4Runner Limited VS SR5 - 4WD Differences.

[Mazderati]

If you're talking new, I think the considerations are do you want things like adaptive cruise control, LED headlights (jury's still out on that one) + auto high beams, CarPlay and AA, and all the TSS stuff. If all that plus new car smell appeals to you then I don't really see a downside.

This is the answer. Buy if you want/can. AWD certainly isn't going to hurt your case. I don't mind the big wheels.

[headrush]

I have a Limited (2010). Never think about the 4wd aspect unless I get stuck. Love it.

The 20" wheels look good but suck. They are 7" wide rims. Very limited tire selection. Do not buy wider than stock tires for big (large diameter) rims. Made that mistake and it drives terrible. No tire depth to adjust to the wider tires (the edges roll up, terrible cornering traction, terrible wear pattern), and I repeat, it drives terrible. And those Toyota morons anodized my 20" spare wheel yellow! This is brain damage beyond comprehension!

Had to have 2 shocks replaced but luckily during warranty. Now have 170k miles. Now my shocks clunk, but they work fine. The clunking and terrible driving made me take it to a mechanic thinking I had bad ball joints. The mechanic said the clunks were the shocks and it drove terrible due to my tires. The Limited suspension is overly complex (shocks connected diagonally with some fancy hydraulics in between) and it still rides like a Toyota - very stiff. I don't see any upside to the Limited suspension system but haven't driven other versions.

In my opinion the traction control on my vehicle stinks. I think no TC would be better, but it's the default and you have to turn it off every time, which I seldom think to do.

I recommend you avoid the 2010 model year. I have multiple minor (but annoying) electronic glitches, some since day 1. Like when shifting from reverse to forward it takes my 4Runner about 3 seconds to realize it's a car and is supposed to go forward. I have 1/4 power for 3 seconds and then it takes off because I have pushed the accelerator too far trying to get it to move.

My SO has a 2005 Durango. Ugliest thing since the Pacer. But from many perspectives a better vehicle. More room, better ride, way more power and better highway mileage.

Tire store dude was telling me about his kid who has a 96? Toyota truck with 600k miles. He has never experienced a significant drive train problem with his truck. This has caused me to recalibrate the projected lifespan of my 4Runner.

[heckacali]

The answer is gx470.

V8, AWD, more headroom, quieter, 2 range xfr case. Only negatives are the bloated prices and swing out rear door.

[simple]

And the Lexus styling and paint/interior colors and fabric. If you are mostly blind you will not notice the difference

[Ted Striker]

...those Toyota morons anodized my 20" spare wheel yellow! This is brain damage beyond comprehension!

All Toyotas. There's no TPMS in there either.

In my opinion the traction control on my vehicle stinks. I think no TC would be better, but it's the default and you have to turn it off every time, which I seldom think to do.

Not just the Limited. It's crap on all the trim levels. Waay too aggressive.

re: the suspension, all the trim variants are fairly stiff. That shock thing you're referring to is X-REAS. It ties the FR shock to the RL, and FL to RR via hoses and a center damper. It's been a long time since I've looked at one (so maybe they've changed it?), but they weren't serviceable because there's no way to add oil & bleed. So once the shocks start to seep (and they do), they start to clunk (similar to water hammer in your pipes). Only way to "fix" is replacement. If I owned one, I'd scrap the whole system and change out to conventional.

[headrush]

If I owned one, I'd scrap the whole system and change out to conventional.

I will go conventional. I was told I need to replace my suspension 2 year ago.

By in large my 4Runner has been very good to me. 170k miles and I've had to replace both front wheel bearings, there is the past and future suspension issue, my XM radio died, my volume knob mostly works, HVAC won't remember settings (since day 1), drivers heated seat got stuck on max heat (I disconnected it) but otherwise has been very trouble free. Knock on wood. So much more reliable than the vehicles of yore, at least any one I ever owned. I had a 92 Toyota truck which was good except the brake rotors drove me nuts. They warped quickly and severely.

I plan to put $2-3k into it this summer and shoot for another 100k miles.

[shroom]

if you do a lot of highway things and or snow things I’d go limited or gx460. i own sr5

[Kevo]

You can blow your drivetrain if you are in 4x4 and make tight turns on dry pavement where the wheels can't slip, but you won't be making tight turns on the highway.

If you think it's going to snow later it your drive, put the SR5 in 4x4 on the highway onramp.

[AK47bp]

Decided to keep my SR5 a bit longer. The thought of trading in a paid off perfectly working 2011 SR5 Premium, clearing out my savings account for a down payment and still likely having a monthly payment just to have the full time AWD vs part time 4WD just ain’t worth it right now.

Thanks for all the input!

.

[bodywhomper]

On i90 at highway speed with slick roads, how are you experiencing traction problems on RWD? Would good winter tires mitigate some of that problem?

[AK47bp]

On i90 at highway speed with slick roads, how are you experiencing traction problems on RWD? Would good winter tires mitigate some of that problem?

I haven’t experienced any traction issues actually, I shift into 4WD when needed or just leave 4WD on if I know I’ll be hitting snow/ice.

[californiagrown]

On i90 at highway speed with slick roads, how are you experiencing traction problems on RWD? Would good winter tires mitigate some of that problem?

For me personally, my 04 SR5 likes to downshift going up the last steep grade to the pass. I either need to have a run into it, or it will usually want to downshift. When that happens on slick roads and im still in 2WD i have experienced wheel slip. I have a buddy who spun earlier this winter on Hwy 2 going uphill after the hairpin because he was in his Silverado in 2wd and drives like an asshole.


FWIW, when i am at the point of wanting to switch into 4wd on I90, i am usually more worried about staying in wheel grooves and not getting cross-rutted than i am about straight ahead wheel traction. Also, feel free to drop down to 50 in the left lane if the conditions warrant it... the folks who will be pissed about it are also the folks who have no problem passing in the far right lane at 70 two feet from folks chaining up spraying them with slush.

[AK47bp]

Waiting for snow ruts to switch to 4WD seems way too late unless they come out of nowhere.

[californiagrown]

Waiting for snow ruts to switch to 4WD seems way too late unless they come out of nowhere.

Eh, 4wd helps with positive acceleration. If you are basically just maintaining your momentum you need less traction than if you were speeding up and slowing down and going around curves like you would on a normal mountain highway... on I-90 its freeway grades and freeway curves which lend itself to not really needing to be heavy on any driver inputs because minimal momentum changes are needed due to the design of the roadway.

Also my SR5 has locked into 4wd without me dropping below 55, probably closer to 60. maybe my speedometer is off, or maybe its more likely to lock in if youre coasting for a bit?

[Ted Striker]

That makes sense. IIRC the SR5 with the rotary knob is shift at 62 or below, and models with the lever are shift below 55.

[AK47bp]

Eh, 4wd helps with positive acceleration. If you are basically just maintaining your momentum you need less traction than if you were speeding up and slowing down and going around curves like you would on a normal mountain highway... on I-90 its freeway grades and freeway curves which lend itself to not really needing to be heavy on any driver inputs because minimal momentum changes are needed due to the design of the roadway.

Also my SR5 has locked into 4wd without me dropping below 55, probably closer to 60. maybe my speedometer is off, or maybe its more likely to lock in if youre coasting for a bit?

Have you never had to zig zag around spinned out Pria and stopped 18 wheelers?

Pretty common on a early powder morning before they close the road.

[shroom]

myth busters got this one

https://www.reddit.com/r/4Runner/com...tm_name=iossmf

[californiagrown]

early powder morning before they close the road.

Is it just me, or is this becoming less and less common? But yes, and I slow waaaay down for that.

[Mazderati]

[nickwm21]

As much as I’d love a LC or GX460 my budget is 40k or less and I want something with under 50k miles if possible.

Ahhh… This is the error in your thought process…. Get a pearl white GX with 90k from an old white lady who solely used it as a grocery getter and exclusively had it serviced at Lexus of Bellevue. You’ll have another 70k before you need to change that timing belt and it will be much nicer than a 50k 4Runner….


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[AK47bp]

Ahhh… This is the error in your thought process…. Get a pearl white GX with 90k from an old white lady who solely used it as a grocery getter and exclusively had it serviced at Lexus of Bellevue. You’ll have another 70k before you need to change that timing belt and it will be much nicer than a 50k 4Runner….


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Well yea, obviously.

But unless that bitch also took it to church daily that thing would need to be 25+ years old to hit 90k. But maybe “grocery getter” means granny worked as a delivery driver for Amazon Fresh.

[nickwm21]

I’d take a 25yo GX and $25k in my pocket over a 4yo 4R any day.

But I’m biased (I drive an 07 GX that I bought for $14k with 95k)


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[Ted Striker]

The two in my hood are fully GOTOS. The secret is out. People know what they've got.

[bodywhomper]

I see both: gotos GX and stock GX. Same for 100-series lx/LC’s. I really like the push button center diff lock control on our 99 LC. This past 2 weeks, I’ve really liked the rear locking diff and 2nd gear start button.

[AK47bp]

A used LX 570 seems nice, still likely outside my price range. Can’t do the 460 or 470 due to the rear hatch opening sideways. I spend too much time sitting on my back bumper in the rain and need overhead cover.