2014 SR5 and limited

[newworld2004]

so, I am new to 4runner, and since I need 3rd row seat it appears my options are SR5 and limited, I recently test drove limited and I really like it, however I like front face SR5 and Trail better limited, I was set my mind for SR5 premium, however I read that because of soft shocks/suspensions , it is recommended to upgrade. My next 4runner will be mostly city driven . please advised.

 

[philsey]

1. What can you afford?
2. Have you priced the SR5/P and an LE?
3. Is this is a DD/family car?

Two things to keep in mind: 1) You cannot see the face while you're in it, and b) "soft suspension" is completely subjective. Forget what others say and buy what you (and wife) like.

You will NEVER get a consus from here on either topic.

:decision:

 

[newworld2004]

1. What can you afford?
2. Have you priced the SR5/P and an LE?
3. Is this is a DD/family car?

Two things to keep in mind: 1) You cannot see the face while you're in it, and b) "soft suspension" is completely subjective. Forget what others say and buy what you (and wife) like.

You will NEVER get a consus from here on either topic.

:decision:

What can you afford? I will be more comfortable around 35K out the door.
2. Have you priced the SR5/P and an LE? yes, SR5/P 35K plus tax/tag,etc,.. I was quote LE with 3rd row seat 41K plus fees and taxes.
3. Is this is a DD/family car?
yes it is , I have to have 3rd row seat, and Sr5 3rd row seat option doesn't comes with leather /NAV, and all goodies.

 

[philsey]

Your budget places you squarely on the SR5 w/ 3rd row. Maybe stretched to SR5/P if you negotiate well.

Further discussion of an LE is moot.

You say you "have to have" a 3rd row - implying rug rats. Strongly suggest you take the whole family to the dealer, complete with diaper bags, baby seats, and strollers. Put the 3rd row up, and see how the family + stuff fits.

You might need a mini van. Just sayin'.

 

[newworld2004]

Your budget places you squarely on the SR5 w/ 3rd row. Maybe stretched to SR5/P if you negotiate well.

Further discussion of an LE is moot.

You say you "have to have" a 3rd row - implying rug rats. Strongly suggest you take the whole family to the dealer, complete with diaper bags, baby seats, and strollers. Put the 3rd row up, and see how the family + stuff fits.

You might need a mini van. Just sayin'.

our kids are 12 and 8 , so no more car seat, when I test drove LE my wife was with me as well, she loves 4runner, currently we have pilot .I know for sure mini van is out for sure. I offer the dealer 40K out the door for LE but they didn't take it, later was sold 44K. in north east is hard to negotiated.

 

[philsey]

so, I am new to 4runner, and since I need 3rd row seat it appears my options are SR5 and limited, I recently test drove limited and I really like it, however I like front face SR5 and Trail better limited, I was set my mind for SR5 premium, however I read that because of soft shocks/suspensions , it is recommended to upgrade. My next 4runner will be mostly city driven . please advised.

So, what exactly is your question?

 

[VoodooTitan]

I'm confused... you have a 12 and 8 year old, they should fit in the back seats. So what is the necessity for a 3rd row? Are you guys expecting another baby or planning on another one?

My .02 is that the third row is extremely limiting... When the 3rd row is up you lose a lot of storage space, and there is almost ZERO leg room with those seats up. They are really designed for petite people or kids that have out grown car seats but are not going through a growth spurt.

I mean... to me it doesn't sound like you NEED a 3rd row, and if you want the amenities of the LE but the price of an SR5 you may want to consider a Trail Edition. The Trail has the softex, nav, and "goodies" but you wont get 3rd row. The TE also is 2x4 with the lever for 4x4 while the LE is only 4x4 or 2x4.

At the end of the day it's all about cost or compromise. Are you willing to compromise wants vs cost, being money for something else (date night, eating out with the kids, changing brand names to store brand, etc) to cut cost and put it toward a higher monthly payment, or are you going to compromise on what you want in your vehicle and get the base model.

Last I checked on USAA a new Trail Edition premium was running about $32 out the door, fully loaded, not including tax, tag, title.

 

[marazaii]

negotiate well and push them to the limit, just bought a limited blizzard white out the door for $38,3k; like it was stated previously, 3rd row eliminates cargo space.

 

[newworld2004]

I'm confused... you have a 12 and 8 year old, they should fit in the back seats. So what is the necessity for a 3rd row? Are you guys expecting another baby or planning on another one?

My .02 is that the third row is extremely limiting... When the 3rd row is up you lose a lot of storage space, and there is almost ZERO leg room with those seats up. They are really designed for petite people or kids that have out grown car seats but are not going through a growth spurt.

I mean... to me it doesn't sound like you NEED a 3rd row, and if you want the amenities of the LE but the price of an SR5 you may want to consider a Trail Edition. The Trail has the softex, nav, and "goodies" but you wont get 3rd row. The TE also is 2x4 with the lever for 4x4 while the LE is only 4x4 or 2x4.

At the end of the day it's all about cost or compromise. Are you willing to compromise wants vs cost, being money for something else (date night, eating out with the kids, changing brand names to store brand, etc) to cut cost and put it toward a higher monthly payment, or are you going to compromise on what you want in your vehicle and get the base model.

Last I checked on USAA a new Trail Edition premium was running about $32 out the door, fully loaded, not including tax, tag, title.

3rd row seat just needed in case we have some company with us( friends, etc,..). I guess we need to make deciosn how bad we need 3rd seat. other wise Sr5/P seems to be perfect as far as options and Price.

Thx

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I found the 3rd row seat kind of useless except for small children. Also when the 3rd row seat is up there is only about 6 inches of storage left behind it. I just removed my 3rd row seats this weekend and made a false floor that looks just like it did when the 3rd row seats were folded down but now I have a lot of storage area under the new floor I made. I weighed the seats when I took them out and they were 50 lbs. each (100 lbs. total).

 

[VoodooTitan]

3rd row seat just needed in case we have some company with us( friends, etc,..). I guess we need to make deciosn how bad we need 3rd seat. other wise Sr5/P seems to be perfect as far as options and Price.

Thx

Informed decision*. I would suggest going back to the dealership and sitting back there the entire time your wife drives around, and then vice versa. This way you know what you'll be subjecting your passengers to. It's not comfortable. My wife is like 5'3 and even she wasn't comfortable sitting back there for 5 minutes. The seats aren't padded very much, they're narrow, and there is minimal leg room, and you do lose out on the "trunk" space. If you go with a 3rd row highly consider getting a Baja or gobi roof rack. Now you're probably thinking, well... the kids will sit back there of course. They will, until they start complaining. I'm not saying your kids aren't well behaved, but kids are kids.

With that said... there was a lengthy discussion on the KDSS and on-road driving comfort. Before you pull the trigger on an SR5/P, test drive the TE-P with KDSS after the SR5 to experience the difference. I personally have not done this, but other members have reported a noticeable difference. While it may not be a big deal to you, the wife may find the KDSS exponentially more beneficial and worth the extra cost.

Again, good luck and happy hunting.

 

[Sac State]

I found the 3rd row seat kind of useless except for small children. Also when the 3rd row seat is up there is only about 6 inches of storage left behind it. I just removed my 3rd row seats this weekend and made a false floor that looks just like it did when the 3rd row seats were folded down but now I have a lot of storage area under the new floor I made. I weighed the seats when I took them out and they were 50 lbs. each (100 lbs. total).

Pics? That sounds really useful. Can you put them back in quickly if needed?

 

[Sac State]

3rd row seat just needed in case we have some company with us( friends, etc,..). I guess we need to make deciosn how bad we need 3rd seat. other wise Sr5/P seems to be perfect as far as options and Price.

Thx

Something else to consider....if it is just the four of you, put up the 3rd row seats, fold down the middle seats into a table and presto, you have four extra feet from your children. :Cry:

The kids love it as it makes them feel like they are in a bus sitting so far back. Plus with the middle seats folded down you can still see them fully.

As mentioned, there is NO storage space with all the seats deployed. I personally really like the utility/options.

Also, I spent 11 years driving a stiff legged Toyota 4WD and every expansion joint/pothole in the road was felt, the SR5 is cushy and just what I was looking for. Feels like a Tahoe/Suburban wallow. :flypig:

 

[earlgrey69]

What can you afford? I will be more comfortable around 35K out the door.
2. Have you priced the SR5/P and an LE? yes, SR5/P 35K plus tax/tag,etc,.. I was quote LE with 3rd row seat 41K plus fees and taxes.
3. Is this is a DD/family car?
yes it is , I have to have 3rd row seat, and Sr5 3rd row seat option doesn't comes with leather /NAV, and all goodies.

I have a SR5, 3rd row with leather and nav.

 

[jordan_tm]

Pics? That sounds really useful. Can you put them back in quickly if needed?

I'd be interested in this as well.

 

[roktoy]

38.3k out the door, that's an awesome price, was it for a 4wd version or 2wd, and what model year? Makes a big difference.

negotiate well and push them to the limit, just bought a limited blizzard white out the door for $38,3k; like it was stated previously, 3rd row eliminates cargo space.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Pics? That sounds really useful. Can you put them back in quickly if needed?

I do not know how to post pictures but will if I can get my wife to help me figure it out. After being on this site 11 years you would have thought I would have posted pictures but I am an old school old fart.

Yes the floor I made can be easily removed and the seat put back into place.

If you send me your email address I can take some pictures with my phone and send them to you. I know how to do that.

 

[newworld2004]

I have a SR5, 3rd row with leather and nav.

how is it drive compare to trial and limited, how much they are gong for before tag/tag?

thx

 

[newworld2004]

38.3k out the door, that's an awesome price, was it for a 4wd version or 2wd, and what model year? Makes a big difference.

it is very good price, just today I was negotiating to dealer their asking price was 40500 with 3rd row seat for LE. on the top of that they are adding 860 , 400 process and Tax, tag as well.

 

[jslaz]

We bought a 2013 silver limited with 6,500 miles last march. 4x4, 3rd row seat, power running boards and everything you could get on a loaded limited 4runner for 37K. sticker was 45k and change. We were going to pick up a black one same specs for 36,500 at a fiat dealer and it had 10k miles. That one was sold out from under us within one hour of my wife test driving it over her lunch hour from some out of state buyer in CA. the silver one turned out to be a better deal anyway. less miles and the power running boards are nice. I guess my point is that if you can be a little patient you can find a used one with everything you want and with low miles and its just as good as new imo.