Soon to be new owner of 4Runner

Greetings fellow members of this forum.

I'm writing from Toronto, Canada. I drove a Willys Wheeler JK Wrangler for the past three years and just returned upon the end of its lease.

I'm looking now to get a TRD Pro 4Runner. Anyone with tips or useful info for a new buy situation, will really appreciate hearing it. Also, if anyone has a good dealer contact here in Toronto, I'd appreciate the hook-up. I have a Prius but it was bought used, so I have yet to buy new from a Toyota dealer.

Cheers, and Happy Holidays to All !

 

A few random (and possibly inebriated? ) thoughts, FWIW:

1. If you love the Pro by all means get one. They look cool as s**t. And they seem to have great resale value -- even better than other models of the 4R, which are already very impressive in that regard. They also come with some nice off-roading upgrades, which is a big plus if you don't want the hassle of doing those mods yourself and/or are worried about warranty issues related to third-party mods.

2. If you expect to mod your 4Runner anyway, most people here would probably recommend getting a less expensive model instead. You can make a better and more capable vehicle than the Pro by modding a TRD Off Road or SR5 or even a Limited -- and save a lot of money in the process. Pros come with a very big markup that as a mathematical matter isn't necessarily justified by the cost of its upgraded components.

3. IMHO, all prospective 4Runner owners should think seriously about what they really want and value. The 4R is not for everyone. It gets significantly worse MPG and is less pleasant to drive on the highway than other 4WD/AWD vehicles of similar size. It's also a bit less of a rock crawler than a Wrangler. The 4R is for best for someone who's main concern is getting the greatest-available combination of reliability, durability and utility. It's not the car for you if bad MPG or mediocre interior materials or loose handling or sluggish acceleration are dealbreakers.

4. If you decide that a 4Runner is right for you, it's worth thinking through the relative advantages and limitations of each model. IMO, the SR5 gives the best bang for the buck, as it comes with the big fundamentals (same proven engine, trans and BOF construction) for about 10K less than a Pro or Limited. The TRD Off Road is most notable for adding a rear diff locker and manual transfer case to the SR5 package. But it can also be optioned with KDSS, which the Pro can't have. The Limited is most notable for adding full-time 4WD (big in my book) as well as multiple luxury features that aren't realistic for someone to add to another model later. The Limited also adds XREAS, which in my experience is a big plus on-road, though at some point it will leak and the economical option then would be the replace it with standard or higher end shocks. Finally, the Limited and the SR5 are the only models with optional third row seating.

In any case, best of luck and please let us know what you decide -- and include pics!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Is this a vehicle you plan on adding mods to? I know there are some cool looking features about the PRO, adding mods though.... see #2 in post #2, if you plan on leaving it stock, then your buying "the top of the heap." #4 in post #2 also some good points. Good luck on your decision, let us know how you do, pics if possible, thanx!

 

welcome

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

Welcome.

 

Thanks so much for those who responded.

And especially singleminded for the detailed info. One question for you, why is it the TRD Pro would get significantly less fuel mileage?

The one overriding reason I am thinking to go for it is the Lunar Rock colour option. But from the specs, it looked like it had a number of the mods already done, like the good shocks and other stuff like that. I also like how the front skid plate looks.

Anyways, will carry on my research, but thanks for the input.

 

Hi gamastak, I didn’t mean to suggest that the TRD Pro is worse on mpg than other 4Runners (though in thinking about it, it might be slightly worse in real world conditions due to the AT tires etc).


Rather, I was just noting that the 4Runner in general gets poor mpg when compared to other vehicles of similar size. Most folks on the forum report averaging only in the high teens at best. Many tend to get in the low or mid teens. In a Highlander or Telluride you'd prob get in the low 20s. In a Highlander Hybrid you might get in the low 30s.

 

Welcome to the forum from Wisconsin!