I have a '08 V8 with 448,500 miles on it. Only basic maintenance and all original drivetrain. V6 motors cannot compete with longevity, period. I had the passenger exhaust manifold leak that is common. I pulled the manifold, welded the crack up, and reinstalled in less than 8 hours total at a cost of under $50 with the gasket and new exhaust nuts.

My friend has a new Tacoma and he is rather unimpressed stating it is slow in comparison to driving my 4Runner.

If you plan on upgrading your tire size at all then the V8 is the way to go. If you go V6 and bigger tires then you'll have to regear the differentials for sure.

The late model GX470 or a early model GX460 would be great contenders for a V8 driven Toyota and towing. $20k right now gets you a nice GX series. I would also not rule out well taken care of Sequoias if you have a large family or want the extra storage.