TE rear locker v. Ltd torsen center diff, if you could only have one?

[GatorGreg]

Assume there are two identically equpped 2010 Trail Edition 4Runners and you can choose either one for the same price.

The first one is a real 5th gen Trail Edition (American model) with the factory rear locker. However, as we all know, it does not have the torsen center diff (since it's not the Canadian version) and therefore you should not run it on dry pavement in 4x4.

The second one is also a 5th gen Trail Edition (American model) but it has been modified at the factory to include the Ltd's torsen center diff but they also deleted the locking rear diff.

Which one would you drive off the lot, the one with the rear locker or the one with the Torsen center diff? (And no, there are no more '09 Trail Editions with BOTH the Torsen and rear locker, sorry . Also, assume we are in a SHTF, EOTWAWKI, etc type situation and you will not be able to add an aftermarket rear locker )

 

[MikesToy]

I'll take the Ltd's torsen center diff.

 

[J.A.]

Torsen because it will be used much more than the rear locker, at least for my use.

 

[adkinsadam1]

Hold on let me clear one thing up! Is the rear locker on the trail edition automatic? Or can you manually control when it is locked or not?

 

[Uneek]

Torsen, based on what I use my 4Runner for.

 

[JB.]

Because of the stipulation against adding it at a later date, I chose the rear locker.

 

[96743runner]

I'd prefer the locker too.

 

[ToyTech99]

Since my 4Runner (and probably 99% of other 4Runners) spends more time on the street than on the trails, I'd have to say a lockable Torsen center diff is much more desirable than a locking rear diff.

And of course in the real world it is easy to add a rear locker to the vehicle without spending a fortune, but not a Torsen center diff.

 

[offshorebear]

SHTF I'm bugging out of the city as soon as possible. The 4Runner will drive 200 - 300 miles and that will be that.

For day to day use, I think I'll take the torsen. I drive on snowy/icy roads a lot more than I rock crawl and lift a rear wheel.

 

[Thai]

Because of the stipulation against adding it at a later date, I chose the rear locker.

x2. On the highway, i still have stability control to bail my butt out of trouble! :cowboy:

 

[Climb14er]

You can easily add an ARB locker. How easy is it to add the Torsen diff? : I would say extremely difficult and costly if you could do it.

Plus, rear lockers are so over-rated for 95% of the 4Runners owners.

You'll use the benefits of the Torsen 100 X's more than you'll use the locker.

Now for those who do get 'off-road', a locker is a huge bonus. But it's really not that necessary in most cases.

 

[M1911]

You can easily add an ARB locker. How easy is it to add the Torsen diff? : I would say extremely difficult and costly if you could do it.

Exactly. An ARB rear locker is easily added. A Torsen is not.

And even if you can't add something later, the Torsen is far more useful in everyday conditions.

 

[M1911]

x2. On the highway, i still have stability control to bail my butt out of trouble! :cowboy:

Huh? Torsen is not about spin control. They do 2 entirely different things.

 

[PredBlue]

Somebody should do a poll on the REAL heart of the matter. (No, not the integrated antenna in the glass vs. crap wire fender mount, although that would be funny)

Something along the lines of: "Now that we know what the specifications are for the 5th Gen 4Runner, if you were given an opportunity today to buy a brand new 4th Gen or a brand new 5th Gen (and eliminating any other variables so we're only comparing vehicles themselves) which version of the 4Runner would you buy?"

You catch my drift? Doesn't it all come down to that simple question?

You either accept the loss of the V-8, the loss of the Torsen center diff on the SR5 and TE, prefer the styling of the 2010 model year, prefer the new design/functionality of the interior of the 5th---or you don't.

No disrespect to GatorG for creating this poll, but isn't what I stated above what we're all trying to get to? That tells us (yeah I know, even before any of us have driven one) did Toyota succeed or fail in the redesign? The rest of it (taillights, antenna, wheels, paint colors) are just little pieces of the big question.

Sorry for "big picture" rant---return to previous discussion. Oh yeah, Torsen CD all the way.

 

[chip4]

I would even give up that crap I mean crawl control for the lockable torsen.

Torsen!:hungry::hungry:

 

[M1911]

I would even give up that crap I mean crawl control for the lockable torsen.

Torsen!:hungry::hungry:

I agree. I've got no need for crawl control. But crawl control is likely pretty cheap, since they've already got the hardware in place (ABS, electronic throttle), so it is mostly just programming. The Torsen, on the other hand, is an expensive piece of hardware that they have to pay a vendor for.

 

[chip4]

I agree. I've got no need for crawl control. But crawl control is likely pretty cheap, since they've already got the hardware in place (ABS, electronic throttle), so it is mostly just programming. The Torsen, on the other hand, is an expensive piece of hardware that they have to pay a vendor for.

True, just a reprogrammed cruise control. I still cant believe "Partymode".

Looks like the 09 4WD Trail Edition will become somewhat of a collectors edition because of its torsen and locking rear.

 

[ToyTech99]

True, just a reprogrammed cruise control. I still cant believe "Partymode".

Looks like the 09 4WD Trail Edition will become somewhat of a collectors edition because of its torsen and locking rear.

Yeah, "Party Mode" is pretty gay sounding. They should have just called it "Tailgating Mode" or just have a damn button on the stereo that says "Rear Speaker Mode" or something.



As for the '09 Trail... Well, I don't think it will be anything special because there will be a ton of Canadian spec 4Runners that have both rear locker and Torsen center diff. And my guess is that Toyota will make that combo available in the U.S. by mid-2010 or at least the 2011 model year.

 

[Thai]

Huh? Torsen is not about spin control. They do 2 entirely different things.

Many people (e.g. you?) have stated how the torsen center diff is of benefit on-road. On-road, it is VSC that is the dominant feature that will bail you out of trouble in bad weather.

And no, M1911, you are NOT the only one who understands these systems....

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I take the locker since if I wanted a more street going vehicle I wouldn't be buying a 4Runner period. It's not like I have any problems on the street in my "classic" 4wd setup but an AWD mode would be nice when the roads get a little slick but not any real snow on them. I guess really I wouldn't know for sure til I was actually faced with the desicion.