Update on my first Mods

T

TRZ06

New member
Well, I picked up my 4Runner tonight. The leather from CST is fantastic and looks totally factory. I highly recommend them if you are wanting a full leather conversion from cloth.

The AVN 2454 NAV system, is also very cool. I do have a few complaints compared to the stock NAV though.

1. the buttons & button writing is very small, you can barely make it out clearly at a distance, so you have to almost memorize the location of each button.

2. In CD mode, the steering wheel controls do not allow you to change the track, only adjust the volume. In radio mode, the middle toggle buttons, only change your pre-set stations and holding the button does not activate the search function of the radio.

3. There are no knobs, so volume control is via buttons either on the NAV or the steering wheel controls.

Other than that, I like the system. Sound is similar to stock, maybe slighty better. an amp and replacement of all speakers will change that though.

Overall I am very pleased with my first upgrades.

Next on my list, in no particular order....

HID lighting
Auto rear dimming mirror
Speakers & amp
Heated seats
I know, I should have done that when the seats were being leatherized. However the leather was part of the sales deal and stuffed into my payments and I didn't have $500 out of pocket at the moment to have the heat added. I did talk to the manager of CST who did my seats and he said bring it by anytime and he will only charge me the price of doing them as if they were being done when I had the deats leatherized. Which is
$250/seat.


I will post pics this weekend.
 
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Holy crap...thats an awesome first mod. My first mod was switchin out tape deck for an aftermarket one. Can't wait til the pics are posted.

Do you plan on doing any engine performance mods too? It seems like your an interior guy.

I also like all your previous cars...especially the s4. :D
 
PioneerMeta4 said:
Holy crap...thats an awesome first mod. My first mod was switchin out tape deck for an aftermarket one. Can't wait til the pics are posted.

Do you plan on doing any engine performance mods too? It seems like your an interior guy.

I also like all your previous cars...especially the s4. :D
Click to expand...

No, the engine, exhaust, intake will all stay stock. I plan to have this for many, many years and it will serve as the familymobile.

While the S4 was nice as far as interior and fit & finish, for what it is, it is an overpriced german car that is quite slow considering it has 345 hp (it weights almost 2900 lbs and only has 302lb ft of TQ)

I would take my Z06 back anyday of the week and twice on Sunday. However I am a family man now with a newborn, so it had to go.
 
Koz said:
Just curious, why didn't you get the Limited? It may have been cheaper.

Koz
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That is a very interesting question to me, at least.
Forget about the rebate currently running,

I got 2004 SE (V?:D).
If I replace my 6 CD changer with AVN 2454, I lost my investment and will get only one CD player (instead of 6). Alternative to this is to get more expensive AVN 5495 which comes with 30GB HD.
.
The process can be easier for me if I got only very basic SR5 and make the NAV mod from there.

Koz is correct that the DVD/NAV package in LTD costs around $2000 and you get alot more than just NAV. I have to be rich to buy a LTD. That's my another question.
.
 
Koz said:
Just curious, why didn't you get the Limited? It may have been cheaper.

Koz
Click to expand...

Getting the Limited was my original plan, but I really, really wanted X-REAS and they do not spec them with X-REAS here in California.

I did have a limited on order w/ X-REAS, but the delivery time was late December and I didn't want to wait that long. Also the fact the my Audi S4 (my trade-in) was loosing more money every month compared to what my payments were (thanks to the deep rebates Audi is offering), so in 2.5 months from now I would have been worse off as far as trade equity.

Oh, the other big reason I didn't wait for the Limited, is in 06' they are using 18" wheels. There are very few tire choices for that size. I switched to Michelin Cross Terrains on my Sport already and that would have been impossible with the 18" wheels as Michelin does not make that size.

My 4Runner, while mostly a commuter vehicle, will be doubling as a tow rig for my snowmobile up at Lake Tahoe about 2 times a month. So keeping the crap Dunflops were not an option.

So I went with the Sport.
 
TRZ06 said:
Getting the Limited was my original plan, but I really, really wanted X-REAS and they do not spec them with X-REAS here in California.

I did have a limited on order w/ X-REAS, but the delivery time was late December and I didn't want to wait that long. Also the fact the my Audi S4 (my trade-in) was loosing more money every month compared to what my payments were (thanks to the deep rebates Audi is offering), so in 2.5 months from now I would have been worse off as far as trade equity.

Oh, the other big reason I didn't wait for the Limited, is in 06' they are using 18" wheels. There are very few tire choices for that size. I switched to Michelin Cross Terrains on my Sport already and that would have been impossible with the 18" wheels as Michelin does not make that size.

My 4Runner, while mostly a commuter vehicle, will be doubling as a tow rig for my snowmobile up at Lake Tahoe about 2 times a month. So keeping the crap Dunflops were not an option.

So I went with the Sport.
Click to expand...

Good reasons!

Koz
 
TRZ06 said:
Getting the Limited was my original plan, but I really, really wanted X-REAS and they do not spec them with X-REAS here in California.

I did have a limited on order w/ X-REAS, but the delivery time was late December and I didn't want to wait that long. Also the fact the my Audi S4 (my trade-in) was loosing more money every month compared to what my payments were (thanks to the deep rebates Audi is offering), so in 2.5 months from now I would have been worse off as far as trade equity.

Oh, the other big reason I didn't wait for the Limited, is in 06' they are using 18" wheels. There are very few tire choices for that size. I switched to Michelin Cross Terrains on my Sport already and that would have been impossible with the 18" wheels as Michelin does not make that size.

My 4Runner, while mostly a commuter vehicle, will be doubling as a tow rig for my snowmobile up at Lake Tahoe about 2 times a month. So keeping the crap Dunflops were not an option.

So I went with the Sport.
Click to expand...


My rig will also be used quite a bit for hauling dogs and snowboards up to Tahoe. Also thinking about getting a trailer for my vtx1300 and hauling it up in the summer months. That way I can still ride with the woman and dogs, and then roll around tahoe on the motorcycle.
 
Paul, I just had my leather put in by Classic Soft Trim in Northern Cinci and the heated seats (one stage only) was $300 installed. I personally don't use the multi stage heaters in my 05 Grand Cherokee, or the one's in my wife 05 Jetta so single stage was great for me....You ought to check it out....$200 is saving to use elsewhere.

J
 
MAC4Runner said:
:worthless

Let's see the goods! :D
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I will try to take some pics and post this evening.

So, which brings me to my next question, how and where do I post pics here?
 
Nice

Got to tell you though on the 05.5 S4, it does suck for driving in the states but my buddy has one and it's crazy quick after 120mph, just goes all the way up till I let off at about 160. It's made for the roads over here, I don't even know what it shuts off at, and yes his was a US spec one, it's actually for sale over here now in Germany for 47,000 with 3400 miles. It's bad but I'm looking at and S60R right now for 27,000

Congrats on the mods, and I've drove both, the Z06 I'd never buy, but I wouldn't buy the S4 either, I'm more a M3 or M5 kinda' guy.

T
 
Solice said:
That CST leather looks excellent, very soft looking. Do you have to have a local CST dealer to get that or can you order it online? I checked and I don't think I have one anywhere near me :(.
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I believe so, the dealer took out my seats and door panels and CTS picked them up and did them, and then brought them back.

CTS does have lots of locations though. Go to their website and do a locator by state, and it will give you all the locations for your state.

www.classicsofttrim.com
 
Hey Mr. TRZ06, the X-REAS (X-RAGS) isn't everything it's made out to be. It will be very interesting to see the long term aftermarket costs for those shocks/hydraulic resorvoirs!
 
Did you consider the TRD two-tone sport design that CST offers?
http://www.classicsofttrim.com/viewPics?imagecd=1837

I just got my 4Runner Sport yesterday and contacted CST near me (Seattle area) and will go check out their shop later this week.

I originally was going to go with the two-tone, but then my friends talked me out of it. They argued that solid charcoal would look better, like you did. The TRD colors in the pic are probably matched to the interior, but I would prefer charcoal/dark gray to charcoal/lt gray.

And they can do the embroidered logo on pretty much any cover design. I may also add lumbar to passenger seat.

On one hand the leather looks nicer, but on the other hand, cloth doesn't freeze your butt off in the winter or fry you in the summer. I've got a kid on the way, so I figure leather will be easier to clean, plus will look way better.
 
sasquatch said:
Did you consider the TRD two-tone sport design that CST offers?
http://www.classicsofttrim.com/viewPics?imagecd=1837

I just got my 4Runner Sport yesterday and contacted CST near me (Seattle area) and will go check out their shop later this week.

I originally was going to go with the two-tone, but then my friends talked me out of it. They argued that solid charcoal would look better, like you did. The TRD colors in the pic are probably matched to the interior, but I would prefer charcoal/dark gray to charcoal/lt gray.

And they can do the embroidered logo on pretty much any cover design. I may also add lumbar to passenger seat.

On one hand the leather looks nicer, but on the other hand, cloth doesn't freeze your butt off in the winter or fry you in the summer. I've got a kid on the way, so I figure leather will be easier to clean, plus will look way better.
Click to expand...

How were your friends able to talk you out of it? I ask only because I am thinking about doing the two tone for my truck as well and would like to hear some of the pros and cons of going with two tone
 
Reasons cited AGAINST two-tone leather:

<ol>
<li>not everyone will like your choice of colors</li>
<li>not everyone will like two-tone in any color</li>
<li>the interior doesn't lend itself to a sport two-tone seating schema</li>
<li>two-tone costs more</li>
</ol>

My responses:
<ol>
<li>The TRD two-tone schema is designed to match the sport interior.</li>
<li>It's my car, and I like it, and see #1</li>
<li>There is some merit to this one, unless you start adding aftermarket stuff to the interior like sport pedals and such</li>
<li>two-tone costs like $50-100 more, so not an issue.</li>
</ol>


I originally wanted two tone seats that were a combination of dark charcoal and dark gray. The TRD seats are dark charcoal and LIGHT gray. This is one reason I didn't get the Limited--the color of the leather was too light IMO. However, CST said they could probably order them with a darker gray. If that doesn't fly, then I'm just going for all dark charcoal with the TRD monogram.

Sasquatch
2006 T4R Sport - Ti
- leather mod pending
- nav mod under consideration
- tire mod definitely needed
 
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