Well the kids are getting bigger and we've debated adding another addition so I went and test drove some 4th Gens today. I was specifically looking for an SR5 V8 4x4 with 3rd row seating. Guess what? No matter what dealers show online none of them had one. Oh well. I did drive a couple V8 4x2, a V8 4x4 and a V6 Sport. Things I noticed:

1. It seemed like the V8's put out wildly different power. First one I drove was a 4x2 and was a rocket. Second one was a 4x2 at a different dealer and felt considerably slower. Last one was a 4x4 and that one was very quick also. Don't know why the different performance with the two 4x2 trucks. The V6 is adequate but for 1-2 MPG on the highway improvement I think I like the torque and towing capacity of the V8 better. In 5th at 50 MPH the engine is turning 1500 RPMs and there is plenty of torque on tap. Tap down to 4th and the RPMs climb 500 and it seems like hills wouldn't be a problem.

2. You can't have a moonroof, upgrade stereo, or even certain colors if you want the 3rd row seats. Add to that the fact that none of the dealers had a V8 anything with 3rd row seats I wasn't going to make a deal today.

3. Limiteds are an endangered species with Gulf Coast dealerships.

For comparison I did drive a Seqoua (spelling?) and it felt like a boat. I did find a 4Runner V8 SR5 4x4 with moonroof, 6 disk in dash stereo, and a few other goodies. With discounts it will be right at 30k. I wonder if there is anyone making an aftermarket 3rd row seat as I really like the moonroof and upgraded stereo.

 

I wouldn't get an aftermarket 3rd row seat. Why risk the kids being in the back with something that is not factory installed, IMO its not worth it. I agree with you the third row seats are hard to find. My wife and I wanted a second 4th gen for the third row, but could not find a good one. Finally ended up with a 94 LC with a thrid row.

 

My wife was also looking at the 4 Runners(4x2). The ones with 3rd row seating are very hard to come by here also.We would look at one on the lot go home & think about it,next day it's gone.We finanlly told the dealer to get us one with 3rd row.Ordered on the 13th & it might be here by the 27th.I'm sure it will be here by the end of the month so the sale will go through on this month.It is very strange but she could not get the Stratasphere Mica(dark blue)with 3rd row???? :wtf:

 

know whats funny? when i went to test drive some 4th genners for fun, a majority of the ones on the lot had 3rd rows. i wanted to test one without it, and had to wait for them to nab one.

 

Stratosphere Mica is not available with 3rd row. A couple of other colors also aren't. Galactic Gray seems to be the most common color followed by silver. There wasn't a single Limited to look at so those are probably in high demand elsewhere. I REALLY liked the Stratosphere Mica Sport I drove but 3rd row seating is not at all available with a Sport. I don't want to spend the big $$$ for a Limited so XREAS is not going to be a vailable to me. I guess my dream truck would be a Stratosphere Mica Sport V8 4x4 with 3rd row seating, a moonroof, and a few gizmos.

 

You know what they should do with the 3rd row seat? They should install the "latches" for the 3rd row seats in all of the 4runners. Then if someone wants a 3rd row seat, all they have to do is run to the parts dept and order seats in their color. That way it costs less for Toyota because there are no 3rd row seats, and the people that want them can all have them.

 

Exactly. Also, you would want to make sure the 2nd row "unfolds" the right way to allow access to the 3rd row. Not sure if all of the Runners were made with that feature since the 3rd row option came out, or if its a feature only the one w/the 3rd row have.