Limited vs. Sport

[4runneraj]

Ok, having a pretty hard time finding a V6 Limited with XREAS. Looked all over CA and AZ and so far nothing. My plan B is either a V6 Limited w/o XREAS (don't want to pay for a v8 Limited) or just go out and get a Sport (and try to add the things I really want to it at a later time. Things I really care about are leather (easy to add later), granite look interior panels (not so easy) and heated seats (how easy?)

I saw that the V8 and V6 have pretty much the same fuel consumption and my insurance guy told me they would be the same rate. So the difference in cost is really just the $1500 cost. v8 Sport maybe?

I'm not going to be towing anything heavy on a regular basis maybe once in a while hook up a trailer to bring home gardening supplies and mulch (I really like the idea of a v8 though )

Can some of you guys give me some opinions on what you would do?


Thanks a bunch

 

[toybox]

Get the V8 sport. Some of that $1500 extra for the V8 will come back to you in resale value over the V6. Then you will have everything you want. The leather and heated seats can be done at one time and is easy. Most of the aftermarket leather places offer an option to add the heat.

 

[rossmon1]

of course, buy the v8!

I think you should be able to grind down the price difference due to the gas prices skyrocketing. that was gonna b my plan, but I didn't wanna wait. The diff in mpg is small and the difference in motors is huge! I'm not gonna argue with the guys who are die hard 6cyl believers, cause if you don't need it the choice is personal preference 4 more torque,hp at a certain increased cost.
Again the cost is small. We just did a few hundred mile trip last week and got 20mpg and the motor isn't broken in. Arround town has been more like 15-17.

 

[chunderboy]

Well, i have the six and many of my "brothers" on here have the 8, so you can imagine that this topic has been discussed to exaustion on here. But since you will be in CA, do you really need 4wd all the time? The reason i say that, is b/c you are in 4wd all the time with the 8.

Yes the consumption difference is minimal, but gas prices out there are alot higher than here. Plus with the v8 you will be in 4wd all the time, so the diff will constantly be spinning. WIth the 6 you are able to switch b/w 4wd and 2wd.

As far as the leather, unless it is dealer installed you won't be ablt to get the factory heated seats. All you will be getting is the leather.

But then again, everthing i just said has been discussed. So, look around and i am sure that you will find your answer.

 

[HuntRunner]

Why not just get the v8 Limited? Is it not the same $1500 cost increase? I understand if this just pushes the $$ limit, but if you can do it...you get everything you want and more!
Though my personal choice would be the Sport with the v8 regardless.

 

[beeper]

I have a v6 and love it...it has more than enough power. However that said the point about swichable 4wd is a good one. You can only get that with the v6. All those extra parts are are wearing all the time and may need more maintanance too. If your not going off road its something to think about. If I had it to do over I would get the v8.....just for the increased towing capability....you never know what life brings ,maybe a boat or camper in your future.

 

[Koz]

There is a big difference between the Sport and the Limited besides heated leather seats.

Koz

 

[Bluto]

Plus with the v8 you will be in 4wd all the time, so the diff will constantly be spinning. WIth the 6 you are able to switch b/w 4wd and 2wd.

Which diff? Bpth of them are always spinning. The front diff is disconnected from the transfer case. But the front hubs are always engaged, the front diff always spins.

 

[JB.]

Here's a list I made before shopping. In the brochure there are 3 columns for SR5-Sport-Limited with slashes for unavailable, O for optional and S for standard. I was shopping for a Sport but was willing to go Limited. With very rough calculations in my head, I decided all the little stuff was worth about $2500 and so you were paying about $2500 for power, heated, leather seats.

Here are the Limited extras:

Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps with auto on/off feature

 

[Koz]

Here's a list I made before shopping. In the brochure there are 3 columns for SR5-Sport-Limited with slashes for unavailable, O for optional and S for standard. I was shopping for a Sport but was willing to go Limited. With very rough calculations in my head, I decided all the little stuff was worth about $2500 and so you were paying about $2500 for power, heated, leather seats.

Here are the Limited extras:

Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps with auto on/off feature

 

[toybox]

Here's a list I made before shopping. In the brochure there are 3 columns for SR5-Sport-Limited with slashes for unavailable, O for optional and S for standard. I was shopping for a Sport but was willing to go Limited. With very rough calculations in my head, I decided all the little stuff was worth about $2500 and so you were paying about $2500 for power, heated, leather seats.

Here are the Limited extras:

Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps with auto on/off feature

 

[iFORCE]

Not enough difference for me. The only thing I didn't/can't get on my Sport are the auto on/off headlights,instrument cluster gauge needles lit, dual instead of single climate control and the heated leather seats. And also, if I wanted it I couldn't get the rear air susp.

IMO the Sport is hands-down the best value.

but adding those aftermarket will cost you the same anything. so why not get all of it in one package for roughly the same amount your putting in.

I guess american ones are different where canadian limiteds come with everything including air susp.

 

[toybox]

but adding those aftermarket will cost you the same anything. so why not get all of it in one package for roughly the same amount your putting in.

I guess american ones are different where canadian limiteds come with everything including air susp.

You're probably right but those extra's were not the important things for me so they didn't add value. I wanted the V8, XREAS, all the extra little stuff like leather steering wheel and lighted vanities and of course the hood scoop

 

[iFORCE]

but its not value.. well.... if you paying just as much, why not get MORE for you DOLLA? yes.. i said dolla.

I guess everyone is different but for me i'd rather have it and not use it then to not have it and won't be able to use it. or something like that.

XREAS, V8 = must have.

 

[dcampen]

Which diff? Bpth of them are always spinning. The front diff is disconnected from the transfer case. But the front hubs are always engaged, the front diff always spins.

I thought it had been decided that the V6 does have a mechanism to disconnect the front wheels from the drive train as well as disconnecting the front portion of the drive train from the center diff/transfer case.

 

[MicaBlue03]

Yep, dcampen, you're right about that. There is an electrical mechanism bolted onto the right side of the front differential to disconnect it from the front wheels. It's covered in detail in the repair manual.

 

[Gromulus]

Expensive Limited, but............

I have the Limited and really didn't consider another trim level. I wanted heated leather seats, the curtain airbags, NAV system, back-up camera, and all the other features that the Limited offers.

When I added up the value (as I quantify them) of all these features, I feel that the Limited is priced about 3 - 4K too high. IMO the Sport package is probably the best value of the line. After driving many configurations, I came away putting a high value on the X-REAS suspension - more so than the larger engine.

While the Limited is a bit pricely, my next choice was the GX470. I could not see paying another 11 - 13K for the Lexus name, admittedly nicer leather and interior trim, better ML stereo, 3rd row seats, voice-activation on the NAV, rain-sensing wipers, memory seats, and a few other doo-dads. So for me the Limited was a better "value".

It's all what you want/value and how much you are willing to pay for it.

 

[JB.]

Not enough difference for me...
...IMO the Sport is hands-down the best value.

Agreed. As is the case almost always, the higher end product produces more profit margin for the manufacterer, which from the manufacterer's perspective, is exactly the point. I wasn't thrilled to pay the high retail prices for every Limited upgrade, luckily though, as it turns out, I'm real happy to have power seats. I use them constantly. And since I'm always hauling a 9-year old around, the easy clean-up of the leather is real handy, too.

 

[4runneraj]

Well I finally went and drove a sport 4Runner V8 back to back to a Limited V6 w/o XREAS (Both 4wd)

Impressions

Suspension: Night and day difference. 4Runner with XREAS is simply awesome. Car felt more planted on the road even as I drove down straight roads. Around corners this thing felt better than my 3000lb Golf (in a 5100lb SUV ). I will not settle for a 4Runner without XREAS

Engine: the v8 was super smooth but I didn't really notice that much difference in power, so at this point I'll take either one; whichever one comes my way first.

Interior: Hands down the interior goes to the limited IMHO. I love the little touches. The granite trim, the guage needles, the dual climate control leather door trim and power leather seats. I know I can get a lot of that stuff aftermarket, but you can't get the majority of them.

So back to the drawing board and hope that I can find a Limited w/ XREAS!

Dude I'm talking to in AZ is telling me he can probably preference one for me out of his allocation but it'll be 3-7 weeks before I get it.

Never thought it would THIS hard to bet a 4Runner (the way I want it) in CA!

 

[Koz]

Well I finally went and drove a sport 4Runner V8 back to back to a Limited V6 w/o XREAS (Both 4wd)

Impressions

Suspension: Night and day difference. 4Runner with XREAS is simply awesome. Car felt more planted on the road even as I drove down straight roads. Around corners this thing felt better than my 3000lb Golf (in a 5100lb SUV ). I will not settle for a 4Runner without XREAS

Where did you get 5100 lbs.? The heaviest 4Runner model is just over 4500 lbs.

Koz