Buying Advice: '99-'00 Highlander vs. Limited

[Jumpkix]

Hey guys, forgive me if this is a ridiculous question :doh: but I'll ask anyways:

My dream 4Runner is a '99-'00 Highlander in either black or IJM. I love everything about them except for the fact that they don't have AWD. The Limited models, on the other hand, do have the AWD plus tons of other options (would love to have a sunroof!) But I HATE leather seats and oak trim interiors!!! :mad2: Living in Portland where it freaking rains constantly and there is always standing water on the roads, having that AWD would be extremely nice for such conditions. Why couldn't they have just included AWD with the Highlander?? :sad:

So my question is, do I go for the Highlander and forget about the AWD, or do I go for the Limited with AWD and swap out the features I don't like?

*Side Note* This rig would rarely see off-road conditions.


Thank you so much for the help!

 

[koulee]

If it snows there, I would say go for the Limited with AWD. Why do you hate the leather and oak trim interior so passionately?

 

[Jumpkix]

If it snows there, I would say go for the Limited with AWD. Why do you hate the leather and oak trim interior so passionately?

It occasionally snows here, but mostly heavy rain throughout the entire year. I had no idea about the AWD feature until today, which has caused me to reconsider chasing the Highlander of my dreams.

<start rant> I hate the oak because I think it looks ridiculous. Oak interiors to me are for the rich, or the people who want you to think they are rich. Either way, I don't think they fit the profile of a 23 year old guy driving an SUV.

I hate leather not just because it gets way too hot in the summer, but I hate the look of even slightly worn leather seats. I also find cloth seats to be far more comfortable and breathable compared to leather.

If you like leather and oak, no hard feelings
</start rant>

 

[audiness]

Its not that hard to change out the color of your interior. The ugly ass woodgrain peices are easy to swap out ( get them from a junkyard). The seats you could trade them out or dye them. 3rd gen T4R oak leather seats go for $400 and up on ebay, so you could easily sell them and get enough money to buy whatever you want.

 

[Jumpkix]

Its not that hard to change out the color of your interior. The ugly ass woodgrain peices are easy to swap out ( get them from a junkyard). The seats you could trade them out or dye them. 3rd gen T4R oak leather seats go for $400 and up on ebay, so you could easily sell them and get enough money to buy whatever you want.

I am seriously relieved that I'm not the only one who thinks the woodgrain trim looks like crap!!!

 

[4x4mike]

I've got a '99 IJM Highlander and have never wished I had AWD. We also own a Subaru so I have an idea what it's like to drive an AWD vehicle in various types of weather and roads.

I'm in the Sacramento area of California and it's possible to have a lot of rain. Never have I needed anything other than 2wd for driving, even at highway speeds. If I were to be going too fast for the conditions AWD would help if I decided to pull some moves.

Even on a snow covered highway in route to Tahoe I don't tend to need 4x4 all the time. They plow the roads yet still have chain conditions over the passes at time. I have never been required to chain up a 4x4 vehicle, I think they would close the highway if it got that bad. I don't usually shift into 4wd until I'm some distance past the chain control point.

The 4runner is very balanced and planted very well. My 4runner is a 5 speed and wouldn't trade it for an auto. The leather, wood trim and auto are the reasons I didn't look into a limited. I would look for a 5 speed more than AWD.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Thoughts...

It occasionally snows here, but mostly heavy rain throughout the entire year. I had no idea about the AWD feature until today, which has caused me to reconsider chasing the Highlander of my dreams.

<start rant> I hate the oak because I think it looks ridiculous. Oak interiors to me are for the rich, or the people who want you to think they are rich. Either way, I don't think they fit the profile of a 23 year old guy driving an SUV.

I hate leather not just because it gets way too hot in the summer, but I hate the look of even slightly worn leather seats. I also find cloth seats to be far more comfortable and breathable compared to leather.

If you like leather and oak, no hard feelings
</start rant>

A thought for the seats because I looked into this. As you stated Leather is not always the best option. If you look closely at the leather seats in a limited it is only the top portion of the seat that is leather (that cracks and tears over time). If you put you're hand down the seat towards the bottom you will feel the difference in the materiel. It is a vinyl that looks the same as leather. I didn't notice this until the upholstery guy showed me. He said it is a normal problem and he see's it allot with the Toyota's and others as well. He had a Tundra he was working on for the same issue in the shop when i was there.The one that was done was very nice. Anyhow, He charged 150 to redo the seat(note this was a little whole in the wall shop, they do everything by hand, family ran place, very small but cool also). So 300 bucks and the LEATHER is gone and you have something that is very durable but still looks nice to. It is an option that you might want to look into in you're area.I'm saving for this to fix the rips in my seats.

Blue

 

[SCRunner12]

Why don't you get an 01-02 Sport Edition then? You get AWD and the come with cloth interior.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Living in Portland where it freaking rains constantly and there is always standing water on the roads, having that AWD would be extremely nice for such conditions.

Everything I know about Portland is based on TV show Portlandia.

 

[2002tii]

Why don't you get an 01-02 Sport Edition then? You get AWD and the come with cloth interior.

Yeah I agree. An 01-02 is perfect for what you're describing.