opinions on TRD OR with Leather, Tech Package, Sunroof. Chime in!!

In any case it will outlast real leather, epsecially nubuck leather that you will find in ford king ranch for example.

Your drivers seat shouldn't appear "almost white" in certain sections after only 4 years. Something is wrong.

I can take you a pic of my drivers seat tomorrow if you would like. My truck is 6.5 years old.

 

I will post a picture after I get out of work tonight

 

Have no issues with any of the items you have questions on. Over 5 years in my leather seats look great but I do use chemical guys leather cleaner and softener with microfiber cloth several times a year. Tech package is useful don’t see any downside to it. Love my sunroof use it all the time I’m 6ft so if your taller then that you do lose some headroom.

 

From 50+ years of owning many vehicles. Different makes, and styles, all the types of interiors and seats made. Good and not so good leather seats and interiors, cloth and vinyl. By the way I said "up to". Leather doesn't really wear any worse than any other material. They all will look bad after a long period of time.

 

It’s the other way around.

Anything with the embossed squares in it is the Softex. The bolsters are the real leather. Get up close and have a look at it and you’ll see there’s no grain on the embossed parts. The leather grain is visible on the bolsters.

Here’s a link to a pic. Zoom in and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

https://www.usnews.com/object/image...ate-time=1586442235000&size=responsiveGallery

 

if it’s a good deal, go for it. Don’t worry about the little stuff. I wanted a boring manual Tacoma but ended up with a 23 manual OR with all the bells and whistles. The deal was too good to pass up.

1. The tech package is nice to have, and you can turn mostly everything off. I like the rear cross traffic alert for when I legitimately can’t see, and the 360 camera has proven its worth more often than I expected. I didn’t want it, but I’m glad I have it.

2. I’m confused by mostly everyone else’s statements. I’m pretty confident the center portions are fake leather and the outside bolsters are real leather, contrary to what most people seem to be saying. The leather is fine. I would have been fine with the cloth, but my wife pushed me more for leather because of the kids. They’re comfy enough and the heated seats are nice on occasion. Regardless, you can always get katskinz down the road if they wear out. From cars I’ve owned in the past, I find fake leather is best cared for with a wipe down from a damp cloth from a bucket with just a tiny drop of dish soap. Everyone I’ve known who have gone crazy with the chemicals on them had issues, likely from chemicals they thoughts were helping.

3. Wish I didn’t have the sunroof, but I do. It’s like a fireplace… mostly everyone wants one, but people rarely use them. I’ve had an issue on an older car with the sunroof and it was a headache, but I haven’t had an experience like that again. I used to take that car through the car wash a lot and never cleaned the drains. Stay on top of maintaining it and it should be fine. Most cars you can round off the end of some weed eater string by melting it, and delicately feed it through the sunroof drains to keep them clear. Open/close/lube on occasion. Stay out of the automated car washes, they can cause more harm than good by the high pressure water hitting seals at all kinds of weird angles. It will probably be fine.

I’ll say it again, if the deal is good then get the truck.

 

I mean with proper care, it will last way longer then that. Any material for that matter.

Cloth seats in my 2007 ranger in 2018 with 230K km:


Ive been in professional cleaning business for about 13 years, i know for a fact that if you maintain things the right way they will definitely last a long time.

I have no doubt that seats in my truck will still look fantastic in 10+ years. They are actually very easy to maintain.

 

^
Dude, thats pleather. They make it look like real leather.




The middle part of the seat is leather, I know for a fact.

Lift up a corner where the seat belt thing is and see for yourself.


I ve talked about it years ago on TW and one of the members posted a letter from toyota corporate saying exactly what im saying.[/QUOTE]

 

Junkhead actually has it right. The ass touching parts are real leather, as well as the top of the bolsters like in your photo where there's a bunch of criss-cross wear patterns in your photo. You can feel the difference, too. The back of the seats and outside of the bolsters are much softer and just feels like a plastic layer. The parts with the square patterns are kinda rough feeling. If you press down on the parts where Junkhead said are real leather, you'll notice creases spider webbing out from the point where you apply pressure to it. Try it on the back of the seats or the outer bolster layer like that part right above the power seat controls in your pic with the "leather grain" and there's no spider webbing. Try the same on the 5th gen 4Runner TRD trims with the premium package or SR5 Premium and there's no spider webbing because those are all Softex. The 3rd gen uses real leather in any trim that states real leather but the 4th gen uses softex (except maybe for the Limited? Idk) but it doesn't particularly feel "high end" or good especially compared to Jeep's full grain Napa leather. I only like the leather in my TRD ORP because it's much easier to wipe down, especially when I get sand and dirt all over the interior after off roading.

Edit: Here's a video showing what I mean by the spider-webbing.
https://youtu.be/sRo4AEL7PXs?si=t9v_80l0uJX24sSQ&t=65

 

Yessir.



I know I am right becuase ive had this discussion years ago with a bunch of TW members

 

Car manufacturers have all been doing it for years with leather seats; “sitting surface” (square textured areas of the 3rd Gen seats) are genuine leather with vinyl everywhere where else.

 

I'm also 6'1" so I think I'll keep looking. Don't need the liability.

 

I have a 22 OR with all those features. I specifically told the dealers that I didn't want any of those options but I had no choice and had to settle because in 2022 there was nothing on the lots. But now I'm glad I got them and enjoying it all.

 

For the 1st , the chrome bumpers aren't actual chromed metal. Its just nickel, you can get those after market for like 100$ both sides.

2st I can not say, mine is SR5 no leather.

3rd no issues with sunroof.


The main question here is, do you really need an upgrade? Because 3rd gen is not much different from 2nd. The V6 is faster, got little more power and definitely better MPG 20+.

TRD OR will have crawl control and off road goodies. Other than that, its literally same truck. It looks different, but it still has leaf springs, drum breaks etc.

The con of 3rd gen is its transmission shifting. Its not smooth and you will feel it, the 3.5 V6 got lots of power but its not as instant and responsive transmission as it is in 2nd gen.


Reliability wise some people have had issues, but number is small since there were over 1 million 3rd gens with V6 sold.

Here is highest milage 2018 3rd gen :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao2lMu_Y5Ow

Here is another 3rd gen traveling around the world in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE all its own.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/driving-a-tacoma-around-the-world.585792/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvdnxDca1fE

 

My car is 33 years old; the leather seats still look pretty damn good except for a small split on the drivers seat, I do treat them once a year with leather conditioner as regular maintenance though.

 

If it’s a good deal grab it . So what you are getting some extra toys . Life is short .
And by the way the only negative thing about the sunroof is like Someone said if your really tall
You loose a little head room . Other wise the sunroof is nice

 

I am 6'1 and I fit fine with a sunroof. Depends on how your 6'1" is. Longer leg or longer torso. Sit in it and find out.
Sunroof is great. I have had cars with sunroofs for 30+ years and only 1 leaked because the roof drain got plugged with pine needles and it backed up.
Plus in the cold winter (Spokane PNW) you can crank the heat on a sunny day and open the sunroof. Cold air feels great. Those that get this will agree. Those that don't, just don't get it.
Leather seats are great if you do any outdoor activities. Wipe off easily and don't really stain.

 

Totally get your sunroof love I believe there like motorcycles either you like them or you don’t it’s about enjoying the ability to have some extra sun/wind on your face/body just makes me smile.

 

I have all these features in my 23 OR MT. Only have had it for 18 months or so, but I like em. Didn’t necessarily want them but like others have said the multi terrain 360 viewing is more helpful than I expected. Going through tight trees on trail, or skinny ferry / parking garage lanes or parking spots… nice to have.

Sun roof is nice for sunny days, but blocked sometimes if I have stuff loaded on the rack. Totally personal preference imho.