2015 LE purchase advice

[Raider2444]

Brand new member here and hopefully a new 4runner owner soon. Thanks in advance for any advice here. I just put a deposit down on a 2015 LE with third row, remote start, and they will be adding running boards for me. My issue is I did some research on price and it appears due to the limited 3rd row vehicles in stock negotiations are not going the way I hoped. That being said I'm wondering if I should just cancel the third row as I've heard mixed reviews. As it stands right now I'm at 44,256 pricing in northern NJ which seems high but already negotiated down a bit using true car. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks again!

 

[JayceeP]

I personally would rather not have third row and instead have the extra cargo space. I use the third row maybe once or twice per year and the convenience is not worth the loss of room + the extra weight. Having said that, I do not really know what having the extra cargo room would feel like and maybe it would be marginal. I didn't have a non third row 4Runner to compare to at time of purchase.

 

[Raider2444]

I personally would rather not have third row and instead have the extra cargo space. I use the third row maybe once or twice per year and the convenience is not worth the loss of room + the extra weight. Having said that, I do not really know what having the extra cargo room would feel like and maybe it would be marginal. I didn't have a non third row 4Runner to compare to at time of purchase.

Thanks for the info. I think I will try and compare the two side by side to get an idea of what I'm giving up in cargo space for a 3rd row I most likely will use very sparingly.

 

[bythehour]

I just picked up my LE after a threee month wait on order.

We got the third row because it was one of our criteria to replace our LR3. We may only use the extra seats once in a while but when we need them, we need them. (The reality, we need a minivan, but hellsno!) There is a loss of cargo space, but it's not like we pack the back to the gills all the time either. We'll miss the space when we go camping, it that's once a year and We can use the trailer or I'm thinking of getting a hitch box.

As for price, shop around. Its a hot ride now and few dealers want to deal. But there's always someone hungry out there. You'll just have to be patient and expect to wait. No one wants to discount a unit in inventory because they know they can sell it for full bang. You can get a deal if you are willing to wait for one from the factory.

 

[Raider2444]

Thanks for the advice. Would you say with the third row folded down there is still a loss in cargo space? I have two 6month olds and the reality is they won't be in that third row for a while so I'm considering canceling this one and getting one without the third row as I believe I'll be able to get a better deal not to mention won't be sacrificing space, but I'm curious of your thoughts on the space issue?

 

[philsey]

Complaints on the 3rd row (I've read) are poor accessability, poor heating & cooling & ventilation (yuck - there are NO vents back there), limited legroom for anyone over 4' tall. Also with the seats up, storage space goes to near zero.

Do you lose way-back space with the seats down? Sure, some, but other criteria are more important.

One thing I don't remember, and you should check carefully, is car seat compatibility back there. Me, I'd never put < a 4 YO back there anyway, and also I'd personally always be afraid for a rear-ender.

Just me, but IMO the 4R is not a substitute for a minivan or a full-size SUV. Others may disagree.

As to pricing; 5% off MSRP is about average, 10% off is excellent, >10% is unusual.

 

[dawudih]

The 3rd row is ok in a pinch; but it's not a good design, even for kids. That's a feature I wanted until I saw it. Look at the Highlander if you must have 3rd row seating or skip it all together & get the 4Runner.

 

[Raider2444]

Thanks everyone. At this point I think unless the dealer comes down substantially to the third row LE I have a small deposit on then I'm going to use Costco buying service and start the process without the third row option and let the dealers compete against each other. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Jessrin]

resale value on the runner would be easier to sell with the third row. I know this because when I sold my silver 2010 runner.. most people wanted that 3rd row...

 

[hikenbike]

Thanks everyone. At this point I think unless the dealer comes down substantially to the third row LE I have a small deposit on then I'm going to use Costco buying service and start the process without the third row option and let the dealers compete against each other. Thanks again everyone.

i'm in NJ too. Are you using Prestige Toyota? If so, try Toyota of Morristown.

 

[fr4c]

Raider,

Was in the market and just finally finalized yesterday on a 2015 LE. Fully loaded with running boards, 3rd row, mats/locks/mudguard, and remote start. I'm in NJ as well and Costco dealer did not give me the best price with the options I wanted. But it did help in getting the dealers to work with me on a better price.

MSRP: $46,500~
Price: $42,750 + TTL

Got a extra $500 on my trade-in as well.

 

[Jhalko]

Its really not that much extra cargo space without third row. My wife at 5'2" is ok for under and hour back there, we use ours occassionally and im glad i got it. That said if it was a huge price difference i might think twice.

 

[Magnetic4R]

Besides the wife wanting the 3rd row seat, it's always easier to get extra space on the roof rack or a cargo tray on a hitch then it is to get the extra 6th or 7th seat when needed. I would need to take 2 cars for the extra person, granted it's not comfortable but it's works for my trips 1-4hrs alway. As for price, if it's the right color combination and features you want, no need to stress over a few hundred saving.

 

[Raider2444]

Raider,

Was in the market and just finally finalized yesterday on a 2015 LE. Fully loaded with running boards, 3rd row, mats/locks/mudguard, and remote start. I'm in NJ as well and Costco dealer did not give me the best price with the options I wanted. But it did help in getting the dealers to work with me on a better price.

MSRP: $46,500~
Price: $42,750 + TTL

Got a extra $500 on my trade-in as well.

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal compared to my quote if 44,256 for practically the same car. If you don't mind me asking, where did you go in NJ?

 

[Raider2444]

i'm in NJ too. Are you using Prestige Toyota? If so, try Toyota of Morristown.

I have been speaking to Prestige as well as Parkway Toyota. I will look into Morristown. Thanks for the info.

 

[fr4c]

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal compared to my quote if 44,256 for practically the same car. If you don't mind me asking, where did you go in NJ?

Toyota of Morristown. Prestige did not have the vehicle I wanted with the options/color, and Towne did not have my vehicle on the lot so they needed to do a dealer trade.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The best thing I did was get the 3rd row seats and then remove them. I made this storage area where the seats were. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/173756-my-3rd-seat-removed-storage-pictures.html I have since modified it for easier access to the rear section. all my jumper cables, compressor, first aid kit etc are now out of sight and out of my way.

My biggest complaint on the limited with the xreas suspension is that it is overly stiff in ride but it works great on windy mountain roads. I would prefer a little softer ride.

 

[bythehour]

Thanks for the advice. Would you say with the third row folded down there is still a loss in cargo space? I have two 6month olds and the reality is they won't be in that third row for a while so I'm considering canceling this one and getting one without the third row as I believe I'll be able to get a better deal not to mention won't be sacrificing space, but I'm curious of your thoughts on the space issue?

Yes, there is a loss of space even with the seats down. The reason is because the third row seat option creates a raised floor. I think I read somewhere that it's a ~7 cube foot volume loss? The bigger issue isn't the volume tho; it's the liftover height. It's quite a ways to heft a stroller.

We have a couple toddlers. That's actually why we wanted the third row. The second row is always occupied by the car seats, so passenger space is at a premium. When we need to carry another passenger, it's easier to flip up one of the third row seats. They can access via the rear hatch.

The last row is tight but it's not unbearable. Remember, the second row seats have fore/aft adjustment so you can move them forward for more legroom behind.

 

[tobyson21]

my 2 cents

When I bought the truck (2014 LE) I got the 3rd row. We've used it a couple times. I hide my jumper cables and some off road gear under the seats when they are down.

The actual storage loss with the seats/without is only 0.9 cubic feet, but the floor is raised a bit. The storage loss for the sliding floor is exactly the same as the 3rd row according to the Toyota website. I can go measure the height difference if it's important (~2 inches?). I'm in NE so it's cold as crap in my garage and I'm being lazy after clearing another 18" of snow this morning.

Frankly, I'm short, 5'6". My wife is 5'2". We have used the rear seats. Going to dinner with friends/family in town (We have a Toddler and a Pre-schooler) it's easier to take 1 car sometimes.

We've not noticed the ventilation issues, since most trips using that seat are 20 minutes max. I like having them just in case. I probably wouldn't use them for trips over 20 minutes anyway, unless your short like my family, they kinda suck.

Don't know if that helps,
T

 

[Dr Van Nostrand]

Raider - I purchased a 2015 LE 4WD 4runner in November from Toyota of Hackensack. The only option I added was the standard running boards (I told the dealer that I didn't want the factory cargo mats). Price was about $40,200 before taxes and title/registration.

Frankly, I did not find Prestige to be competitive. In addition, while Toyota of Morristown offered a decent price, it wasn't as good as the price I received from Hackensack. I worked with Jay Rim from Toyota of Hackensack (internet sales). He was willing to negotiate the price over email and was overall great to work with. Hopefully this helps.