New Member - But Don't Have A 4R “Yet”

Hello From Kentucky!

I just created my account and hoping to gain as much knowledge and get help in making my first new car purchase! I’m looking at the 2021 4Runner / SR5 Premium.

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

welcome from memphis, TN

 

welcome

 

Welcome, premium is great!

 

I love the look of the Off Road much better but looking to get the SR5. I figured that I don’t off-road so I’d just get the SR5.

Maybe I should compare these 2 though... before making a final decision. Thx!!!

 

Welcome. This is a good forum -- pretty fun in addition to informative.

FWIW and IMHO, the SR5 is the best bang for the buck of all the models. Especially if you aren't planning much or any off roading. Like you said, the TRD Off Road looks cool. But maybe it doesn't make sense to pay for off-road-oriented features you aren't going to use. The SR5 is plenty capable as it is, and can also be majorly upgraded later if you want. Honestly, for off road use the most important upgrades are tires and a suspension lift, and you'd need to do that anyway if you got the TRD.

All that said, it might help your decision making process if you can share what is motivating you to get a 4Runner instead of a crossover type vehicle of similar size. It's important to know going into this that a Highlander or Telluride will have almost as much cargo and passenger room, AWD, better road manners and MPG, and more creature comforts for a similar price.

 

Besides the fact that I want to get rid of my 2014 Jeep Cherokee while it’s in excellent condition ... my main motivation is to get a vehicle that will last for the next decade. I haven’t had good luck with vehicles. I am looking at the SR5 over the Highlander because the SR5 is more of a truck feel / ride. I don’t know anything about vehicles ... but my mechanic said the 4Runner is on a truck frame. I like the more rugged SUVs!

Thank you for your comments!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! You'll love the 4Runner!

 

4Runner sounds like a good option for you then. You're coming from a fairly old Jeep, so the Runner will actually be a big upgrade in terms of comfort, road manners, features and maybe even MPG. Also safety.

Anyone who prioritizes durability and longevity over other attributes is a good candidate for the Runner, and add the fact that you like the feel of a truck -- perfect.

Best of luck with the purchase and pls keep us updated.

 

Wellllll sad news ... I had plans to go look at it tomorrow & got the “light bulb” to ask if the vehicle has 3rd row seating (and it does but I def do not want). The dealership has 2 in Super White and both have this feature. So back to Square 1.

 

Ask the dealership if they can find one for you that does not have 3rd row seating. They can see which ones are currently going through production, en route to the US, or at other dealerships. None of our local dealerships had exactly what I wanted, so I gave them a list of exactly what I was looking for and they were able to find one that was just coming out of production to reserve for me.

 

Okay ... did you have to go into the dealership or put a down payment??

 

I worked with the dealership of my choice. I paid $500 to reserve the specific one they found for me. Other dealerships may have what you are looking for and your dealership can do a dealer trade. I think the dealership you go with can make a difference. They have no problem selling 4Runners, and the demand for them is more than the stock they have due to the plants being shut down for a while last year. I personally know someone who paid MSRP at another dealer because they wanted that specific truck that badly. Also keep in mind that some dealerships offer things like a lifetime powertrain warranty while others don't. If that is important to you, see what different dealerships will offer if you have several options where you are located.

 

Okay ... yes I’m having trouble finding a dealership that seems to care enough to go the extra mile (I guess supply/demand). One salesman didn’t offer to try and find what I wanted because he had a ton of SR5 Limiteds and kept trying to steer me to those. I’ll keep trying to find a good dealership and go from there.

Thanks for the info! It’s helped ALOT!

 

I drove close to an hour to work with the dealership I wanted. Two other dealerships never offered to look elsewhere for what I wanted, but this third one offered it immediately when they figured out they did not have what I was looking for. Hopefully you have some luck finding one soon!

 

As others have said, I expect you can find one without 3 rows with some searching. Just know that the 3-row set up does have some advantages besides the ability to seat two more (small) people.

It results in a longer load floor when the seats are folded, and eliminates the hump that's created when you fold down the second row. (The hump becomes a trough instead, and things can be stored there). This makes it much easier to sleep back there without modifications like the installation of a sleeping platform.

In a two-row setup, to fold the second-row seat you have to swing the seat bottoms up against the back of the front seats. That eats up a good 6 inches of usable length between the front seats and the hatch. In the 3-row setup the second row folds down differently and doesn't create this problem. You can be taller than 6' and still lay down back there fully stretched out.

The second row can also be slid back and forth to allow different amounts of cargo space vs leg room. The seatbacks also recline. The tradeoff with the 3-row setup, besides cost, is you lose about 5 inches of height between the cargo floor and the ceiling.

 

Gooooood to know!

 

Hello- A dealership 30 minutes from my hometown found what I wanted in Indianapolis. Picked it up today & No Regrets!

 

Hello... I picked up my SR5 Premium / 4WD / Super White Lil Monster today!!!

 

Sweet! Post pics when you get the chance!