New 2013 SR5 with a few questions...

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gm4life

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New 2013 SR5 with a few questions... UPDATED with PHOTOS!

Hi everyone,

I am new around here (obviously) and as you can tell by my name I have been a GM guy my entire life. I was in the market for a midsize SUV and wanted something with real frame rails and real 4WD. The 4Runner was in a class all by itself. I found just what I was looking for a 2013 4Runner SR5 4WD in Blizzard White Pearl with a Sand Beige interior. The truck had four options front power seats with sport cloth, premium paint, carpeted floor mats and mud guards. I have had it for a week and really like the vehicle. I do have some questions...

1.) I have read the exterior paint scratches easily I read one example where after the first car-wash a bunch of fine lines appeared - is any of this true or just internet talk? (I have never had a car that "scratched" easier than an other.)

2.) My second question is about the silver interior trim (in the center console and on the door) I also read this scratches easily is this true? I have bumped or glazed it with nails/fingures several times and haven't seen a problem. Is this true or more internet talk?

3.) I also noted in the manual that the SR5 should be in 4WD for ten miles a month. How should I go about doing that in the summer or nice weather months? I know you should allow for axle slip and should not be turning the wheels a bunch (so basically driving in a straight line). Do you folks have some suggestions on doing this in the good weather without going off-road? I got this vehicle to tow a pop-up camper and fishing boat not to go off the beaten path.

4.) Finally, I live in Iowa and the salt and calcium used on the roads is excessive. I have never had a BOF vehicle in this environment. I have had a few of my cars undercoated and haven't decided what to do about the 4Runner. Should I just wash the undercarriage out a few times every winter well? (Which means getting down on my stomach and getting soaked!) Or should I try and wax the frame rails? Or is a trip to the local undercoating shop a good idea? (It has helped my Bonneville survive many harsh Iowa winters and I typically have to go underneath once a year and respray a few spots... It is on my list for this summer actually.)

5.) Also I have waxed the SR5 several times in the last week. When clearing off the wax on the back bumper on top of the rear sonar parking assist indicators I heard a "creak" noise and think I might have "pushed" the center part in while removing the wax. Is that any thing to be concerned about?

Thanks in advance for the help. (I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to cars - I have a 2005 Bonneville SLE that is nearly perfect.)

P.S. I waited to see the 2014 model at the end of April and decided the current front end looked better so I went ahead and got a 2013. Plus I didn't need the new features the SR5 was getting.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE 16 PHOTOS!
 
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1) Not an more than any other vehicle unless you are off-roading through b rush that will scratch it. Machine car washes will put a swirl to any paint job, avoid if you are really picky. If they develop, buff them out with swirl remover.

2) It's a painted plastic so it's more likely to scratch if abused. Use common sense (don't hang things one it that might scratch, etc) and you'll be fine.

3) Just go for a drive down a dirt road. Remember you don't have to do the 10 mi. in one shot. In fact, it would probably be better if it was broken up into several times a month. The purpose is to keep the parts lubricated.

4) The general consensus is that with modern vehicles after-market undercoating is not a good idea. Just was the under side on a regular basis. Either at a DIY wand type car wash or driver through with under-carriage spray.

5) Probably just a plastic-on-plastic squeak.
 
Thank you for the advice. Is it okay to put in 4Hi when on a dry road driving straight? Please let me know.
 
icsa said:
Yes, the truck will be ok as long as you don't take sharp turns.
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Thank you! I will try and get a few photos up that I took the other night. I have waxed it five times in eight days and even waxed the frame rails and skid-plates!
 
It isn't just new 4runners paint that scratches easily...in general, all new paint is scratched easily, because of the "Environmentally Friendly" clear coats they have to use these days aren't that great.

If you are really concerned about your paint, check out Optimum Opti-Coat. It is like a 2nd clear coat applied over your factory finish that will help protect it.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/143594-opti-coated-runner.html

Opti-Coat 2.0

Although with the salt you guys see, I don't know if there is a point in protecting your paint. I can't believe what that stuff can do to new cars in a year, it is horrible. It is sad to see a new car with frame rust already... I am glad Portland Or uses calcium magnesium acetate and gravel instead. Yea it doesn't work very well against snow/ice, and you get more rock chips on your car, but you don't have to worry about rust atleast.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/142147-rust-6-month-old-4runner.html

May want to do a search on what others are saying about rust on this forum. It seems that Toyotas have alot of past issues with rust, especially with their 4th Gen Tacomas.

On a side note, how do you like the 4Runner compared to GM?
 
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GrantK has answered your questions perfectly, I just wanted to add that you probably still stop worry about paint after a few offroad trips : )
 
Good looking 4Runner, the extra waxing looks good. I know this is a T4R forum, but how about a photo of the Bonneville?
 
Whiplash Willy said:
It isn't just new 4runners paint that scratches easily...in general, all new paint is scratched easily, because of the "Environmentally Friendly" clear coats they have to use these days aren't that great.

If you are really concerned about your paint, check out Optimum Opti-Coat. It is like a 2nd clear coat applied over your factory finish that will help protect it.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/143594-opti-coated-runner.html

Opti-Coat 2.0

Although with the salt you guys see, I don't know if there is a point in protecting your paint. I can't believe what that stuff can do to new cars in a year, it is horrible. It is sad to see a new car with frame rust already... I am glad Portland Or uses calcium magnesium acetate and gravel instead. Yea it doesn't work very well against snow/ice, and you get more rock chips on your car, but you don't have to worry about rust atleast.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/142147-rust-6-month-old-4runner.html

May want to do a search on what others are saying about rust on this forum. It seems that Toyotas have alot of past issues with rust, especially with their 4th Gen Tacomas.

On a side note, how do you like the 4Runner compared to GM?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice about the paint. I will stick with my 4-6 coats of wax a year and keep the undercarriage as clean as I can as weather allows and hope for the best. My 2005 Bonneville was undercoated and washed underneath at least a couple times every winter and I mean I am soaked when I get done and after 8 Iowa winters looks great. A few spots need to be touched up.

To answer your side note...

I really like the 4Runner it is a very solid truck. The quality and fit and finish of the interior is better than my GM vehicles despite some of the plastics being hard. I also like the fact it has little strips around the inside edges of the doors to help prevent rust. It is the little things like that - things GM forgets that make a HUGE difference. Also for a non-leather wrapped steering wheel it is one of the best I have ever had in my hands. The 4Runner also has a nice thick coat of sound deadening in each wheel well. My 2012 Impala LTZ didn't have anything like that which was part of the reason I had it undercoated plus I didn't want to look at white wheel wells. (Something wrong about it - IMO.)

Comparing it to my 2007 Torrent FWD with a 3.4L V6 is hardly fair but... It rides differently not any smoother or better but different. The Torrent is more "stiff" but the 4Runner has a little more "bounce" due to the solid real axle. The handling for a truck with huge tires is pretty good as well. The thing that I like the most is the fuel economy... I live in a town known for its hills (hence a lot salt and calcium on the winter roads) and the 4Runner is holding strong at about 18 MPG. My 2007 Torrent FWD comes in around 16 MPG. The Bonneville SLE 17 MPG and my 2012 Impala LTZ 18 MPG. So I am impressed with the fuel economy for a 4,500 pound full frame SUV.

Somethings I have noticed that I am not nuts about are like... The sheet-metal I know it is getting thinner and thinner but couldn't Toyota have put a little thicker sheet metal on a 35K truck? This is especially apparent when waxing it. The Impala I paid over 10K less for has thicker sheet-metal. The only other compliant I have is the climate control would it have killed Toyota to include individual manual settings for both driver and passenger?

Those are all small nit-picks. I really like it overall. It will most likely never see more than a dirt or gravel road and some snow but I expect it will be a great tow rig for a small 2,500 pound pop-up camper and a small flat bottom fishing boat. I won't be doing a lot of towing but I still wanted something midsized with real frame rails a truck engine/transmission and decent fuel economy and since GM doesn't have the GMT-360's and I don't trust Jeep reliability I went with the 4Runner. It is truly in a class all by itself unless you count the Xterra which just felt "cheap."
 
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BobsTrail said:
Good looking 4Runner, the extra waxing looks good. I know this is a T4R forum, but how about a photo of the Bonneville?
Click to expand...



That photo is roughly six maybe seven years old. I don't have any recent ones on my Photobucket account but that gives you a look at "her." It looks nearly that good today maybe a few extra touch up spots but no body rust and a very clean interior. (It hasn't hit 40,000 miles yet! :happy: ) One thing is for sure I like to keep my cars along time and I still like it as much as the day I drove it off the lot. It was a sharp car nearly nine years ago and I still think it is today. I think my 4Runner will be the same way.

Thank you for the kind words about my 4Runner I really like it. I really didn't want a sunroof and need leather since the cloth was so nice but would have loved a Shoreline Blue Limited like your Shoreline Blue TE.
 
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scanny said:
GrantK has answered your questions perfectly, I just wanted to add that you probably still stop worry about paint after a few offroad trips : )
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I doubt it will be doing very much of that. Towing a small 2,500 pound pop-up camper maybe or a small flat bottom fishing boat and maybe a dirt/gravel road nothing more.
 
Aaaaaaack, you must get the icon shifters (or something) the stock shifters are embarrassing. Nice rig though, and welcome to the forum. Oh, horn mod, a must.
 
Tengu said:
Aaaaaaack, you must get the icon shifters (or something) the stock shifters are embarrassing. Nice rig though, and welcome to the forum. Oh, horn mod, a must.
Click to expand...

Actually the only other mod I am doing is the factory exhaust tip. Other than that I am considering a "short" antenna. Not sure what brand to buy or where to get those if anyone has any good places let me know.
 
gm4life said:
3.) I also noted in the manual that the SR5 should be in 4WD for ten miles a month. How should I go about doing that in the summer or nice weather months? I know you should allow for axle slip and should not be turning the wheels a bunch (so basically driving in a straight line). Do you folks have some suggestions on doing this in the good weather without going off-road?
Click to expand...

This thread might help if you have any doubts about being able to do it on pavement.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/133871-using-part-time-4wd-dry-pavement-te-sr5.html
 
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