Sport Edition vs Limited
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Pritchnakoff
New member
sport edition comes standard with the XREAS suspension and 17" wheels vs. standard suspension and 18" wheels on the limited - plus all the other comfort creature options you could want.
The other big detail difference is the hood scoop on the sport; most people like it for that reason alone. I'm sure you'll get a lot more detailed response; there are a lot of great 4R minds on this site.
The other big detail difference is the hood scoop on the sport; most people like it for that reason alone. I'm sure you'll get a lot more detailed response; there are a lot of great 4R minds on this site.
I got the loaded up limited because I know that I would want the doo-dads that come on it and grew weary over the years of buying the "cheaper" model and trying to then upgrade it to what was essentially the higher trim level over time.
Buying it loaded saves both time and money IMO. Just peruse these boards, and boards on other vehicles, and notice all the posts about "adding" this or that...wheels, spoilers, fog lamps, upgraded radios, nav systems, even steering wheels. I say save the trouble and buy it loaded to begin with *IF* that is where you want to end up. Then you don't have to waste time and money tracking down the parts and installing them or worse, paying to have them installed. Yes, you waste money buying parts after the fact, on things like inflated aftermaket prices, shipping and sales tax - and in my case (self-employed) actual time, which is worth a lot to me. IMHO, you cannot buy an SR5 or Sport and upgrade it to a Limited level for less than you can just buy a Limited to begin with.
Best advice I can give: Decide up front what you would like to have and what you have to have. Find the best compromise of those features, and let that drive your trim level decision.
For example, I had to have: leather, heated seats, sunroof, V8, 4x4 and the nav system. I found one with all those that *also had* XREAS, 18" wheels, etc and it wasn't that much more. It happened to be a Limited, I bought it. Had I found a Sport or SR5 loaded like I wanted at a reasonable price, I would have considered them as well - even without XREAS and the big wheels. In fact, I wanted 17s...easier to find tires for those IMO...but I am not a die-hard off-roader and I won't be trying to lift my ride to stuff big tires under it, so that was my 'compromise'. I made the right choice. We've just had a couple of snows and the all-purpose 18" tires that came on my limited have done just fine.
Buying it loaded saves both time and money IMO. Just peruse these boards, and boards on other vehicles, and notice all the posts about "adding" this or that...wheels, spoilers, fog lamps, upgraded radios, nav systems, even steering wheels. I say save the trouble and buy it loaded to begin with *IF* that is where you want to end up. Then you don't have to waste time and money tracking down the parts and installing them or worse, paying to have them installed. Yes, you waste money buying parts after the fact, on things like inflated aftermaket prices, shipping and sales tax - and in my case (self-employed) actual time, which is worth a lot to me. IMHO, you cannot buy an SR5 or Sport and upgrade it to a Limited level for less than you can just buy a Limited to begin with.
Best advice I can give: Decide up front what you would like to have and what you have to have. Find the best compromise of those features, and let that drive your trim level decision.
For example, I had to have: leather, heated seats, sunroof, V8, 4x4 and the nav system. I found one with all those that *also had* XREAS, 18" wheels, etc and it wasn't that much more. It happened to be a Limited, I bought it. Had I found a Sport or SR5 loaded like I wanted at a reasonable price, I would have considered them as well - even without XREAS and the big wheels. In fact, I wanted 17s...easier to find tires for those IMO...but I am not a die-hard off-roader and I won't be trying to lift my ride to stuff big tires under it, so that was my 'compromise'. I made the right choice. We've just had a couple of snows and the all-purpose 18" tires that came on my limited have done just fine.
OrionA1414
New member
PERFORMANCE WISE???!!!! Offroad capability is NOT the same, the 4.7 has 320 FT LBS of torque as opposed to the 4.0 with 282 FT LBS. That alone is not equal, as far as approach and departure angles and ground clearance etc...... YES! Everything else is equal otherwise, well only if your rolling a stock set up.
OrionA1414 said:
I thought the V8 was offered across the line? A friend just bought a used 06 SR5 that was so stripped down that it had the 16" wheels. It only has two options- 4WD and V8. And those numbers you quoted have been outdated for a number of years.
In response to the original poster, I do believe that the upgraded stereo is available to all trim levels. It really comes down to what the vehicle looks like and what can be found inside. I know for the first few model years on the 4th gen that the Sport had larger front breaks, I don't know if this is still the case. I think that may be the only difference as far as performance goes.
If you're buying new and want to be the best offroad, get the trail edition. I believe its only been available for the 09 models and is mandatory V6 SR5. Its got the locking rear diff, and no matter what people may say, a locking diff will get you further than a cornfed lift kit and bigger tires.
J.A.
Senior Member
Imho there was a time when getting the limited was well worth it. For example in 1999 the limiteds were the only way to get the multi-mode 4WD set-up, larger color coordinated flares, etc.
Right now I dont see how it is worth it. The Limited is approx $4.5k (from memory in 2007) over a comparably equipped Sport Ed. What do you get for that...perhaps $1.5k for the heated leather interior. Wheels, well you can sell your Sports 17" for some $$ and buy the 18" on the Limited so perhaps they are worth $500 as an upgrade? That is $2K, the other $2.5k goes for what...memory seats, lighted gauge needles, auto on headlamps, different color interior trim plastic and dual zone A/C.
Things like the Limiteds standard double decker, 115V ac power, heated mirrors, colored grill, homelink and compass have all been factored into the Sports price when calculating the $4.5k upgrade to the Limited.
You have to decide if those things are worth it to you. For me they werent. Note that the Limited is the only way to get the Air suspension. But also note the Sport Ed is the only way to get the hood scoop, otherwise you will need to add $500 (hood, scoop, paint, etc. ) to the price of a limited to as you know you will want that
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Right now I dont see how it is worth it. The Limited is approx $4.5k (from memory in 2007) over a comparably equipped Sport Ed. What do you get for that...perhaps $1.5k for the heated leather interior. Wheels, well you can sell your Sports 17" for some $$ and buy the 18" on the Limited so perhaps they are worth $500 as an upgrade? That is $2K, the other $2.5k goes for what...memory seats, lighted gauge needles, auto on headlamps, different color interior trim plastic and dual zone A/C.
Things like the Limiteds standard double decker, 115V ac power, heated mirrors, colored grill, homelink and compass have all been factored into the Sports price when calculating the $4.5k upgrade to the Limited.
You have to decide if those things are worth it to you. For me they werent. Note that the Limited is the only way to get the Air suspension. But also note the Sport Ed is the only way to get the hood scoop, otherwise you will need to add $500 (hood, scoop, paint, etc. ) to the price of a limited to as you know you will want that
:Also one more thing to think about. Limiteds have more of a tendency to come loaded to the hilt than a Sport. I wanted one with no Sunroof, no JBL (to get the mirrors), no double crapper and every Limited I looked at had those so the Limited was out of my running fairly quickly.
BlairB
New member
p nut said:
p nut is totally right. I wheel with HB 4x4 all the time and we see no difference in performance between our rigs even though he has the the V8 and I have the V6.
Also, it totally depends on the options that the SE has vs. the Limited. I custom ordered my SE to get every option I wanted and it ended up equipped almost the same as the Limited (nav and such) and the only things I dont have are things I didnt want or didnt care about like auto on headlights, leather and a sunroof. I also don't agree with what SubSonic was saying about buying a loaded vehicle saves time and money (no offense). Why pay for a bunch of things you don't want or need?
Most importantly, the hood scoop looks awesome. So get the SE
BlairB said:
It does save mucho time and money. But we can agree to disagree.
And read my whole post, I said to decide what you you'd "like" to have and what you "have" to have, and strike a compromise between the 2.
Trust me, I've bought low end units and done much upgrading over the years. And the last decade or so I've purchased loaded units just the way I wanted them. In the long run, buying it with factory options from the get-go has worked out much better and cheaper. Certainly when I bill $175 an hour for my time - it isn't worth it for me to waste time finding, buying and putting stuff on my truck. Then again, I am not one to take it out and hot dog it, the factory setup is fine and no big tires, updated suspension, or brush guards or what have you are important to me.
Whereas you think the non-functional hood scoop is a must have, I say I'd rather have XREAS and 18" wheels in addition to what I originally wanted on my T4R. It's all personal taste. But getting factory options from day one is cheaper than adding them later - it's a provable fact.
What I don't get is why so many people claim to not want leather. It lasts longer and is much easier to keep clean and in good condition than cloth, and never need those cheesy covers from Autozone. I equate leather seats to floor liners - must haves for being able to keep the thing clean and neat appearing if you ever eat in the rig, or track dirt, mud or snow into it. But that's just me. No offense.
OrionA1414
New member
My numbers are not out dated, they are the 03-04 numbers, in 05' the horsepower got bumped up as well as the torque!
BlairB
New member
SubSonic said:It does save mucho time and money. But we can agree to disagree.
And read my whole post, I said to decide what you you'd "like" to have and what you "have" to have, and strike a compromise between the 2.
Trust me, I've bought low end units and done much upgrading over the years. And the last decade or so I've purchased loaded units just the way I wanted them. In the long run, buying it with factory options from the get-go has worked out much better and cheaper. Certainly when I bill $175 an hour for my time - it isn't worth it for me to waste time finding, buying and putting stuff on my truck. Then again, I am not one to take it out and hot dog it, the factory setup is fine and no big tires, updated suspension, or brush guards or what have you are important to me.
Whereas you think the non-functional hood scoop is a must have, I say I'd rather have XREAS and 18" wheels in addition to what I originally wanted on my T4R. It's all personal taste. But getting factory options from day one is cheaper than adding them later - it's a provable fact.
What I don't get is why so many people claim to not want leather. It lasts longer and is much easier to keep clean and in good condition than cloth, and never need those cheesy covers from Autozone. I equate leather seats to floor liners - must haves for being able to keep the thing clean and neat appearing if you ever eat in the rig, or track dirt, mud or snow into it. But that's just me. No offense.
Although I agree that getting things from the factory is the much better way to go (hence my custom order to get everything I wanted) it is definitely not cheaper. The things that come to mind like navigation, exhaust etc.. are quite a bit cheaper if you get them elsewhere. XREAS is only standard on the SE, so that is another good reason to go for an SE over a Limited. Unless you are custom ordering your rig, it will be far easier to find an SE with XREAS than Limited. Maybe it might look different if you buy a rig at a dealership, but since I had to choose every option for the vehicle one part at a time (including if I wanted DRL's, Leather, Color Keyed Grill etc...) I was able to see the EXACT price I would pay and I can attest to the fact I would have been able to save money if I bought those options elsewhere. It would cost me some time (not much but some) but would have saved me money.
And as for leather, I don't want my dogs ripping it, I like the looks of the sport edition better and it is sure a lot nicer to get into a cloth seat than a leather seat in the summer. I don't keep my cars long, so I don't need to worry about the longevity as much and I think the leather seats start showing wear well before the sport interior. If it was between the SR5 cloth and leather I would say leather hands down, but I think the sport interior is great. Also, since this is my 2nd SE 4th gen I realized that the interior is very easy to clean and always looks nice and clean.
Floor liners are definitely a must need though, learned my lesson there.
BlairB
New member
OrionA1414 said:
This is true, but the Off Road prowess of a V8 is no more than a V6. Extra power might be nice for towing or if you really built up your rig (bumper, big tires, sliders, winch etc...) but the two engines are so close there is barely any real difference. I have had both a V8 and a V6 4th gen so I can attest to this personally.
There have been countless debates about this though, so lets no start another one
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RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
Leather sucks in temps below zero and in the summer sun it can get a bit hot on bare skin which cloth exhibits none of this.
Plus like stated before leather isn't pet friendly and requires a bit more care to continue looking good over the years.
With my 3rd gen I preferred the Highlander/ Sport model over the Limited since it's skinny flares are more off road tolerable than the wide painted flares and lower front bumper which my cheaper plastic flares/bumper take scrapes and bumps quite well.
The only thing I like in the Limited that wasn't available in the SR5 in '99 was the multi-mode auto and the digi HVAC controls are nice but still more parts to possible fail otherwise my Highlander/Sport isn't anywhere near being a low end unit and I actually like driving my 4Runner over my mom's '99 Limited.
Plus like stated before leather isn't pet friendly and requires a bit more care to continue looking good over the years.
With my 3rd gen I preferred the Highlander/ Sport model over the Limited since it's skinny flares are more off road tolerable than the wide painted flares and lower front bumper which my cheaper plastic flares/bumper take scrapes and bumps quite well.
The only thing I like in the Limited that wasn't available in the SR5 in '99 was the multi-mode auto and the digi HVAC controls are nice but still more parts to possible fail otherwise my Highlander/Sport isn't anywhere near being a low end unit and I actually like driving my 4Runner over my mom's '99 Limited.
Thanks for your input everyone, I guess I've got some decisions to make about what I need and what I can compromise.
I don't plan on customizing, really just getting some good rubber because I'll only be seeing dirt roads, snow, and light trail usage so I don't need to go crazy. Creature comforts may be nice though. Jury is out on the leather. Fuel economy is a minor factor, because although I plan to tow a boat (maybe 1500lbs), it will also be a DD so I'm not sure if I want to justify the V8. Input?
One question regarding the XREAS suspension: how would I tell if a Limited was equipped with it? Could I tell by checking the VIN or is there an easier way?
I don't plan on customizing, really just getting some good rubber because I'll only be seeing dirt roads, snow, and light trail usage so I don't need to go crazy. Creature comforts may be nice though. Jury is out on the leather. Fuel economy is a minor factor, because although I plan to tow a boat (maybe 1500lbs), it will also be a DD so I'm not sure if I want to justify the V8. Input?
One question regarding the XREAS suspension: how would I tell if a Limited was equipped with it? Could I tell by checking the VIN or is there an easier way?
Gromulus
New member
Personal Choice
You cannot go wrong with any (4WD) 4Runner. It's all about the features you want and how much $ you want to spend.
I remember when I was shopping it came down to a GX470 or Limited V8 Runner. To me the GX was not worth the extra $ and I hated (still do) the rear barn door. It's personal taste but I think the Runner is better looking (exterior) and more "masculine" than the GX. Despite the lower roof in the Runner, I like it's interior layout better than the GX. This agruement obviously would not hold weight with GX owners. Same situation when considering between the Limited and Sport model.
I think the Sport is a better "value" than the Limited and definitely worth the extra $ over an SR5. If I had to do it again today - and I might later this year if I don't like the 5th gen - it would be a hard choice between the two.
I would still want X-REAS and sunroof so that doesn't help narrow it down. In my area I have never seen a Limited w/o X-REAS. Jury is still out on leather for me. It does clean up easier and looks much richer, but I don't think it is as durable as a good cloth fabric (and I do use mine for hauling and outdoor activities) I take fairly good care of my leather and only had one small tear (subsequently repaired) on the side bolster of the driver's seat where I climb in and out. Other than that it looks great. I will say (and my wife wholeheartedly agrees) that the seat heaters in winter are VERY nice!! If pets or unruly kids are the norm, then leather is probably not the best choice.
Back when I bought my Limited the wheels were 17'. I really don't like nor want the 18" that come on the Limited now. I love my factory nav since it is built-in and has a larger screen, but an aftermarket unit really is a better value. Unfortunately, the only way to get the back-up camera is with the NAV system - and I use this quite a bit, especially when towing. Not a big issue, but I do like the illuminated gauge needles only available on the Limited. I like the looks of the tubular roof rack and side steps on the Sport better than the ones on the Limited, but aftermarket rack accessories are more compatible with the "traditional" ones on the Limited. The illuminated running boards are greatly appreciated by the females in my family. If I were doing more hard-core off-roading, then it wouldn't matter since they would come off. (I have done some minor damage to mine in the woods a couple of times already). I don't have the air suspension so cannot comment. Assuming it is reliable, it would be a nice feature when off-roading. In my area I have only seen this available on the Limited model.
As far as the hood scoop, I like the look but the fact that it is non-functional bothers me. Either way, I certannly would not let it even factor into MY decision and surely do not understand the adolescent notion (and waste of $) in paying to have a replacement hood. (sorry boys!).
So this posting was just as much an exercise for me as for any benefit to you. As I started off, only YOU can decide what features are important to YOU and what they are worth ($).
One thing I would not have to decide is engine choice. While the V6 is a great engine (and a V6 Runner would be my choice over another SUV with a V8), I will stick with the very smooth, quiet, high torque V8 with it's full-time 4WD and great towing capacity potential. Not enough of an mpg advantage for ME with the V6.
Again, no bad choices here - Good Luck!
You cannot go wrong with any (4WD) 4Runner. It's all about the features you want and how much $ you want to spend.
I remember when I was shopping it came down to a GX470 or Limited V8 Runner. To me the GX was not worth the extra $ and I hated (still do) the rear barn door. It's personal taste but I think the Runner is better looking (exterior) and more "masculine" than the GX. Despite the lower roof in the Runner, I like it's interior layout better than the GX. This agruement obviously would not hold weight with GX owners. Same situation when considering between the Limited and Sport model.
I think the Sport is a better "value" than the Limited and definitely worth the extra $ over an SR5. If I had to do it again today - and I might later this year if I don't like the 5th gen - it would be a hard choice between the two.
I would still want X-REAS and sunroof so that doesn't help narrow it down. In my area I have never seen a Limited w/o X-REAS. Jury is still out on leather for me. It does clean up easier and looks much richer, but I don't think it is as durable as a good cloth fabric (and I do use mine for hauling and outdoor activities) I take fairly good care of my leather and only had one small tear (subsequently repaired) on the side bolster of the driver's seat where I climb in and out. Other than that it looks great. I will say (and my wife wholeheartedly agrees) that the seat heaters in winter are VERY nice!! If pets or unruly kids are the norm, then leather is probably not the best choice.
Back when I bought my Limited the wheels were 17'. I really don't like nor want the 18" that come on the Limited now. I love my factory nav since it is built-in and has a larger screen, but an aftermarket unit really is a better value. Unfortunately, the only way to get the back-up camera is with the NAV system - and I use this quite a bit, especially when towing. Not a big issue, but I do like the illuminated gauge needles only available on the Limited. I like the looks of the tubular roof rack and side steps on the Sport better than the ones on the Limited, but aftermarket rack accessories are more compatible with the "traditional" ones on the Limited. The illuminated running boards are greatly appreciated by the females in my family. If I were doing more hard-core off-roading, then it wouldn't matter since they would come off. (I have done some minor damage to mine in the woods a couple of times already). I don't have the air suspension so cannot comment. Assuming it is reliable, it would be a nice feature when off-roading. In my area I have only seen this available on the Limited model.
As far as the hood scoop, I like the look but the fact that it is non-functional bothers me. Either way, I certannly would not let it even factor into MY decision and surely do not understand the adolescent notion (and waste of $) in paying to have a replacement hood. (sorry boys!).
So this posting was just as much an exercise for me as for any benefit to you. As I started off, only YOU can decide what features are important to YOU and what they are worth ($).
One thing I would not have to decide is engine choice. While the V6 is a great engine (and a V6 Runner would be my choice over another SUV with a V8), I will stick with the very smooth, quiet, high torque V8 with it's full-time 4WD and great towing capacity potential. Not enough of an mpg advantage for ME with the V6.
Again, no bad choices here - Good Luck!
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