If you could start all over...

[Godfr33]

The trip to begin all other trips!

 

[jhguth]

i probably would have gotten the sliding tray. i didn't want the tray because i knew i would be making my own storage, but i've had the 4runner for a couple years now and I'm still just using a beyond cargo sliding tray so i may as well have just gotten the factory option. in my head i was going to be building drawers immediately, but i decided to live with the vehicle to decide what my needs were and so far the tray works fine.

 

[4FL]

I am doing my due diligence now because I plan to buy a 4Runner early next year. My question is-
Knowing what you know now...If you bought a 5th gen tomorrow, what would you buy, with what options, and what mods would you do?

Thanks!

Spencer

I would buy exactly what I have now.

 

[smallfry]

If I started over on my 4runner here is what I would change -

Find one that didn't spend the first 80000 miles on the east coast
Keep the original headlights from 10-13 when doing the aftermarket bumper
Find one that already had the Nav headunit

 

[Skahn21]

If I started over on my 4runner here is what I would change -

Find one that didn't spend the first 80000 miles on the east coast
Keep the original headlights from 10-13 when doing the aftermarket bumper
Find one that already had the Nav headunit

Salt damage?

-Spencer

 

[jrandom]

Start all over?

I would have kept my '99 and royaled it out or I would have bought a GX460...

 

[Skahn21]

Start all over?

I would have kept my '99 and royaled it out or I would have bought a GX460...

I'm still thinking about a used GX. A little bit older GX is around the price of a 2-3 year old Trail Premium. And you get the sweet goodies- like cooled seats

-Spencer

 

[smallfry]

Salt damage?

-Spencer

Some, nothing to major but enough to be a pain.

 

[jrandom]

I'm still thinking about a used GX. A little bit older GX is around the price of a 2-3 year old Trail Premium. And you get the sweet goodies- like cooled seats

-Spencer

Not only cooled but more comfortable and v8. Not all but most 5th gen performance parts, suspension, ect. are straight across too.

 

[jhmoore]

also, the rear sliding tray is hardly ever used so no need for that myself.

Careful, the rear sliding tray is what makes the back flat if you’re planning on sleeping in the back...

 

[jhmoore]

but the dealers here just want to %}^* you! So I did what everyone in this city should do. Never buy from the local dealer.

Hey, welcome fellow San Diegan! I couldn't agree more. I ended up buying from Phoenix (where I did in fact have reason to be for business!) because I couldn't find the options that I wanted here in SoCal, but it's also true that I paid about $11K less than Mossy wanted with their idiot add on line item for the privilege of buying the vehicle...

Great story!

 

[Godfr33]

Hey, welcome fellow San Diegan! I couldn't agree more. I ended up buying from Phoenix (where I did in fact have reason to be for business!) because I couldn't find the options that I wanted here in SoCal, but it's also true that I paid about $11K less than Mossy wanted with their idiot add on line item for the privilege of buying the vehicle...

Great story!

Mossy sales manager looked like a guy from good fellas but probably wore a pink thong under that cheap suit. I’m from NY originally so I know these want to be’s!

El Cajon. Well it’s El Cajon ( no disrespect to most people there but it is a known issue)

Now Larry Miller is where it gets good. Wanted my wife to drive a non-KDSS versus KDSS. After she drove it we went to talk prices not sales. So to show I was motivated I allowed them to enter our information. Well an hour into it they start speaking additional addons. I had my 1 year old going crazy and said we aren’t buying that 4Runner. ( black SR5 4x4) I wanted a off road at minimum and not in the color they had.

Walked out. Then my wife said she saw cocaine in the stall of the women’s bathroom. Yup pure scum bags there!!

Now I get my oil changed and always drive up front and tell them how they lost a deal. Quite funny because before they even speak to me they say that’s a really nice 4Runner

So I got this for sticker going out of state. %^+ San Diego dealerships!


Stay strong and don’t settle it’s your $ and they want it. Make them get it on your terms!

 

[YetiX]

I'm still thinking about a used GX. A little bit older GX is around the price of a 2-3 year old Trail Premium. And you get the sweet goodies- like cooled seats

-Spencer

What year GX had air-cooled seats? I've looked and don't see any with cooled seats, only heated.

 

[jayhat]

Agree with most of this, minus the paranoia of break-ins but it's probably because of where I live. Having a lift/bigger tires looks more great and all but MPG definitely suffers the most (I went from 20 to 15mpg) as well as short garage clearances (minimum 6'4") downtown. Ride quality will improve though compared to the junk OEM shocks if you buy quality replacements but that also depends on your wheel/tire combo. Time & money for all the mods can get quite excessive as well.

Maybe I'm getting older/wiser but my next 4R (2019 ORP) will only be getting the front leveled with 5100s (front/rear) and a set 265/70r17 KO2s on stock OR wheels. Just my .02

Where I live, I really have no fear of it happening. Its just when I go to a big metropolitan city near by here - like Seattle or Portland. Maybe that isn't based in reality and I am just being paranoid.

 

[jayhat]

This is overblown IMHO. The few thousand ($3-15K) that most people spend on mods would have very little impact on your wealth growth potential in the grand scheme of things. If those mods are allowing you to further enjoy your travels/hobbies and create memories and experiences you otherwise wouldn't have had, then that is a valid investment unto itself.

Now, in your particular case, where you mentioned not using it out of fear of theft and damage, then I would likely sell it and move on to whatever might provide you the same capabilities but with less emotional attachment. Maybe get a Subaru?!

At the end of the day, it's just a vehicle and a somewhat easily replaceable one at that. You have insurance for a reason, get out there and start using and enjoying your 4Runner. If you feel people in your area are big enough shit bags to create a valid fear then maybe consider moving? I am in no way judging you personally, just simply responding to your statements. And btw, I am all for a stock or lightly modified rig, they do 90% of everything out there very well in a stock configuration.

All very good points. It's not a huge regret or anything, and I go get enjoyment, so I guess it is an investment.

 

[Skahn21]

What year GX had air-cooled seats? I've looked and don't see any with cooled seats, only heated.

I just saw a 12 online that had them. The heated seat dials roll the other way and are cooled too. Nice on a 96 degree day in Philly like today.

-Swampee

-I mean Spencer

 

[YetiX]

I just saw a 12 online that had them. The heated seat dials roll the other way and are cooled too. Nice on a 96 degree day in Philly like today.

-Swampee

-I mean Spencer

Ah, cool. (Literally) I had a rental with cooled seats and it was heaven. I've been trying to figure out a way to do in in my 4Runner

 

[LidDoc58]

https://katzkin.com/degreez/

I had em put on before I picked up my '18 ORP. Heated and cooled. Had some issues with the wiring that took the installers some trial and erroring but now they work great every time. Happy with the result and money spent.

 

[jrandom]

https://katzkin.com/degreez/

I had em put on before I picked up my '18 ORP. Heated and cooled. Had some issues with the wiring that took the installers some trial and erroring but now they work great every time. Happy with the result and money spent.

Man, what did that put you back? and what exactly did they do? (ie seats front and rear, trim, ect.) I looked into them a little. You can PM me if you can't/don't want to post pricing.

 

[Jetboy]

What year GX had air-cooled seats? I've looked and don't see any with cooled seats, only heated.

It's standard on Premium or Luxury packages and optional on the base model. I think all years.