I can't believe I have to ask this... What model do I own?

[Pilotmatt]

Oh crap...here it comes. Be gentle boys.

My first mistake was trusting a dealer who located a 2003 4Runner for me. I wasn't specific except that I wanted a 4th Gen, 4x4. That's it. I knew nothing of 4runners 2 months ago.

So I bought a 2003 4x4 that he called a V8 Sport, sight unseen. When it arrived I was a bit pissed, as it didn't seem to have the options I thought were installed in the Sport.

I've seen a few places online that say the 2003 Sport came with: XREAS, heated seats, leather wrap steering wheel with audio controls, Sport badging, 17" alloys, and a hood scoop.

The biggest shock was the lack of the hood scoop. I thought that was a given. I have no hood scoop, no heated seats, no steering audio controls, and the truck is labeled SR5 V8. I do have the plastic lower trim surrounding the vehicle, and the carfax calls it out as a 2003 Toyota 4Runner SR5/Sport Edition.

VIN: JTEBT14R030005830


Did I happen to get a super base model, or have I been screwed? (I know, many of you will say I deserved it for my ignorance.)

 

[drmorbius]

Oh crap...here it comes. Be gentle boys.

My first mistake was trusting a dealer who located a 2003 4Runner for me. I wasn't specific except that I wanted a 4th Gen, 4x4. That's it. I knew nothing of 4runners 2 months ago.

So I bought a 2003 4x4 that he called a V8 Sport, sight unseen. When it arrived I was a bit pissed, as it didn't seem to have the options I thought were installed in the Sport.

I've seen a few places online that say the 2003 Sport came with: XREAS, heated seats, leather wrap steering wheel with audio controls, Sport badging, 17" alloys, and a hood scoop.

The biggest shock was the lack of the hood scoop. I thought that was a given. I have no hood scoop, no heated seats, no steering audio controls, and the truck is labeled SR5 V8. I do have the plastic lower trim surrounding the vehicle, and the carfax calls it out as a 2003 Toyota 4Runner SR5/Sport Edition.

VIN: JTEBT14R030005830


Did I happen to get a super base model, or have I been screwed? (I know, many of you will say I deserved it for my ignorance.)

Do you have the 4 wheel drive control located to the right of the ignition key?

 

[Pilotmatt]

Yes, I have the 4wd button to the left of the steering wheel, and the position switch for 2hi, 4hi, 4low etc to the right of the ignition.

 

[El Jefe]

Oh crap...here it comes. Be gentle boys.

My first mistake was trusting a dealer who located a 2003 4Runner for me. I wasn't specific except that I wanted a 4th Gen, 4x4. That's it. I knew nothing of 4runners 2 months ago.

So I bought a 2003 4x4 that he called a V8 Sport, sight unseen. When it arrived I was a bit pissed, as it didn't seem to have the options I thought were installed in the Sport.

I've seen a few places online that say the 2003 Sport came with: XREAS, heated seats, leather wrap steering wheel with audio controls, Sport badging, 17" alloys, and a hood scoop.

The biggest shock was the lack of the hood scoop. I thought that was a given. I have no hood scoop, no heated seats, no steering audio controls, and the truck is labeled SR5 V8. I do have the plastic lower trim surrounding the vehicle, and the carfax calls it out as a 2003 Toyota 4Runner SR5/Sport Edition.

VIN: JTEBT14R030005830


Did I happen to get a super base model, or have I been screwed? (I know, many of you will say I deserved it for my ignorance.)

From what I can discern based on the vin you provided:
VIN Decoded by Motoverse.com: JTEBT14R030005830

The VIN you provided belongs to a vehicle that was manufactured in Japan by the Toyota corporation.

2003 TOYOTA

4RUNNER SR5/SPORT EDITION
VIN:JTEBT14R030005830
World region:Asia
Manufactured in:Japan
Year:2003
Make:Toyota
Model:4RUNNER SR5/SPORT EDITION
Body style:Wagon 4 Door
Transmission:4 Spd Automatic
Drive type:AWD
Cylinders:8 Cylinders
Safety restraintsual Front, Head and Side Air Bags and Rear Dual Air Bags Side
Standard options:Air Conditioning, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, Tilt Wheel, Daytime Running Lights, AM/FM Stereo, Cassette, ABS (4-Wheel)

Toyota VIN Decoder @ Motoverse.com

hope that helps.....

 

[byrden]

Yes, I have the 4wd button to the left of the steering wheel, and the position switch for 2hi, 4hi, 4low etc to the right of the ignition.

That doesn't sound right either. My understanding was the 4x4 V8 models had full time 4 wheel drive, period. So "2hi" should not be possible on a 4x4 V8.

It sounds like an SR5 to me. Sport Edition 4Runner would not have SR5 on the door. It's conceivable that someone could swap the hood to non scoop if they didnt like it, maybe even the wheels. But a full on Sport Edition to SR5 conversion including removing any trace of XREAS and replacing the Sport Edition door badges with SR5 badges would be highly unlikely.

I recall seeing some "SR5 Sport" 4Runners back when I was shopping for my Sport Edition. It was like when the dealers were writing the add, they were like "yeah its an SR5 and it's a sport utility vehicle, so it must be a SR5 Sport." They were definitely not Sport Edition 4Runners.

 

[Pilotmatt]

Your right about the 4wd switch...I haven't used it much so couldn't remember the positions. Its a 4wd / 4lo switch. I use the left push button to lock into 4wd, and then select 4low / or leave it in 4wd as needed on the position turn knob.

I'm more comfortable with the carfax and the other reports I've seen. I guess I'll get underneath and see if I can identify an XREAS system at all somehow.

 

[eskimochaos]

Your right about the 4wd switch...I haven't used it much so couldn't remember the positions. Its a 4wd / 4lo switch. I use the left push button to lock into 4wd, and then select 4low / or leave it in 4wd as needed on the position turn knob.

I'm more comfortable with the carfax and the other reports I've seen. I guess I'll get underneath and see if I can identify an XREAS system at all somehow.

You have a base SR5 model, you do not have the SE.

/thread

 

[CJ3Flyr]

From what I can discern based on the vin you provided:
VIN Decoded by Motoverse.com: JTEBT14R030005830

The VIN you provided belongs to a vehicle that was manufactured in Japan by the Toyota corporation.

2003 TOYOTA

4RUNNER SR5/SPORT EDITION
VIN:JTEBT14R030005830
World region:Asia
Manufactured in:Japan
Year:2003
Make:Toyota
Model:4RUNNER SR5/SPORT EDITION
Body style:Wagon 4 Door
Transmission:4 Spd Automatic
Drive type:AWD
Cylinders:8 Cylinders
Safety restraintsual Front, Head and Side Air Bags and Rear Dual Air Bags Side
Standard options:Air Conditioning, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, Tilt Wheel, Daytime Running Lights, AM/FM Stereo, Cassette, ABS (4-Wheel)

Toyota VIN Decoder @ Motoverse.com

hope that helps.....

Matt,
Looks like you got a nice one. Side-air bags is really a nice feature (IMHO) and a bit rare. You are missing some key SE features though...

Have you looked at J.A.'s site with the year-to-year breakdown and brochures?
:cheers:

 

[Pilotmatt]

I'm glad it's as confusing to others. How could Toyota manufactured this as a Sport, but not badge it as such, no hood scoop (which maybe someone traded out/didn't want it). I guess there's nothing I can do about it. It's a Sport without some of the standard Sport equipment. wtf. I thought I could trust a Carfax and a VIN check. My fault for not laying eyes on it first. I own a one-of-a-kind! Unfortunately that also makes it a mutt.

Standard Equipment on the Sport Edition includes...
nope...hood scoop
Got it...P265/65/R17 white outline tires on 17" aluminum alloy wheels with 17" Got it...alloy spare
nope...sport edition badging
got it...silver painted, grille, door handles, license garnish, roof rails
i have to look tomorrow...X-REAS shocks
got it...integrated fog lamps
got it...leather-wrapped steering wheel with satellite stereo and cruise controls
got it...silver tone shift knob
got it...high-contrast seat fabrics
got it (not sure if they are heated)...color-keyed heated power exterior mirrors

 

[JB.]

I guess I'll get underneath and see if I can identify an XREAS system at all somehow.

Stand facing the seam between front and rear doors. Get way down and look at the surface of the frame rail facing you. With XREAS, there's a long canister fitted there that you can't miss.

 

[Pilotmatt]

No XREAS.

I specifically was represented a sport by both the auction house, and also the dealer who obtained it.

In their defense both Toyota and Carfax claim it's a sport. However a Toyota dealership also did a prebuy inspection to verify that everything on the truck was correct.

I'll inform the dealer, but I've driven it 4000 miles, so I'm sure I'm screwed. Now I definitely overpaid.

 

[4Runner8]

they say its a sport because its a sport utility vehicle so they say its a "2003 toyota 4runner 4wd SR5 sport"

 

[Pilotmatt]

The VIN verification specifically says "SR5/Sport Edition"

2003 TOYOTA
4RUNNER SR5/SPORT EDITION

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIN:JTEBT14R030005830
World region:Asia
Manufactured in:Japan
Year:2003
Make:Toyota
Model:4RUNNER SR5/SPORT EDITION
Body style:Wagon 4 Door
Transmission:4 Spd Automatic
Drive type:AWD
Cylinders:8 Cylinders
Safety restraintsual Front, Head and Side Air Bags and Rear Dual Air Bags Side
Standard options:Air Conditioning, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, Tilt Wheel, Daytime Running Lights, AM/FM Stereo, Cassette, ABS (4-Wheel)


Well, I'm actually sick to my stomach now. I emailed the dealer, but we all know where that's going to go. It's probably cheaper for me to suck it up and own it.

 

[jetboy1975]

Its a 4wd / 4lo switch. I use the left push button to lock into 4wd, and then select 4low / or leave it in 4wd as needed on the position turn knob.

No offense but you may want to review your owners manual on the 4 wheel drive operation. This sentence makes me think you are a little confused on how it works. The 2003 V8 is full time 4WD. You can't turn it off, only select between 4HI and 4LO. The button on the left is to lock the differential.

 

[Pilotmatt]

Thanks. I've read the manual online, but you help remind me. Everything was stripped from my car when I bought it from the manual to the cup holder and coin holder.

 

[Burt]

Looks like you got a SR5 with the "Value option package".
My SR5 has same options as yours with exception of mine being a V6 4x4.

 

[JB.]

Well, I'm actually sick to my stomach now. I emailed the dealer, but we all know where that's going to go. It's probably cheaper for me to suck it up and own it.

Sorry if you feel you overpaid, but I wouldn't get too upset over the XREAS. I like the XREAS but if I were buying an '03, I wouldn't necessarily be looking to get it. It's not something you replace when it wears out. Also, you got a lot of Sport features and, like CJ3Flyr said, the airbag package is nice.

Now go see if it goes into 4-low and the center diff locks. If they work, be happy. They don't always if they haven't been engaged fairly regularly.

 

[BROOKLYN]

what color is are the seats cause the sr5 is light grey and the sport is dark grey/almost black.

 

[Pilotmatt]

The seats are grey, it's an SR5. Part that got me is the Carfax and Toyota site saying SR5/Sport Edition.

Everything works great on the truck. 4wd locks, goes into low, DAC engages. Needs tires, wheels refinished, timing belt...all going to happen in the next few months. It's a great truck. I still would have bought it, but for 2 months I thought it was a Sport Edition and couldn't figure out why it didn't have a hood scoop.

Thanks for all the help...I guess I'll drive it for 3-4 years and trade to an 08-09.

 

[shuly]

With all due respect...what's done is done...right?

I mean ok so you wanted a "Sport" model and ended up with an SR5 with some additional packages. You have already paid and the money is spent. Instead of feeling sick to your stomach, are there any specific features you didn't get that you would have insisted on? I doubt it if you have driven 4k miles and haven't noticed anything significant missing aside from the hood scoop and XREAS you have the rig you want. The SR5 just doesn't have as many bells and whistles, but with the options packages it seems to have it sounds like you have just about everything you want. The drive train is sound and heck you have a V8. You can't even get a V8 in the 2010 5th gens.

Just take a lessons learned...next time you buy a vehicle, know what you expect and how to verify those expectations before signing anything. So enjoy the rig and have fun with it. It will give you years of service and can take you to some great places!