We recently retired and have moved from the Southeast to MA to be closer to family and grand children. It has been a long time since we have been in winter weather, and think we would like to get a 4wd vehicle for snow and going on the beach on Cape Cod. We are considering the 2011 4Runner SR5 or TE and are leaning toward the TE due to appearance, functionality and lack of chrome. However, I would prefer heated leather seats and am leery of not having them factory installed. Are the after market leather seats functional? Also, as a neophyte to this area my reasoning is that the KDSS option might help the TE handle better than the SR5 at highway speeds...am I off base on this? Also, any thoughts/advice would be welcome...thanks!
Advice for new T4R Buyer
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scanny
Senior Member
In my Opinion Trail edition looks better but KDSS won't make much difference in handling on highway speed. By the way I think SR5 handling is great on highways, but maybe it's just me. Although my package included leather seats I wouldn't say I care much about them, they tend to be too cold in winter and it takes about 5 min for them to start warming up. You might want to take a look at Limited edition as well - it's X-REAS suspension supposed to reduce body lean and impove handling. An a big plust in Limited is that it has full time 4x4 so you won't need to judge road conditions and turn 4x4 on manually.
But I live in Canada, decisions was pretty easy for me - our SR5 have no chrome and Limited Edition is way too expensive anyway : )
But I live in Canada, decisions was pretty easy for me - our SR5 have no chrome and Limited Edition is way too expensive anyway : )
Personally, I wouldnt worry about the heated leather seats too much. A friend of mine has them in his car, and like the previous poster said, they take too long to heat up. Plus, leather is a high maintenance item.
Instead, I would take the money and use it to install a remote start, that way you dont even have to go outside to warm your car up in those cold new england winters.
As far as kdss vs non kdss, I drove a 4th gen 4runner that did not have kdss for a good 7 years, and to be honest I really see no difference in handling between that and my 5th gen KDSS TE.
Lastly, and this is just my personal feeling..Id stay off the beaches with your new vehicle. I drove my 4th gen on the beach a few times and always regretted doing so. It literally too me a couple of years to get all the sand off of and out of the vehicle, and I am sure that driving on sand and having it get into all the nooks and crannies underneath the vehicle and in the wheels probably shortened its lifespan by a couple of years.
Instead, I would take the money and use it to install a remote start, that way you dont even have to go outside to warm your car up in those cold new england winters.
As far as kdss vs non kdss, I drove a 4th gen 4runner that did not have kdss for a good 7 years, and to be honest I really see no difference in handling between that and my 5th gen KDSS TE.
Lastly, and this is just my personal feeling..Id stay off the beaches with your new vehicle. I drove my 4th gen on the beach a few times and always regretted doing so. It literally too me a couple of years to get all the sand off of and out of the vehicle, and I am sure that driving on sand and having it get into all the nooks and crannies underneath the vehicle and in the wheels probably shortened its lifespan by a couple of years.
I've got 95k on my 4th Gen Limited. I disagree. I have the factory heated seats, and they heat up right quick -- faster than the heater. I won't buy another vehicle without heated seats. Also, I haven't done a thing to maintain my leather, and it is much better on the beach than fabric.
I take my 4th gen on the beach for 2 weeks every summer. In fact, I bought my 4Runner specifically so I could drive on the beach. There's just nothing better. Is there sand in my 4Runner? Sure. I don't care. I spend the entire year dreaming about going back here and fishing:
LongBallLarry
New member
Heated seats are great even in Cali. I disagree with anyone who insinuates that they are overrated and do not do a good job. Every car I ever drove with heated seats warm up quickly.
As for KDSS, I would not buy a 4R without it. I took the SR5 on a test drive and was about to discount the vehicle because it bounced and leaned horribly on street driving though I'm not sure what the difference is on freeways. A month later I tested the Trail (KDSS) and Limited (XREAS) and it was a world of difference. It all depends on what you care about. I imagine many people don't care about leaning in turns and they will think the ride is great. I actually look for this so it is a larger factor in my vehicle selection. All depends on preference.
Lastly, I have never met anyone that said their leather is high maintenance. Just sit, drive and vacuum at car wash. No need for leather treatments and I have not had any probs with cracking, fading or tears in my family's cars. I'm sure the quality of leather comes into play here. I noticed cars from the 90s had cracking issues but I cannot remember seeing one from the past decade do the same. A great bonus for us is that we love dogs and pet hair wipes right off leather compared to the pain in the arse with cloth. I'm not sure how the TE interior fairs with pet hair compared to the SR5 cloth. If you go aftermarket the leather tends to be much higher quality and thicker than OEM.
Good luck.
As for KDSS, I would not buy a 4R without it. I took the SR5 on a test drive and was about to discount the vehicle because it bounced and leaned horribly on street driving though I'm not sure what the difference is on freeways. A month later I tested the Trail (KDSS) and Limited (XREAS) and it was a world of difference. It all depends on what you care about. I imagine many people don't care about leaning in turns and they will think the ride is great. I actually look for this so it is a larger factor in my vehicle selection. All depends on preference.
Lastly, I have never met anyone that said their leather is high maintenance. Just sit, drive and vacuum at car wash. No need for leather treatments and I have not had any probs with cracking, fading or tears in my family's cars. I'm sure the quality of leather comes into play here. I noticed cars from the 90s had cracking issues but I cannot remember seeing one from the past decade do the same. A great bonus for us is that we love dogs and pet hair wipes right off leather compared to the pain in the arse with cloth. I'm not sure how the TE interior fairs with pet hair compared to the SR5 cloth. If you go aftermarket the leather tends to be much higher quality and thicker than OEM.
Good luck.
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westwind77
New member
Since I am in 'your neck of the woods'....I have the SR5 and love it out here! Handles the snow perfectly & I take mine on the beach here on Cape Cod (Nauset, when it is not closed due to the plovers) and not a single issue. I have the heated leather seats, and they burn my you know what before I can get out of the driveway! There is no need/reason for a TE around here unless you personally like the looks better or plan to take it North for hard trails in Maine, VT, or NH.
philsey
New member
I've got an SR5, and I think it drives fine, sheesh it's a truck not an S2000.
I have the leather and how it can be considered high maintence is beyond me. I also have heated seats and they work great - a must in cold climes.
The only continued aggravation for me is the amber radio display and info panel - they are pretty hard to read w/ poloroids.
All-in-all, great truck, anything you buy will make you happy.
Retired Phil
I have the leather and how it can be considered high maintence is beyond me. I also have heated seats and they work great - a must in cold climes.
The only continued aggravation for me is the amber radio display and info panel - they are pretty hard to read w/ poloroids.
All-in-all, great truck, anything you buy will make you happy.
Retired Phil
atomicbob
New member
I have lived in New England (Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire) for 20+ years. Since 2000 I have had an SR5. For your every day driving needs (snow, rain, etc.) the SR5 is easily sufficient. I have had mine on the beach, river crossings in Maine, Beaches on the cape, and other assorted trails. My suspension was entirely stock and only once was I not able to get myself out of a situation (went ice climbing in NH and drove up a frozen snow mobile trail... let's just say it warmed up and my truck sank into the snow). KDSS/XREAS would not have helped me one bit. In terms of ride, I cannot vote one way or the other on KDSS or XREAS. I have never driven with them and I LOVE my new 2011 SR5... Heater Leather Seats, Third Row. Personally, I could take or leave the seats... my wife is a different story.
You can always have the dealer install heaters under your stock seats. We did this with my wife's Venza. The after market seats heat up faster (and get far hotter) than my stock seats. Personally, I would like and AC unit down there for the summer.
As long as you have 4WD, I don't think you can go wrong with the 4Runner.
You can always have the dealer install heaters under your stock seats. We did this with my wife's Venza. The after market seats heat up faster (and get far hotter) than my stock seats. Personally, I would like and AC unit down there for the summer.
As long as you have 4WD, I don't think you can go wrong with the 4Runner.
KDSS/XREAS probably works for serious 4 wheelin' but honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between the SR5 I bought and the LTD & LE I test drove. On paper, it may increase cornering by .01-.02g (I'm just guessing here) which is insignificant. I love the T4R; it's just a nice truck.
SeattleMike
New member
The TE's KDSS allows the 4Runner to have larger sway bars for better handling. They significantly reduce body roll in turns at any speed. Anyone who understands the effect of beefier sway bars on a large vehicle would want them on their vehicle. The KDSS system disconnects those sway bars for better off-road articulation/wheel travel. For people who need/want more wheel travel AND better handling on the streets, KDSS is far better than a stock SR5.
That being said, I would suggest you look into a Limited 4Runner. Your reasons for buying a 4x4 suggest the Xreas and the Torsen center diff would be a better match for the kind of driving conditions you describe. I believe the leather heated seats are factory installed and the Torsen is a better match for wintry mix roads than the part-time 4WD of the SR5 or TE. Also... the 3rd Row option might be nice if the grandchildren are small.
WFO_Racer
New member
In the anti-leather camp...
If the leather was of the old Connolly leather used by Ferrari and Rolls Royce then yes it's a nice to have plus the scent when entering the car is a added value.
But the rat or varmint leather used in cars at this low a price point is just crap. The other poster mentioned the S2000 which I have sitting in a garage. Which idiot designer thought it was a good idea to put varmint leather in a car designed to have the top down. You burn your arse in the summer if you are a year round shorts wearer like me. Leather offers you no grip as you drift the car around corners, plus having to treat the varmint leather to keep it from cracking is a PITA.
The material in my TE is easy to wipe down and did not burn my arse when dove hunting in Yuma in 118 degree temps.
Leather in low price point cars just makes the peasant think he has a luxo-mobile. Kinda like hey girls my Honda Accord has leather ain't it cool
If the leather was of the old Connolly leather used by Ferrari and Rolls Royce then yes it's a nice to have plus the scent when entering the car is a added value.
But the rat or varmint leather used in cars at this low a price point is just crap. The other poster mentioned the S2000 which I have sitting in a garage. Which idiot designer thought it was a good idea to put varmint leather in a car designed to have the top down. You burn your arse in the summer if you are a year round shorts wearer like me. Leather offers you no grip as you drift the car around corners, plus having to treat the varmint leather to keep it from cracking is a PITA.
The material in my TE is easy to wipe down and did not burn my arse when dove hunting in Yuma in 118 degree temps.
Leather in low price point cars just makes the peasant think he has a luxo-mobile. Kinda like hey girls my Honda Accord has leather ain't it cool
harper7
Senior Member
This may be true , but I hardly take the Ferrari or Rolls Royce out of the garage any more since I bought my Varmit leathered 4Runner!!:shrug:If the leather was of the old Connolly leather used by Ferrari and Rolls Royce then yes it's a nice to have plus the scent when entering the car is a added value.
But the rat or varmint leather used in cars at this low a price point is just crap. The other poster mentioned the S2000 which I have sitting in a garage. Which idiot designer thought it was a good idea to put varmint leather in a car designed to have the top down. You burn your arse in the summer if you are a year round shorts wearer like me. Leather offers you no grip as you drift the car around corners, plus having to treat the varmint leather to keep it from cracking is a PITA.
The material in my TE is easy to wipe down and did not burn my arse when dove hunting in Yuma in 118 degree temps.
Leather in low price point cars just makes the peasant think he has a luxo-mobile. Kinda like hey girls my Honda Accord has leather ain't it cool
Afraid of getting something on their REAL cow leather.:wow:
