New Sr5 Premium Vs used Limited Help

S

swick

New member
So I am in the market to FINALLY get a 4runner. Wanted one since i was 10. I have enough to get a used 2014 limited or a 2015 sr5 premium. I want a really nice car, but I also want the ability to make it offroad at a few places (driving to the gravel bar by the river) and maybe eventually off-roading more one day (I also want to one day get a 1986-89 4runner and make for offroading but who knows when it will happen)

So my issue is I love the extras on the limited, but fear that its too low to ever do much with without moding alot.

But with the SR5 I am a big music person. So I would have to change the speakers. Has anyone done with on a new one? I am scared it wont go back together well and wont look good. I hate the idea of cutting up a new car.

I also am fearful of the seats. How are the fake leather seats?

Really I just cant decide which to get, enjoy the luxury or have more offroading ability if incase i get more into it.

Any recommendations? It will also be my everyday driver.
 
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One is not more off road capable than the other. They're the same truck. Get the limited, change the stereo and speakers, get a suspension lift and some bigger tires.
 
swick said:
So I am in the market to FINALLY get a 4runner. Wanted one since i was 10. I have enough to get a used 2014 limited or a 2015 sr5 premium. I want a really nice car, but I also want the ability to make it offroad at a few places (driving to the gravel bar by the river) and maybe eventually off-roading more one day (I also want to one day get a 1986-89 4runner and make for offroading but who knows when it will happen)

So my issue is I love the extras on the limited, but fear that its too low to ever do much with without moding alot.

But with the SR5 I am a big music person. So I would have to change the speakers. Has anyone done with on a new one? I am scared it wont go back together well and wont look good. I hate the idea of cutting up a new car.

I also am fearful of the seats. How are the fake leather seats?

Really I just cant decide which to get, enjoy the luxury or have more offroading ability if incase i get more into it.

Any recommendations? It will also be my everyday driver.
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Save more money and get the Trail Edition Premium. I wish I had. :redbrick:

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They are the same truck except for 4 wheel drive system and suspension. Limited is nicer on the inside. With some money you can make a SR5 or limited a much more capable vehicle than the trail without having to rip off the special expensive stuff you paid extra for like the KDSS. With the limited you do have to get rid of xreas, but that is really only the shocks and not a whole suspension like KDSS. I personally wouldn't waste the money on crawl control. A good driver doesn't need it on a manual transmission vehicle, let a lone an automatic, God gave you 2 feet so use them

As I am new too the 4runner world, I came from the other side of the tracks (JGC) I'm sure I will get :flamethrwoer2: for saying what I have said. I will also say that owning Jeeps from 2000 Wrangler sport (basic) to 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit w/hemi ( every 4x4 bell and whistle imaginable) that more gadgets don't necessarily make the vehicle more trailworthy. My Wrangler and JGC would go the same places, and often did, the JGC just made it so you didn't have to work as hard to get there.

My 2cents is: If you want luxury and AWD then go for the limited, If you want Part time 4X4 and less things to break, get an SR5. If you want the most capable trail worthy 4runner toyota makes out of the box and don't want to upgrade anything, go for the Trail premium. If you want the total package go buy a GX460 it has a V8, luxury interior, KDSS and crawl control.
 
I like the GX460 but have always wanted a 4runner.

Yea I mean I just cant decide.

I want to hold onto the car for as long as possible. Keep it as my main ride for at least 15 years and hold onto it forever.

I just am worried the limited is so much nicer inside I'll regret it.

I guess the thought is, can I make the sr5 premium just as nice inside?

And again really how are the synthetic leather in them? Do they get comfier over time? Because the ones I sat in were allooot stiffer than the 1-2 year old leather limiteds
 
swick said:
And again really how are the synthetic leather in them? Do they get comfier over time? Because the ones I sat in were allooot stiffer than the 1-2 year old leather limiteds
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The leather was the icing on the cake for the deciding factor on the Limited, The main reason was the AWD.

The leather on the SR5 isn't leather and unfortunately its not even good durahyde. By not good, I'm not talking about durability, I'm talking about the ability to replicate the feel of real leather. The Durahyde, or whatever Toyota calls it, Just felt like cheap PVC or vinyl . High quality Durahyde(Fake Leather) is actually better than real leather, as it doesn't crack like real cowhide and it wears better.

There really is no "Break in" on durahyde.
 
You could always debadge the lexus and re badge it with toyota and 4runner badges. It would be easy enough to do. In place of the 4runner billboard on lift gate you could use the 4th gen Hilux Surf badges.
 
[MENTION=125115]swick[/MENTION] Good luck on your choice! I had a 3rd Gen SR5 for 17 years and was never jealous of the Limited folks. On the other hand, my current Limited is really a joy. The real answer is that if you want the interior upgrades of the Limited, you cannot turn an SR5 into a Limited. If you want full-time 4WD, you're only choice is the Limited.

As stock vehicles, the SR5, Trail, and Limited have only modestly different off-road capabilities. But many just don't want or need the Limited configuration. Heck, there are some who would not buy a Limited just because they hate sunroofs. Or chrome. And the money saved will buy a lot of mods for your new rig.
 
If I were to do it again I would get a Limited for the center diff alone. The early 5th Gens the Limited and SR5 had the same body cladding so we had the "lowered" look that the Limited had. But as you can see from my current truck that ground clearance is not an issue. Best part is you can achieve the same with a limited and have full-time 4WD.

I say Limited. Plus dealers around me offer better warranties on certified vehicles then new.

Your call in the end. Get what makes you happy.
 
jroll09 said:
The leather was the icing on the cake for the deciding factor on the Limited, The main reason was the AWD.

The leather on the SR5 isn't leather and unfortunately its not even good durahyde. By not good, I'm not talking about durability, I'm talking about the ability to replicate the feel of real leather. The Durahyde, or whatever Toyota calls it, Just felt like cheap PVC or vinyl . High quality Durahyde(Fake Leather) is actually better than real leather, as it doesn't crack like real cowhide and it wears better.

There really is no "Break in" on durahyde.
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I disagree about the seats. The Softex(as Toyota calls it) feels nice and soft and is wearing great in my 4runner. It doesn't feel like leather exactly, but I also don't think it feels like old school vinyl seats. Plus, it takes no special care, if it gets dirty you just wipe it off.

I would not let the seats be the deciding factor for you.
 
Get the SR5, since you don't need full time 4wd, put that money towards the new truck. Most of the other stuff you might want can be added as money and time allows.

To the people saying no difference offroad, that's not entirely true. Park a 2015 SR5 next to any limited and look at the bumper height difference. The LE bumpers hang down a lot more and are more prone to drag offroad.
 
The difference between an SR5 and LE capability wise is pretty small, very few people are going to push to the extreme of their approach / departure angle. If you're not planning on really technical wheeling and just like you said 'maybe eventually off-roading one day' you're not going to have to worry about modding a limited just to tackle some poorly maintained paths.

I ordered the Fox setup for my LE to give it a little lift and smooth out the gravel roads, but it also means waiting a year for unicorn bones to be harvested by Fox. In the meantime my stock suspension and some good tires takes me pretty far. Not to mention I have sick auto headlights.
 
Get the limited. I had the same choice and got the SR5 Premium and I don't regret it, but I didn't want to pay for all the bells and whistles, and the softex was nice enough for me. From your original post, it sounds like you want the nicest interior and features possible, and if you don't want the Lexus then the limited is your only choice.

Off road, the limited has more than enough capability for what you described. Really, the only "mod" you even need to consider in your use case is some AT tires. Slap some new shoes on there ( I actually like the limited rims when paired with good sized tires) and call it a day.
 
Bevo said:
I disagree about the seats. The Softex(as Toyota calls it) feels nice and soft and is wearing great in my 4runner. It doesn't feel like leather exactly, but I also don't think it feels like old school vinyl seats. Plus, it takes no special care, if it gets dirty you just wipe it off.

I would not let the seats be the deciding factor for you.
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I will agree that the seats are not as bad as vinyl, that was an overstatement, had I not had the option of real leather they would suffice. I agree durahyde, softex, or whatever they call it is better for long term care.
 
jroll09 said:
The leather was the icing on the cake for the deciding factor on the Limited, The main reason was the AWD.

The leather on the SR5 isn't leather and unfortunately its not even good durahyde. By not good, I'm not talking about durability, I'm talking about the ability to replicate the feel of real leather. The Durahyde, or whatever Toyota calls it, Just felt like cheap PVC or vinyl . High quality Durahyde(Fake Leather) is actually better than real leather, as it doesn't crack like real cowhide and it wears better.

There really is no "Break in" on durahyde.
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Oh brother... :doh: That is far from the case. I've owned a 04' Limited, 06' Limited, 11' Limited and now a 15' Trail Premium. These seats are just fine... test drive each before you order or buy. I typically like the goodies that come with the Limited versions, but I couldn't be happier with my Premium and I would certainly not have a problem buying another 4Runner with these seats... ;)
 
Human nature dictates that people are most proud of what they have - and they try to push their opinions about what is best (coincidentally what they have lol) on everyone else. My last four vehicles have had cloth, leather, waterproof and now Softex. Guess what: They were all good. The reason different seating surfaces are offered is people like different surfaces. Sure some are easier to clean and some are softer but every single surface has advantages over the others. Get what you want and people need to quit thinking their choice is the best choice for everyone and every situation.
 
1engineer said:
Human nature dictates that people are most proud of what they have - and they try to push their opinions about what is best (coincidentally what they have lol) on everyone else. Get what you want and people need to quit thinking their choice is the best choice for everyone and every situation.
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I have a LE and I said go SR5, right after me the guy with an SR5 said go LE.

Personally I'd just choose new over used so that was the major factor in my rec. If the cost difference of SR5 vs LE is a factor you can't really afford to buy someone else's potential problems with a used truck. Warranty or not...
 
1engineer said:
Human nature dictates that people are most proud of what they have - and they try to push their opinions about what is best (coincidentally what they have lol) on everyone else. My last four vehicles have had cloth, leather, waterproof and now Softex. Guess what: They were all good. The reason different seating surfaces are offered is people like different surfaces. Sure some are easier to clean and some are softer but every single surface has advantages over the others. Get what you want and people need to quit thinking their choice is the best choice for everyone and every situation.
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Opinions were asked for and opinions were given. To each his own. Like they say "opinions are like *******s every one has got one, and they all stink".

Go test drive and decide for yourself based off of your needs, wants and expectations.
:peace:
 
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