Should I trade my Platinum Tundra for a '16 LE 4runner?

[sha4Runnerdow]

Ok, I realize this is a 4runner forum, but for those of you that have traded in your truck for a 4runner, do you have any regrets? The Platinum Tundra I have is a want and not a need. I hardly ever have passengers, and rarely haul anything in the truck bed and I mean rarely. The truck is impractical as I don't actually "need" a truck, and a local dealer is offering me a killer deal on trade in price and discount on a new Blizzard Pearl 4Runner. The thought of driving something that is better on gas, easier to park, and utilizing the rear hatch for my dog seams appealing. Any advice/help is greatly appreciated.

 

[philsey]

You'd better test drive thoroughly, with particular attention to power delivery. The 4R 4.0 is very different from the power you are used to.

I find it perfectly acceptable, and I've learned how to drive it, but some that come from the 5.7 are disappointed.

ETA: You do any towing?

 

[CRFofiddyF]

My .02

It comes down to practicality. I traded my titan dc for the 4R because 1-our family grew by 1 lil dude and 2- i had a few issues with the truck. I did haul my dirt bike around as well as stuff for home improvement. I ended up getting a trailer with solves the hauling problem. The only thing i miss, as previously stated is the 5.6 V8 engine. Hope this helps.

 

[Bad_Influence]

Do it!

 

[4FL]

I think it just comes down to if you want a pickup or an suv. I guess the tundra is a full size? I come from an f350 and the size thing is not much, but is noticeable and I like the size of the 4r.

I have no regrets, the suv is much more useful than my truck ever was for what I do with it. Nothing better than having so much enclosed space, and the handling is much better.

I just took a road trip and it is nice to have everything inside and still room to stretch out and lay down for a rest when needed.

 

[DFW_TRD]

I went from a tundra to t4r. It took a little adjusting. The t4r will seem small and you'll need to become accustomed to smashing the gas pedal, but overall, I'm very happy.

I miss having a truck sometimes, but I also had times where I missed having an suv. The gas mileage hasn't been that much different - 13.7 -> 15.2 (currently), but I do get better range.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I look at vehicle choice purely as what do you really need.

I have owned several pickups and loved the utility, however it was very rare I used the bed.

I also rarely (and I mean very rarely if ever) carry more than one passenger and 95% of the time just myself. So, it's pretty much open as to what I buy.

What I like about the 4Runner over a pickup is that when I do need to travel or haul something it does what I need and its covered.

A Tundra is bigger than I want and the Tacoma not being built in Japan is something I am leery about. Nothing from experience, but I do remember years ago when Toyota shipped the trucks from Japan cab chassis only and the beds were built, installed and painted in Long Beach and we all know how many of those we saw running around where the cabs looked new and the beds had rust above the rear wheels and paint looked like shit.

So. My advice to you is rent a 4Runner for a weekend. Drive it. Get to know it. Then make your decision.

I can tell you there have been 5 4Runners in my immediate family and when I decided to trade in my beloved, pristine 2002 last year, I didn't even look at another vehicle.

My only decision was color and model. 2015 TE in black with KDSS and every other option you can get.

Done.

 

[cheeser]

I just went through a similar process in selling my 2006 Tundra as I found that I didn't need the towing / hauling capacity of the Tundra, but preferred more covered storage, off road capability, and smaller dimension of the 4Runner.

So far, I enjoy the 4Runner. My only nit so far is that I wish it had a bit more power and smoothness the V8 offered.

It all comes down to the 80% - 90% of the needs you have since no vehicle will cover 100%.

 

[vjack]

If you have the space to store it, I think a utility trailer (plus a 4Runner, of course) is much better for transporting random stuff than a pickup truck. I picked up a used 7'x10' trailer a year or two ago for around $1k and it is way, way more practical than a pickup truck: much more space, much greater payload capacity, doesn't add length when you don't need it, you still get the cargo space in the SUV, etc.

Anyway, if you need a pickup truck every day for work then hauling a trailer around every day is not ideal, but if this is just for the occasional Home Depot run, taking trash to the dump, etc, you might consider it.

 

[spawn]

The platinum is a great trim to start with. Interior of the platinum is nicer than the 4R LE, just my opinion. Power, well v6 vs v8 - not comparable. I have no big regrets, loved the tundra but 4R is more practical. But i miss the backseat of the tundra, you can put a cow and a goat.

 

[OKStormRunner]

Great question! In my younger days I had SUV's back before they became so popular (S10 blazer & Isuzu trooper). As I got older, I switched to trucks. Like you, I rarely use the truck bed. I've recently picked up a 2016 TE and keep asking myself why I kept driving trucks for all these years! The 4.0 isn't going to pin you back in the seat and make impressive sounds under full throttle like the 5.7 in the Tundra. It comes down to your preference and what your needs are. It would be nice for the V8 in the Lexus to be an option. The Lexus is out there, but a bit pricey for my needs. You won't be disappointed in the handling and parking is much easier than in a full size truck. I agree on the utility trailer for hauling as well. I'd say go for it!!

 

[1engineer]

I've had lots of trucks and lots of SUVs. SUV is way more multi purpose than a truck. For the one thing the 4Runner does not have, an open bed, I simply rent a trailer the half dozen or so times I need it a year. I didn't buy one as it's much cheaper to rent either and enclosed or open of various sizes. Costs less than $200 a year and in the snowy winter it is much better to load up a 6X12 enclosed with a couch or mattresses than trying to cram and tarp them in to a short bed open pickup. I figure to buy the two trailers would cost around $7K new. Renting them at my pace would mean I have about 35 years before I would lose money. Our Uhaul is open seven days a week with many trailers just about five miles from the house so even if I need one unexpectedly it is there.

That is not to say the 4Runner can't haul crap. I had four stones in there weighing 800 lb total to use for table tops. I had 20 bags of mulch in there this past spring. Just folded down the seats and spread out a 6X12 tarp i keep back there. Simple..

 

[Jernik]

The platinum is a great trim to start with. Interior of the platinum is nicer than the 4R LE, just my opinion. Power, well v6 vs v8 - not comparable. I have no big regrets, loved the tundra but 4R is more practical. But i miss the backseat of the tundra, you can put a cow and a goat.

View attachment 189731

June 27? You celebrating the day my wife and I married? :thumb3: lol

To the OP; I may be the oddball here, but the extra size/weight of the Tundra will make the 4Runner feel quicker and more nimble in everyday driving, even though you will lose the feeling of being set back in the seat when you mat it. At least that's how I feel in comparison to my Sierra Ex. Cab w/6.5' bed. Granted, the 5.3 is down 50 or so hp and at least 30 tq from the Tundra 5.7. But still, the 4R will feel lighter than it is.

Like others advise go drive one and see for yourself. Heck, rent one for a weekend if you have to. I imagine the $$ savings between a Tundra Platinum and 4R (even LE) is enough to be hard to overlook in the deal.

 

[Ellis_McPickle]

My situation is a little different, I came from a Tacoma to a 4runner, so the power delivery wasn't a huge change for me. I really like the enclosed space for cargo and in the 9 ish months I've had the 4runner, only once did I need to rent a trailer to haul large items. It made sense to me to switch.

The bottom line for me was that I didn't use the bed and I liked the security of having work gear and other items locked up inside while maintaining the ability to get off road and deal with snow.

 

[Cheers!]

Do you like taking money and soaking them in gasoline and lighting them on fire?

If so, then yes, you should do it.

 

[lilsid112]

Personally I'd keep the Tundra.

 

[4RunnerAU]

Man, those tundras are pretty sweet....i would keep the tundra JMHO

 

[77Bronc]

I went from a F150 to a 4Runner. My daily commuter is a T100 and it serves my truck needs around the house.

I started out looking at a Tundra, then a FJ, back to a Tundra and then a 4Runner. I can say this, I do miss the full size truck, the 5.4L V8 was great and for the first three months I thought I made a mistake. But the 4Runner has grown on me. I really like the way it handles, like a sports car compared to the F150.

I am getting ready to start my off road trailer build, so I am looking forward to that as a project for the 4Runner.

Looking back now, I am glad I made the swap. I will be getting a full size 3/4 ton for my wife and to travel in for long vacations, in lieu of a camper, that is down the road.

77

 

[ST1FLER]

not capable of determining this on your own?

 

[mrmachinist]

I have a '13 tundra cm and we just got a '16 4Runner for my wife last week. I like the 4r better than the pilot she had before but it could never match the functionality of the tundra for me. I am 6'6" and I like full size vehicles because I just fit better. But my wife prefers slightly smaller ones. We both miss our 2000 LC we bought from her parents. It all comes down to your needs and what fits your lifestyle but it's hard to give up the 5.7.