2015. Base SR5.. Looks great to me but.. Should I hold off

[Pete from mass]

Excellent advice.
I am 3 hours away from picking up the car for a test drive to work... I figure I'll be negotiating tonight.
The tires will be a very good thing to discuss.
I need good tires that won't get chewed up by hours on gravel... But since I also have some very long highway drives I want to be careful about the tread... I don't want it too aggressive.
A compromise of decent highway, reasonable on trails...but very durable so they don't get cut up.

Again ...it's coming up on show time, so I'm grateful for this advice.

 

[Jernik]

Excellent advice.
I am 3 hours away from picking up the car for a test drive to work... I figure I'll be negotiating tonight.
The tires will be a very good thing to discuss.
I need good tires that won't get chewed up by hours on gravel... But since I also have some very long highway drives I want to be careful about the tread... I don't want it too aggressive.
A compromise of decent highway, reasonable on trails...but very durable so they don't get cut up.

Again ...it's coming up on show time, so I'm grateful for this advice.

This may be helpful to you: 1engineer's tire review. Page 2, I think, is where he starts with the good stuff.

 

[NuclearN8]

Excellent advice.
I am 3 hours away from picking up the car for a test drive to work... I figure I'll be negotiating tonight.
The tires will be a very good thing to discuss.
I need good tires that won't get chewed up by hours on gravel... But since I also have some very long highway drives I want to be careful about the tread... I don't want it too aggressive.
A compromise of decent highway, reasonable on trails...but very durable so they don't get cut up.

Again ...it's coming up on show time, so I'm grateful for this advice.

the 2 tires I mentioned above see 90% highway and 10% fishing expedition use same kinda of areas you use (logging roads, defined trails, and some muddy spots near streams lakes for access). No issues on what I have installed and all quiet on the highway as well. [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] review is very good as well.
good luck

 

[Pete from mass]

Right now I'm feeling pretty great. I will be getting the black SR5.
Your advice and help was excellent! Thank you.

Just some data for others that are looking:

I will be getting a black SR5
The dealer offered as part of his package:
- a leather upgrade with the seats (not available as an option--a unique dealer offer),
- running boards (option)
- Entune upgrade (option)
- mats (option)
- the cross bars for the roof rack (option)
- a zero deductible, service package

They will also swap the tires and upgrade them for the price difference.
(I get the tire upgrade and they will credit me the tires)

The last thing I am thinking about ... the dealer offered to mount a 1/4" skid plate like the one on the TRD pro. I wasn't sure if that was just show and the SR5 skid plate is perfectly adequate..or is that heavy duty TRD Pro skid plate a good thing. I just don't have enough experience to judge it. (I'd appreciate your opinion on that).

When all is said and done I'm about I'm about $7k under the cheapest KDSS equipped Trail (and I get leather and the running boards). I think I'm going to stay SR5.

 

[NoDak]

The dealer offered as part of his package:

- a leather upgrade with the seats (not available as an option--a unique dealer offer),
- Entune upgrade (option)

this is what comes on the premium package looks like the same :

Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade
Entune™ Premium Audio w/Nav <SUP>11</SUP> & App Ste. <SUP>12</SUP>
SofTex™-trimmed seating

- running boards (option)
- mats (option)
- the cross bars for the roof rack (option)

these are valid options

- a zero deductible, service package

is this the free 2yr/25k service you automatically get from Toyota with any new Toyota? this will include 10k oil changes and 5k rotates.

if it is, he's blowing smoke up your ass

The last thing I am thinking about ... the dealer offered to mount a 1/4" skid plate like the one on the TRD pro. I wasn't sure if that was just show and the SR5 skid plate is perfectly adequate..or is that heavy duty TRD Pro skid plate a good thing. I just don't have enough experience to judge it. (I'd appreciate your opinion on that).

is this the TRD skid plate or aftermarket? if its the TRD its only good for very very mild offroad, if you want a real skid plate go aftermarket.

 

[TheLast13]

Get the SR5 and get some good all terrain tires before leaving the dealer (trade in the factory ones, the dealer will give you some credit towards the new tires if you work it as part of the deal).


Cooper AT3's seem like they'd be a perfect fit for your use.
I have hankook dynapro atm's and goodyear wrangler all terrain adventure with kevlar tires on our 4runners (only cause cooper at3's were sold out both times) and love them both for the same use, a fishing expedition vehicle. Good luck.

This is exactly right. A SR5 and some good tires will get you pretty much anywhere you need to go. If it doesnt, then you probably shouldnt even be where ever you are.

 

[Pete from mass]

the package is a base SR5 with some options tossed in .. Nothing unique.
The only thing a little different is that the dealer has a guy that reupholsters seats (he does restorations).. He will have his guy change the cloth seats to leather... The zero deductible service package extends coverage out to either a 100,000 or 125, 000 miles. I have no idea if that's good or bad ... But I'm open minded and will listen.

 

[NoDak]

well I've had those fancy extended service contracts. the one I had all it did was pre pay oil changes up front for 45k miles.

ask what they are doing on the service contract or read the contract itself. usually they charge more on an oil change than if you did it yourself or took it to the same dealer and have them do a normal oil change.

it will also say how many oil changes, etc you can do over the span of a year/term and whatever else.

divide the cost per item(s) and look at the cost the dealer does for a simple walk up or whoever does your oil change and see how much your over paying for a simple item.

I learned my lesson on that service contract, I lost money overall since I paid more for an oil change than I did if I just pulled in.

edit : its a F&I add on money maker. the one I bought was from Subaru and cost more up front that if I did it as needed. but it was a Subaru backed agreement, 3rd party I would be weary of since a dealer could decide later on, not to honor them.

 

[pplmvr33]

Right now I'm feeling pretty great. I will be getting the black SR5.

Congrats on the new 4runner. I am starting my search soon and I am going back and forth between a SR5 Premium or The Trail Premium. Mind me asking what the MSRP was and how much you ended up paying under MSRP? Also what dealer did you go with? I am a local MA guy too : )

 

[roscoep]

Pete, I'm down in Ct and had the same concerns as you. I used to own a 2011 Trail, and I never used its capabilities. I just bought an SR5 Premium and love it. I did immediately go to my friends tire shop and trade in the shitty OEM tires for Cooper AT3's. I don't think you'd go wrong the the SR5.

 

[NuclearN8]

the package is a base SR5 with some options tossed in .. Nothing unique.
The only thing a little different is that the dealer has a guy that reupholsters seats (he does restorations).. He will have his guy change the cloth seats to leather... The zero deductible service package extends coverage out to either a 100,000 or 125, 000 miles. I have no idea if that's good or bad ... But I'm open minded and will listen.

Congrats. Sounds like you're real happy and at the end of the day, that's all the matters. You have a great truck that will last you a long long time... I only ask you share from fishing adventure pictures once in a while, would love to see them...

 

[Pete from mass]

This is my update... I ended up with a TRD Pro ...apparently buying a car has lots of twists and turns.
One gentleman made a comment "it's better to have it and not need it than not have it and then need it" ... well the TRD Pro has it (except KDSS) ... A couple grand more with a better trade-in and now I have this reddish orange beast... Dam this is a cool car. I've spent the night reading the manuals trying to figure everything out...I feel like I should get college credit for reading this stuff.
You guys already know this -- 4Runners are so freaking awesome!!... I couldn't be happier. Such a rugged car and such a nice interior. Wow.
gentlemen...thank you for your wisdom...it was very helpful.

The SR5 is amazing ... I was pumped to be getting it.. But balancing a great trade-in with opportunity of this thing rolling off a truck in front of me ... (And being a moron that thinks the retro look is cool).. So screw it, You only live once.

 

[Pete from mass]

A note on Internet buying .. True car, Edmonds... I'm sure there are a lot more.
The true car & Edmonds did a really good job of helping me figure out good prices. And I had a bunch of different dealers sending me quotes... But..it got tricky when I was looking for KDSS. I still got a lot of quotes but the car wasn't necessarily at the dealership. It gave me a false sense that the car was there (or they could get it) ... I had one great "deal" and went to take a look only to find the car was at another "unnamed dealership" and they would swap cars or something to get the vehicle... The trick was that I needed to sign a purchase and sale to get the car (they just to bring for you to look at).

After the Purchase and sale was drawn up and processed ..I was waiting days only to find that KDSS car wasn't available ( or wasn't being released to the dealer for whatever reason). It felt like I was being held hostage...it was just awkward... I know this is done all the time but when looking for something that is not readily available ....you do feel trapped. It's awkward.

 

[Chipper78]

Congrats on the new ride! I know you mentioned before that off roading is a means to an end, but with such a capable vehicle you may find yourself with off roading as a main line hobby. Enjoy and post up some pics of your fishing trips.