Here's my first stupid question - daily driver
- Thread starter cb1111
- Start date
Brick Sprickly
New member
Well then....
Boy is my face red hah sheesh.
In all honesty I had briefly heard about KDSS and just assumed the Pro had it, the real initial draw for me being the locking rear differential + crawl function. I don't even think I asked the dealer about it, just assumed I knew what I was feeling but I guess I was very wrong!
Balls.
cb1111
Member
Re- Highlander or Outback - both are probably very capable (but boring) vehicles. I always tend to get something a bit different from the rest - Jag XJ-12HE in Germany, LHD XJS-V12HE in the UK. Corvette in the UK, Cadillac Sedan de Ville in Germany, GMC Typhoon in Germany. A Highlander or an Outback won't do it for me - and I'm not sure that a Highlander will be as bulletproof as a 4R.
I guess I'll have to see if the local dealer will give me one over night - maybe they have one in their loaner fleet.
Speaking of dealers, is the mid-Atlantic the cheapest place to buy a 4R too - like the DC dealers are the cheapest for VW, Audi and Acura? Is there a favorite dealer somewhere?
Any warts that you guys haven't spoken about? Especially those that you only learn about after you've had the car awhile?
I guess I'll have to see if the local dealer will give me one over night - maybe they have one in their loaner fleet.
Speaking of dealers, is the mid-Atlantic the cheapest place to buy a 4R too - like the DC dealers are the cheapest for VW, Audi and Acura? Is there a favorite dealer somewhere?
Any warts that you guys haven't spoken about? Especially those that you only learn about after you've had the car awhile?
4RunnerRound
New member
You do have TRD FOX high-performance shocks77 with rear remote reservoirs and TRD-tuned front springs that I think are unique to the Pro
KingTaco
New member
The best price I found was Toyota of Annapolis. I paid something like $38,200 out the door for my 2016 Trail new and they added remote start. Not sure what the supply/demand difference is now, but they were pretty accommodating and willing to deal. There is also a killer coffee shop across the street from them.
When we bought our Highlander, I think the cheapest region was actually the southeast, but Toyota of Annapolis matched the South Carolina deal I found, which was the best in the country at the time as far as I could tell.
Bugser
New member
Hi.....
I am on my 3rd 4Runner, a 2018 ORP....a 2002 3rd Gen Trail with 150K and a 2011 5th Gen SR5 with 140K......loved every one.....each had/have their plusses and minuses. All were dailies plus very minor off roading but tons of ice and deep snow.
I found that a good set of tires were the best investment, however, there are trade off's with tires. The stock Dunlop AT's ride the smoothest for highway and the snows that I bought rode rougher. I have yet to get stuck on the road but did a stupid thing in my driveway and got stuck with the SR5. But, had I really known what ATRAC was, I might have been able to get out.....just my ignorance or lack of study on how the unit functioned. I know better now. After my study on this forum, there is a lot to be said for the knowledge here and practicing in a parking lot to find out how this sophisticated machine really works.
I bought the 18 ORP with KDSS for a reason. The highway ride is very smooth on long trips (+100 miles) at speeds above 65.......80-90 is smooth but a little too much for me in a 4Runner. I found that the KDSS is to my liking but understand that it is functional only at slow speeds. However, my mind says this truck is smooth and sweet. I wish the truck had a switch to turn the KDSS on/off so I could see the difference - ya I know there is a mod out there for that!
Pluses:
RELIABILITY
comfortable seats, HVAC
smooth ride
the rear window goes up/down
easy to steer, no shake at high speed (others have complained about it though)
Minuses:
Radio Head unit - poor audio quality, does not have car play
speakers are mediocre
Headlights are mediocre
Mods that I recommend and will do:
Head unit with iDatalink
LED's in Low/high beams and fogs
Because I drive on a lot of 55 MPH 2 lane dim-lit back roads at night with numerous deer crossings, I am in the process of installing 2 LED light bars and 2 wide angle ditch lights in addition to the above mods.
FWIW, you can't go wrong with a 4Runner for your needs, IMHO
Good Luck!
If you are buying now the infotainment really sucks. My ORP w/o JBL would reboot randomly, lock up, do other random things. With bluetooth setup for both my wife's and my phone it would randomly pick some combination of one of the phones for music and sometimes another for phone. Everything working as we want it, stop to fill up for gas, start it up and get some other configuration. The first thing I did was an aftermarket setup with CarPlay, but I didn't buy a 4R for the stereo so I knew that going in based on others statements. Give what I have heard, I'm not sure I would have high hopes for next years model even if it does support CarPlay/AndroidAuto.
Otherwise I have no issue with long trips, even with the family. I'm a techy guy, but not having all the sensors and safety systems makes it fell more reliable to me; and that could be a false sense of reliability. I enjoy driving in general and both my wife and I find ours a pleasure to drive as a daily driver.
Otherwise I have no issue with long trips, even with the family. I'm a techy guy, but not having all the sensors and safety systems makes it fell more reliable to me; and that could be a false sense of reliability. I enjoy driving in general and both my wife and I find ours a pleasure to drive as a daily driver.
Brick Sprickly
New member
Indeed! Now THAT I'm sure of!
Toffees
Member
Not shopped mid-Atlantic, by in my experience, the best deal was with a dealer who has what you want on the lot. If you're not picky, call around and see what you can find. When I was shopping seems like every dealer had a blizzard pearl but I wasn't looking for that color, so it took me a little longer to get what I wanted (which, to be fair, was picky: LE/3rd Row/4WD/color)
LandCruiser
New member
No vehicle is the ideal blizzard vehicle except for maybe a snow plow.
If the roads are garbage, the 4Runner will be marginally better than other cars if you have it equipped with the right winter tires.
If your commute is as hard core and unforgivable as you claim, then you'll need dedicated winter tires preferably with studs on a Limited since the all wheel drive system performs better in 4H with the center diff unlocked (or locked) than the diff-less selectable t-case on the rest of the Toyota line up.
Also, all the greatest winter driving gear and skills won't make up for the retards around you.
If the roads are garbage, the 4Runner will be marginally better than other cars if you have it equipped with the right winter tires.
If your commute is as hard core and unforgivable as you claim, then you'll need dedicated winter tires preferably with studs on a Limited since the all wheel drive system performs better in 4H with the center diff unlocked (or locked) than the diff-less selectable t-case on the rest of the Toyota line up.
Also, all the greatest winter driving gear and skills won't make up for the retards around you.
I have a 2016 Limited with about 55k miles. I have also had rental Jeep Wrangler 4 doors as rentals from time to time. The 4Runner drives nothing like a Jeep. With the X-REAS it drives and corners really well for a giant box. It is bumpy, but nothing like the Jeep.
My seats are comfortable on long drives, they were a little hard at first.
I have driven in a little bit of snow and on dry fire trails. I have never needed to move the 4WD lever from the standard mode.
It seems slow at first, but if you push the go pedal more it will move pretty good.
My seats are comfortable on long drives, they were a little hard at first.
I have driven in a little bit of snow and on dry fire trails. I have never needed to move the 4WD lever from the standard mode.
It seems slow at first, but if you push the go pedal more it will move pretty good.
cb1111
Member
Thanks. I bought my Typhoon from Koons over the phone in 1992. I'll have to hit them up. Any preferred salesperson there or have they all turned over a zillion times?
Thanks. The headlights are a big issue for me - especially since there is no legal way to upgrade lighting units.
How easy is the head unit upgrade? Does the unit control anything else or is just a straight radio/BT that doesn't include stuff like climate controls? Straight up double DIN?
I know what you mean. I'm a techie too but none of my cars have the nannies. Sometimes I think I'd like them though.
Based on a vision issue, I need the parking sensors and the backup camera.
KingTaco
New member
I don't recall the name of the salesman that helped me, but yeah, he's probably gone by now anyway. I don't know anyone there personally.
cb1111
Member
Yes, tires are always the important bits that many (most) drivers overlook. I always use proper winter tires.
If it comes to the point where I need to get out in the middle of the night then something very bad has happened and few people will be on the road hopefully. Luckily, the final 4 miles that goes straight up a mountain will be plowed but it'll probably be foggy. That is the first street in the county to get cleared - but I've still got about 75 miles to get there.
I don't think that studs are legal in VA, so unless I keep the car parked until I really, really need it, then the studded tires are a no-go.
Yep, part of the driving may be in MD - a state where driving skills are optional - not that VA or DC drivers are much better.
Paragon29er
New member
My local dealer offered to let me take one over night. I don't buy a lot of new cars, but this really surprised me. I didn't do it, but I went ahead and bought my first 4R a couple of weeks ago!! Super excited.
a47chuck
New member
My vote is for the Limited ... DUH! I’m on my fourth. Not sure what you don’t like about the front, but when the Gen 5.2’s came out I was trying to figure out how to get rid of all that chrome. Then my dealer had a Nightshade. Done deal. They are a bit touchy in a cross wind, though. We had a pretty severe winter last year and two years ago. No problems ... once I got out of the garage. LOL!
cb1111
Member
Hmmmm, Nightshade... Is there a market for the 20 inch wheels/tires? I'm not a fan of the size and I'm kind of old school in that wheels should be silver (or that VW diamond hyper black which is actually a sparkly light gray) because I think that black wheels lose any definition and just look like black blobs - although I understand that they are very popular.
ForRun
New member
I rented one for a day. Search Toyota rent to buy. Many dealers will rent for a day week etc.. mine was about 40 a day. If you buy within 30 days the rental is free. If not you pay the rental. Took it on a road trip highway and back roads. Loaded my trailer and towed with it.. I'm old and seats were comfortable and I came from a 66k truck with massaging vented seats. Bought a runner next day as I knew it was a good fit for me, best test drive ever!
Beat me to it. Toyota does have a rental program in place. Which I forgot all about...
I really like the Navigation system on my Off Road. Not sure I'm sold on Syrius radio but it's ok.
It does have some balls, you just have to dig for them.
I passed a guy on a 2 lane road, the other day, and found myself doing 80mph when I hit it hard.
a47chuck
New member
Actually not a fan of the semi dub look, but the KO2’s were on it and I paid for them. On my ‘13 I went with SCS Stealth 6’s in grey with 265/70-17 KO’s. I am, however, a fan of black wheels. Goes especially well with the “murder” theme. The “sombreros” on the wheel center caps will be the next to be blackened. Just my taste ... the only chrome that could to be on a vehicle is the lug nuts and tail pipes, HEH! BTW, the tail pipe on the Nightshade is black chrome.
The market for 20’s ... not sure. I was able to unload my ‘13’s wheels and tires at a local pick-your-part.
Last edited:
Similar threads
