Talk me out of it...

P

PricklyPete

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My wife and I plan on test driving a few 5th gen 4runners this evening. She is wanting a limited based on AWD and available 3rd row...I'm wanting a trail...well because it is a trail.

Any years in particular we should avoid? Any common problems we should be aware of? Any regret with your own purchase?

Thanks for any input!
 
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PricklyPete said:
My wife and I plan on test driving a few 5th gen 4runners this evening. She is wanting a limited based on AWD and available 3rd row...I'm wanting a trail...well because it is a trail.

Any years in particular we should avoid? Any common problems we should be aware of? Any regret with your own purchase?

Thanks for any input!
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Who is sitting in the third row?
Reason I ask is that the third row was pretty much made for kid sizes.

We have a limited and it's the wife's daily driver (for now) she likes all the goodies, leather, heated seats, touch lock/unlock and push start.

I have taken it off road plenty of times and it hasn't let me down yet.

If I was to get a truck for my needs only, it would be a trail. Though, the limited has worked out for both our needs. Full time AWD isn't a bad thing to have btw :)

The TE will come with lockers, which you can add whenever. You can't add Fulltime AWD though :)

For some reason the LE will have a better resale value as well.

Hope this helps
 
happy_wife_happy_life_white_tshirt.jpg


I'm not married, but I've been around my parents enough to know...
 
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We share a single vehicle. We are upgrading from an Audi A4 as the space/ground clearance was limiting where we could go. No one would be using the 3rd row seats unless we had more than 3 guests in town (which does happen from time to time). We don't plan on replacing for 10+ years, so having that extra space might come in handy down the road (at least in my wife's mind.

The luxury side of the LE doesn't really entice us as much...for this vehicle I think the "simpler", the better. We both like the look of the trail the best.
 
PricklyPete said:
We share a single vehicle. We are upgrading from an Audi A4 as the space/ground clearance was limiting where we could go. No one would be using the 3rd row seats unless we had more than 3 guests in town (which does happen from time to time). We don't plan on replacing for 10+ years, so having that extra space might come in handy down the road (at least in my wife's mind.

The luxury side of the LE doesn't really entice us as much...for this vehicle I think the "simpler", the better. We both like the look of the trail the best.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've got your mind made up :)
 
DannyLlama said:
Who is sitting in the third row?
Reason I ask is that the third row was pretty much made for kid sizes.

We have a limited and it's the wife's daily driver (for now) she likes all the goodies, leather, heated seats, touch lock/unlock and push start.

I have taken it off road plenty of times and it hasn't let me down yet.

If I was to get a truck for my needs only, it would be a trail. Though, the limited has worked out for both our needs. Full time AWD isn't a bad thing to have btw :)

The TE will come with lockers, which you can add whenever. You can't add Fulltime AWD though :)

For some reason the LE will have a better resale value as well.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input... I will definitely be looking at how useable the 3rd row is. If it is pretty gimmicky, my wife will likely not care anymore whether the 3rd row is there. Seems like wanting a 3rd row greatly limits your options both new and used.
 
I've got the LE 4x4 w/third row and don't regret at all - though I have kids and it works out when they use the seats. 96.4% of the time I don't have the third row up and you wouldn't even know they exist.

Anyway, you can make the LE look like a trail if you wanted the "look" bad enough. Many on this site have done the conversion.
 
I've got the SR5 with 3rd row as well. Sometimes I think why the hell do I need that 3rd row... I should have bought the Trail instead of listening to my wife. Then I have family in town and the 3rd row comes in really handy!! I think sometimes I will buy a Trail next, but no doubt when it comes down to it I will end will end up with another SR5 or Ltd with 3rd row. Happy shopping!!
 
Thanks for the input. Quick question... Do all models (all years) come with backup cameras with models that have nav getting the video through the head unit and models without nav getting it through the rear view mirror?
 
PricklyPete said:
Thanks for the input. Quick question... Do all models (all years) come with backup cameras with models that have nav getting the video through the head unit and models without nav getting it through the rear view mirror?
Click to expand...

They don't all have it automatically but is an option if its not already on there.
 
I have a SR5 with third row and with kids it is a bonus when they take friends with them, I wanted a trail as well but needed the seats. IT comes down to what you really need. Lockers-yes can be added later soooo Limited or SR5 with third row might be the better option.

Also on my third row the back seats slide forward and back as well as recline. Not sure all 5th Gens do this so something to look for as my kids like the recline option when on our way home from a long day and they can sleep.

i would have to agree there is nothing to talk you our of here. Any choice is a good choice. Only opinions and preferences here!
 
Love mine. Sometimes I wondered I should have got an SR5 due to the price difference but because I got such a good deal on a brand new leftover '12.... I'm driving a limited for what I would have paid for an SR5 with the upgrade package. I think the upgrades are worth it unless you plan serious mods.
My only complaint: I wish it had another inch of headroom- if I sit properly centred and upright in my seat, my head will touch the roof around the sunroof.... Which is what reduces the head clearance. However I usually drive with my right arm rested on the centre armrest so I'm usually tilted to the right a bit so my head/hair doesn't touch.

Full-time 4wd will be a beaut in the winter. Smart key feature is great. Rear window roll-down is incredibly convenient- especially on road trips. Many times I pulled out my ONR quick detailer to clean bugs off the front end and windshield without having to open the lift gate and have stuff potentially fall out. It also allows you to rearrange items after you close the lift gate as there is more room than you think when it's closed. Very convenient for quick access. Fuel economy is reasonable. Long mileage intervals between oil changes due to synthetic. A strong knowledge base on this forum will arm you with plenty of information as well. Nothing more comforting on a road trip and looking down at the Toyota emblem on the steering wheel. Didn't get that feeling with the Jeep- as much as I enjoyed having it.
 
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[MENTION=92682]JayceeP[/MENTION] I remember it wasn't long ago that you were a Jeep man... By the looks of that rant above the 4Runner has won you over!

OP I think we're all in agreement here that you won't regret your purchase... Despite how much we all love the TE, if you're even slightly considering the benefit of the 3rd I think that's the way you gotta go!
 
PricklyPete said:
Buying one in general ;-). Not because I don't like them, but I just hate spending the money. So far I'm not hearing anything negative.
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You aren't going to hear a lot of negatives. They are just good honest vehicles. They aren't perfect, you will find things you dislike or think, "I wish Toyota had done XXXX instead of YYYY".

What turns people into fan boys so much of the Tacomas and 4Runners is that they stay true to what you thought you were buying when you first got it - solid, reliable, competent performance. If you properly maintain it (not hard or expensive), 200,000 miles later you will be smiling every time you look at the fading paint on your 4Runner - not because it is perfect, but because it still feels/drives/ etc. so close to what it did when it was new and its repair/maintenance costs have been minimal.

When a vehicle has that kind of long term reliability and a solid strong competent on-road/off-road driving experience it becomes easier and easier to overlook minor imperfections!

David
 
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