Lewis&Clark
New member
It's time to let my beloved 1998 Nissan Pathfinder move on to the great big SUV playground the sky. 200,000 miles, 29 states, 39 islands, and 266 state, national, and local parks, preserves, and forests. It's been a great ride, but his original tranny and engine are slowly dying and not worth repairing on a 200K car. I don't like the new Pathfinders as they haven't really improved on the old ones' issues. So it's down to Jeep and 4Runner because an SUV should be a real SUV--built on a truck chasis, not some crossover BS. And I could never bring myself to unload forty grand on a car with notorious reliability issues. Plus, our Camry Hybrid and older Camry have been outstanding cars.
So a 4Runner it is, and I'm so stoked! I've wanted one for some time now. Will buy in the next 3-6 months, depending on whether availability for the 2012's improves enough to make price negotiation with the dealer any easier.
I'm looking at a new '12, and leaning towards the Limited. But I have some questions I'm hoping some folks can help out with.
Intended use: I drive. A LOT. As in 25,000 miles per year and looking at even more; perhaps up to 40,000, starting October 1st. Gas economy isn't a deal breaker for me as many of those miles are reimbursable. But it does make comfort a top priority, especially for a 6'2 tall gangly guy with a mildly bad lower back. Lots of mountain, snow, and rural use. Tons of urban highway driving (stop-and-go) as well. Some offroading, but I probably won't go climbing boulders. But streams, shallow rivers, deserts, and reasonably rough offroad mountain trails are not unlikely. Must be able to tow 5,000 lbs comfortably at steep altitudes and grades. Other uses include search-and-rescue, so it should be able to handle a winch and a rack on top. Absolutely no desire for a 3rd row of seats. Actually prefer no slide out table either, but I'll take the pull out if I have no choice but those 2 configurations. With the amount of driving I do, the simplicity of a factory-installed, seamlessly-integrated and voice-driven navigation system with a large screen is a non-negotiable requirement--that's why I didn't buy an SR5 a couple years ago when I had the chance. Because comfort is an issue on long drives, heated seats are truly a blessing which I know means the Limited edition only. But it's not a critical requirement because I can always do after market seats, if everything else points to the TE.
Lastly, I *prefer* part-time 4WD systems, but that's only because I'm a control freak and want to manage the system myself. But I honestly don't have any real operational or practical reason I can think of to make it a requirement, or for that matter not to trust my 4Runner to engage the system at the right time. And I guess it might just be because I've always had a PT 4, and am just used to it. I figure if a Land Cruiser can be the effective offroad beast it is without a part-time 4wd, a 4Runner LE will probably do just fine.
So given all that, I'd love any feedback on where y'all think I should settle -- TE or LE? I like the LE for its comfort, but $45K is a tough pill to swallow, and I don't know how much more comfortable it is compared to a Trail and for several thousand more. I also don't know how effective it is off road compared to its siblings, but I don't have experience with the 4Runner. I'm thinking it would probably meet my requirements above just fine, but your opinions would mean much more to me than my own.
Also, a few quick questions:
1. What is this "display audio" thing on the 12s? I'm trying to figure out how the nav system and stereo are different on the Limited versus the SR5 and Trail.
2. Do you lose any meaningful amount of clearance space when you have the automatic running boards? My old pathfinder has standard factory boards, and you lose an inch or so. I'm concerned automatic ones might lose even more clearance space due to parts, etc.
3. Anyone know if it's possible to still get the standard $600 running boards directly from Toyota -- not the automatic ones at $1500?
4. If I'm looking at the build configurator on Toyota's site correctly, it appears as if I cannot get the voice-activated touch-screen navigation/stereo/dvd system without getting the 3rd Row configuration option? Is this true....?!
So a 4Runner it is, and I'm so stoked! I've wanted one for some time now. Will buy in the next 3-6 months, depending on whether availability for the 2012's improves enough to make price negotiation with the dealer any easier.
I'm looking at a new '12, and leaning towards the Limited. But I have some questions I'm hoping some folks can help out with.
Intended use: I drive. A LOT. As in 25,000 miles per year and looking at even more; perhaps up to 40,000, starting October 1st. Gas economy isn't a deal breaker for me as many of those miles are reimbursable. But it does make comfort a top priority, especially for a 6'2 tall gangly guy with a mildly bad lower back. Lots of mountain, snow, and rural use. Tons of urban highway driving (stop-and-go) as well. Some offroading, but I probably won't go climbing boulders. But streams, shallow rivers, deserts, and reasonably rough offroad mountain trails are not unlikely. Must be able to tow 5,000 lbs comfortably at steep altitudes and grades. Other uses include search-and-rescue, so it should be able to handle a winch and a rack on top. Absolutely no desire for a 3rd row of seats. Actually prefer no slide out table either, but I'll take the pull out if I have no choice but those 2 configurations. With the amount of driving I do, the simplicity of a factory-installed, seamlessly-integrated and voice-driven navigation system with a large screen is a non-negotiable requirement--that's why I didn't buy an SR5 a couple years ago when I had the chance. Because comfort is an issue on long drives, heated seats are truly a blessing which I know means the Limited edition only. But it's not a critical requirement because I can always do after market seats, if everything else points to the TE.
Lastly, I *prefer* part-time 4WD systems, but that's only because I'm a control freak and want to manage the system myself. But I honestly don't have any real operational or practical reason I can think of to make it a requirement, or for that matter not to trust my 4Runner to engage the system at the right time. And I guess it might just be because I've always had a PT 4, and am just used to it. I figure if a Land Cruiser can be the effective offroad beast it is without a part-time 4wd, a 4Runner LE will probably do just fine.
So given all that, I'd love any feedback on where y'all think I should settle -- TE or LE? I like the LE for its comfort, but $45K is a tough pill to swallow, and I don't know how much more comfortable it is compared to a Trail and for several thousand more. I also don't know how effective it is off road compared to its siblings, but I don't have experience with the 4Runner. I'm thinking it would probably meet my requirements above just fine, but your opinions would mean much more to me than my own.
Also, a few quick questions:
1. What is this "display audio" thing on the 12s? I'm trying to figure out how the nav system and stereo are different on the Limited versus the SR5 and Trail.
2. Do you lose any meaningful amount of clearance space when you have the automatic running boards? My old pathfinder has standard factory boards, and you lose an inch or so. I'm concerned automatic ones might lose even more clearance space due to parts, etc.
3. Anyone know if it's possible to still get the standard $600 running boards directly from Toyota -- not the automatic ones at $1500?
4. If I'm looking at the build configurator on Toyota's site correctly, it appears as if I cannot get the voice-activated touch-screen navigation/stereo/dvd system without getting the 3rd Row configuration option? Is this true....?!
