Visible differences between the Trail edition and the Limited/SR5

[ShaggyTDawg]

Hello all! First time post!

I ordered a 2011 Trail Edition that I literally just got a call about saying it's here (probably, they need to double check the VIN to make sure).

In my adventure of ordering this vehicle (it was hard to find the one I wanted), I received a warning from a salesman claiming that there had been occasion where certain dealers might just rebadge other packages.

I was wondering if anyone could provide pictures or descriptions of things that are known to be different, in particular, things you can't fake like the differential/suspension.

I know there's a crawl control knob not present on the other packages. I know the trail has a different finish for the bottom part of the exterior. Both of those could be just bolted on and the knob could be non-functional. Not sure exactly what the 2wd/4wd shifter looks like.

Any help is much appreciated. Just got the call confirming it is infact my vehicle so I'll be picking it up tomorrow.

Looking forward to joining the club!

 

[Catchlight]

Points of departure between the SR5 and the Trail include a non-functional air scoop in the middle of the hood, black cloth upholstery, no third row seating, black fender flares, black rails on the roof rack, aluminum wheels with eight round ports rather than conventional spokes, crawl control and multi-terrain select dials on the headliner above the windshield, sliding luggage tray in rear compartment, party mode switch on the dash by your right knee, and no chrome badging except for the Toyota symbol front and rear. There's more, but that should be enough for you to tell if you have the real deal.

 

[harper7]

Hello all! First time post!

I ordered a 2011 Trail Edition that I literally just got a call about saying it's here (probably, they need to double check the VIN to make sure).

In my adventure of ordering this vehicle (it was hard to find the one I wanted), I received a warning from a salesman claiming that there had been occasion where certain dealers might just rebadge other packages.

I was wondering if anyone could provide pictures or descriptions of things that are known to be different, in particular, things you can't fake like the differential/suspension.

I know there's a crawl control knob not present on the other packages. I know the trail has a different finish for the bottom part of the exterior. Both of those could be just bolted on and the knob could be non-functional. Not sure exactly what the 2wd/4wd shifter looks like.

Any help is much appreciated. Just got the call confirming it is infact my vehicle so I'll be picking it up tomorrow.

Looking forward to joining the club!

I've never heard of a Dealership rebadging one trim level to sell as another in my life. That's straight up fraud! Some dealers have their own special editions and advertise as such but to secretly dress a SR5 to look exactly like a TE and sell as such is NOT going to happen.

Now,I have heard BS lies from salesman to get you to buy what they have to sell on their lot.That's a common everyday occurrence and your tale is another fine example.

You will know yours is a real TE with just a little bit of research as you already did from the sound of it.
Congrats on ordering one and getting it in. Where are you at , what options did you get and when did you order?
Can't wait to see pics!

 

[Foques]

I've never heard of a Dealership rebadging one trim level to sell as another in my life. That's straight up fraud! Some dealers have their own special editions and advertise as such but to secretly dress a SR5 to look exactly like a TE and sell as such is NOT going to happen.

I have seen both, and have seen complaints. One of the local dealers was even taken to court with a complaint. The fellow who tried to sue, however, lost since the options were all there.
it was for a Hyundai Tiburon, tuscani version, when those just arrived.

that said,

Now,I have heard BS lies from salesman to get you to buy what they have to sell on their lot.That's a common everyday occurrence and your tale is another fine example.

I am 99% sure that is what the warning is all about. Toyota is super strict on their representatives (dealers), and rule them with a steel glove. Seen that one as well.

 

[KCcarguy]

Is the salesman talking about the FJ cruiser NSSE (Not So Special Edition)? Toyota screwed-up and made a bunch of army green FJ's that looked similar to the Trail Teams Edition, but didn't have all the right features. Toyota dealers tried to dress them up and sell them as a "special edition". As Harper Said, I've also seen my local dealers build their own "summit edition" by installing a lift, wheels and tires....nothing wrong with that. Honestly, it would be very expensive to try and counterfeit a TE. The bodywork alone would be a couple thousand dollars. If you educate yourself about the vehicle you're about to purchase, there's no way they could fool you. The TE is too unique.

 

[ShaggyTDawg]

I've never heard of a Dealership rebadging one trim level to sell as another in my life. That's straight up fraud! Some dealers have their own special editions and advertise as such but to secretly dress a SR5 to look exactly like a TE and sell as such is NOT going to happen.

I've never known anyone who actually had it happen, but I never say never so I'm just keeping vigilant.

Now,I have heard BS lies from salesman to get you to buy what they have to sell on their lot.That's a common everyday occurrence and your tale is another fine example.

Yea... This is more than likely what happened. The funny thing is that even that sales men would've had to jump through similar hoops to get my car.

You will know yours is a real TE with just a little bit of research as you already did from the sound of it.
Congrats on ordering one and getting it in. Where are you at , what options did you get and when did you order?
Can't wait to see pics!

I live in North Alabama.

The options I wanted were running boards (I know a shame, but it was the compromise for the wife) and magnetic gray. I opted not go get the indash nav (not worth the big $$$) or the KDSS (I won't be putting my TE through that much off road stress). It took them about a month total to find and get the car in: About two weeks to find the thing, there were only two they could find in the South East. They ended up getting it from a dealer in NC. That dealer wouldn't trade his TE for anything other than another TE. So my dealer had to find another dealer elsewhere that would trade a TE for something else. I think they ended up trading an LE w/ some bells and whistles for a red TE w/ Nav and then using that red TE to barter for my gray TE :jump::wow2:

Then it took almost three weeks to get it here (the part that made me weary, b/c they originally said 7-10 days ended up taking 19 days...)

Will post pics tomorrow. Thanks for all the input!

Question: Is the 2wd/4wd controls different in the TE vs the LE/SR5? I heard rumor somewhere that it's an old school physical shifter vs the LE (and I think SR5's) digital knob.

 

[KCcarguy]

Question: Is the 2wd/4wd controls different in the TE vs the LE/SR5? I heard rumor somewhere that it's an old school physical shifter vs the LE (and I think SR5's) digital knob.

The Knob/ full-time 4WD are unique to the Limited. The SR5 and the TE have the "old school" lever and part-time 4WD.

 

[jhawk]

Also, not to ruin it for you. The non-KDSS trail handles the same as an SR5. The KDSS is more for on-road feel/performance than off-road. It allows the use of thicker sways on-road with the performance of thinner sways/disco's off-road.

Good luck!

 

[tjnaples]

Love my KDSS.

 

[ShaggyTDawg]

Took ownership today. It's definitely a trail, there are all too many particulars that would just be too hard to fake.

I'll post pics later tonight (on another thread).

I'm done with this thread. Thanks for all the input!!! Looking forward to all the comradery here!

 

[KCcarguy]

Congrats :cheers:

 

[tjnaples]

The hood scoop alone is a dead giveaway folks!

 

[Don in AK]

Visible differences

Not to mention the big-a** grin on the face of the driver!:bluejump:

 

[tjnaples]

Absolutely