Premium vs Non-Premium Questions

Need some advice on Premium vs. Non-Premium. I’m stuck between a new 2019 OR with or w/o the premium package. The issue for me is that it’s been tough to find a Premium that doesn’t have a bunch of other stuff that doesn’t suit my tastes already added on.

1) I’ve had leather going back over 20 years on various Landcruisers and Tundra’s. It really seems that the quality of the leather Toyota is using has gone down. My LC 100 lasted 12 plus years without any tears or fraying. I’m seeing 1-2 year old Land Cruisers looking tattered. Can anybody confirm how well the leather on the newer premium packages is holding up to wear and tear? I’ve seen the aftermarket kits and they seem to be thicker and more durable in feel. Can someone confirm if that’s the case?

2) JBL vs Non-JBL Audio—The factory JBL sounded fairly decent to my ears. Are head units different? If so—Can the Non-JBL Head Unit be upgraded with anything to close the gap on in the JBL package? I’m guessing I could spend at least $2000 if I were to try to replace the factory Entune and upgrade with higher end head unit on top of adding a sub, amp, and new speakers and sound deadener. Replacing one component alone doesn’t seem like it would do much unless the head units are identical.

Is their anything else I would be foregoing by skipping the premium package?

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

IMO forget the JBL, you will get much better results by simply ditching the factory speakers and going with some high quality efficient speakers, specially the front tweeters. And keep the HU
As for the leather option, I'd ditch that too for some Katskin leather. Today, even Mercedes leather is not the same it was 20 years ago. Just my .02

Peace
Cheers!

 

Comes down to sunroof or not.

You lose some headroom with it. If you like to sit upright with good posture, you might brush the ceiling.

You also get dual zone automatic climate control if that matters to u

 

Non premium, add Clazzio leather seat covers and swap in better speakers and your set.

 

I vote non-premium and upgrade the rest to your personal preference.
I installed Katzkin leather for 5 years and really liked it. Easily customized to your tastes.

 

Really just comes down to sunroof or not

 

Thanks for all of your feedback. I didn’t even think of the sunroof! That’s actually pretty funny—I have had sunroofs as a standard option going back almost twenty years but I’ve never used them. I don’t even open the interior slider to let natural light in because prefer to keep the cab of my vehicles cool.

My wife on the other hand has to have the sunroof—so I’m not going to mention that factoid to her.

Relative to dual zone controls not even sure that would make a difference with such a small cab?

So Katzkin vs Clazzio—is there much of a difference? I noticed one sells direct, the other goes thru a dealer/installer. And although I like leather, ironically I never really had an issue with Vinyl as long as the seat was high quality and durable. The best seats I’ve ever sat in were vinyl buckets in an old ‘70 LT-1 Vette. I actually prefer anything but fabric/cloth but my dogs will shed regardless of how much I tell them it pisses me off.

 

Katskin is a replacement, you have to remove the cloth from your seat to install. Clazzio is a cover that slides over the cloth. Advantages to both and you can’t go wrong with either. All positive reviews for both from what I’ve seen. I just got my Clazzio covers but haven’t had time to install them yet.

 

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Premium isn’t that at all... do the mods (except the hole in the roof) for less than a third of the price.

 

Umm, "dual-zone automatic climate control"... Happy wife, happy life! (and yes, it does make a difference even given the cab size you referenced)

 

I have dual climate in the wife’s car... always runs on sync... same system stupid concept

 

I did not care about sunroof or dual climate, but it happened to be on the truck I got. However now I do enjoy both features. I thought dual climate was stupid as well but now I find I will have it on high heat and wife will have it on low cool, must be a hormone thing. I think most of the Premium features are more of a nice to have rather than have to have. If you are taller than 6 feet I might avoid the sunroof as it does limit headroom. Not sure if the heated seats are part of premium package but that is a feature I love and would not want to give up.

 

Yep! Kinda like the dual controls on the electric blanket

 

I must be a dim-wit. I just bought a '19 TRD Sport Access Cab and it must be a premium. You guys with all of the details are funny, I just thought it was a nice truck and such a leap forward from the current '07 TRD I'm driving.

 

Heated seats (a must here in Wyoming) were part of the premium package when I bought my 17. And the dual zone is nice, my wife has hers set 5 to 10 degrees warmer than I do when she’s in the truck.

 

Love the heated seats too!

 

I'd rather have a feature that I won't use than a feature that I want/need but don't have, IMO.

 

The JBL sound is disappointing, and based on what’s currently available it’s also much more difficult to upgrade. If that’s an important part of your decision then I’d suggest skipping the premium and spending the $ on a good upgrade to the regular sound system. oemaudio gets good reviews, there are a few threads about it.