VIDEO: iDrive Throttle Controller

[007Tacoma]

:flame: Get your flame suit on, kids. Its time to talk about another performance mod...

:flamethrwoer2::target:

I had several friends using this in their Jeeps, Dodge, Land Rover, and Chevy vehicles, but I found little to no information about them in the Toyotas (not just the 4Runner). Of all the options on the market, I like the iDrive Throttle Controller the best for 1 simple reason - it looks good on my dash... Really. It isn't huge, it doesn't have a red or green light blaring at me. It looks like it was made for the 2014+ 4Runner's dash. :shrug:

So, I reached out to them, and got a unit for my 4Runner after some very dismal towing performance in the mountains of Colorado. 3,000 miles later - I can't imagine driving without it. Even my wife loves it.

EDIT: They gave me a discount code!!!! If you buy it from iDRIVE USA you can use the code "Trailsail" to get a discount!!!


YouTube

 

[eevanskiteboards]

Great review and filming.
I didn't catch if you mentioned if you have tried pedal commander or sprint booster? Just curious to see if you've compared all of them.

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[BlueEyedDevil]

Great review and filming.
I didn't catch if you mentioned if you have tried pedal commander or sprint booster? Just curious to see if you've compared all of them.

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Agreed. A comparison for the less initiated would be great.

 

[007Tacoma]

Open to the Possibilities...

Great review and filming.
I didn't catch if you mentioned if you have tried pedal commander or sprint booster? Just curious to see if you've compared all of them.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

Agreed. A comparison for the less initiated would be great.

Hmm... I have a buddy here in San Antonio with the Pedal Commander. I may see if I can set that up if he is okay with it, but I'm kinda curious though...

How would you want them compared? Both installed in the same rig? 4R versus 4R (mine weighs much more)? ...I need to think on all that some more, but I am open to suggestions!!!
:thumb:
Cheers!

 

[Whippersnapper02]

So what I did instead was get a Pedal Commander and mount it under the dash where you don't see it. Since it has bluetooth controls, you don't need it on your dash. It's more like a Ronco rotisserie where you set it and forget it.

 

[007Tacoma]

So what I did instead was get a Pedal Commander and mount it under the dash where you don't see it. Since it has bluetooth controls, you don't need it on your dash. It's more like a Ronco rotisserie where you set it and forget it.

I'm probably going to relocate it to inside the center console since I leave it on U-5 all the time. However, for the purpose of shooting the video this location worked great.

I did not want the bluetooth pedal commander since my Pioneer Head Unit and my OBD Scanner are already both communicating with my phone constantly.

 

[08TxRunner]

It's more like a Ronco rotisserie where you set it and forget it.

You've got to be an old mofo like me to remember that!

 

[itr1275]

Great video. That took some time to make and edit. Thanks for sharing.

Looks like Tara has a lead foot.

I suspect that all three perform similar. The interface to the Pedal Commander, looks bulky to me and I really don't need anything else connected to my phone.

In the end I went with Sprint Booster. The control is tiny and if I unplug the controller completely it will remain in the last setting. It's not like I adjust it all the time.

Toyota really needs to make this an ECU setting like a modern car. The whole point of <fill in the blank> by wire is that you can easily modify the behavior. Just ask VW, they are what you call experts.

 

[007Tacoma]

Great video. That took some time to make and edit. Thanks for sharing.

Looks like Tara has a lead foot.

I suspect that all three perform similar. The interface to the Pedal Commander, looks bulky to me and I really don't need anything else connected to my phone.

In the end I went with Sprint Booster. The control is tiny and if I unplug the controller completely it will remain in the last setting. It's not like I adjust it all the time.

Toyota really needs to make this an ECU setting like a modern car. The whole point of <fill in the blank> by wire is that you can easily modify the behavior. Just ask VW, they are what you call experts.

:iagree:
YES! I completely agree! I used to mess with VAGCOM on my TDI and tweak it to my liking, but the newer ones are much nicer. I just wish VW was as reliable as Toyota.

You know, I should ask the people at iDrive if it keeps the setting when it is unplugged... I would love that! I would definitely put it in the lowest setting before letting my kid drive it.
:lookout:

 

[BlueEyedDevil]

Hmm... I have a buddy here in San Antonio with the Pedal Commander. I may see if I can set that up if he is okay with it, but I'm kinda curious though...

How would you want them compared? Both installed in the same rig? 4R versus 4R (mine weighs much more)? ...I need to think on all that some more, but I am open to suggestions!!!
:thumb:
Cheers!

I’d think them being compared on the same vehicle would be the best way. Not towing anything, just the 4Rer however you have it set up.

Thanks for looking in to it.

 

[08TxRunner]

:iagree:
YES! I completely agree! I used to mess with VAGCOM on my TDI and tweak it to my liking, but the newer ones are much nicer. I just wish VW was as reliable as Toyota.

You know, I should ask the people at iDrive if it keeps the setting when it is unplugged... I would love that! I would definitely put it in the lowest setting before letting my kid drive it.
:lookout:

Vagcom? lol

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

Vagcom? lol

Kind of a poor use of an acronym.
Volkswagen Audi Group Communications, or OBII read/write tool.

 

[007Tacoma]

Vagcom? lol

I so wish I could say that I made that up...

 

[007Tacoma]

Kind of a poor use of an acronym.
Volkswagen Audi Group Communications, or OBII read/write tool.

Thank you!!! I could not for the life of me remember what the acronym stood for.

:thumb:

 

[salsanacho]

Kind of a poor use of an acronym.
Volkswagen Audi Group Communications, or OBII read/write tool.

I used to be a VW guy and knew what that was, but yeah I always thought "that's a really poor acronym"

 

[Mello03]

VAG-COM yeah lol, some people refer to VW as VAG as well. I’ve had a couple GTIs and it always made me cringe a bit. Great thing about VW and Audi is the tune ability of them in OEM form though for sure.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

I used to be a VW guy and knew what that was, but yeah I always thought "that's a really poor acronym"

I move to the 4R after driving Audi’s since 2010.


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[007Tacoma]

I move to the 4R after driving Audi’s since 2010.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

VAG-COM yeah lol, some people refer to VW as VAG as well. I’ve had a couple GTIs and it always made me cringe a bit. Great thing about VW and Audi is the tune ability of them in OEM form though for sure.

I used to be a VW guy and knew what that was, but yeah I always thought "that's a really poor acronym"

Yeah... I was a VW nut before I started traveling super long distances.

From 2000 to 2012 I owned no 2 vehicles at the same time. All manuals. All modified. I wish I had all of them back (sometimes).

1988 GTI 8v
1989 GTI 16v
1993 Jetta 1.6D
1981 Rabbit Pickup 1.6D
1998 Jetta TDI
2001 Jetta TDI
2004 Golf TDI-PD

...and my parents had an assortment of Beetles before having us kids.

 

[cascadiarunner]

:flame: Get your flame suit on, kids. Its time to talk about another performance mod...

:flamethrwoer2::target:

I had several friends using this in their Jeeps, Dodge, Land Rover, and Chevy vehicles, but I found little to no information about them in the Toyotas (not just the 4Runner). Of all the options on the market, I like the iDrive Throttle Controller the best for 1 simple reason - it looks good on my dash... Really. It isn't huge, it doesn't have a red or green light blaring at me. It looks like it was made for the 2014+ 4Runner's dash. :shrug:

So, I reached out to them, and got a unit for my 4Runner after some very dismal towing performance in the mountains of Colorado. 3,000 miles later - I can't imagine driving without it. Even my wife loves it.

Wow, just installed mine, it feels like a completely different vehicle! with the discount code it was over $100 cheaper than the pedal commander (which I just couldn't justify $300) and I can't imagine it could be any better than the iDrive. Thanks!

 

[007Tacoma]

Wow, just installed mine, it feels like a completely different vehicle! with the discount code it was over $100 cheaper than the pedal commander (which I just couldn't justify $300) and I can't imagine it could be any better than the iDrive. Thanks!

it really is crazy the difference when you can tune the throttle input to your needs.