it's not about having balls enough to claim what's mine is mine, it's having the balls to be in a partnership.
Wife Dilemma, SR5 or TRAL/PRO?
- Thread starter Biznitch15
- Start date
Toffees
Member
Who's driving this daily, you or your wife?
Assuming you agree with your wife's wisdom that you need the third row (I'm not eager for any trips with three kids squeezed in the 2nd row), the question is instead SR5 or LE. It seems then the basic question(s) are do you value the full-time-4wd (LE) and how much do you want to build it out with modifications (SR5)?
You can't really have both, unless you have money, in which case you can have both but no money. Good luck in your search.
Toffees
Member
Sorry, I entirely misread this. I think I agree with you, but I need to read again the context. I don't know that I agree with the Geto Boys on all of life, but they seem to have it right on who has "balls":
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Brandonium
Member
Like I said, not all partnerships are run in the way that you or others might be accustomed to (edited the previous post to add how we deal with those matters)...
Not a bad thing per se.. I know many of my married friends who ***** and moan continually about having zero decision making weight with their 80hr a week paychecks. Single income households are exempt from this though as the guy knew what he was getting into with that type of situation. Once again not bad, just not for me.
On topic though.. how freaking hard would it have been for Toyota to add a damn 3rd row option on a trail.
Not a bad thing per se.. I know many of my married friends who ***** and moan continually about having zero decision making weight with their 80hr a week paychecks. Single income households are exempt from this though as the guy knew what he was getting into with that type of situation. Once again not bad, just not for me.
On topic though.. how freaking hard would it have been for Toyota to add a damn 3rd row option on a trail.
I'll be married 6 years this October... I'll throw my hat in with the others expressing the "happy wife, happy life" sentiment. If you can't handle that train of thought and realize marriage isn't for you then more power to you... If you are happily married to someone who let's you do whatever you want whenever you want congratulations you found a unicorn. The remainder understand that when you combine two lives, nothing is truly 100% independent and larger decisions like vehicle purchases should be made together compromising both parties needs and wants, especially if both will be using the vehicle frequently.
That being said I would recommend the SR5 or Trail... I would only recommend the TRD Pro is you just have to have one of the limited colors. There just isn't enough substance there for me to justify the higher cost.
Now you need to determine how often you will use the third row, and if it's mainly for camping will that compromise storage for all the camping gear that needs to be brought along? How old is the child that will ride in the third row and how far is your camping spots. It will get tight back there quick. If the wife stands firm, know that you aren't losing much choosing the SR5.
If the wife realizes that the third row as much as it sounds nice isn't as practical as she thought then the Trail Edition would be my pick. You get all black softex on the Trail Premium instead of black/grey on the SR5 premium, and more bells and whistles.
That being said I would recommend the SR5 or Trail... I would only recommend the TRD Pro is you just have to have one of the limited colors. There just isn't enough substance there for me to justify the higher cost.
Now you need to determine how often you will use the third row, and if it's mainly for camping will that compromise storage for all the camping gear that needs to be brought along? How old is the child that will ride in the third row and how far is your camping spots. It will get tight back there quick. If the wife stands firm, know that you aren't losing much choosing the SR5.
If the wife realizes that the third row as much as it sounds nice isn't as practical as she thought then the Trail Edition would be my pick. You get all black softex on the Trail Premium instead of black/grey on the SR5 premium, and more bells and whistles.
As I read this, the only time you would use the 3rd row is for camping trips. If that is correct, where the hell are you going to put your camping gear? We are a family of 3 and my runner is completely packed with stuff, and the 60 portion of the 60/40 seat is folded down when we go camping. I am getting a raingler net so I can start putting more stuff on the roof, but the back will still hold the cooler and heavy stuff. I just want to have the full back seat available so my daughter can bring a friend.
I would go look at a 3rd row 4runner with the seats up and see how little trunk space you actually have. Unless of course, you have a trailer or something.
Toffees
Member
We can fix that now--you have no space behind the third row seats when in use. Maybe you think you can be clever like me and fit a few gallons of milk back there, but good luck getting them out (rookie mistake, I suppose).
Toffees
Member
I assume the SR5 uses the same split 2nd row as LE, but haven't looked at both. The LE's 3rd row is only accessible through the passenger side*; the driver side 2nd row split does not move up enough.
And the 3rd row is small, but when our oldest are too large our youngest will be out of car seats so it will work for us. I would only put annoying adults in the 3rd row, and even then only with the music up so you can't hear the whining.
*Although I've had some climb in through the rear if I wasn't using both 3rd row seats.
wild_turkey
New member
Pretty Easy
The 3rd row is pretty accessible. The passenger side 2nd row seat back folds forward to like a 45* angle and the seat slides forward to allow a small human to easily hop back there. >200 lb species will have to gauge their approach angle appropriately.
The 3rd row is pretty accessible. The passenger side 2nd row seat back folds forward to like a 45* angle and the seat slides forward to allow a small human to easily hop back there. >200 lb species will have to gauge their approach angle appropriately.
Toffees
Member
But when your small human falls asleep in the 3rd row, tricky to extract them.
FourEyedWilly
New member
I have to wonder how many kiddos are we taking here? I have a seven year old daughter and 3 year old son. We have more room in my 4Runner than in my wife's GLE350. I moved from a Tundra and thought I would miss driving a living room but the 4Runner is very comfortable. I have a TEP because it's what I wanted. I laugh at these conversations because I grew up in a 1,400sq ft house and rode in the back of an MG on the battery deck but somehow now I needed a 4,000sq ft house and room to seat seven. :lmao: Ode to my stucco Mcmansion (property is cheap in LV) and ample seating! :yo:
All that said, make your wife happy. You are not "giving up" anything on either 4Runner really. Besides, if it ain't got it, mod it!
All that said, make your wife happy. You are not "giving up" anything on either 4Runner really. Besides, if it ain't got it, mod it!
ninchendo
New member
I opted to get the sr5 with the third row.
Similar to you, I also take my family out for camping trips but found out I use the third row more often when shuttling family around for events and occasions in town. I have also used it when carrying 5 grown adults so they aren't all stuffed in the second row. Though it is tighter in the third row, someone 5'6'' 130 lb can sit back there rather comfortably for short distances. I have driven 20 miles several times with my Wife's friends in the third row with no problem or complaints.
I agree with the others that you won't be camping with 6 people sitting in your 4runner due to lack of cargo space. I have, however, had to carry long poles with flags (for 911 event) with 4 people in the vehicle and had to use the third row because the poles extended into where someone would sit in the second row (I had things on my roof rack also at the time).
This is all pertaining to my life style. I use my 4runner to get me to spots to fish, surf, mountain bike, paddle, and hike. I do mild off roading and use 4x4 only to get me out of trouble. I don't rock climb or go for anything challenging. I know you mentioned you may only use your third row 5% of the time. However, if you are like me, you wouldn't use the elocker or crawl control even 1% of the time. I don't got the "balls" to drive my daily vehicle on more challenging terrain (my wife took my "balls" when we got married). If your lifestyle includes more heavy off roading, I would make more of an effort to persuade the Wife.
Ultimately, just remember that although you may drive a trail, you will sleep on the couch if you don't approach this correctly. Either way, you are getting a 4Runner. Just be grateful your wife doesn't want you to buy a Highlander (though a good car in its own right). Good luck to you.
Similar to you, I also take my family out for camping trips but found out I use the third row more often when shuttling family around for events and occasions in town. I have also used it when carrying 5 grown adults so they aren't all stuffed in the second row. Though it is tighter in the third row, someone 5'6'' 130 lb can sit back there rather comfortably for short distances. I have driven 20 miles several times with my Wife's friends in the third row with no problem or complaints.
I agree with the others that you won't be camping with 6 people sitting in your 4runner due to lack of cargo space. I have, however, had to carry long poles with flags (for 911 event) with 4 people in the vehicle and had to use the third row because the poles extended into where someone would sit in the second row (I had things on my roof rack also at the time).
This is all pertaining to my life style. I use my 4runner to get me to spots to fish, surf, mountain bike, paddle, and hike. I do mild off roading and use 4x4 only to get me out of trouble. I don't rock climb or go for anything challenging. I know you mentioned you may only use your third row 5% of the time. However, if you are like me, you wouldn't use the elocker or crawl control even 1% of the time. I don't got the "balls" to drive my daily vehicle on more challenging terrain (my wife took my "balls" when we got married). If your lifestyle includes more heavy off roading, I would make more of an effort to persuade the Wife.
Ultimately, just remember that although you may drive a trail, you will sleep on the couch if you don't approach this correctly. Either way, you are getting a 4Runner. Just be grateful your wife doesn't want you to buy a Highlander (though a good car in its own right). Good luck to you.
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