Buy 2014 TEP vs. LE or wait for 2015?

J

JotaDe

New member
Hi folks,

I'm new to this forum and I'm in the market to purchase a new 4Runner.

I'm from southern California where mountains, hills, desert roads and dunes are available and have fond memories of being in 4x4s exploring those territories.
Now I live in the bay area of California and drive 99% of the time on dry asphalt in the concrete jungle. Have a family of four, 4 and 7 y/o boys who I think would love this SUV.

This will be my daily driver, but I will do some light off-road venturing and if the feeling sticks get more involved if I can find good places nearby.
If I ever turn full bore into an off-road rat I'd probably look into adding a 2dr Wrangler to beat on and keep the 4R as my daily driver.
Our main family car is an odyssey so this 4Runner would be driven by me with no passengers for 90% of the time, sometimes with the 7 year old and sometimes my wife would drive it.

I've been soaking up information on this site for the last month, so let me know if I'm off-base on any datapoints.

Initially I veered towards an Limited Edition, but the cons have swung me towards the Trail Edition Premium.

Listed by importance to my situation, wants/needs.
Limited Edition (I don't fully understand the pros/cons of XREAS and Torsen to my situation so I won't list them).
Pros:
• more upscale look
• push-button start
• smart key
• parking assist (love this in our odyssey touring elite, is this also lane change assist?)
• 20" wheels look fancy for city driving

Cons:
• 20" wheels are less practical for off-road driving, more expensive, fewer choices
• full time 4WD on dry asphalt
• less practical approach angles (this is a minor con to me)
• I've read that changing out the running boards is more of a PITA


Trail Edition Premium
Pros:
• KDSS for city driving
• higher clearance
• more preferable wheel size for off-roading
• easier to change out running boards

Cons
• steel colored bottom lip


In terms of mods, the only things I'd want to do in the near future would be install non OEM running boards and probably plastidip that lip, still it may end up staying stock.
Depending on what I end up doing with the vehicle as years go by, tires, lift, etc are all potentials mods (though I want to preserve the warranty as much as I can).

2015 TRDPro.
When I read about the 2015 4Runner I can only find info about the TRDPro series, but not what the changes would be to the rest of the line.
I guess that's because there are no new changes or they haven't been announced yet.

I like the look of the 2015 TRDPro (in black or white) and I don't care what others think of me having a more "off-road" style 4Runner for my life so it's an enticing option.
However, I would care if the city driving of the TRDPro is significantly worse than the current TEP/LE models.

If the 2015 models have nice upgrades, or if the TRDPro is deemed semi-equal to current models for city driving I'll probably wait for them - otherwise I'll move forward with narrowing down the 2014 model I want.


Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments.
 
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I was going through same dilemma and ended up getting the Limited (got free remote start too). The cons you listed for the Limited are not really cons. Mine right now runs on 17" 285 Duratracs. The stock ground clearance is the same on all models. With running boards, you just have one small hose that is not even a factor. I have OPOR sliders and they where a breeze to install.

The PROS outweigh the CONS by a massive margin. I like the AWD all the time because if it ever rains or snows HARD, you have one button less to press :)

Anyway, very happy I went with Limited.
 
Current 2014 LE Owner :

1. heated seats in CA, depends on your mornings/days but I don't see it in your location as a deal breaker, now for my 6-8 month winters, gotta have it.

2. smart key system : don't know what I would do w/o it now.

3. parking assist is nice when I park in the garage (we have a small length wise one so it helps a lot), but it doesn't help with lane change.

4. smart key system hurts when you put in a 3rd party remote start system that works in conjunction with the oem key fob. engine will die when you open the door.

5. FT 4wd is best if you encounter continuous varying road conditions (snow, ice, etc) like I have in the winters up here

6. running boards are an option on the LE, if your going to put 3rd party boards on, skip the OEM's

7. 20" wheels, you can swap them out for 17" and sell the 20" and recoup your cost as others have done, me I like the looks of them. just wish they had more selections in 20" tires.

TEp :

1. KDSS is geared toward off road, its about the same as the XREAS system for on road dynamics

2. clearance is the same for 4x4's at 9.6", 4x2 have 9.0" (approach/departure angles are the best on the TE's, SR5 and LE have worse.

3. getting 3rd party boards is going to be different due to the KDSS lines, you have to buy them specifically to clear these lines

4. comes with 17" which gives you about 150+ tires size choices and rims compare to the 20" but see above comment about the 20"

5. heated seats in CA are not a big issue from my pov

6. EDIT : having a physical key can be nice, you could do the old school remote start. get in start the 4runner, lock it from the outside with the spare key. this can be done in the smart key system but you have to pull out and use the emergency key in the fob to do this and its not built for this constant use/abuse.

you can do mods on the TE but its added work due to KDSS, same for XREAS on the LE. SR5 is a clean slate without running into the KDSS/XREAS systems.

you can do some light off road with the LE if you swap out the 20's for 17's in my opinion, but out of the box, you can do more in the TE than the SR5/LE.

based on previous gen cycles, 2016 should be new 6th gen cycle, so unless you want to wait, just get what you want now.

2015 will have very minor changes, since we are getting close to the end of the 5th cycle, but I have seen Toyota do some crazy stuff in the last year of a gen cycle to keep sales going until the new gen comes out. look at the change over from the 4th gens to 5th gens. a lot of the standard equipment the 4th gens got in the last year, they removed on the 1st year of the 5th gen.
 
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im from Northern Cali (Bay Area) and my 14 TE Prem. has heated seats. Weird that the one you looked at doesnt have that option.
 
Along with heated seats, I feel remote start is more beneficial in colder climates. So for me the smart key was a factor in me getting the LE. I say anyone who doesnt have/had a smart key doesnt know what they are missing
 
The Pro looks nice, though it's basically a TE with a BOSS suspention upgrade, decent wheels/tires, a shift knob and tag that says TRD on it.

Not sure how much more it will cost but you can take a regular 4runner and put all that on it for 3 grand or less.

So unless it was coming out next month I'm not sure it's worth waiting for (Unless that new orangy/red color looks really awesome in person or something :D)

I kind of hate the way all the models have something that would be nice and then other things I didn't really want.

I have an SR5 Premium and I would like to have had the AWD option and a rear locker but I didn't want KDSS or XREAS (Would rather build the suspenion myself and not have overly complicated and expensive to repair parts to maintain or get rid of). But... too many people and too many combnations of wants to support them all I suppose :)
 
Appreciate the replies.

Thanks for the correction, heated seats do come in TEP (I'll remove them from the pros/cons list).

I'm not settled on the matter of if I got an LE I'd want to change the rims from 20" to 17". Ideally I don't want to, but if the LE grows on me that much during test drives I can make the rim change.

What about the full time 4WD of the LE. I hear it's great for varying weather or lots of snow (neither of which I deal with unless I'm driving to Tahoe on the rare occasion).
For most dry asphalt (and sometimes wet) could a case be made that the LE's 4WD is a negative given the mpg hit and other potential wear and tear of the parts?

Though I haven't experienced the process, I'm not sure if not having to push an extra button to engage 4WD is a bonus for me. Seems cake compared to getting out in the snow to lock hubs when I was a kid.

Regarding the TRDPro, hopefully Toyota will divulge more information soon (such as price) so I can make an easier decision on whether to buy now or wait.
 
JotaDe said:
Appreciate the replies.

Thanks for the correction, heated seats do come in TEP (I'll remove them from the pros/cons list).

I'm not settled on the matter of if I got an LE I'd want to change the rims from 20" to 17". Ideally I don't want to, but if the LE grows on me that much during test drives I can make the rim change.

What about the full time 4WD of the LE. I hear it's great for varying weather or lots of snow (neither of which I deal with unless I'm driving to Tahoe on the rare occasion).
For most dry asphalt (and sometimes wet) could a case be made that the LE's 4WD is a negative given the mpg hit and other potential wear and tear of the parts?

Though I haven't experienced the process, I'm not sure if not having to push an extra button to engage 4WD is a bonus for me. Seems cake compared to getting out in the snow to lock hubs when I was a kid.

Regarding the TRDPro, hopefully Toyota will divulge more information soon (such as price) so I can make an easier decision on whether to buy now or wait.
Click to expand...


the biggest issue with the 20's no selection of tires for off road use. all the 20's you can put on are for pavement use only. there is only like 2 all seasons and 1 winter tire you can put on the 20's.

the mpg between the FT and PT is what 1 mpg I think. wear and tear wont be an issue normally between the FT and PT.

the only major difference between the LE and the premium TE/SR5 version is the JBL system and leather seats and FT 4wd.

XREAS is geared for pavement use
KDSS is geared for off road use, but it does benefit pavement use secondly. add in crawl settings for the TE and you have a very capable off road vehicle.

99% of the time mine will only be on pavement. that 1% is used on dirt roads getting to a fishing spot, which by the way is a maintained dirt road most of the time.

if you can test drive a TE and LE for a few hours each and see what you think. when your 50/50 a long test drive will sort it out for you.

for me, I never looked/test drove anything since I was already set on what I needed above all else and that was only available for the LE. my decision was easy.
 
beside the TRD Pro coming out, the existing limited and other trim will probably only have minor changes. 4runner has been on a 7 year cycle, so new one wont actually arrive till the 2017 model year.
 
I live in Arizona and we never see rain or snow here :), but the way i looked at it is that I plan on keeping the truck for at least 6-8 years, and who knows which state I might leave then. My OTD price on 2012 brand new Limited was $39k and the trail was $37k. So for 2k extra I got leather, heated steats, AWD, and bunch of other extra perks listed in previous posts. Resale value on limited i think is better than Trail too. The gas millage is also pretty identical, with the trail:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/70762-real-world-mpg-5th-gen.html

But I would just go to the dealership and drive both and see in which model you feel more comfortable. Or ask them if they can let you drive the car for a day to help you make a decision.
 
Got the 2014 Trail exactly 2 weeks ago and i live in LA area. Its the regular trail edition though, no premium stuff. I don't miss the extra stuff the premium package offers. However I'm loving my trail.

Since Toyota just did mid cycle update for 2014 there wouldn't be any significant changes for 2015. For the case of TRDpro, as far as I understand it is same as the Trail with upgraded suspension and minor aesthetic changes. So nothing significant. As everybody else already mentioned those 20 inch rims are problematic part for offroading.

I would say don't wait and just get the LE and have fun with it.
 
I've noticed that local dealers here have a skimpy selection of 4Runners, nothing remotely close to what I want.

Once I figure out what I want, I'd rather not compromise on colors or features.

For you folks who have ordered 4runners.

•*Is the deposit refundable?
•*Do you negotiate before or after the vehicle arrives?
•*If you have ordered, what's your experience on the dealer's negotiations (seemingly lower or higher than if you were to buy off the lot that day)?
•*Was the delivery so long that you'd rather have broadened the distance of dealership lots in your scope and may be driven many more miles to get your vehicle sooner?
 
Based on where you live and what you'll use the truck for it will come down to looks and a few luxury features, nothing else. You're in the bay area - you don't need fulltime 4WD or heated seats. XREAS or KDSS, again both will probably serve you the same on pavement.

Do you want the blingy chrome front end and 20" wheels of the Limited or the rugged, sporty look and hood scoop on the Trail?

If leather is important, get a regular Trail and add a custom leather package.
 
I would say buy now. If you wait, you'll be waiting forever because there's always something new later. I went with the LE because I like the looks of the 20" and the redwood leather combo. =)

In regards to deposit, it's refundable.
I had to drive 2hrs hours out to get my redwood interior (the next closest one was 1200 miles away) but the dealers was upfront with the pricing. Didn't have to negotiate. They give it to me for under invoice and I waited for 3 days before the truck arrived.
 
Weird that the one you looked at doesnt have that option.
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You get the best deal for one on the lot. Usually will cost you more if they have trade for it, or order it. But I rather pay 200-500 more to get the one you want.?
 
JotaDe said:
I've noticed that local dealers here have a skimpy selection of 4Runners, nothing remotely close to what I want.

Once I figure out what I want, I'd rather not compromise on colors or features.

For you folks who have ordered 4runners.

•*Is the deposit refundable?
•*Do you negotiate before or after the vehicle arrives?
•*If you have ordered, what's your experience on the dealer's negotiations (seemingly lower or higher than if you were to buy off the lot that day)?
•*Was the delivery so long that you'd rather have broadened the distance of dealership lots in your scope and may be driven many more miles to get your vehicle sooner?
Click to expand...

As someone who just purchased a trail premium... (and yes I would prefer the trail)

1. Yes the deposit is refundable, but they cash it. If you want it refunded they will cut you a check later on.
2. You should definitely negotiate beforehand.
3. I didn't order, but just happened contact a dealer who had the exact car I wanted shipped to their lot 3 weeks from when I negotiated for a different color. Ordering would be always much higher than if you negotiated with what they have on the lot.
4. Depends on how long you want to wait and what options you want. I was told 3-6 weeks from when I just happened to find them ordering the exact car I was looking for. So I am guessing... 3-6 weeks. I wanted a trail premium in gray... those things were like unicorns even in southern california. So I decided to wait. I did expand the search, but I wasn't eager enough to drive 100+ miles one way to get the exact car I wanted. I knew it would show up eventually at a closer dealership at the price I wanted.
 
Honestly a Subaru Forester XT seems to fit your bill perfectly and can get through a lot more than most would give it credit for, while returning better mileage and a better driving experience much of the time (turbos are fun). If you absolutely have to have that BOF experience with good road manners - a 4Runner is a good choice, but keep in mind that all of them are capable of getting you into very uncomfortable situations off road, without trouble. Vehicles like the 4Runner (and the Jeep for that matter) are limited by the driver. Pull the running boards off a Limited or SR5 - add a decent driver - and you can go far beyond what you thought the platform was capable of - into what it was designed to handle. That said, get the Limited because it has the best options, looks better, and the Torsen will make it worth more (than an SR5)in the future. Take said Limited into the mountains -fire up ATRAC - and see if you need a Jeep or not. If you do, then sell the Runner, get a nice XT and a Rubicon and call it done. No shame in that and you will still have an awesome setup.
 
Go buy now. I believe the MAJOR redesign is coming in 2016. I would not expect much change with the 15 LE. I purchased a new 13 last month and , even the changes are minor. I even like the 13 front better.
 
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