Going from 4ThGen '06 SportED to 2018 TRD Pro

[jcage89]

If the sunroof is important to you like it is for me, go with the TRD Off-Road premium. In regards to off road capabilities/options, it’s the same as the Pro. Fresh out of the box, the Pro has better suspension and different accents. The accents do make a world of a difference though which is why I forked over a good amount of money to get my hands on the aesthetic pieces. Sure, owning a Pro has that exclusivity factor, but is that more important than having a sunroof? It wasn’t for me because I knew I was going to upgrade the suspension to Kings, Fox or Icon regardless if I got the Pro or not. I actually stumbled on a white TRD Pro with 12K miles for $38K (an steal in my eyes) in my 10 month search for a white Trail Premium. I passed on the TRD Pro because I really enjoy having a sunroof that much. That feeling when the sunroof is open along with the 5 other windows is awesome, which I am sure you can relate to. Today as she sits, I have a TRD Pro (looking) 4runner with Bilstiens all around. (black TRD wheels, front fascia, front and rear black valances, and TRD shift knob). I’m still working on the suspension piece but you know how that goes -- cha-ching $$$$$. In the end, you can’t go wrong with either choice.

Thank you, the great feedback keeps coming. I sincerely appreciate all of the constructive and helpful advice from everyone here. I certainly have considered dressing up an MGM non-Pro with sunroof to look like a pro but Like the CB color too much (queue the hecklers again I am sure regarding how finicky I am). Every other vehicle I have owned in the past has been Silver or Grey (If I could go back in time my '03 Track Z would have been Sunset Lemans instead of silver). In 2014 we bought my wife (jeep girl) a Cherokee in a really cool Orange-ish color called "Mango-Tango." She challenged me to break the silver-grey mold on this next rig and when I saw the Cavalry Blue this year I felt an immediate bond so I wanted that. Anyway, if Trail Premium was available in that color then this thread probably wouldn't have been started because I already would have taken your route.

So now it's like many here have put it... Do I want the features (roof) or the CB Pro... or perhaps there is more merit to the idea of brokering an import from our neighbors to the north. Who knows, I am only 3 hours from the border so that might work out depending on the extra tariffs and US licensing requirement vs. the exchange rate. I'm seriously considering investigating it and if I do, I will share everything I learn.

Cheers,

JC

 

[ratliff]

Once again, great feedback, thanks. I've been driving around my '06Sport for the past month with the sunshade drawn hoping I wouldn't miss the daylight from above but I just can't convince myself I won't miss it. I've had a sunroof in every vehicle I've ever driven so it's kinda' hardwired into me I guess. I bet you're right about the uniqueness of the Pro being worth it but I suspect I'll still miss the roof and can't help being perplexed why Toyota would make such a seemingly needless reduction in feature completeness for USA when it is still being offered to Canadian market. It would at least compute if TRD Pro off road hardware cost was being offset by eliminating roof and such to maintain price point but that doesn't seem to be the case so it now just seems arbitrary that the USA models are restricted from these features and that is annoying. Also annoying is the simple things I mentioned before present on my '06 Sport like the latching gas cap hatch which are absent from nextgen models 12 years newer. Argh.

JC

I came from a Touareg which was amazing on and off road. tons of tech. tons of power (TDI). Decided to go back to 4runner for simplicity. personally think you're looking at the wrong truck if you want all the safety tech and other features. Same goes for someone wanting all of that in a Wrangler. 5th gen isn't necessarily a step backwards; it's fine tuning itself for a market and what it needs to be. This vehicle doesn't even try to compete with a JGC.

I almost decided to go with TRD off-road due to the sunroof issue. I've had one in every 4runner to date (cars included). it's a matter of breaking away from comfort zone. it's something else (expensive) to fix, eats headroom, becomes useless if you do roof mods, adds noise, etc. Long story short - i don't miss it. the visibility and light in the 5th gen is great.

Being in Seattle, my primary purpose is washout roads to get to hiking trail heads (1.5 hour+ trip to get there) and snowboarding. i don't plan to change the stock suspension like i did on my 2nd/3rd gens. IMO, it's the best stock suspension for performance and comfort. the TRD off-road was fine, but the vehicle tossed a lot without KDSS and it was extremely difficult to find a KDSS truck here, much less any color other than silver or black.

Toyota of Seattle is a big store and had the best chance of getting a TRD pro from a wait list (paid MSRP +$1000). Watch out for Lake City - they were trying to force me to buy their "greencard pkg" and refused to remove it. $1500+ extras i didn't want. they also wouldn't give me a final price until it arrived (would offer me "market price").

Good luck in search.

 

[jcage89]

I came from a Touareg which was amazing on and off road. tons of tech. tons of power (TDI). Decided to go back to 4runner for simplicity. personally think you're looking at the wrong truck if you want all the safety tech and other features. Same goes for someone wanting all of that in a Wrangler. 5th gen isn't necessarily a step backwards; it's fine tuning itself for a market and what it needs to be. This vehicle doesn't even try to compete with a JGC.

I almost decided to go with TRD off-road due to the sunroof issue. I've had one in every 4runner to date (cars included). it's a matter of breaking away from comfort zone. it's something else (expensive) to fix, eats headroom, becomes useless if you do roof mods, adds noise, etc. Long story short - i don't miss it. the visibility and light in the 5th gen is great.

Being in Seattle, my primary purpose is washout roads to get to hiking trail heads (1.5 hour+ trip to get there) and snowboarding. i don't plan to change the stock suspension like i did on my 2nd/3rd gens. IMO, it's the best stock suspension for performance and comfort. the TRD off-road was fine, but the vehicle tossed a lot without KDSS and it was extremely difficult to find a KDSS truck here, much less any color other than silver or black.

Toyota of Seattle is a big store and had the best chance of getting a TRD pro from a wait list (paid MSRP +$1000). Watch out for Lake City - they were trying to force me to buy their "greencard pkg" and refused to remove it. $1500+ extras i didn't want. they also wouldn't give me a final price until it arrived (would offer me "market price").

Good luck in search.

Yeah you guys have sold me on the logic behind not wanting the safety features (still wouldn't mind a latching Gascap hatch though). I'm from Seattle too and use my current 4runner just like you use yours. The feedback is very helpful. Like I said in previous post, I'm pretty much intent on the Cavalry Blue and will probably buy that with or without sunroof but want to explore the potential of getting it with a roof from CA. We'll see and I'll report back.

Thanks again

JC

 

[sandcrawler]

Yeah you guys have sold me on the logic behind not wanting the safety features (still wouldn't mind a latching Gascap hatch though). I'm from Seattle too and use my current 4runner just like you use yours. The feedback is very helpful. Like I said in previous post, I'm pretty much intent on the Cavalry Blue and will probably buy that with or without sunroof but want to explore the potential of getting it with a roof from CA. We'll see and I'll report back.

Thanks again

JC

FWIW, i upgraded from an '06 SE V8 to a '10 TE w/ KDSS (and sunroof). it's been 8 years and i'm still very happy with the decision.

good luck

 

[Speeder757]

A few things to consider about a moonroof.

It adds significant weight to the vehicle up high.
Decreases vehicles structural rigidity.
Decreases headroom.
Cant open it anyhow if you plan to add a full length rack.

I have had moonroof on almost all of my previous vehicles and for the most part rarely used it. I don't miss not having a roof on my TRD Pro. However YMMV

 

[jcage89]

A few things to consider about a moonroof.

It adds significant weight to the vehicle up high.
Decreases vehicles structural rigidity.
Decreases headroom.
Cant open it anyhow if you plan to add a full length rack.

I have had moonroof on almost all of my previous vehicles and for the most part rarely used it. I don't miss not having a roof on my TRD Pro. However YMMV

Appreciate the comments. Not sure I'd worry too much about these issues as the roof is standard on Canadian models so someone at Toyota made a choice not to offer in USA for apparent arbitrary reason outside of performance considerations which would lead me to believe it's probably cost control or some import issue.

I touched base with a few Canadian dealers who told me they were prohibited by Toyota from selling new 4runners to other than Canadian citizens. I have family who are Canadian citizens so could probably make it happen (assuming I could get a pro... sounds like their allocations are fewer than even in states) but once you do get it, then you have to pay tariffs on import and while it does meet Cali emissions (sticker under hood according to Canadian dealer), my state would require swapping the instrument panel to license it from primary KM units to MPH units. That all becomes too costly and cumbersome to justify.

I also was able to finally arrange a test drive locally on a pro and absolutely love the ride so proves the great feedback from those previously in this thread. That said, I have to admit the lack of roof still bothers me (I know, queue the hecklers but it really is a personal preference thing). It just really hacks me that Toyota gave it Canada but for whatever reason made the US model without roof option or side view mirror indicators, again that just annoys me. Also I can say with personal experience now that the AV system in the TRD Pro is shameful and is pretty much crap for a $50k rig. MY '06 Sprt JBL system is over 10 years older and still kicks the ass over the 2018 TRD Pro sound system (I wouldn't be happy until I replaced the stock amps and speakers with at least $1k worth of Crutchfield or TACOTunes stuff.

So I know it would be rolling dice on missing the BOF construction or availability of pro all together by waiting another model year, but I've seen lots of reports speculating the Pro and current BOF design will be around until at least 2021 and also that 2019 might be next "major" trim refresh since 5 years post last 2014 refresh. If this does end up being the case, then maybe I can get pro with roof and better AV system (I read somewhere speculation on bigger 7" touchscreen system with upgraded audio next year?) This would most likely mean I don't get Cavalry Blue because they have changed the signature color for the Pros each year (I maybe even saw a picture of an orange one somewhere being tested ?. I know it's all speculation but maybe worth waiting vs. buying now and being really tweaked in a few months when it becomes true that next years model has all these things.

So I am trying to recall when last year that 2018 TRD Pro 4runner specs were made public... was it at the early 2017 auto shows? If so, we might not have long to wait before getting these questions answered and if the 2019's are not offering these amenities, perhaps even still time to pick up a 2018.

Again, just more thoughts.

Cheers

JC