4th gen SR5 to 5th gen Limited or?

[scootermcrad]

I'm currently a 4th gen SR5 owner which honestly, I settled for a bit. I had a 3rd gen Limited before this and I miss it, despite being very different. I miss some of the creature comforts, leather heated seats, and a few other things that the SR5 is lacking. I'm sick of the skyroof rattling, the brakes being an on-going issue, and those dang lights being burned out in the worst possible places. Feeling like it will be time to move on soon and put this one behind.

After looking at several "other" makes of SUV's, I still find myself holding strong to the T4R. My wife is ALSO starting to really like the idea as well, as we are planning a family addition before long. Based on our needs and wants, it really seems like the 5th gen LE is going to be a good pick for us with a few extra creature comforts, the 3rd row seat, and the always strong mechanical capabilities. We plan to use it for road trips, occasional basic offroad adventure for camping (nothing serious), and will have the occasional towing of car projects and travel trailers.

With 2016 being the end of the gen 5 LE, I would really like to hear from some of you who own them and how you use them. Anything unexpected from the quality end? Have you find limitations on the mechanical end? Did you make any changes at time of purchase like wheel and tire combos? I would definitely like to hear about the 3rd row seat as well.

Any experiences you guys could share and anything you would suggest for this model would be appreciated. We will of course consider the 6th gen LE when it comes out, but this may lead to a good opportunity to purchase a 2016 LE towards the end of the year.

Thanks guys!
Scott

 

[Mistaken]

A Limited is definitely a good option if you want the leather seats and all the creature comforts but you could also look at the sr5 premium or trail premium as options too. Depends on how much luxury you want. I thought I wanted that and ended up now swapping a lot of parts to that of a sr5 or trail. :lol:

 

[NuclearN8]

the only thing I'd be concerned about with what you mention about your needs is towing capacity...
if you're nearing the limit + family and cargo inside be aware of the overall ratings...

A solid option in the same price range would be a 2011-2013 lightly used Land Cruiser 200. In 2013 everything became standard on the LC, so it's loaded... Find one that's coming off of lease and I doubt you'd be disappointed in your decision for the same price point.

 

[scootermcrad]

A Limited is definitely a good option if you want the leather seats and all the creature comforts but you could also look at the sr5 premium or trail premium as options too. Depends on how much luxury you want. I thought I wanted that and ended up now swapping a lot of parts to that of a sr5 or trail. :lol:

Oh! Good info! I guess I didn't even consider that.

I definitely want 4WD, tow package, I like the luxuries of the LE for sure. I think personally, I gravitate to the look of the LE's front clip over the other models as well. Not a HUGE fan of the extra bling, as it's something more for me to clean, but I feel like it kind of works. However, I did see that someone had blacked out some of their chrome and it takes on a whole different vibe without out too much "murder".

I think my biggest complaint about my 4th gen SR5 (besides the sunroof leaking and rattling) is the BRAKES! I'm actually to the point of possibly having to do calipers. I have done more brake jobs on this thing than any other vehicle I've owned.

Has their been improvements to the brakes for the 5th gen?

Any electrical issues? (lighting, hvac, windows, doors, etc.)

 

[scootermcrad]

the only thing I'd be concerned about with what you mention about your needs is towing capacity...
if you're nearing the limit + family and cargo inside be aware of the overall ratings...

A solid option in the same price range would be a 2011-2013 lightly used Land Cruiser 200. In 2013 everything became standard on the LC, so it's loaded... Find one that's coming off of lease and I doubt you'd be disappointed in your decision for the same price point.

Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out for sure.

I don't tow very often and I think my primary concern would be the ability to pull a small "canned ham" travel trailer. Cars that I'd have to pull on a trailer are small and light, nothing huge. I could easily keep the things under 3500 pounds full loaded.

 

[oljedi11950]

Fix your brakes with 5th gen so far their holding up well no caliper problems like 4th ! Agree with Mistaken on sr5 prem . & I bought used 11 & it has all the bells of le except leather , sun/moon roof , didn't want one anyhow , stuff I didn't even realize like wiper warm up man for an old codger like myself it's tall cotton !

 

[1engineer]

Oh! Good info! I guess I didn't even consider that.

I definitely want 4WD, tow package, I like the luxuries of the LE for sure. I think personally, I gravitate to the look of the LE's front clip over the other models as well. Not a HUGE fan of the extra bling, as it's something more for me to clean, but I feel like it kind of works. However, I did see that someone had blacked out some of their chrome and it takes on a whole different vibe without out too much "murder".

I think my biggest complaint about my 4th gen SR5 (besides the sunroof leaking and rattling) is the BRAKES! I'm actually to the point of possibly having to do calipers. I have done more brake jobs on this thing than any other vehicle I've owned.

Has their been improvements to the brakes for the 5th gen?

Any electrical issues? (lighting, hvac, windows, doors, etc.)

No electrical issues and brakes on average get over 70K miles before needing pads.This is not only me but is the general concensus of the forum. Basically what you get getting the LE is full time 4WD and leather and dual zone climate. Actually for active lifestyles the Softex seats in the TE and SR5 are better.

Very few complaints on sunroofs. If you read about a brake complaint they usually come from guys who had M3's or some other car before the 4Runner.

 

[ST1FLER]

SR5 and get katzkin covers instead of the factory pleather:bolt:

 

[philsey]

....With 2016 being the end of the gen 5 LE.

....We will of course consider the 6th gen LE when it comes out, but this may lead to a good opportunity to purchase a 2016 LE towards the end of the year.

Why do you say this? There has been no reliable source to substantiate whether the 5G ends in '16 or '17. In fact, it seems more feel the 6G will be a '17.

Reliable? Dead bang. There are many modders on this forum, and I'd guess that >95% of the problems reported are self-inflicted.

 

[Friedom]

We had an 06 Limited v8 and moved to a '11 TE. I have a wee one that travels wherever I go. I immediately noticed it was harder to put in the car seat - less interior space(height wise). The pull out tray in the back is GREAT for diaper changes, though.
Wife now has a '15 TEP, she wanted the leather, heated seats, etc.
My brother has a '12 LE. He loves it and beats it up pretty rough. All bumpers and rocker panels have damage (but hold up pretty good!), and he loosened the wrong nut on the XREAS, purging the system and making it useless. I gave him my factory TE struts that were all but brand new before I put on my lift, and he was thrilled at the new ability to take the rough at speed. He uses it like a truck, hauls tools, pulls trailers, boats and the occasional stump. It's a work horse.
Both are crazy capable vehicles.
That doesn't sound like it matters for your uses though.
Honestly, unless you need KDSS, crawl control, a locker, etc for hardcore offroading (sounds like you don't), or something that gen5 offers that gen4 doesn't, you might consider getting a 4th gen Limited. All those nice amenities you ARE looking for (heated seats, quiet sunroof, dual CC) are there, and could save you $30k while you wait for the next gen to come out. Just a thought.

It always felt so spacious, and that V8 is such a wonderful power plant. Mileage was the same as on my TE v6. I miss it a little.

Another note: They upgraded the brakes, at least the front calipers, somewhere in the mid 2000s on the 4th gens. I only know because I couldn't put 16" rims on that I had already to replace the 20s - had to be at least 17" to accommodate the larger calipers.

 

[TravelWest01]

The Limited sounds like a good choice for you, just do something about those ugly 20" wheels! Also, beware the highly infectious modding bug that this forum is known for.

 

[scootermcrad]

Thanks for all the responses guys!

Why do you say this? There has been no reliable source to substantiate whether the 5G ends in '16 or '17. In fact, it seems more feel the 6G will be a '17.

Reliable? Dead bang. There are many modders on this forum, and I'd guess that >95% of the problems reported are self-inflicted.

Was doing some reading and I was under the impression that there will be a redesign in 2017. Not sure how reliable the source was, but it seemed like a go. Either way, the gen 5 is on our mind more than anything.

Good info!

 

[scootermcrad]

The Limited sounds like a good choice for you, just do something about those ugly 20" wheels! Also, beware the highly infectious modding bug that this forum is known for.

HA! Thanks!

 

[scootermcrad]

SR5 and get katzkin covers instead of the factory pleather:bolt:

Is there a feeling that the leather at any model with the 5th gen is not good quality? In past generations it seemed like great quality. I loved the interior in my 3rd gen. Held up great for me.

 

[ST1FLER]

Is there a feeling that the leather at any model with the 5th gen is not good quality? In past generations it seemed like great quality. I loved the interior in my 3rd gen. Held up great for me.

the limited leather is nice... the pleather that was in my 2011 SR5 was crap

 

[philsey]

Who's the primary driver? If it's she, I'd submit the LE's FT 4WD would be easier than the SR5/TE part time.

... just do something about those ugly 20" wheels!
.

Agree. If I were buying a new LE, wheels would somehow be part of the deal. There are some nice TRD 17"ers.

 

[Cymon]

I would definitely like to hear about the 3rd row seat as well.

We were in a similar situation, but with our second on the way but decided on the SR5 Premium with 3rd row instead of the limited. I have actually found the 3rd row very useful, especially with the grandparents. I would say anyone under 5'8" could fit back there comfortably. I'm 5'10" and it's a squeeze but almost everyone else in the family is 5'8" or under (I know vertically challenged family) can ride back there just fine without complaints. The great thing is the second row slides forward and back extending either second or third row legroom as needed. I can fit the rear facing car seat behind the passenger seat with it set to the second to the closest setting to the front seat, which opens up 3rd row legroom. When people are just occupying the first two rows you can slide the second row all of the way back giving those passengers plenty of space.

I have also found removing the headrest above the seat where the car seat is (and in the case with my two kids both second row headrests) really opens up the cabin to the third row occupants. If you fold down the center 20% of the second row seats it also acts like captains chairs without the bottom part of the pass-through.

One suggestion I would have with getting a 4Runner with a third row is looking into a car-top carrier, like a Yakima skybox or Thule product. They are really handy for throwing strollers and other junk up there when the third row is in use as there isn't much storage behind the third row when it is up.

One last thing to mention is the softex fake leather in the SR5 and Trail Premium models is awesome with kids! There hasn't been one thing my kids have thrown-up, spilled or soiled on those seats that I haven't been able to wipe up with just a wet rag.

Goodluck in your search!

 

[scootermcrad]

We were in a similar situation, but with our second on the way but decided on the SR5 Premium with 3rd row instead of the limited. I have actually found the 3rd row very useful, especially with the grandparents. I would say anyone under 5'8" could fit back there comfortably. I'm 5'10" and it's a squeeze but almost everyone else in the family is 5'8" or under (I know vertically challenged family) can ride back there just fine without complaints. The great thing is the second row slides forward and back extending either second or third row legroom as needed. I can fit the rear facing car seat behind the passenger seat with it set to the second to the closest setting to the front seat, which opens up 3rd row legroom. When people are just occupying the first two rows you can slide the second row all of the way back giving those passengers plenty of space.

I have also found removing the headrest above the seat where the car seat is (and in the case with my two kids both second row headrests) really opens up the cabin to the third row occupants. If you fold down the center 20% of the second row seats it also acts like captains chairs without the bottom part of the pass-through.

One suggestion I would have with getting a 4Runner with a third row is looking into a car-top carrier, like a Yakima skybox or Thule product. They are really handy for throwing strollers and other junk up there when the third row is in use as there isn't much storage behind the third row when it is up.

One last thing to mention is the softex fake leather in the SR5 and Trail Premium models is awesome with kids! There hasn't been one thing my kids have thrown-up, spilled or soiled on those seats that I haven't been able to wipe up with just a wet rag.

Goodluck in your search!

FANTASTIC response! I appreciate that feedback. That really makes me feel a lot better about the 3rd row. All it would probably ever get used for is kids, and/or dogs if someone is already sitting in the rear seat. We definitely assumed a roof top carrier of some kind would be in order.

Does the 3rd row seat actually come out, or is it bolted in solid? How about cargo room with the 3rd row folded down?

One thing I have always loved about my 4Runners is the amount of stuff I can shove into the back! I've moved across this country a couple times and have put everything from large welders and engine blocks in the back, to luggage and dog crates. They have never let me down.

 

[scootermcrad]

Who's the primary driver? If it's she, I'd submit the LE's FT 4WD would be easier than the SR5/TE part time.


Agree. If I were buying a new LE, wheels would somehow be part of the deal. There are some nice TRD 17"ers.

It will get used by both of us pretty equally, at the end of the day. I tend to be the main driver on road trips, however. HAHA!

WHEELS! Lets talk about that for a minute. I'm definitely interested to hear about how Toyota handles "wheel deals". Do they resist? I'm 50/50 on the wheels. I sort of feel like they're fitting with the way the LE is trimmed out, however, I do have concerns about how practical they are without getting a larger tire size on there, and that probably opens a whole nother can of worms. My experience with factory provided tires has not been great. Usually toast at 30K, not the most attractive, and certainly for mild-mannered driving.

I feel like if I kept the stock 20" wheels, I would at least have to look for a different tire when the OEM's are mileaged out. But, I had also thought, I wonder what those wheels would look like black (we know the vehicle will be black). Maybe powdercoat the wheels at some point. I feel like I could live with the stock wheels though. My wife likes the stock LE 20" wheels, so at the end of the day, this discussion probably doesn't matter. HAHA!

 

[Gecko]

I think the Limited is great for your needs, based on what you've outlined.

One defining factor for me is the JBL Sound System. The audio system in the SR5, SR5 Premium, Trail and Trail Premium is terrible and there is NO option to upgrade to JBL. I also do not like bothering with aftermarket installations, head units, speakers, etc, so a good OEM system is important to me.

JBL system is really great, in my opinion.

However, audio might not be a big deal for you