Shouldn't the grey cladding be an option

[srbigbutt]

I may be one of the few but I actually like the gray cladding on the Sport Editions. The regular SR5 doesn'tlook so hot. I know that when they first came out nobody like the cladding and vehicles got backed up and they couldn't sell them, but I think it should be an option for people who actually like it. They should have an appearance package that you can order with grey cladding. Maybe its just me.

 

[o9stealth5]

.........I'll trade you my cladding for your painted stuff

 

[Lee1]

My 2004 Sport (2WD V6) doesn't have gray cladding. Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing any of the Sports on the lot that did have it. See: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2623 for a picture of mine.

Lee

 

[sharp4runr]

My 2004 Sport (2WD V6) doesn't have gray cladding. Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing any of the Sports on the lot that did have it. See: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2623 for a picture of mine.

Lee

The grey body cladding was just on the 2003 SR5/Sport models. They did away with them because most people didn't like them too much. In 2004 all the models came with body colored cladding.

Like srbigbutt, I actually do like the grey cladding. Especially with the titanium color...

 

[HuntRunner]

I had a hard time finding one that had the cladding. That was one of my requirements when I bought mine late last summer when the 04's where starting to come out.
The cladding may not be as pretty bought it looks, and is tough. I drive a lot of roads/paths with brush and trees......I don't worry about scratching this stuff.

 

[jharris2]

Like srbigbutt, I actually do like the grey cladding. Especially with the titanium color...

So do I (see signature below). What's really nice about it is that I have the only titanium metallic with cladding and spoiler -- have seen one other SR5 (2WD, though) in titanium with cladding around town. So in the parking lot, mine is very easy to spot.

 

[toybox]

Maybe they will be some what of a rarity and used ones will be in high demand in a couple of years

I think the Titanium especially.

 

[Sac State]

I love my grey cladding. The grey cladding on my black Runner looks sharp, unique and I only have to wax half of the vehicle.

The only mono color that I like is the Titanium. I would trade my cladding for an all Titanium, but no other color.

I bet the cladded models become highly sought after vehicles.

 

[peter78]

I think one reason they don't keep it is because it is expensive to have different trim levels. If you think how car compaines over the years have had fewer trim levels and package the options instead of making them separate. Most cars come standard with air conditioning, power windows, etc.

When Toyota finally made the Apperance Package as a option, the price feel on the grey cladding, so the demand was not there and then they dropped the cladding. I don't see it coming back after that experience.

 

[Mark86]

When I was shopping for a 4Runner in September of 2003, I was not able to get a sport of SR5 without the cladding. All of the 4Runners on the lot had the cladding. I was not too happy at first with the cladding on the sport. Now think it looks great with the titanium silver. I still cannot find a way to like that little black piece on the liftgate that comes with the SR5's with cladding. Whenever I see that, it makes me wonder why Toyota could not have painted that little piece? :artist:

I don't think they will EVER bring back the cladding!

 

[srbigbutt]

I'm pretty sure they will not bring back the cladding either. I wonder if they are gonna come out with a TX edition 4runner like they are with the Tundra with 20" standard wheels.

 

[Wai]

I love the cladding on mine.
I think it goes along really well with Titanium.

I understand that the grey cladding only came in America. In Japan they didn't offer it.

In Japan they do have the grey cladding available. They called it "American Version", with no hood scoop but with color-keyed mirrors. So it's a mix of Sport and SR5 here.

 

[Good Times]

if any of ya guys w/ cladding don't like em, I'll take em

also if you're selling any cladding because you've upgraded to the colored ones or something, shoot hit me up!!!

 

[msanta]

Cladding has some of advantages, for example, scratches are not as noticeable as they are on the regular paint. I saw a 04' with scratches and they looked nasty. You have to look really close to see the scratches. I notice that it has sparkles, not like on the Cherokee or the Explorer. Also, you don't have to wax it. The only thing I haven't been able to find out is how to remove deep scratches. If anyone has an idea, let me know, I have one scratch that I would love to get rid of, and it looks really nice with the grey paint.

 

[Good Times]

If anyone has an idea, let me know, I have one scratch that I would love to get rid of, and it looks really nice with the grey paint.

It is plastic so I'm thinking sanding? I have some severe cladding damage which will require more than sanding but that does come to mind.

 

[EDGE]

2 of the dealers I was going back and forth between only had Limited models on their lots, they had cladding models but the 1st dealer I saw the 4Runner at got a shipment of like 20 Limiteds with an SR5 and a Sport, mostly all silver.

This salesman kid was like they won't sell, he went on and on, somehow he thought we became friends and it was OK to insult Toyota like I did not care, so after I got sick of him I said dude cool it you could not afford the thing if it was half off his boss laughed