Limited or SR5

I

IvanSF

New member
Hey guys, I'm a bit torn between these two models. I recently tested an LE and I really like all the interior features, but I don't like the bling on the outside. It really makes it look like a minivan IMO.

I will be testing the SR5 next week and see if there's much difference in the interior feeling.

One thing I don't quite get is the part-time vs full time 4wd system. Can someone explain what's the real difference between them and if it's worth getting it?

This 4runner will see some casual offroad use as we like going to the mountains. I'm not really expecting to do rock crawling or anything extreme with it.
 
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IvanSF said:
Hey guys, I'm a bit torn between these two models. I recently tested an LE and I really like all the interior features, but I don't like the bling on the outside. It really makes it look like a minivan IMO.

I will be testing the SR5 next week and see if there's much difference in the interior feeling.

One thing I don't quite get is the part-time vs full time 4wd system. Can someone explain what's the real difference between them and if it's worth getting it?

This 4runner will see some casual offroad use as we like going to the mountains. I'm not really expecting to do rock crawling or anything extreme with it.
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I'd say if you have to ask it probably doesn't matter. I'd consider the full time if you drive in adverse weather on road regularly. You don't want to engage the part time 4WD drive on dry road surfaces its pretty much off road only.

I'm guessing you like the leather so you're looking at the SR5 Premium? I personally prefer cloth seats so I went with the SR5, seem to be the minority on this forum for that though... I would've liked a leather wrapped steering wheel though.
 
I was torn between the two as well. I too think the chrome accents on the Limited are a little stupid (I also think the fake wood trim on the inside is equally pointless). But I ended up purchasing a 2016 Limited about 2 weeks ago and here's why:

- Limited has a full-time 4x4 system so if you are driving in snow or dirt it just works and you don't need to remember to turn it on. Since I live in a snowy area this was a big deal to me since you might be driving on dry pavement and then come around a corner to find snow. With a part-time 4x4 system like the SR5 you have to stay in rear-wheel drive if you are on pavement or else you risk damaging the vehicle. (Both the SR5 and the Limited have the same locking 4x4 Hi and Low modes so if you are really going off-road you can engage that. The only difference is in the default day-to-day driving mode.)

- Limited has a fancier suspension (X-REAS) that prevents the car from rolling when cornering and braking. I drove both cars (although not back-to-back) and in my opinion the Limited handles a lot better on dry roads.

- Limited is the only one with ventilated seats. This is stupid but I am really looking forward to it in the summer.
 
I battled with this same decision a few months ago.

For me, it ultimately came down what I would be happy with long term. It is easy to look at the cost savings up front of going with a lesser model but I had to think down the road.

I knew that eventually I would have been disappointed without the full time 4WD or the smart key system just to name a few.

I always like to look at these things that if you have to ask the question, you are better off going with the more equipped option. If you didn't need or like the features of the limited, you would have never considered it in the first place.
 
vjack said:
I was torn between the two as well. I too think the chrome accents on the Limited are a little stupid (I also think the fake wood trim on the inside is equally pointless). But I ended up purchasing a 2016 Limited about 2 weeks ago and here's why:

- Limited has a full-time 4x4 system so if you are driving in snow or dirt it just works and you don't need to remember to turn it on. Since I live in a snowy area this was a big deal to me since you might be driving on dry pavement and then come around a corner to find snow. With a part-time 4x4 system like the SR5 you have to stay in rear-wheel drive if you are on pavement or else you risk damaging the vehicle. (Both the SR5 and the Limited have the same locking 4x4 Hi and Low modes so if you are really going off-road you can engage that. The only difference is in the default day-to-day driving mode.)

- Limited has a fancier suspension (X-REAS) that prevents the car from rolling when cornering and braking. I drove both cars (although not back-to-back) and in my opinion the Limited handles a lot better on dry roads.

- Limited is the only one with ventilated seats. This is stupid but I am really looking forward to it in the summer.
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This ^^

I went with a Limited for the same reason. As for the interior wood, I plan to vinyl over it with carbon fiber or something.
 
IvanSF said:
One thing I don't quite get is the part-time vs full time 4wd system. Can someone explain what's the real difference between them and if it's worth getting it?

This 4runner will see some casual offroad use as we like going to the mountains. I'm not really expecting to do rock crawling or anything extreme with it.
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4WD Simplified Version 4.0

This video should explain the 4wd (both part-time and full-time).

Nothing says "casual" like a nice, decked out Limited with heated seats. Joking aside, the Limited or SR5 should be more than enough for your needs. If you do see yourself at some point wanting to hit the harder/technical trails, a Trail would be a better starting point for a off-road project rig, since it already has the locking rear diff.
 
Dalko43 said:
4WD Simplified Version 4.0

This video should explain the 4wd (both part-time and full-time).

Nothing says "casual" like a nice, decked out Limited with heated seats. Joking aside, the Limited or SR5 should be more than enough for your needs. If you do see yourself at some point wanting to hit the harder/technical trails, a Trail would be a better starting point for a off-road project rig, since it already has the locking rear diff.
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That flash animation, even with those 90s sounds is pretty helpful. Thanks.
 
IvanSF said:
That flash animation, even with those 90s sounds is pretty helpful. Thanks.
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Since that animation is out-of-date regarding specific Toyota models, I'll clarify:

The SR5 and Limited each have 3 driving modes, and 2 of them are identical.

Day-to-day:
Rear-wheel-drive on SR5 (called "H2")
AWD with limited-slip center differential on the Limited (called "H4F")

Off-road at speed:
4x4 with locked center differential (called "H4L" on the Limited and "H4" on the SR5 but they are the same thing)

Off-road crawl:
4x4 with locked center differential and low gearing (called "L4L" on the Limited and "L4" on the SR5 but they are the same thing)
 
vjack said:
Since that animation is out-of-date regarding specific Toyota models, I'll clarify:

The SR5 and Limited each have 3 driving modes, and 2 of them are identical.

Day-to-day:
Rear-wheel-drive on SR5 (called "H2")
AWD with limited-slip center differential on the Limited (called "H4F")

Off-road at speed:
4x4 with locked center differential (called "H4L" on the Limited and "H4" on the SR5 but they are the same thing)

Off-road crawl:
4x4 with locked center differential and low gearing (called "L4L" on the Limited and "L4" on the SR5 but they are the same thing)
Click to expand...

The video pretty much covers the same fundamental 4wd systems that are used in the Limited and SR5 and trail. It's not really out-dated, though the car graphics may not be "accurate."
 
Dalko43 said:
The video pretty much covers the same fundamental 4wd systems that are used in the Limited and SR5 and trail. It's not really out-dated, though the car graphics may not be "accurate."
Click to expand...

I meant that which vehicles are available with which system seems to be wrong. The 4x4 tech is the same. E.g. they say the 4Runner V6 and V8 are both "full-time 4WD" (even though the V8 hasn't been made since 2009) and the only part-time 4x4 systems are in their pickup trucks (even though many 4Runners have part-time 4x4).
 
I have a Trail and am very happy with it. I spent a few days in a snowy area last week and I can see an advantage of the Limited with full time 4wd. I had to shift in and out of 4H too many times. If I lived in snow country, I would get the Limited. If you have a co-driver, she won't have to mess with it.

I hesitated to post this because I would get flamed by the SR5 guys for being too lazy to shift. The Trail guys would probably be even worse.

My old Trail is a 2013 with most everything already blacked out which is perfect for me. All the shiny stuff on the Limited would kill me.
 
OSUCHAMPS15 said:
I don't care for the outside look of the LE either, the 4WD vs the all wheel wouldn't matter to me. IMO
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I think it really depends on your use case. If you live in an area where low-traction roads are co-mingled with dry pavement (e.g. snowy roads or dirt roads), the AWD is clearly easier. If your off-road use is pretty distinct (e.g. you like to go on trails on the weekend) then shifting into 4x4 is no big deal and is a cheaper/simpler drivetrain.
 
OP If your wife will drive it in the winter, get the LE.

As to the bling-bling, I think the LE would look good with a lot of that front chrome painted the body color. Knocking back the other chrome is not rocket science either. I have plasti-dipped quite a bit of mine, and so have lots of others on here. Cheap/easy.
 
vjack said:
I don't see what the gender of the driver has to do with anything...
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Really? You're just messin' with me, right?
Just in case you're not, this should explain it:

vjack said:
.... here's why:
- Limited has a full-time 4x4 system so if you are driving in snow or dirt it just works and you don't need to remember to turn it on. Since I live in a snowy area this was a big deal to me since you might be driving on dry pavement and then come around a corner to find snow. With a part-time 4x4 system like the SR5 you have to stay in rear-wheel drive if you are on pavement or else you risk damaging the vehicle. ....
.
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If you need further explanation, just let me know and I'll explain that some ladies don't -want to/-like to/-know how to mess with PT 4WD. Mine sure as hell doesn't.

Perhaps you have no experience with the ladies?
 
I have female friends who drive their bf/husbands trucks/suv's. They don't touch the 4x4 actuator/lever. They don't know what it's for or too afraid to break something. They drive the rig thinking "oh its 4x4, it says so on the sticker or badge."

The females that tend to have some sort of mechanically inclined mentality will pick it up quickly(switching on the 4x4).
 
I( bought my Limited because of the features. After having the smart key I do not think I could get used to having to get the key out of my pocket, unlocking the doors with the remote and inserting it in the ignition anymore. I do wish my limited had the lower body trim of an SR5 or Trail though. I know I am old but I like my chrome front end.
 
03_4x4Runner said:
I( bought my Limited because of the features. After having the smart key I do not think I could get used to having to get the key out of my pocket, unlocking the doors with the remote and inserting it in the ignition anymore. I do wish my limited had the lower body trim of an SR5 or Trail though. I know I am old but I like my chrome front end.
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I don't like the chrome. But, I don't see the chrome when I'm driving, so it really isn't there. Doesn't sound like the OP wants to mod much if at all, get the Limited.
 
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