2016 vs 2017

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Cbzr1107

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What's the difference? I know they added another TRD trim level. Or 2. But what else, if anything did they change this year?

My wife has a 2004 Elantra that she bought new. Well now we have 3 kids and she's definitely due for an upgrade.

After about 8 months or so of looking at different vehicles she and I have decided on the 4runner. We figure that, hopefully, it should last for quite sometime.

We test drove the Explorer, Durango, Traverse, Pilot, and Arcadia. Then we looked looked for reasons to rule them out.

So, we put in quite a bit of time looking.

We have to go with a 3rd row option so unfortunately we are stuck with the Limited or SR5 Premium so it looks like we will be going with the Limited in the redwood leather.

So, if we can get a dealer to find a 2016 limited in the redwood leather, is it missing anything compared to a 2017?
 
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I believe the only changes were renaming the Trail to TRD Off Road. The Limited and SR5 were unchanged other than the moonroof becoming optional on the SR5 Premium instead of standard.


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That's what I was finding too. Essentially I can't find a single reason to buy a 2017 for about $4000 more when there isn't a difference.
 
Unless you need the off road capabilities of the 4Runner, I'd look at the Pilot. Higher trim levels come with captain chairs in the 2nd row. Which means much easier access to third row for the kids. 3rd row in the 4Runner isn't the best and it gets old folding the seats to get in/out (been there). On road manners are also much better as well.
 
Well I have a 2010 Ram 1500 I bought new and she likes diving that so I don't think the on road driving will be a big difference.

The OLD body pilot was what she wanted initially but then they changed it from that boxy style to a more rounded look. Now it looks like a mini mini van. Which is something she does not want.

Also, have you read about all the transmission horror stories with their 9 speed? She drove one of the higher emd models and did not like the start and stop jerky motion of it.

Also, having to change the diff fluids every 15k miles is PP engineering
 
With 3 kids, a 3rd row is a necessity, not an occasional convenience. Plus room behind the 3rd row, plus good HVAC..... none of which a 4R is known for.
Got a dog too?

I'd be thinking Highlander or van.

Have you loaded the whole family plus trappings and done some test drives loaded?

As to your OP, not enough diff '16 to '17 to be concerned with. You can let price and availability drive it.
 
My comments ... Where are you that a '17 is 4k more. That seems nuts. The invoice price hardly changed between the two years. I just looked at trail premium vs off-road premium and the difference was almost nothing.

Like others have said, if you don't need the 4 wheeling options get the pilot. It's a more comfortable vehicle and just as reliable.

I would not suggest a Chrysler product. They have some of the worst customer service. They will do anything to screw the buyer. I had my lifetime power train warranty canceled because I missed one inspection and they said it was my fault the notice was sent to an old address. I'm taking my money else where.

Chevy seems to be getting better, but if you are looking at resale it won't be there.

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I live in SW Michigan but the dealership we had info from and visited was one from IN.

1. Durango- numerous reports of water pump failures. Having to get them relaced every 40-65,000 is not acceptable.

2. Pilot- the 9 speed tranny has issues. Google it. Going in or out of gear on its own. One guy's pilot ran through the garage. Insane maintenance schedule. And if I remember correctly you can't buy the diff fluid to even do the change yourself as well at the 15,000 interval.

3. Explorer- numerous reports of throttle body issues causing the vehicle to just stall out in the middle of making a turn or on the hwy.

4. Gmc Acadia-made smaller than previous years.

The Sequoia and Chevy Tahoe are nice, just out of our price range.

She DOES NOT want a mini van.

We don't have a dog.

The hvac sucks in the 4runner? How bad is it that people are listing it as a concern? You'd think by 2017 Toyota would have hvac figured out.

We haven't test drove with everyone loaded up. My 1yo amd 3yo have big heavy ass car seats. And we have been making it work with 3 kids in my wife's little Elantra so really anything is better. Soon enough the 3yo is in just a booster and my 9yo would be able to ride in the front seat soon enough. So the 3rd row could be folded down for grocery runs or what not.
 
Cbzr1107 said:
I live in SW Michigan but the dealership we had info from and visited was one from IN.

1. Durango- numerous reports of water pump failures. Having to get them relaced every 40-65,000 is not acceptable.

2. Pilot- the 9 speed tranny has issues. Google it. Going in or out of gear on its own. One guy's pilot ran through the garage. Insane maintenance schedule. And if I remember correctly you can't buy the diff fluid to even do the change yourself as well at the 15,000 interval.

3. Explorer- numerous reports of throttle body issues causing the vehicle to just stall out in the middle of making a turn or on the hwy.

4. Gmc Acadia-made smaller than previous years.

The Sequoia and Chevy Tahoe are nice, just out of our price range.

She DOES NOT want a mini van.

We don't have a dog.

The hvac sucks in the 4runner? How bad is it that people are listing it as a concern? You'd think by 2017 Toyota would have hvac figured out.

We haven't test drove with everyone loaded up. My 1yo amd 3yo have big heavy ass car seats. And we have been making it work with 3 kids in my wife's little Elantra so really anything is better. Soon enough the 3yo is in just a booster and my 9yo would be able to ride in the front seat soon enough. So the 3rd row could be folded down for grocery runs or what not.
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I didn't realize the new Pilots had transmission issues. I had an '04 Pilot prior to the T4R and it was developing issues too. I thought they fixed it in the newer models.

I'd still recommend the Pilot or Explorer over the 4Runner if you'll always use the 3rd row and the Sequoia or Sienna is not an option.
 
Oh yeah. Google 2016 pilot trans issues. Or explorer throttle body.

Another reason we wanted to go with Toyota is/was the perceived dependability. This next car has to last awhile. We were thinking the 4Runner would be able to, but from what I gather from here that may not be the case.
 
I can confirm the horrible 9spd Pilot transmission. We had the exact same transmission on a Jeep Cherokee. There is a 6spd transmission available on lower grade new Honda Pilot. Be sure to check out the headroom on the 4Runner with/without sunroof. With small kids you may find yourself climbing in/out the back to assist in proper child restraints. The sunroof takes up about 3" of headroom. The extra room may be of some benefit.
 
Cbzr1107 said:
What's the difference? I know they added another TRD trim level. Or 2. But what else, if anything did they change this year?

My wife has a 2004 Elantra that she bought new. Well now we have 3 kids and she's definitely due for an upgrade.

After about 8 months or so of looking at different vehicles she and I have decided on the 4runner. We figure that, hopefully, it should last for quite sometime.

We test drove the Explorer, Durango, Traverse, Pilot, and Arcadia. Then we looked looked for reasons to rule them out.

So, we put in quite a bit of time looking.

We have to go with a 3rd row option so unfortunately we are stuck with the Limited or SR5 Premium so it looks like we will be going with the Limited in the redwood leather.

So, if we can get a dealer to find a 2016 limited in the redwood leather, is it missing anything compared to a 2017?
Click to expand...

I'm a little surprised that the Highlander isn't on the list of vehicles you've test drove. It's going to be more comparable to those you did test drive than the 4Runner. My wife has never been interested in a mini van either. She really likes 4Runners but of the 3 4Runners we've had, none have been her daily driver. The 4Runner is easily my favorite SUV period... BUT when kids come in play, my honest opinion is the Highlander and Pilot are a better fit. She's on her 1st Highlander (2015) after having 3 Pilots. We looked hard at the redesigned Pilot but chose the Highlander with no regrets at all. I would suggest looking at getting a deal on a 2016 Highlander... mostly because I'd wait and see what comes of Highlander's new engine/tranny introduced on their 2017 models. If she ends up with a 4Runner, I'm sure she'll love it. But she should test drive a 4Runner and Highlander back to back before deciding... probably with the kids as well (to compare space, getting them in and out, and so on). Best wishes either way...
 
philsey said:
I'd be thinking Highlander
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Yeah. With 3 kiddos I'd be looking for a Highlander rather than a 4Runner.

The EX-L version of the Pilot comes with the 6-sp tranny and you can get most of the options that the higher trim levels come with.

Regarding the 4Runner's HVAC.
It has two passive vents in the rear of the center console and two passive vents in the floor for passengers in the 2nd row. 3rd has bubkis for airflow.

It's not that Toyota 'hasn't figured out' HVAC for the 4Runner, but a climate zone for the 3rd row simply isn't a priority for it.
 
Cbzr1107 said:
Oh yeah. Google 2016 pilot trans issues. Or explorer throttle body.

Another reason we wanted to go with Toyota is/was the perceived dependability. This next car has to last awhile. We were thinking the 4Runner would be able to, but from what I gather from here that may not be the case.
Click to expand...


Not sure what you mean when you say, "from what I gather here that may not be the case." The 4Runner is one of the most dependable vehicles on the road. The third row seat just isn't very convenient/practical.
 
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The 4runner HVAC sucks? That's news to me.

It's one of the best, if not the best I've ever had.

Signed,

A nolonger hot and sweaty Houstonian
 
I have three boys, 11,8 and 6. No third row, we looked at it and it sucks.

The car seats take up a ton of room, test fit and see.

Kids are spoiled these days. Mine don't complain as we shoved them into the back of a Camry before the 4Runner. That was a tight fit.
 
The highlander has been mid cycle refreshed for 2017, FYI, incl. a nice hp and torque bump. My wife has the 2015 highlander xle and loves it. Its third row seats aren't that bad and can be accessed pretty easily.


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