Xreas Saved My Life!

[Zachary]

I own an '05 4Runner Sport V8 4x4 (AWD) with the XREAS suspension (which is part of the Sport Package.) I used to own a 2000 4Runner Sport 2wd, and that truck handled like a bucking bronco, and would flip if you took a moderate turn at 10mph (I'm exaggerating, but you get my point). I loved my 2000 4Runner, but it was VERY unstable, especially when compared to my new '05 Runner.

I was driving along the highway tonight doing about 60 to 65mph. I was the only car on the road. There were no other cars for at least 100 yards in front or behind me.

I made a very stupid mistake. I tried to get something from the glove box while I was driving. This apparently caused my leg to catch the steering wheel, which in turn caused the car to make a hard left. I felt the car pull hard and I didn't even have time to really look at the road, so I immediately turned the steering wheel back to the right while simulatenously looking at the road from a glimpse. After a couple of shakes, my 4Runner was back on track. I about pooped in my pants.

My 4Runner Sport handles MUCH better than any comparably sized SUV. My brother owns a Sequoia, and he mentioned that he loved my XREAS suspension because it handled like a sports car. I even thought my 4Runner kinda reminds me of my BMW (not really, but you get my point.) The bottom line is that I believe that the XREAS suspension saved my life because, probably without it, I think that the truck would have lost more control at best, and flipped at worst. Maybe the AWD also helped. Maybe my Bridgestone REVOS also helped.

I know that I made a stupid driving mistake, but I never imagined the events that actually happened.

Thank God for the XREAS. I will never buy another 4Runner without it! It is worth every single penny!!

 

[Sac State]

XREAS

XREAS saved my bacon once. Freeway+Ice/slush+stock Dunlops=spinout. Did you hear any bells/whistles from the VSC?

 

[Mark86]

Wow, I am glad to see that the XREAS came in handy and nothing happened to you or your truck. I think the 4Runner with XREAS is one of the best handling SUV's on the market. Did the VSC or traction control kick in at all?

 

[Zachary]

I didn't notice anything about VSC. Then again, everything happened so fast, it's not surprising that I didn't see anything about the VSC. I'm telling you, the Xreas is a life saver!

What exactly are you guys taking about the VSC. I mean I know what it is, but how did it engage in your particular driving?

 

[rook]

I smell what you're steppin' in.

When my truck was (no word of a lie) 3 days old I was driving at night on Maine Route 3. I thought I saw something moving by the side of the road. As I flicked on the high beams, A BIG BULL MOOSE 6 feet at the shoulders with one big ol' head 2 feet higher was walking from the woods into the road . No time to brake, just avoid. I swerved at about 50 mph and the truck stayed planted, moved to the opposite lane and back. No tire squeal, very little body roll, less drama than NPR, absolutely amazing for a 4500 lb vehicle.

X-REAS rocks, it will easily change one's perception of an suv.

 

[Mark86]

I didn't notice anything about VSC. Then again, everything happened so fast, it's not surprising that I didn't see anything about the VSC. I'm telling you, the Xreas is a life saver!

What exactly are you guys taking about the VSC. I mean I know what it is, but how did it engage in your particular driving?

I was once driving out of a carwash and there must have been some oil or armorall on the ground. As I was making a left onto the main road, I felt my rear tires loose grip and the truck started to fishtail. The moment that happened, I heard a beeping noise coming from the dash and saw the VSC and traction lights blinking. The VSC made my truck straight again within a second but it was a scary moment.

 

[alpha]

I think the 4R in general saved you. X-REAS helped, I guarantee, but I think a lot of it had to do with the 4th gen being wider than its predecessors. I was driving at night once and got placed by another driver into a situation where I had to take a hard curve that was meant to be taken at 35 at 70mph. Crazy driver, I thought something was going to happen to me that night. I praise the runner for saving my life. VSC kicked in, straightened me out, didn't roll.. All while trying to avoid landing in the ditch, or worse, rolling over into the ditch. I don't have X-REAS..

I have driven a runner with X-REAS, and did think it made a difference, and I do kindof wish I had it, but I think the 4R still handles great without it.

But its still an SUV, so I wouldn't take it for granted. But its a nice feeling to know that it handles well..

As for when VSC kicks in, I've gotten it to kick in quite a bit around the parking lots at school, and at my apt complex. It's because of the ice, melting ice with fresh powder on it, its kicked in during really slow turns.. oh, and in 4-Hi. I wish they really took care of the snow sooner than after its frozen to ice. Makes hydroplaning really easy, but with the 4R, I'm confident it'll keep me safe. But still cautious..

 

[Thai]

Wow...XREAS does do what it advertises!

 

[mole177]

i find myself getting more and more comfortable making tighter turns.

i thought i'd never feel this way about a vehicle again.

 

[HuntRunner]

Xreas is a good concept and works for it its intended purpose (better on road handling). The down side is that it is costly to repair. I think failure at 48K miles was a little too soon.

 

[toybox]

Xreas is a good concept and works for it its intended purpose (better on road handling). The down side is that it is costly to repair. I think failure at 48K miles was a little too soon.

Did your's fail? How much was it?

I'm getting near 36k and trying to decide on the extended warranty.

BTW, XREAS ROCKS!

 

[HuntRunner]

Did your's fail? How much was it?

I'm getting near 36k and trying to decide on the extended warranty.

BTW, XREAS ROCKS!

Yes it did fail (front driver's side). Normally one could replace just that strut/shock, but since I lost so much fluid, I would have had to replace the canisters, strut/shock, etc. I guess because it is a closed system??? Anyway, the cost to replace was too much for me to justify, especially not knowing how long the other side was going to last. I was able to get a whole new setup from Old Man Emu for close to the same cost as the repair bill, so I just went with that and gained 3 inches of lift. I don't rember the repair quote exactly (somewhere around $700 for half a system), but I remember thinking I can get half a system, or an entire new system that has better offroad performance for just a little more $$. I am glad I did it!

 

[LSUMBA]

When my truck was (no word of a lie) 3 days old I was driving at night on Maine Route 3. I thought I saw something moving by the side of the road. As I flicked on the high beams, A BIG BULL MOOSE 6 feet at the shoulders with one big ol' head 2 feet higher was walking from the woods into the road . No time to brake, just avoid. I swerved at about 50 mph and the truck stayed planted, moved to the opposite lane and back. No tire squeal, very little body roll, less drama than NPR, absolutely amazing for a 4500 lb vehicle.

Glad you are OK, but every cop & insurance adjuster I know or have ever spoken with has told me repeatedly that you should NEVER swerve to avoid an animal. 9 times out of 10 the car will careen off into a tree, oncoming traffic, or, if you are driving in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, off a 500 ft cliff. Cops & insurance companies can make a better case for you if there is moose meat in your grille as opposed to your truck being wrapped around a tree & no moose in sight.

That being said, human instinct throws all that out the window when you see something directly in front of you.

 

[T133]

Glad you are OK, but every cop & insurance adjuster I know or have ever spoken with has told me repeatedly that you should NEVER swerve to avoid an animal. 9 times out of 10 the car will careen off into a tree, oncoming traffic, or, if you are driving in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, off a 500 ft cliff. Cops & insurance companies can make a better case for you if there is moose meat in your grille as opposed to your truck being wrapped around a tree & no moose in sight.

That being said, human instinct throws all that out the window when you see something directly in front of you.

Very true. I once tried to avoid the rabit and almost rolled over the van and run over the poor animal.

On the topic, I have XREAS and drive my 4Runner same way as my corolla.

 

[claydoctor]

I have a 2006 Sport with the XREAS and recently had a flat on the freeway due to a nail. It was the left rear. Don't know whether it was the XREAS or not but I thought it odd that I never felt the flat in the steering wheel or the seat of my pants. It was just a noise that got louder and louder until I realized it was me, not somebody else and pulled over.

 

[OUTRNNR]

Glad you are OK, but every cop & insurance adjuster I know or have ever spoken with has told me repeatedly that you should NEVER swerve to avoid an animal. 9 times out of 10 the car will careen off into a tree, oncoming traffic, or, if you are driving in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, off a 500 ft cliff. Cops & insurance companies can make a better case for you if there is moose meat in your grille as opposed to your truck being wrapped around a tree & no moose in sight.

That being said, human instinct throws all that out the window when you see something directly in front of you.

Correct, you should never swerve to avoid SMALL animals. Small deer, foxes, cats, dogs etc. What they did not tell you is if you hit a large animal like an elk or a moose the only part of the animal that is going to end up in the grill are its knee caps. The rest of the animal will fly over the hood with the only thing protecting you being the windshield, not what I'd want between me and a 1000 lb animal at speed.

Swerving is MANDATORY with large animals unless you want a one-way ticket to the grave. People are killed every year with large animals flying through the windshield and crushing them, then if the animal is not dead, it will kick and buck until either you or it dies or it escapes. Gruesome I know, but your going to want to avoid large animals at all costs, unless the alternative is driving off a cliff. At least if you hit a tree its not coming through your winshield to crush you.

A couple years ago outside of Golden, I saw a horrific scene where the driver of a Sebring convertible hit an elk. Talk about a mis-match; the Sebring was mangled, barely recognizable. Sadly, the driver died in this one. I realize this was a very tall animal vs. a very low car, but even large elk and mooses (meese? misen?) are tall enough to bypass the grille on the tallest SUV's and trucks.

Just thought everyone should know this...

 

[toybox]

but even large elk and mooses (meese? misen?)

Just plain 'moose'

just like it isn't 'elk's'

And there is no way I would take on a moose or an elk let alone a deer. I'm taking my chances with my driving skills.

 

[OUTRNNR]

Just plain 'moose'

just like it isn't 'elk's'

And there is no way I would take on a moose or an elk let alone a deer. I'm taking my chances with my driving skills.

Thanks, I felt like Ron Burgundy in Anchorman where he's like, "San Diegins, San Diegoans, San Diegans...."

 

[Koz]

I love the feeling of security you get when powering through a sharp turn and the vehicle stays level. Also how stable it is in the high speed sweepers when nobody is around.

Koz

 

[JungleJim]

Yes it did fail (front driver's side). Normally one could replace just that strut/shock, but since I lost so much fluid, I would have had to replace the canisters, strut/shock, etc. I guess because it is a closed system??? Anyway, the cost to replace was too much for me to justify, especially not knowing how long the other side was going to last. I was able to get a whole new setup from Old Man Emu for close to the same cost as the repair bill, so I just went with that and gained 3 inches of lift. I don't rember the repair quote exactly (somewhere around $700 for half a system), but I remember thinking I can get half a system, or an entire new system that has better offroad performance for just a little more $$. I am glad I did it!

Did it fail due to normal on road driving? Do you do any offroading with it? Any idea what made it fail?