Color Choice! Underground vs. Cutting Edge

[Biff]

What Stigma just said above. Lots of complaints from Tacoma owners regarding the underground color paint quality. Awful swirls, scratches by just looking at it and easily chips. I love the color but have decided I will not be getting underground for this reason.

4Runners are built/Painted in Japan. I’ve read somewhere that the paint jobs on these trucks from Japan are top notch and no way to compare to Tacomas and other vehicles assembled in Mexico.

Sponsored

 

[Jets Fan]

I submitted a deposit on a Windchill White pearl myself but probably would have ordered the silver but it wasn’t available for the Limited. Truthfully I did not care for any of the colour choices for the Limited and chose the white only because it was the pearl finish. I’m not surprised about the comments from others about swirls and scratches on the darker colours. I found out years ago on my RX7 in charcoal grey that as noted “scratched by just looking at it”. Darker colours show imperfections and dust/dirt more. Silver and white should hide them. Colour is a personal choice. Go with your heart.

 

[RogueWarrior65]

IMHO, *yawn*. Cutting Edge aka silver and Ice Cap aka white are such ubiquitous colors on the road these days.

 

[windjunkie]

Personally underground is my favorite color on the runner. But went with silver because I drive a dirt road everyday. Silver hides the dirt better. Silver also has a metallic in it while I don’t believe underground does. I’m a hobbyist car detailer and would spend a lot more time on washing if I had bought underground. If you don’t mind the dirt and swirls or enjoy cleaning cars underground would be a good choice. I’m overall happy with my choice.

 

[djw4run]

4Runners are built/Painted in Japan. I’ve read somewhere that the paint jobs on these trucks from Japan are top notch and no way to compare to Tacomas and other vehicles assembled in Mexico.

There is no difference between the painting techniques used in Japan vs Mexico. Both are standard automated robotics that do the work. Painting by human hands is a thing of the past. The underground paint color introduced in 2024 for the Tacoma and 4-Runner is indeed new formula that lacks any metallic flake, unlike the old Magnetic Grey color. The solid gloss formula seems to make it especially susceptible to swirls, chips and scratches. I for one believe the complaints on other 4Runner forums plus the many complaints from Taco owners and would not gamble my money there. For sure ever since Toyota went with low VOC water based paints years ago, the durability went out the window but this I think is a new low.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

I bought the 6th gen TRD Sport Premium. Was getting Heritage Blue but changed to Wind Chill Pearl. I like this color a lot.

I too love the Wind Chill Pearl, but beware, if you get a chip (like I did) it is very difficult to apply the touch up paint. I got the correct touch up paint from my local Toyota dealership, I shook it plenty enough to get the paint mixed but it just does not go on easily. My prior 4Runner was white, but not the metallic white like the Wind Chill Pearl. Applying touch up paint to that was a breeze. The Wind Chill Pearl, not so much.

That said, I would buy Wind Chill Pearl or the Cutting Edge Silver 100 times over before the Undergound. I am just not a fan of that color. I thought I like it when it first came out but when I saw it in person, it just looked blah to me. Just my opinion.

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

IMHO, *yawn*. Cutting Edge aka silver and Ice Cap aka white are such ubiquitous colors on the road these days.

AKA - common

 

[Nodak]

silver hides most dirt better than underground or any dark color for that matter.

 

[Jets Fan]

I too love the Wind Chill Pearl, but beware, if you get a chip (like I did) it is very difficult to apply the touch up paint. I got the correct touch up paint from my local Toyota dealership, I shook it plenty enough to get the paint mixed but it just does not go on easily. My prior 4Runner was white, but not the metallic white like the Wind Chill Pearl. Applying touch up paint to that was a breeze. The Wind Chill Pearl, not so much.

That said, I would buy Wind Chill Pearl or the Cutting Edge Silver 100 times over before the Undergound. I am just not a fan of that color. I thought I like it when it first came out but when I saw it in person, it just looked blah to me. Just my opinion.

Thanks for the touch-up painting advice. I recently moved out to “the woods” and thus the majority of my driving will be on highways that are mostly devoid of pebbles so hopefully I will not experience chips for a while.

 

[Dog4Runner]

I was about to buy the Underground until I saw the Cutting Edge with black TRD Pro wheels combo.

 

[kekecarioca]

Honestly, if I knew how easily the paint chipped on these 4runners I'd may have gone with cutting edge or white over the underground that I did.

I love that I ended up with Everest after all, but find myself thinking the same sometimes....

For OP: My gut would go with Underground. It's really nice in person and it's more unique than cutting edge.

 

[Formidable]

Underground

 

[Badkarma8541]

Oh wow, really? I didn’t know paint chipping was an issue specifically with the underground?

I actually deliberately avoided white because I assumed the front end would be littered with black specs from paint chips..

No issues with our underground and have driven across country twice. When I picked it up I did not let the dealership wash it as they use a commercial washer here. I did it myself with the buckets, hit it with the clay bar and then the ceramic. Knock on wood so far it arrived at the port March 3rd.

 

[porkyfly]

Def cutting edge - not even close. Cutting edge looks way better than the standard boring silver found on most cars, there's something different about it. I was torn between cutting edge and heritage blue and honestly wish I went cutting edge

 

[mister_mcgoo]

So.. after MUCH deliberation. I ultimately went with Cutting Edge!

It really does look better in person than your standard silver color, I love the contrast of the black accents and fender flares! It definitely is more stunning than I expected.

Plus, this dealer offered a interest rate at a full point lower than the dealer with the Underground, so that helped..

I’m sure I would have been happy with the underground also, but all of the above reasons plus the fact that silver is easier to maintain longterm led me to my decision.

Next up.. front tint and a set of KO3’s!

Sponsored