New Owner of 2007 SR5

[808inDenver]

hey guys, new to the forum. hope i can make some contributions in the future. just purchased a 2007 4Runner w 37,500 miles. im not a big auto person, so i paid more for it to be certified pre-owned. my gf will probably be driving it a lot during the winters as she has a long commute, so i wanted to make sure we have something pretty reliable.

im not sure on the models, but i believe mine is basically the base, V-6 SR5 4WD. White w tan interior. i hope to make some modifications to it, but all depends on the cash flow and wat the boss (gf) says. i would first like to put in wet okoles on all seats, just to preserve them and i like the comfort of them. would also like to tint the front 2 windows to 35% to match the rest of the windows. right now, those are the only 2 mods i will do for sure, if u can even consider these mods. ive never been a huge car person, but these are my ramblings:

1. i thought the sound system would be better. not a big deal for me, but i hope to install some subs in the future. it will probably cost a lot since i wouldnt be able to DIY, plus id need to pick up the subs, amp and possibly a new deck. i notice a lot of ppl like the Scion T1809 Pioneer deck, maybe ill pick up one of those. i know my friend had an Xb and he put a DVD player in, so he might still have the T1809 (if it came with it) that he'll be willing to sell to me.

2. it is not keyless entry nor does it have an alarm. yes, im lazy haha. also, i can only open the car from the driver side and trunk. there is no keyhole on the front passenger door? is that standard?

3. dont care for the chrome finishes. especially the front grill. a quick browse through these forums, and i saw someone has a project going diping their chrome finishes. i think id opt to just paint all the chrome finishes white to match the rest of the 4Runner, but im not sure how the paint would hold up.

4. i would also like to get WeathTech floor liners (front and back) and a cargo liner soon to protect the carpet. right now, i just bought some generic floor mats from WalMart to put over the stock mats to hold me over during this crazy Colorado summer. thunderstorms every afternoon.

5. i like the bars on the sport edition vs. the running boards on the basic SR5. hope to make that switch in the future.

6. possibly re-route my exhaust to the side and add a Flowmaster or Borla tip. basically all my mods will be for looks instead of performance...lmao.

other than these minor changes that i want to make, i am loving my 2007 4Runner. first time ive ever had such a sweet ride haha. still paying off a 2009 Corolla that my gf will now be driving, so once i pay that off, im hoping to do some work. looking forward to seeing all your pics and upgrades/mods. heres crappy pic i took w my phone.

 

[Seatown]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new 4runner!! I had to say hello to you since I just picked up my 3rd 4runner two weeks ago and it's the exact same year, miles, package, and color as yours. You really don't have keyless entry or yours didn't come with a key fob?

I agree the chrome grill is lame; if you check around you can pick up a painted OEM grill for under $200 shipped. Painting grills can be a PIA and in the end you'll have an effed up grill...or at least that was my experience painting my Tacoma's grill last year. check Conicelli Partznet | Used dealership in , for the grill.

as for the tinting, I just got my fronts done at 35% too and what a differnce from the stock shade. Your mod list sounds spot on, I just have to say good luck to you in staying with that list....chances are you'll catch the bug and get a lift, bigger tires, exhaust....

cheers!

 

[SMEE]

Congrats on the new purchase. Its a great vehicle.

About the passenger side keyhole (or lack thereof), yes thats standard unfortunately. However, LakeRunr modified his passenger door handle to fit a key. Here's the link: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/87460-my-latest-exterior-mod-customization-see-if-you-can-spot.html

You can get a keyless entry replacement remote from the dealership, though it's about $150. I had to do that when I purchased mine.

Audio stuff and Sport nerf bars are periodically up for sale in the classifieds section, so keep your eye out for some inexpensive but good equipment! Someone's always selling something thats a good value.

 

[Jeff T]

Welcome aboard! 37k, that was a long time ago for me! And very painless as well. Enjoy the new ride.

 

[808inDenver]

thanks seatown. i hope to keep the mods to a minimum...haha but we shall see.

what is a key fob? the dealership only gave me 1 key, nothing else. my 09 corolla, the keyless entry remote is part of the key molding, not a separate controller. browsing through the forums, it might be possible to buy a remote and program it myself? is it possible to program 2 remotes, 1 for me and 1 for the gf?

 

[SMEE]

If your 4R was certified pre-owned, one would expect it to have a "clicker" or key fob. I would get in touch with the dealership and try to haggle a key fob out of the deal.

 

[Seatown]

thanks seatown. i hope to keep the mods to a minimum...haha but we shall see.

what is a key fob? the dealership only gave me 1 key, nothing else. my 09 corolla, the keyless entry remote is part of the key molding, not a separate controller. browsing through the forums, it might be possible to buy a remote and program it myself? is it possible to program 2 remotes, 1 for me and 1 for the gf?

Key fob is the remote that should accompany your key that has the lock, unlock bottons....a keyless entry remote. call the dealer and say that your's should have come with one; you paid the extra cash for the certified vehicle and expect more of the basics covered, especially the remote.

 

[808inDenver]

wow, thanks for all the help everyone. great community here.

i asked for keyless entry at time i purchased it. but the finance guy was gonna charge me for it, so i just passed. if i buy a aftermarket alarm system, i can hook up the alarm to the power locks i assume. or maybe i can buy a key fob from them and program it myself? i saw a thread on it and it seemed like i just need to do a few steps (ignition, open, close, etc.).

browsing the forums when i should be working instead, haha, but im really starting to like the Scion T1809 hook up. ill look into that and maybe even install it myself!

 

[2TreeManor]

wow, thanks for all the help everyone. great community here.

i asked for keyless entry at time i purchased it. but the finance guy was gonna charge me for it, so i just passed. if i buy a aftermarket alarm system, i can hook up the alarm to the power locks i assume. or maybe i can buy a key fob from them and program it myself? i saw a thread on it and it seemed like i just need to do a few steps (ignition, open, close, etc.).

browsing the forums when i should be working instead, haha, but im really starting to like the Scion T1809 hook up. ill look into that and maybe even install it myself!

I just completed the t1809 install myself, with help from the wife which consisted of her handing me tools (a socket wrench, of all things). I'm not saavy at all when it comes to car things, but the install was easy! In fact so much that it prompted me to do my own oil change. Also SUPER EASY! You can also get the ipod cable from ebay to hook up as well. If you really want to go nuts, it should be easy to add an amp and sub, but thats more than we needed.

 

[thorrunner]

I agree the chrome grill is lame; if you check around you can pick up a painted OEM grill for under $200 shipped.

I picked up grill off a blue Runner on ebay pretty cheap to replace my chrome one. keep an eye out on ebay or CL and you might get lucky, just look or an OEM take off rather than junk reproduction stuff.

Regarding the key fob, an aftermarket alarm might work, but the stock key fob has the button to roll down the back window, which is a cool feature. Hopefully your dealer will do the right thing for you.

Good luck with the Runner...

 

[Mytoy4]

Mine too is the exact color and year as yours, though mine is getting close to 85K. I agree with you on the grill. My husband is an auto body technician and has done some paint work on mine. It's been about 4 years since I had the grill painted. I also had my mirrors and running boards painted white as well.
I am having the hood and grill repainted in a couple weeks though due to rock chips from traveling highway almost every weekend.
I'm also going to have a clear bra, bug deflector, new wheels and tires put on and thinking about the spacers.
I've also had the front windows tinted, but no way I could do 35%, though I would have loved to. Mine are 22%.

Best of luck and I'd love to see some of the changes that you make.

 

[808inDenver]

thanks again for all the replies everyone.

Mytoy4, do you have pics of your white grill? id love to see what it looks like if u have pics already posted. thanks.

i think my first (very minor) project will be to plasti dip the emblems. will probably do that in a few weeks. i have a cpa exam coming up and i should probably be studying instead of posting on the forums...haha.

 

[Mytoy4]

thanks again for all the replies everyone.

Mytoy4, do you have pics of your white grill? id love to see what it looks like if u have pics already posted. thanks.

i think my first (very minor) project will be to plasti dip the emblems. will probably do that in a few weeks. i have a cpa exam coming up and i should probably be studying instead of posting on the forums...haha.

I don't have pictures posted, I'm fairly new here. I'd be glad to take some when I get home and post them up for you.

 

[Mytoy4]

Here's some pictures I took of my 4runner. Keep in mind I have a lot of rock chips on the front grill. None of which actually went to bare metal, or to the chrome for that matter. My husband does collision repair and painted my grill, mirrors and running boards 4 years ago. He uses a primer underneath the paint and the chips stopped there. I actually needed to take these because I wanted before and after shots to keep.

 

[04RunnerLimited]

Looks good - congrats!

Let me know if you want to sell that rear spoiler

 

[808inDenver]

looks great Mytoy4. would love to paint my front grill too. the running boards look excellent, never though of that. if u can tell from my 1 pic, my side view mirrors are white but the connecting part is black. id like to paint that part white too. have u or ur husband thought of painting the door handles and/or the rear trunk hatch thing white too?

thanks for posting the pics, ur 4Runner looks clean!

04RunnerLimited, keeping the spoiler for now. will PM u if i decide to sell.

 

[Mytoy4]

Thanks
Actually I'm still on the fence about the chrome molding on the back. He's actually taking it off because it's started to rust underneath and showing on the bottom corners just slightly. So he might end up painting some of the hatch, and I may have the molding done too. The rust bugs the heck out of me. He thinks that when I opened my hatch in the garage it rests up on the garage door and caused it to damage whats underneath that molding, even though there aren't any dents on my hatch.
I also thought about painting the handles white too, but I like how it breaks up the white when left chrome.
I also have 3rd row seating in mine.

 

[808inDenver]

not off to a good start. while driving to work today, i realized i have a crack on my windshield that starts in the lower left corner. took a look at it when i parked and it was caused by a rock chip, DAMMIT! the crack is now about 3 inches long. i am kicking myself bc i dont recall seeing the crack when we originally bought it but the chip might have been there if i had inspected it more throrougly. ill probably take it to get filled this weekend, but i think the damage has been done. this will definitely set me back w the changes i want to make. this was the first time that i ever bought an expensive, used car and ive learned my lesson. i need to do a better job of inspecting and be more firm on my demands. live and learn, i guess.

 

[Trevloc]

insurance should pay for that entirely...

 

[808inDenver]

insurance should pay for that entirely...

on my corolla, i know the insurance has been covering the fills of the rock chips whenever i took it in to get washed. they would also cover an entire new windshield due to a crack that was caused by a rock chip? would this increase my premiums? is there any deductible?

thanks.