Retired and Ordering 2023 would like your thoughts

[MickeyR]

Just sold 2014 Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD 4x4 (122k miles). Hope to get new 4Runner on next allocation this Friday. Will buy off allocation so i can control added extras.
I had a LIMITED on order and never set up. I am now happy about this as i really don’t want the big radio system with navigation (do not want nav at all). The X system isn’t important to me as at 74 hope to put 100k on it and normally the X system will not.
I put lots of highway miles between Texas & Florida (I-10) so ride is important.
Never impressed with factory nav and have good gps.
Must have 4x4, don’t use it but always valued it.
Looking between:
SR5 - would add leather&heater to it.
SR5 Premium
TRD OFF-ROAD
XXXXXXXXXTRD SPORT PULLED OFF RUNNING
Any thoughts please.
46 years with Toyota and sold the first 4Runners introduced. But no way would buy ANNIVERSARY model not knowing if strips are removable. Without stripes cool unit.


Edit:
9/22 Allocation hit and i now have a White (w/Sand) SR5 Premium 4x4 with a Sunroof & Safe due to arrive 9/19.
All weather mats, rear mat and roof cross bars added at dealership.
Thank all of you for the advice.
Sold my 2014 TRD OFF-ROAD 4x4 Tacoma that gave 122k very carefree miles.

2nd Edit: found this morning the SR5 Premium has 3rd row seats. I passed.
Dealership spent the day looking for units still in allocation (didn’t want to buy added stuff).
Late today found White TRD OFF ROAD PREMIUM due here 10/10. Way more 4wd than i need but i need a vehicle asap.

Question: is it best to add to a thread like this the outcome by edit in the top or add it to the bottom of the thread?

 

[fkheath]

Just sold 2014 Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD 4x4 (122k miles). Hope to get new 4Runner on next allocation this Friday. Will buy off allocation so i can control added extras.
I had a LIMITED on order and never set up. I am now happy about this as i really don’t want the big radio system with navigation (do not want nav at all). The X system isn’t important to me as at 74 hope to put 100k on it and normally the X system will not.
I put lots of highway miles between Texas & Florida (I-10) so ride is important.
Never impressed with factory nav and have good gps.
Must have 4x4, don’t use it but always valued it.
Looking between:
SR5 - would add leather&heater to it.
SR5 Premium
TRD OFF-ROAD
TRD SPORT
Any thoughts please.
46 years with Toyota and sold the first 4Runners introduced. But no way would buy ANNIVERSARY model not knowing if strips are removable. Without stripes cool unit.

Since you do little off roading, I would go with the SR5 Premium which includes the Softex simulated leather seats. It has a good ride for you on highway.

That is what I have. I added a mild lift, and with the ATRAC (simulated locking differentials) I do a lot of serious off roading. The TRD would be overkill for your needs, in my opinion.

 

[JoshDub]

Since you don't do any off-roading and do a bunch of highway miles I'd recommend you buy literally anything else than a 5th gen 4runner.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

​

Since you don't do any off-roading and do a bunch of highway miles I'd recommend you buy literally anything else than a 5th gen 4runner.

I have a SR5 Premium with softex and very happy with it, but I do off reading, hence need 4X4. Not sure why you “must have 4X4”since you don’t use it. Sounds like a Toyota mini van or highlander would be a better fit for what you are saying, as JoshDub indicates.

 

[Captain Spalding]

Since you do little off roading, I would go with the SR5 Premium which includes the Softex simulated leather seats

Haha. Softex is about as much a “simulated leather” as vinyl.

If you want leather seats and 4WD that you don’t plan to use, get the Limited.

 

[Grug556]

You do highway dont be crazy get the limited. I have a 2016 and a 2021 pair of black Limited's.

The others stock at the bottom have far worse highway manners than the limited with XREAS. More dive and bounce with the SR5s. If needed you can always get an AT tire and do enough of what you want to with the limited. I think you will find most with only road use will see close to 100k miles on the XREAs before they leak.

 

[VBRover]

My wife has a limited and I drive a TRD Pro, we both prefer the ride of the limited on road trips. The XREAS is a big factor but just as equally are the seat differences. I believe the limited has firmer foam that seems to support better on longer trips, the other seats are noticeably softer.

 

[Charles Bronson]

You probably already know this, but a 4Runner is a TERRIBLE highway vehicle. It rides poorly, has terrible crash avoidance capability/top heavy, is loud, and gets utterly terrible MPGs compared to the competition.

The vinyl SofTex is very good and this is coming from a guy that has a late model, leather-clad BMW as his daily. I think SofTex is the ideal seating covering choice for a 4Runner. It's soft, pliable, very wear resistant, and very robust. Cloth would be a huge mistake.

The nav head unit is not a big deal at all. There's nothing complex about it. This tech has been around for 2+ decades now and you can buy aftermarket nav headunits for $500 these days. They are very reliable and no less reliable than a regular headunit. If it fails 7 years down the road, buy a used one for $200 and install it in 30 miniutes. My wife's 2020 TRD ORP has the nav headunit, but we never use the nav function for directions. It's fine. The speakers are total dog crap though, but it will probably be fine for you though.

Based on what you're looking for, I'd go with a no option SR5 Premium 4X4.

 

[MZ2215]

Just get the limited, your standalone GPS and maybe a set of 17 inch wheels and tires and be done with it. If you're deadset on a 4runner that is going to see 99% highway miles and want heated (and cooled) leather and the best on road ride and manners then that's going to be your best bet.

Or don't, your call.

 

[5thToy]

Based on described needs... Highlander.

I like my SR5P just fine, but if I didn't use it off-road, a 4Runner would not be on my list.

 

[MickeyR]

​

I have a SR5 Premium with softex and very happy with it, but I do off reading, hence need 4X4. Not sure why you “must have 4X4”since you don’t use it. Sounds like a Toyota mini van or highlander would be a better fit for what you are saying, as JoshDub indicates.

Wife has Sienna and it rides good but i don’t like the look.
Have 122k miles on the Tacoma and used the 4x4 maybe 4 times. But i told everyone i sold to buy 4x4, you get your money back every time.

 

[MickeyR]

You do highway dont be crazy get the limited. I have a 2016 and a 2021 pair of black Limited's.

The others stock at the bottom have far worse highway manners than the limited with XREAS. More dive and bounce with the SR5s. If needed you can always get an AT tire and do enough of what you want to with the limited. I think you will find most with only road use will see close to 100k miles on the XREAs before they leak.

Retired in 2014 as GM of dealership and the XREAS never came up. We didn’t get many Limiteds May have been the reason.
But now talking to current people it is a problem at 40k+ and no real help from Toyota. Being retired for 9 years i don’t have the in’s at that level as before. So for that reason will pass the XREAS.
They are the only limiting item on a 100k+ vehicle (imo).

 

[1jzgte]

Wife has Sienna and it rides good but i don’t like the look.
Have 122k miles on the Tacoma and used the 4x4 maybe 4 times. But i told everyone i sold to buy 4x4, you get your money back every time.

if you dont like the way the sienna looks then the 4runner will make you look pretty silly on an incline and your 5 speed roars to 3rd just to stay at 65mph... now thats embarassing

 

[RobS10]

We have been driving a 1999 SR5 since 2004 and picked up a brand spanking new TRD Off Road Premium in March and very happy with it, sands the gas mileage and lack of real power. I need 4 wheel drive occasionally, but after driving our nephew's SR5 Premium, decided the only way to go was the KDSS adaptive sway bar system, which is only available on the TRD ORP. It's a little like XRES, but not (from everything I read, XRAES will eventually leak, KDSS will if you live in the Rust belt and never clean the road salt from around the collector), really helps it corner better than the SR5 or Pro.
The Nav system is meh, and could really use new speakers, but it's not bad enough to spring for a new head unit as you can use Apple Car Play or Android Auto if you want. We enjoy the Sirus XM subscription and was great on a recent 10 day road trip through California, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado.
As others have said, if you like the look of the 4Runner and the more truck like manners of BOF design, by all means. But I would look at the Highlander if you don't plan on wheeling. More comfortable, better mileage and power, all with the Toyota reliability you're looking for. Just no roll down rear hatch window, :sorry:

 

[1jzgte]

We have been driving a 1999 SR5 since 2004 and picked up a brand spanking new TRD Off Road Premium in March and very happy with it, sands the gas mileage and lack of real power. I need 4 wheel drive occasionally, but after driving our nephew's SR5 Premium, decided the only way to go was the KDSS adaptive sway bar system, which is only available on the TRD ORP. It's a little like XRES, but not (from everything I read, XRAES will eventually leak, KDSS will if you live in the Rust belt and never clean the road salt from around the collector), really helps it corner better than the SR5 or Pro.
The Nav system is meh, and could really use new speakers, but it's not bad enough to spring for a new head unit as you can use Apple Car Play or Android Auto if you want. We enjoy the Sirus XM subscription and was great on a recent 10 day road trip through California, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado.
As others have said, if you like the look of the 4Runner and the more truck like manners of BOF design, by all means. But I would look at the Highlander if you don't plan on wheeling. More comfortable, better mileage and power, all with the Toyota reliability you're looking for. Just no roll down rear hatch window, :sorry:

i was all about the roll down hatch when i first got my 4runner too but then realized i was sucking in exhaust fumes while open..

 

[Charles Bronson]

Have 122k miles on the Tacoma and used the 4x4 maybe 4 times. But i told everyone i sold to buy 4x4, you get your money back every time.

You're 74. I wouldn't put too much thought into worrying about the resale of anything at this point. Who gives a crap? Have fun while you can.

I'd also not be fearful of "technology" in these trucks. Toyota is WAY behind the industry when it comes tech especially in these trucks that debuted in 2010. There is absolutely nothing new, cutting edge, or advanced with these trucks. Nothing. I can't think of another car or truck sold in the US currently that is so dated and have been strung along and was overdo for a new generation 5 years ago.

I will admit the datedness of the 5th gen 4runner It's certainly part of their charm too.

 

[lewdog998]

this is what you need.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Opinions are like *******s: everyone has one.

Go for the reliability. Get the SR5. If you have a dog, then cloth seats. Japanese leather sucks and does not last.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Wife has Sienna and it rides good but i don’t like the look.
Have 122k miles on the Tacoma and used the 4x4 maybe 4 times. But i told everyone i sold to buy 4x4, you get your money back every time.

OK, if you have to have 4X4, leather and looks, go with a SR5 and do after market leather.

 

[DAW89446]

Just sold 2014 Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD 4x4 (122k miles). … I put lots of highway miles between Texas & Florida (I-10) so ride is important.

From one senior to another, in short I love my ‘18 SR5.

After years of reliable service and hard off roading, I gave my grandson my ‘02 Tacoma TRD 4x4 and got my ‘18 SR5. It does have factory NAV and 3rd row. I’ve just turned over 50,000 miles on it.

A lot of people complain about the ride, noise and handling of the T4R. I find it perfectly fine. Maybe it’s because, like you, we’ve grown up on cars and trucks of the past that someone today would think are abusive and torturous. I’ve had late model (and early ‘60s) Cadillacs and Lexus, but I think my T4R is quiet, rides well and has a quality feel. A friend with a noise level app on his phone measured the interior sound levels on my SR5 and declared it pretty quiet at 70 mph. Any modern vehicle, even a new Jeep Wrangler would put my rough riding, hard shifting, noisy 1970 Ford F-250 4x4 with no power anything, no AC, rubber floors and no padding anywhere, to shame. But I loved that truck and had a lot of fun with it. It taught me all my 4x4 skills.

I live in a rural, isolated area where 4WD gets used a lot in mud, ice and snow; on both dirt and paved two-lane roads. Mountains, canyons and wide open valleys. In all seasons. I use my T4R on my property like a tractor, a pickup (with my utility trailer) and it never complains. I’ve scratched the heck out of it on tight trails that are narrower than the 4Runner. It’s silver but in winter it’s mud ball brown. Makes no sense to wash it, as it would be mud ball brown before I make the nearest paved road. The back liftgate is perpetually dusty in summer.

I think the SR5 Premium is the best value of the T4R line for most, IF you are dead set on a T4R. Based upon your post, there are nice AWD alternatives.

I don’t know about the 2023 models; but in 2018 when I researched all models, it seemed to me that all of them had the same basic specs, tires, shocks, ground clearance as the SR5 except the TRD Pro. I loved my Tacoma TRD, but I’ve just gotten too old and beat up to go out and beat myself up more for recreation, so the TRD Off Road or Pro wasn’t a value to me due to their considerably higher costs. But I did want a body on frame SUV, and I wanted another Toyota.

For me I think I made the best choice for my needs and desires. And I expect it and my 2012 Subaru Outback Premium will be my last vehicle purchases before I end my driving years.