm hearing that it might be better to just go with an aftermarket kit from a place like Best Buy. Thoughts?

So far we are looking at 2014 Black/Black w/3rd row, auto running boards and I think those are the only two options we are selecting since the backup cam and heated/cooled front seats I think are standard.

Thanks for any help. The dealer in our area is not all that helpful so concrete info is hard to come by.

This will be our first new car. Always bought MUCH cheaper used cars in the past.

PS: 4runners are awesome! Our 2000 has served us well and taken us through east coast snow, west coast floods and ski trips, to a full drive down the baja peninsula including some true, but unintentional, 4x4ing.

 

[NoDak]

another option is to get a CPO lexus gx460 with oem RSE. otherwise your looking for a new 4runner LE with 3rd party RSE.

used gx460 will run about the same price as a new 4R LE. hard part will be finding a cpo with oem RSE.

and your looking probably 2010-2011 maybe a 2012 if your lucky.

 

[Jesse1983]

THIS WILL BE MY LAST UPDATE ON INVENTORY LEVELS FOR 2014 MODELS

THIS WILL BE MY LAST UPDATE ON INVENTORY LEVELS FOR 2014 MODELS

peace and love, peace and love

 

[lmtdgov]

We were considering the GX460 as well, but after test driving one it didn't really seem to ride any better so it didn't seem worth it to spend 5k more for a car with almost 30k miles on it. You loose another mile or two mpg as well.

 

[BltByKrmn]

Can someone please resize that disgustingly huge picture that's killing the ability to read posts?

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=102450]WisedUpRoverOwner[/MENTION]

Can someone please resize that disgustingly huge picture that's killing the ability to read posts?

Second this.

 

[NoDak]

We were considering the GX460 as well, but after test driving one it didn't really seem to ride any better so it didn't seem worth it to spend 5k more for a car with almost 30k miles on it. You loose another mile or two mpg as well.

but you get other things you cant get in the 4runner that are restricted to either the TE or the LE only

with the gx460 you can get all the options in one model

v8
crawl control
kdss
heated/cool front seats, rear outboard heated seats
3rd row standard that fold flatter than the 4runner
higher tow rating

then you dont have to compromise between getting a TE or the LE, get one with both in it.

personally i went the LE as i have zero chance of ever using crawl/kdss and prefer the luxury side the 4runner.

 

[NoDak]

isnt there an option to limit the picture resolution in pixels. that would solve alot of issues with picture posts.

now granted i resize mine down to 800x600 from the originals i have since i set my phone to snap pics at highest rez setting.

 

[WisedUpRoverOwner]

Sorry all for the outrageously large pic. I posted trough my phone and didn't realize it was practically life size. Ill edit on my comp and repost at the correct size :sorry:

 

[phillyd2]

peace and love, peace and love

Whatever you say Ringo, whatever you say.

 

[trojunman]

SR5 4x4



HID REVERSE

 

[Jeff M]

View attachment 109394

Clearly needs bigger wheels.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Clearly needs bigger wheels.

Nah... Just lower profile tires...

 

[JohnJerk]

My wife and I are looking to add another 4runner to the stable to go with our 2000 SR5 4x4. They wife wants luxury this time so we are looking at the 2014 limited. One of her must haves is rear seat entertainment for road trips with the kid. I have not been able to see a factory kit installed in a 5th gen, but I'm hearing that it might be better to just go with an aftermarket kit from a place like Best Buy. Thoughts?

So far we are looking at 2014 Black/Black w/3rd row, auto running boards and I think those are the only two options we are selecting since the backup cam and heated/cooled front seats I think are standard.

Thanks for any help. The dealer in our area is not all that helpful so concrete info is hard to come by.

This will be our first new car. Always bought MUCH cheaper used cars in the past.

PS: 4runners are awesome! Our 2000 has served us well and taken us through east coast snow, west coast floods and ski trips, to a full drive down the baja peninsula including some true, but unintentional, 4x4ing.

Equipped like that you will be in base GX 460 territory. Rear seat entertainment does not make a lot of sense today with iPads and other technologies offering the movie experience and more. Factory RSES is basically a terrible value IMO. 2014 GX should scratch your wife's lux itch better than a limited 4R.

 

[kirk1233]

Equipped like that you will be in base GX 460 territory. Rear seat entertainment does not make a lot of sense today with iPads and other technologies offering the movie experience and more. Factory RSES is basically a terrible value IMO. 2014 GX should scratch your wife's lux itch better than a limited 4R.

The base GX is worse equipped than a 4runner limited. A friend got one and it doesn't even have NAV. The base Lexus doesn't have real leather. You've got to get into the mid 50s for one equipped like a limited 4runner.

 

[NoDak]

The base GX is worse equipped than a 4runner limited. A friend got one and it doesn't even have NAV. The base Lexus doesn't have real leather. You've got to get into the mid 50s for one equipped like a limited 4runner.

no one buys a brand new lexus lower than the es or is. most lease 1-3 years and trade up.

lexus cpo with only 1-2 years are pretty cheap compared to a brand new one and most have 12-30k on them. hell I was looking at a gs350 awd 2013 w/ 16k miles for 42k before I decided on a LE. if your gonna get a gx460, get a cpo luxury version for around 45-50k.

that's what I would do, ask around and you will find quite a few converts from 4R's to gx460 cpo's around here.

I think if I every get rid of my LE, I will get a cpo gx next time around.

 

[JohnJerk]

The base GX is worse equipped than a 4runner limited. A friend got one and it doesn't even have NAV. The base Lexus doesn't have real leather. You've got to get into the mid 50s for one equipped like a limited 4runner.

Worse equipped is a stretch. KDSS. 3rd row standard. V8. 6 Speed. LED. 8 inch screen. But low 50s is required to get some extras. Your friend's was $49k which is a great value and just 2k above a loaded LE.

 

[4r2014]

The base GX is worse equipped than a 4runner limited. A friend got one and it doesn't even have NAV. The base Lexus doesn't have real leather. You've got to get into the mid 50s for one equipped like a limited 4runner.

Not having Nav or leather is your friend's fault/preference.