Help me choose a 5th gen

[wfo9]

I've narrowed my search down to just about 5 trucks and I'm having trouble deciding. These are all out of town, so I have to pretty much negotiate on one or two before making the trip. I'm sure I can get them to come down a little on the price of all of them.

I'll be in the city where the blue trail edition is this weekend, so I might just stop and take a look at it. I don't think I've seen a pre 2014 trail edition in person. The front facia of the 2014s is just not appealing to me for whatever reason. That pretty much locked me into the pre-owned market.

I have decided to go 4x4, so it will either be an SR5 or a Trail edition. I don't really want any of the Limited features (especially the wheels) although I will probably end up with aftermarket wheels anyways.

I don't anticipate doing any serious offloading. It should be limited to getting me where I need to go for other adventures vs looking for challenges. I already have motorcycles and such to play in the dirt, so my desire to do it with a 4x4 is limited, although I can see where it would be fun, so you never know. I'm a sucker for wrenching on things.

I plan to install a Baja rack + wheels and tires, maybe a small lift and sliders on whatever I get.

Option 1. 2010 SR5 4x4 White OD 50k baisc with cloth, ~25k
Option 2. 2010 Trail Edition Blue OD 60K, nav, sunroof... ~28k
Option 3. 2010 Trail Edition Silver OD 60K, nav, sunroof... ~30k
Option 4 SR5 4x4 White OD 32k, Leather, sun roof.... ~29k
Option 5 2011 SR5 4x4 White OD 16k, basic with cloth ~29.5k

I really like the look of the Blizzard Pearl. Easy to maintain and cool in the summer. Not sure how I feel about the blue yet.

 

[Jim82]

Do any of your Trail options come with KDSS?

 

[buchaja]

Given your needs, I like options 4 and 5, or even 1. It would depend on the maintenance and condition of the particular vehicle, but I don't think you need a trail model.

Some have pointed out the better ride of a KDSS trail on the road, especially less front end nose dive and cornering, over the SR5, though. So drive both before you decide (and remember, a trail without KDSS should ride just like an SR5).

 

[wfo9]

I did not realize KDSS gave better on road manners. That is good info and may impact my decision.

Is there a way to spot KDSS visually. The dealer does not seem to know if it has it or not. They are researching.

 

[Jeremy556]

I did not realize KDSS gave better on road manners. That is good info and may impact my decision.

Is there a way to spot KDSS visually. The dealer does not seem to know if it has it or not. They are researching.

You can see the swaybar attached to the lower control arm. Non-KDSS has a smaller swaybar that attaches to the knuckle.

Also, on the dash, turn ignition on, but don't start. There will be a yellow KDSS light.

 

[BobsTrail]

I vote for a Trail, but I may be biased. Better approach angle, more skid plates, rear locker and Multi-Terrain control. KDSS offers a bit more articulation and better on-road handling.

Does not appear that you really need a Trail and the extra cost unless the Shoreline Blue looks to you.

 

[resp3211]

Does the SR5 4x4 still get atrac? I know there will not be the multi-terrain or rear locker. If you plan on doing a lift on the sr5 doesnt that help with the ride and nose dive anyway?

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Does the SR5 4x4 still get atrac? I know there will not be the multi-terrain or rear locker. If you plan on doing a lift on the sr5 doesnt that help with the ride and nose dive anyway?

Yes, the SR5 will have ATRAC. If you're doing a suspension lift, the new suspension, along with a better set of tires, will likely help tighten up the ride and increase the load carrying capacity. Nose dive may decrease but it will always be there to a some extent.

 

[wfo9]

It turns out that both trail editions have KDSS. Since I will be in the town where blue one is anyway this weekend, I will test drive it and an SR5 and then make my decision.

 

[joneseyyy]

Get a trail! The blue one, especially if you can get them down on price would be a good deal.

 

[PGRunner]

I agree with joneseyyy! If I could redo it, I would've bought a blue TE

 

[wfo9]

One more option that I forgot to put on my list.
2011 Toyota 4 Runner SR5 TRD exhaust/2.5 in TRD Lift BAJA Rack

It already has most of what I plan to do. Not sure about the way it is lifted.. The pictures also show some type of aftermarket shifter that looks a little odd. Anyone see any obvious problems with it?

 

[Ol'Baditude]

One more option that I forgot to put on my list.
2011 Toyota 4 Runner SR5 TRD exhaust/2.5 in TRD Lift BAJA Rack

It already has most of what I plan to do. Not sure about the way it is lifted.. The pictures also show some type of aftermarket shifter that looks a little odd. Anyone see any obvious problems with it?

That's a really cool shifter! But honestly, anything's better than that abomination that they come stock with.

 

[Jim82]

+1 for Trail in Blue. But, I may be bias.

 

[wfo9]

I went and looked at the 2010 shoreline blue TE today.

What a disappointment that was. I loved the color and overall look, but the truck was a POS. Supposedly a Certified 2010 with 58k, but the dealer was smoking something trying to sell this thing for almost 28k. For that kind of money I expect something that pretty much looks and drives like new. I thought the Toyota Certified emblem was suppose to mean something.

Maybe I'm just too particular and not used to buying used cars, but what dealer would show you a car of any type (certified or not) with dog hair in it. Not to mention it had a large scrape on the front bumper, all the fender flares were filled with white compound/polish from when they tried to buff it out. I could not tell what was a scrape in the paint and what was just their poor detail work.The rear gate switch was just covered with gorilla tape. It also drove pretty bad. Clearly not worth the money they were asking. I was not impressed at all with this mega mall sized Toyota dealer.

I hope I can find something better.

 

[PGRunner]

That sucks. Be patient and get what you want

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] Have you seen the 2 TE's in the 5th Gen For Sale section?

 

[splash101]

Autotrader.com has over 500 listings (any distance) of new 2013s ranging from 30-46K.

 

[wfo9]

I'm willing to travel about 200mi to pick one up, but anything beyond that is not really worth my time unless it is the deal of the century.

Since it is used, I really need to see it and drive it before making a final decision. The one I looked at this weekend looked fine in the pictures, but was a mess in person.

I'm a little anxious to get something soon because I need it to haul my stuff around on the weekends. A trail would be nice, but not really required for my planned use.

I'm looking at a local sr5 4x4 today that has a mild lift and some other stuff done to it. I'm hoping it is a match. It has a catback exhaust on it, so that concerns me a bit, but I will have to see how it sounds and drives.

Anyone know if stock catbacks are easy to come by if it is too obnoxious for me?

 

[JohnJerk]

Don't pay 80% of new to get someone else's deferred wear and tear and 50k miles and dog hair. You can buy new and have the same if not lower cost of ownership, year for year. If you can find a screaming deal on a good used truck, great, but otherwise do yourself a favor and get new! IMO. Good luck.