Trail premium vs the Limited with respect...

[Bruin1md]

I was thanking you for your input

I offered my opinion on the ride and tried to be helpful and got criticized for my ".02 cents", I'm a lot nicer about it than a lot would be on this site. But your wrong, if people didn't post the same questions over and over, the site would be much easier to navigate and search through for folks with questions. I mean really, will 285's fit, i miss stifler.

not criticizing you. I use that term a lot ($0.02) even with respect to my own offerings on a subject.

And I didn't ask if 285's would fit …………I made a comment to that other poster that they looked good, and asked if he had rub issues with them. He obviously had to make some mods, but since I've never done this, I didn't know what that entailed.

 

[cjacob316]

not criticizing you. I use that term a lot ($0.02) even with respect to my own offerings on a subject.

And I didn't ask if 285's would fit …………I made a comment to that other poster that they looked good, and asked if he had rub issues with them. He obviously had to make some mods, but since I've never done this, I didn't know what that entailed.

There is a pretty good "tire fitment guide" on the forum, but what the forum can really benefit from is a good detail of lifts, lifts needed for tire sizes, other mods needed to accommodate the lift and or tires, etc. For someone who has never done this before, It's a lot of info to have to try ad figure out

 

[Jhalko]

The thing is when it comes to ride there is too much subjectivity. Just look at the responses you have gotten already... I would vote Xreas as best on road ride, another says KDSS, another says get aftermarket suspension, and another says LT tires. They will all change the handling but is it going to be what you want, really hard to say, what has also been left out is the trade offs to all those options as well.

I came from a JGC and felt like I stepped into a sports car given how much less body roll there is, my buddy with KDSS doesn't even know he has it and thinks his truck is a boat, but he has a sports car in the garage!

 

[1engineer]

If you want a real answer you have to test drive all of them. What is soft cornering to me might be firm suspension to you. Test drive not forum quest.

 

[Jhalko]

not criticizing you.

And I didn't ask if 285's would fit …………I made a comment to that other poster that they looked good, and asked if he had rub issues with them. He obviously had to make some mods, but since I've never done this, I didn't know what that entailed.

The 285 thing is an ongoing joke as one of the most common questions asked, basically if you go more than one size up you are likely making changes, cutting or moving the fender liners at a min. Going one size up only has a few tires options and most are E rated, probably not the ride you want.

:cheers:

 

[cjacob316]

where did you test drive the Limited?

 

[PNTRDPROO]

Here is an example of what KDSS can do for you :thumb3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kub4wXzZ4lw

 

[Headhunter14]

Not sure what bells and whistles you're looking for, but the Trail Premium comes almost fully loaded. The only difference is that it doesn't have the auto headlights, power lift gate and real leather seats. I'm coming from a fully loaded BMW and still think that this truck has enough features.

 

[PNTRDPROO]

Not sure what bells and whistles you're looking for, but the Trail Premium comes almost fully loaded. The only difference is that it doesn't have the auto headlights, power lift gate and real leather seats. I'm coming from a fully loaded BMW and still think that this truck has enough features.

Also, the JBL sound system and proximity key/push button start.

That proximity key is the biggest let down as far as I am concerned. I didn't realize how much I'd miss being able to leave my vehicle running and still be able to lock the door and walk away to go to the ATM, deli, etc....

Still not a deal breaker for me though.

 

[Jhalko]

Not sure what bells and whistles you're looking for, but the Trail Premium comes almost fully loaded. The only difference is that it doesn't have the auto headlights, power lift gate and real leather seats. I'm coming from a fully loaded BMW and still think that this truck has enough features.

Um full time 4wd? Heated/ventilated seats, memory seats? Third row option? Automatic running boards? When did they start offering a power lift gate? This is why lining them up on the site gives the best info.

The push button start alone is worth every penny of difference to me, never knew what I was missing.

 

[cjacob316]

My wife would list dual climate as a big plus, i like it much cooler in the car than she does. Actually climate at all, I miss my 4th gen where I can set the temperature rather than adjusting a knob trying to guess. If the premium came with ventilated seats, I may have considered it. If anyone else ever drives the 4runner, memory seats is great to have. We need it more in the Camry than the 4runner though. I don't get the push start personally. To many injuries turning a key or something?

 

[Bruin1md]

where did you test drive the Limited?

I drove my friend's here in Lafayette. She has a LTE she bought from Shreveport.

 

[cjacob316]

I drove my friend's here in Lafayette. She has a LE she bought from Shreveport.

Give Team in Baton Rouge a call. They have the most 4runner models right now, ask if their TEP has KDSS so you can test drive that and the Limited back to back. I assume the two trails at Hampton are KDSS since they have all been in the past, so you can at least get a feel for KDSS if the TEP at Team doesn't have it. Hampton doesn't have a limited listed though.

 

[Bruin1md]

From one MD to another, here is the commitment/statement you are looking for...The limited handles better on road than the other trims period. As you pointed out, it's no BMW CUV and will not handle like one. But for a body on frame SUV, it does a reasonable job and definitely better than the other trims offered,(go test drive them all back to back yourself and don't ***** foot it in the corners). If you are remotely considering a limited trim for primarily on road driving and interior elements, you really should go test drive the lexus GX. The swing rear door and the look wasn't for me but the price point for what you get over the limited is reasonable.

I've thought seriously about a CPO 2013 or 2014 GX 460.

What I discovered when reading about it compared to the 4runner was that there actually seems to be a bit more body roll with the lexus, so much so that they suspended production of the GX in 2010 b/c of these issues. Second, despite the increased HP and torque, the added body weight seems to be an issue with 'get up and go' off the line and from 30-70 mph. However, like everyone has said here, there is no substitute for test driving to see for oneself.

To be honest, when I compared the tech/interior features, the LTE 4runner seemed to have everything I want without skimping out on anything relative the GX and is about $15K cheaper. I think the Lexus may have a few better safety features?

I have a used 911 GTS in the garage that is my fun car which I bought after I had bought my X6 bmw.......but now I really want a reliable rugged SUV that can handle crappy roads and lots or rain and that is great for just throwing sh*t in and taking off on trips, etc. My bmw is now almost 6 years old and once the extended warranty runs out I don't want to deal with the headaches that could arise. Reliability is key for me as I grew up with Japanese cars in my parents' garage despite now being a german car whore over the last 5 years.
I don't need a high performing SAV/pseudo SUV --- and frankly I sort of like the idea of the contrasting rides of driving my 4runner for most daily driving followed by taking the sports car out to the track or just fun driving.

 

[Bruin1md]

Not sure what bells and whistles you're looking for, but the Trail Premium comes almost fully loaded. The only difference is that it doesn't have the auto headlights, power lift gate and real leather seats. I'm coming from a fully loaded BMW and still think that this truck has enough features.

how do the fake leather seats feel in the premium trail compared to the leather of the LTE?
I think the 3 other things the trail premium didn't have were the overhead compartment for sunglasses and the push button start, along with safety feature of warning beeping when you back up/park that the LTE has.
I think those are the main differences.

 

[Bruin1md]

The 285 thing is an ongoing joke as one of the most common questions asked, basically if you go more than one size up you are likely making changes, cutting or moving the fender liners at a min. Going one size up only has a few tires options and most are E rated, probably not the ride you want.

:cheers:

I gotcha-- I figured it had to be (the 285's).
Do you have a personal rec regarding having the dealer fit different tires on the limited when I negotiate the final price, such as the TRD pro set -- which are 265/17 I believe-- or going with after market set from tire rack, etc ?

 

[LandCruiser]

From one MD to another, here is the commitment/statement you are looking for...The limited handles better on road than the other trims period. As you pointed out, it's no BMW CUV and will not handle like one. But for a body on frame SUV, it does a reasonable job and definitely better than the other trims offered,(go test drive them all back to back yourself and don't ***** foot it in the corners). If you are remotely considering a limited trim for primarily on road driving and interior elements, you really should go test drive the lexus GX. The swing rear door and the look wasn't for me but the price point for what you get over the limited is reasonable.

Why would it make a difference if you're from Maryland?

 

[cjacob316]

how do the fake leather seats feel in the premium trail compared to the leather of the LTE?
I think the 3 other things the trail premium didn't have were the overhead compartment for sunglasses and the push button start, along with safety feature of warning beeping when you back up/park that the LTE has.
I think those are the main differences.

You lose the sunglass holder for the crawl control and terrain selector. The sr5 has it.

Why would it make a difference if you're from Maryland?

being sarcastic?

 

[Jhalko]

I gotcha-- I figured it had to be (the 285's).
Do you have a personal rec regarding having the dealer fit different tires on the limited when I negotiate the final price, such as the TRD pro set -- which are 265/17 I believe-- or going with after market set from tire rack, etc ?

Unfortunately the dealers will screw you over on this, some will give you bad info that you cant/shouldnt do it as they dont know. Better off taking it with the pizza cutters, order up what you want wheel and tire wise and sell the stock stuff in CL.

 

[NoDak]

the only big different between a GX and a 4Runner :

GX = v8 + FT 4WD + crawl + kdss in one package

4Runner = v6 and one setup below :

1. FT 4WD & xreas
2. 4wd + kdss + crawl


and a slightly used GX with low mileage and within 1-2 years old will run you about the same price as a new LE.

avg mpg will be around 12-13 from what I hear and you have to use premium gas if I remember correctly.