Talk me into a 2016 Trail Premium w/KDSS

[OnTheEllipse]

birth of our first born is requiring that I pick up a car with a bigger backseat to accommodate a rear facing child seat. We have a 2001 SR5 as a second car, so the reliability/no-maintenance is a big plus for me.

Being honest with myself, I do need AWD/4WD but it's a very rare circumstance that I will need the Trail's extra off road capabilities. We do a lot of camping, mountain biking, snowboarding and are often tossing a paddle board into the back, so something durable is appealing (don't want something with an ultra nice interior that I'll be nervous about tearing up).

I test drove a SR5 Premium and was hoping the on-road handling would have gotten better since 2001, but it hasn't. Not a deal breaker, but a let down. I'm looking forward to test driving a KDSS equipped truck to see if that helps.

Expensive! Certainly the most I've ever paid for a car, but the resale value and reliability/maintenance costs over time might make up for that.

Sorry for the rambling....been spinning wheels on this decision for a while....hoping someone here will talk me into it or out of it!

 

[e60ral]

The KDSS handling is miles better on road, it feels confident in turns and there isn't much lean and no porpoising. I actually made myself car sick test driving an SR5 on the Tail of the Dragon, but this thing feels solid on road.

If road feel is your must have and you want a new vehicle then this is your option. You could buy an SR5 and start upgrading suspension to improve it but then you've eaten away that cost difference and potentially reduced your reliability depending on the changes you made

 

[chitown40]

Find an '08 or '09 GX470 with the Sport package. It will usually have KDSS and the price will be much more reasonable.

 

[OnTheEllipse]

The KDSS handling is miles better on road, it feels confident in turns and there isn't much lean and no porpoising. I actually made myself car sick test driving an SR5 on the Tail of the Dragon, but this thing feels solid on road.

If road feel is your must have and you want a new vehicle then this is your option. You could buy an SR5 and start upgrading suspension to improve it but then you've eaten away that cost difference and potentially reduced your reliability depending on the changes you made

thanks. i guess i won't know until i get behind the wheel

Find an '08 or '09 GX470 with the Sport package. It will usually have KDSS and the price will be much more reasonable.

interesting. hadn't considered that. will check those out now

 

[el_kab0ng]

Not another one of these...

The ultimate answer is: Its your money, invest it wisely and do whatever makes you happy. Forgo the 12 pages of mixed opinions and confusion this thread is sure to generate, leaving you right where you started.

Get a T4R, or don't, but don't let people here tell you what you should or shouldn't do.

 

[Storm Runner]

I would say a SR5 Premium would suit your needs just fine and you could take the money you save and buy a lift/wheels/tires.

While it doesn't sound like you need the TEP, the saying goes: "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". As far as the KDSS, that's a personal choice, so you really need to drive one with it to decide that.

I personally drove a TEP with and without KDSS and didn't find it worth the extra cost. I was going to lift it anyway, so I kept the $1,750 and spent it on the lift.

 

[05Rrunner]

Nope

 

[GzTEP]

2017 will be the same. So maybe wait until then to take a glimpse at the possible 2018 change and see what it might offer.

 

[OnTheEllipse]

the rear-facing child seat thing requires that i purchase sooner than later, unfortunately. if we have to take a road trip (which we do this coming weekend), the passenger's knees will be in the dash of my subaru.

 

[amalik]

random thought.

I find it odd you are complaining about a child seat in the back

my daughter is 7 months old and we have a rear facing in my wife's civic behind the passenger seat in the back

when i drive the family around, my wife can fit in the back-seat next to the kid, or fit in the passenger seat, she isn't some midget either and her knee's dont hit

Subie room must be a lot smaller than the 07 civic ^_^

 

[OnTheEllipse]

random thought.

I find it odd you are complaining about a child seat in the back

my daughter is 7 months old and we have a rear facing in my wife's civic

when i drive the family around, my wife can fit in the back-seat next to the kid, or in the front seat passenger which is in front of the car-seat in the back, she isn't some midget either and her knee's dont hit

Subie room must be a lot smaller than the 07 civic ^_^

i have no doubt it is smaller. it's bizarre. that generation of outbacks have super small backseats. the current generation outbacks have much larger back seats.

 

[mcarey86]

I am a fan of KDSS.

I drove an SR5p first, and was actually kind of turned off by how lumbering and floaty it felt. Coming from a WRX, the thing felt like it was actually slightly unsafe (its not.) on the highway. KDSS actually felt like it would handle better than the WRX.

I'm was, and still am 99% sure I won't be lifting it any time soon. Cosmetically, I'd like it, but I really have no need. The enhanced on-road characteristics of KDSS alone, was worth the 1700$ premium.

 

[OnTheEllipse]

I am a fan of KDSS.

I drove an SR5p first, and was actually kind of turned off by how lumbering and floaty it felt. Coming from a WRX, the thing felt like it was actually slightly unsafe (its not.) on the highway. KDSS actually felt like it would handle better than the WRX.

Wow, that's crazy. Looking forward to driving it then

 

[proimion]

Here's a counter-opinion/heretical comment: for kid-raising, the best vehicle is a Sienna. Get one with AWD if you want. I know, I know, it is a minivan. But try getting kids in an out of a T4R vs a Sienna in a narrow parking space/garage, and you'll know why right away. For hauling passengers on-road, nothing else Toyota has can beat the Sienna. Superior to the T4R in space (passenger AND cargo), mileage, comfort, and on-road smoothness. And for throwing a paddle board in the back next to the pack-and-play and all the other gear you'll have, the Sienna will be way easier with its fold-flat seats. Heck, you'll even be able to push a button to close the rear hatch while your hands are full. Try doing that with a T4R.

If you get a new T4R, get KDSS. I really like KDSS. It makes a big difference for on-road driving.

I own both and have hauled kids in both. We've taken the Sienna on camping and outdoor trips all over Colorado. I love my T4R way more than my Sienna and it certainly goes places the Sienna cannot. But if I'm honest, I gotta admit the Sienna is the better overall family vehicle.

 

[OnTheEllipse]

Here's a counter-opinion/heretical comment: for kid-raising, the best vehicle is a Sienna. Get one with AWD if you want. I know, I know, it is a minivan. But try getting kids in an out of a T4R vs a Sienna in a narrow parking space/garage, and you'll know why right away. For hauling passengers on-road, nothing else Toyota has can beat the Sienna. Superior to the T4R in space (passenger AND cargo), mileage, comfort, and on-road smoothness. And for throwing a paddle board in the back next to the pack-and-play and all the other gear you'll have, the Sienna will be way easier with its fold-flat seats. Heck, you'll even be able to push a button to close the rear hatch while your hands are full. Try doing that with a T4R.

If you get a new T4R, get KDSS. I really like KDSS. It makes a big difference for on-road driving.

I own both and have hauled kids in both. We've taken the Sienna on camping and outdoor trips all over Colorado. I love my T4R way more than my Sienna and it certainly goes places the Sienna cannot. But if I'm honest, I gotta admit the Sienna is the better overall family vehicle.

haha, thanks. i know that's sensible and probably the smartest choice, but I don't think I could do it. believe it or not, my wife is the one who flat out would not let that happen.

 

[jmart]

My wife and I were faced with the same decision back in January when our son was born. After back-to-back test drives of an SR5 Premium and then a TEP w/KDSS we knew we wanted the latter. We haven't regretted the decision once, it's absolutely worth the money if on road performance is a priority to you.

This was just our experience/opinion, of course. Having come from 350Z/S2000/BWM forums over the past decade I've learned that handling performance can be quite subjective. I'd 100% recommend test driving both options back-to-back if possible.

 

[OnTheEllipse]

My wife and I were faced with the same decision back in January when our son was born. After back-to-back test drives of an SR5 Premium and then a TEP w/KDSS we knew we wanted the latter. We haven't regretted the decision once, it's absolutely worth the money if on road performance is a priority to you.

This was just our experience/opinion, of course. Having come from 350Z/S2000/BWM forums over the past decade I've learned that handling performance can be quite subjective. I'd 100% recommend test driving both options back-to-back if possible.

that's great to know. thanks for the reply

 

[gm350reratliff]

I would advise you to take the car seat of your choice with you and check fitment for both you and the car seat. Some of those rear facing car seats take up a lot of space. The car seat we picked out for kiddo #2 did not fit in either 4runner and barely fit in my 2012 F150 supercrew, which has a lot more room than the 4runner. We ended up returning that car seat for one that was still rated good but was smaller.

 

[OnTheEllipse]

I would advise you to take the car seat of your choice with you and check fitment for both you and the car seat. Some of those rear facing car seats take up a lot of space. The car seat we picked out for kiddo #2 did not fit in either 4runner and barely fit in my 2012 F150 supercrew, which has a lot more room than the 4runner. We ended up returning that car seat for one that was still rated good but was smaller.

your seat that didn't fit didn't happen to be a Chicco Keyfit 30 (they seem to be popular)?

 

[mybabydaddy]

Short of it (as previously stated), if you can afford it, then get what you want. If you are budgeting, then get what makes sense. Some will tell you no, some will tell you yes, some will tell you there are plenty of other better family hauler options than a T4R.

I'm on TR4 #3... Family hauled in last two (one 2011 Limited, and current 2014 TEP w/ KDSS).

I absolutely love my TEP with Softex for kid hauling. I hardly do any off-road (I'm a pavement princess)... So the TEP was huge overkill. But it was the only version that had the options I wanted at the time, and money wasn't really an issue... So I bought what I wanted. The Softex really doesn't compare to true leather... But I could care less. ZERO issues with it and virtually zero wear marks anywhere to be found after daily usage.

KDSS is great for pavement queens... But I also have a small lift that stiffened things up; and wheel stance changed the steering geometry as well. So take it with a grain of salt.

All just my opinion... And it smells, just like everyone else's does... [emoji52]


2014 TEP w/ KDSS / Bilstein 5100s (front at 1.75) / Cornfed 1 inch rear spacers / 265/70 Nitto TG G2s / Spidertrax 1.25 / RCI Front skid / Yakima Cross bars / NFab Steps