Thinking about making the switch

[kayaknbike]

Hey Guys! I have been reading a bit over the last few days and I am really thinking about jumping into a 2015 limited 4R. Anyone come from any Xterra before getting their 4Runner?? I have a build up Xterra and a WRX that I am thinking of downsizing to one vehicle that gets decent mileage and will accomodate our hobbies(Kayaking, Biking, Camping, Taking trips to the mountains) and the Xterra is over built that it doesnt do well on the highway due to the gear ratio and gets terrible gas mileage(11mpg). I have been reading a good bit, but this there anything you guys suggest I read before I jump to Toyota??? I dont plan on wheeling this truck so thats why I am looking at the limited, otherwise I would probably just keep what I have. How is the AWD/4WD system in these trucks???
Here is a pic of what I am coming from....(Pic from Rausch Creek)

 

[3wbdriver]

Nice looking Xterra. I like the 1st Gen of those but the 2nd Gen looked like they softened it down too much for my taste. Can't comment much on the AWD in the Limited. I Have a part time 4wd Trail that is slowly working up to something like your Terra. I just wanted to compliment you on that ride. Welcome to the forum.

 

[wfo9]

Nothing wrong with the limited... It is a full time system with a locking center and a lo range. It has an electronic traction control system called ATRAC that can be used in 4LO that can apply power to all 4 wheels. (all 5th gen 4 runners have it)

I would lean towards the trail vs the limited. Its a bit more sporty overall and you can optionally get the KDSS suspension, which allows for better on-road and off-road performance via a hydraulic swaybar system. It does have a part time 4wd system and rear mechanical e-locker. Yes, it is more of a wheeling machine, but at least it gives you the option to have some fun offroad. The limited can also do fine, but the approach angle and ground clearance is not as good out of the box.

MPG is not going to be great on these. If you keep it stock, you might get 20mpg on the highway. The motor is pretty outdated and it is a big heavy body on frame brick.

 

[kayaknbike]

Nice looking Xterra. I like the 1st Gen of those but the 2nd Gen looked like they softened it down too much for my taste. Can't comment much on the AWD in the Limited. I Have a part time 4wd Trail that is slowly working up to something like your Terra. I just wanted to compliment you on that ride. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks!

 

[kayaknbike]

Nothing wrong with the limited... It is a full time system with a locking center and a lo range. It has an electronic traction control system called ATRAC that can be used in 4LO that can apply power to all 4 wheels. (all 5th gen 4 runners have it)

I would lean towards the trail vs the limited. Its a bit more sporty overall and you can optionally get the KDSS suspension, which allows for better on-road and off-road performance via a hydraulic swaybar system. It does have a part time 4wd system and rear mechanical e-locker. Yes, it is more of a wheeling machine, but at least it gives you the option to have some fun offroad. The limited can also do fine, but the approach angle and ground clearance is not as good out of the box.

MPG is not going to be great on these. If you keep it stock, you might get 20mpg on the highway. The motor is pretty outdated and it is a big heavy body on frame brick.

Thanks....I plan to keep it mostly stock, maybe new wheels and tires. I'm afraid if I get a trail or TRD pro I will want to take it right back to the level of my xterra. 20 mpg on the highway I can handle since that is close to what my wrx gets.

 

[itsdchz]

Thanks....I plan to keep it mostly stock, maybe new wheels and tires. I'm afraid if I get a trail or TRD pro I will want to take it right back to the level of my xterra. 20 mpg on the highway I can handle since that is close to what my wrx gets.

There's no stopping the itch of mods. Personally, I think it should be very hard to leave in stock form, or close to it, looking at the level of build you put into your Xterra. I would just plan that you will mod... Just saying...

 

[dwm2112]

My wife drives the 4Runner and it works well for our needs. I did ditch the 20" wheels for some 17's along with a set of DuraTracs. This is our 3rd 4Runner and they have all been great. My daily driver is more like your trail rig but in Toyota form, a FJ.

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[Orc]

You have the best of both worlds don't grow up too fast I'm sorry sold my 2005 sti

 

[Jhalko]

Get the limited, you can always mod it later if you get the bug. It's posh. :snacker:

 

[AFdude]

You have the best of both worlds don't grow up too fast I'm sorry sold my 2005 sti

I couldn't agree more. ^

I sold my 12 STI to downsize to one car, (my FJ). I heavily modded the FJ and picked up an S4 in addition to the FJ to have the best of both worlds. The S4, albeit nice, felt too fancy to toss around on the autocross track and the dreaded threat of the Audi service computers flagging your car as a TD1 (modded/kills warranty and resale value) made me turn my back on it. Yet, still in the fashion of wanting "one vehicle to do it all", I found myself in a 14' TE thinking that since my main hobbies are cycling and fishing, I wont go overboard on mods. So far, so good. Just sliders, suspension, and tires... Oh and maxtrax boards. I have been just about everywhere I've been in my FJ. Also at 17mpg avg/combined right now.

However, I'm now looking at getting back in a STI possibly for the sake of the other part of me that wants to go a little faster and pull some lateral G's.

Like everyone else has said, the 4R is very capable off-road (assuming a tire swap-stocks suck) and the TE being a little more so with better angles and clearances.

My.02: Keep the roo and get the TE.

 

[kayaknbike]

I couldn't agree more. ^

I sold my 12 STI to downsize to one car, (my FJ). I heavily modded the FJ and picked up an S4 in addition to the FJ to have the best of both worlds. The S4, albeit nice, felt too fancy to toss around on the autocross track and the dreaded threat of the Audi service computers flagging your car as a TD1 (modded/kills warranty and resale value) made me turn my back on it. Yet, still in the fashion of wanting "one vehicle to do it all", I found myself in a 14' TE thinking that since my main hobbies are cycling and fishing, I wont go overboard on mods. So far, so good. Just sliders, suspension, and tires... Oh and maxtrax boards. I have been just about everywhere I've been in my FJ. Also at 17mpg avg/combined right now.

However, I'm now looking at getting back in a STI possibly for the sake of the other part of me that wants to go a little faster and pull some lateral G's.

Like everyone else has said, the 4R is very capable off-road (assuming a tire swap-stocks suck) and the TE being a little more so with better angles and clearances.

My.02: Keep the roo and get the TE.

I like the Subie but couldn't afford to keep it and get a limited 4r, I have only had it for 10 months and tired of all the 20 yr old fast and furious kids wanting to race. Its not much of an adult car like the Audi you mentioned. I could keep my truck and be better off than buying a trail ed if I wanted to keep wheeling but I am going to give up on that expensive hobby. I have no problem being a spotter and photographer at events since I know my way around the park for the most part. I just don't want something that is begging me to drop 10-15k into it again.

 

[1engineer]

Hey Steve,
If you want to learn a bit about the 4WD (full or part time) in the 4Runner then read the link in my signature on 4WD. Also there is a link on tire fitment along with the differences between models. Good luck and welcome to the club.

 

[AFdude]

I like the Subie but couldn't afford to keep it and get a limited 4r, I have only had it for 10 months and tired of all the 20 yr old fast and furious kids wanting to race. Its not much of an adult car like the Audi you mentioned. I could keep my truck and be better off than buying a trail ed if I wanted to keep wheeling but I am going to give up on that expensive hobby. I have no problem being a spotter and photographer at events since I know my way around the park for the most part. I just don't want something that is begging me to drop 10-15k into it again.

You do bring up two really valid points: all the kids wanted to race me in the STI. I'm in my 30's and an AF pilot - I can get my jollies elsewhere without getting a ticket or worse, jail for speeding, which is why I kept the fun on the track. That's one of the main reasons I went to the Audi actually, but that turned into a money pit/too scared to mod scenario.

The second point is the 10-15k drop into building a rig. That's always tough especially knowing you may not get but 10-25% of that investment back. Heck, sometimes it's 0%!

Nobody here can blame you for being sensible and doing what's right for you, your family, or your wallet. Either way I think you'll be plenty happy in a 4Runner.

 

[kayaknbike]

The good thing is the truck stock is worth 9k or so and I estimate that I can get around 8k for all the parts if I put it back to stock along with the money from the Subie mods I have so I will have a nice down payment on a limited 4r. Since I am on vacation this week I am thinking about going to drive a limited at the dealer today after I shovel the awesome 1 inch of snow we got last night. Lol

 

[ic0517]

Know how to use a spreadsheet?

Do a calculation on all that money you are gonna be saving on going from 11 mpg to 16 mpg, and then think about the hit you are gonna take on buying a new car.

You could also do things like take the rack off, drop it back down, and put back tires that will get you better mileage.

I'm not saying I'm right, not saying I'm wrong, just saying go thru the numbers. The farther you drive, the more likely you can save.

For me, work is about 10 miles away, 52 weeks * 5 days * 2 trips * 10 miles = 5200 miles in a year. 16 miles per gallon is 325 gallons. 11 mpg is 472. 147 gallons. At $2/gallon, that is $294 a year. In ten years, $2940. Bet you are going to get bit in the ass more than that at the dealer.

That blue metallic on the WRX is my favorite. I wish 4Runners would come in that, I think Taco's and Highlanders have something close, but no, Toyota can't do that for the 4Runner.

 

[kayaknbike]

Know how to use a spreadsheet?

Do a calculation on all that money you are gonna be saving on going from 11 mpg to 16 mpg, and then think about the hit you are gonna take on buying a new car.

You could also do things like take the rack off, drop it back down, and put back tires that will get you better mileage.

I'm not saying I'm right, not saying I'm wrong, just saying go thru the numbers. The farther you drive, the more likely you can save.

For me, work is about 10 miles away, 52 weeks * 5 days * 2 trips * 10 miles = 5200 miles in a year. 16 miles per gallon is 325 gallons. 11 mpg is 472. 147 gallons. At $2/gallon, that is $294 a year. In ten years, $2940. Bet you are going to get bit in the ass more than that at the dealer.

That blue metallic on the WRX is my favorite. I wish 4Runners would come in that, I think Taco's and Highlanders have something close, but no, Toyota can't do that for the 4Runner.

I don't disagree at all...part of me just wants something different too. .

 

[Mistaken]

I love my limited and have modded it just enough to make it my own, sort of, so I dont feel like a soccer mom in it. But if you are going to mod it beyond some wheels and tires and a couple small things here and there I would do a Trail or SR5. The limited is nice and comfortable but start modding it and it could change that in a hurry. Just my 2 cents.

 

[kayaknbike]

I love my limited and have modded it just enough to make it my own, sort of, so I dont feel like a soccer mom in it. But if you are going to mod it beyond some wheels and tires and a couple small things here and there I would do a Trail or SR5. The limited is nice and comfortable but start modding it and it could change that in a hurry. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks...your truck and magnetic4r's have been 2 that make me want a limited with just wheels and tires done to it.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

MPG is not going to be great on these. If you keep it stock, you might get 20mpg on the highway. The motor is pretty outdated and it is a big heavy body on frame brick.

I was with you until this part. You can easily get 20+ mpg on the highway if you are driving within reason.

 

[Mistaken]

Thanks...your truck and magnetic4r's have been 2 that make me want a limited with just wheels and tires done to it.

Thanks! I got my ideas from Magnetic4r. :becky: