So you don't buy a 4R for mpg I was told......Rant

so 4420 miles per month, 245 gallons at $2.45 is $7,203 per year on fuel

but lets look at the other options you are considering.

The ZR2 diesel gets 19/22 mpg, let's call that 20mpg. the average cost of diesel is more expensive than the average price of fuel, it varies depending on various factors but looking at gas prices for AAA it seems to generally cost about $0.14 more per gallon recently so instead of $2.45 your fuel cost is $2.59.

4420 miles per month, 20 mpg, $2.59/gal is $6,869 per year, so a $334/year saving. whoop-dee-freaking-doo.

let's look at the GC Diesel is 18/25, let's call that 22mpg.
4420 miles per month, 22mpg, $2.59/gal is $6,244 per year, which is $959/year savings. this is more respectable, but that's hardly a massive savings on an asset you are making money on. (also the GC isn't nearly reliable enough that i would trust it for those kinds of miles if i needed it for my work, but that is beside the point).

Let's look at the best case scenario, you get the GC Diesel and baby the throttle and try to hypermile and you average 25mpg.
4420 miles per month, 25mpg, $2.59/gal is $5,495 per year, that is a considerable $1,708 savings per year.

if the 4Runner is the vehicle you like, and it works well for your needs, is it really worth changing vehicles to save $1,708 per year? $959 per year? $334 per year? *

if i needed reliable off-road capability i'd gladly pay the premium. if i didn't need reliability i'd consider the GC for my next vehicle. if i didn't need off road capability there are a lot of options i'd rather have.

(* this discussion is to make you put your fuel costs in perspective. in reality both of these vehicles cost more than the 4runner, so depending on how long you kept the vehicle you likely wouldn't have any savings at all)

Sounds like a good reason to buy a Tahoe, other than how much more they cost. Same fuel economy, more power and space.

randomguy said:

Sounds like a good reason to buy a Tahoe, other than how much more they cost. Same fuel economy, more power and space.

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was my first thought as well--do you know what kind of highway mpg these get with cylinder deactivation?

In the first 1000 miles with my 17' TRDP I've been avaleraging 19MPG, don't really know how. I don't drive like a granny by any means either. Pretty impressed so far!

I get 18MPG and am happy with it.

I think 4R MPG in terms of how much MORE than the other options because with another vehicle you still have to pay for gas. Let's run some math:
4R(18mpg) vs.Other(25mpg) I think 25mpg is a reasonable assumption. So the difference is 7mpg. Assume you drive 15,000 miles a year, the difference will be 233 gallons per year MORE for the 4R. Assume $2.5/gallon, the annual fuel cost for 4R will be about $600 MORE for the 4R. Further assume that both vehicles reach 200,000 miles. Over the lives of these two vehicles--about 13 to 14 years, the fuel cost of the 4R will be $8,000 MORE.

I don't think it is too bad at all.

Do you require a vehicle of this size for work or what you do outside of work? If it's required for work is there any chance of writing off any of your mileage off your taxes? If I was in your situation I would've definitely bought some sort of commuter that gets better MPG's in addition to the 4Runner.

Dog Runner said:

Mods, please move this thread if its in the wrong place.

I was talking about dumping my 4R to get the most I can before the value really tanks and I said I would like better mpg.......

That's when someone snydley said to me today, "you don't buy a 4R for mpg, and if you can't afford it buy a Camry.....'

If anyone here feels that way, please see my scenario, (and I can afford it, just considering a different option)

I have owned my 2016 TRDP since Feb of 2016, and I have put 88410 miles on it as of today. Yes, 88k and probably 90k by next Monday. So that breaks down to 4911 gallons of gas at 18 mpg, for a total amount of fuel spent around $12k in 20 months. (another website tracked my mpg and it was around 18 when I stopped using it a few months ago)

Break down:

Owned for 20 months:
Mileage: 88410
4420 miles per month driven
245 gallons @$2.45 avg each month of ownership.

So, $601 a month in fuel. which is a $40 fill up every three days ish......

So, I ask all of you who say "I didn't buy a 4R for MPG and I don't care what the mpg is" how many of you would continue to drive a 4R if they had to fill up every three days and they needed the room of a 4R and a car would not work due to the cargo room needed?

Would you then care about the MPG?

I posed my avg fill-up frequency and dollar amount to this fella and his answer was he would have to ride a bike... lol


op2:

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Fu-k it!

I drive almost as much as you and I traded in a ‘15 Q7 with a similar MPG rating yet required premium gas.

To each their own but for me enjoying the vehicle I drive is more important then the gas. Yes, it hurts the wallet and there are better “options” but environmental arguments aside I love my vehicle. For some a vehicle represents their personality or the type of person they want to be. For others its simply a mode of transport. IMHO, from the community to the customization to the off-road options its just, plain, worth it.
Do the math on a vehicle that gets slightly better MPG and see if the additional savings are worth the change. Like I said, to each their own.

randomguy said:

Sounds like a good reason to buy a Tahoe, other than how much more they cost. Same fuel economy, more power and space.

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tm965 said:

was my first thought as well--do you know what kind of highway mpg these get with cylinder deactivation?

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My commute is about 1100 miles per week but luckily my company pays for the rental and gas. I had a Yukon Denali with the 6.2L V8 (similar to Tahoe) and got 21-22 mpg highway driving at 80-90 mph (80 mph speed limit). So I think cylinder deactivation works pretty well.

Dog Runner said:

It made me wonder how many people would end up driving something else if they had to fill up their 4R every 3 days and if they would make the same comment.

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I think the obvious is stifling your ability to see reality. I'm guessing most people's question reading this thread is why you would buy a 4Runner knowing you drive the miles you do, and then rant about it?

Sounds like a JGC Diesel is about your only option, but then you'll have a whole 'nother set of rants you can file on a different forum.

I don't think this guy's rant is about the gas mileage or the cargo space or anything else to do with the vehicle. It's about the stupid comment he got. Must be new to Internet discussion forums. (though I do have to admit the "if you can't afford X, you're a loser" type comments are especially annoying)

MossJenks said:

I don't think this guy's rant is about the gas mileage or the cargo space or anything else to do with the vehicle. It's about the stupid comment he got. Must be new to Internet discussion forums.

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What stupid comment did he get, and why?


Did he just learn there's a hole in the rear under the hatch?

one thing i didn't think of in my fuel cost savings analysis above: if he gets the GC diesel he will have extra savings from all the times he is in a small rental or dealer loaner because the GC is back at the dealership having another issue fixed

Oddly phrased rant and post.

BUT - I second the vote for Colorado ZR2 Duramax. Just as capable as the Pro imo. My buddy just traded his Taco in for one and loves it.

that's decent mileage. We get 18-20 depending on the conditions. We drove on a fairly level and slightly downhill road for about 45 miles and got 23mpg. When we come home from Vermont and got around 19 while doing 80mph.

Our sequoia 4.7 loves to drink gas. I can still get 17-19 on my commute to work, but 15 with all other driving.

This is why i have a 4cylinder accord that i can get 33-36 mpg on my trip to work.

I love driving the sequoia once in a while so i'll take that once every week or two.

I wish I got 18 lol.

Dog Runner said:

Mods, please move this thread if its in the wrong place.

I was talking about dumping my 4R to get the most I can before the value really tanks and I said I would like better mpg.......

That's when someone snydley said to me today, "you don't buy a 4R for mpg, and if you can't afford it buy a Camry.....'

If anyone here feels that way, please see my scenario, (and I can afford it, just considering a different option)

I have owned my 2016 TRDP since Feb of 2016, and I have put 88410 miles on it as of today. Yes, 88k and probably 90k by next Monday. So that breaks down to 4911 gallons of gas at 18 mpg, for a total amount of fuel spent around $12k in 20 months. (another website tracked my mpg and it was around 18 when I stopped using it a few months ago)

Break down:

Owned for 20 months:
Mileage: 88410
4420 miles per month driven
245 gallons @$2.45 avg each month of ownership.

So, $601 a month in fuel. which is a $40 fill up every three days ish......

So, I ask all of you who say "I didn't buy a 4R for MPG and I don't care what the mpg is" how many of you would continue to drive a 4R if they had to fill up every three days and they needed the room of a 4R and a car would not work due to the cargo room needed?

Would you then care about the MPG?

I posed my avg fill-up frequency and dollar amount to this fella and his answer was he would have to ride a bike... lol


op2:

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I think the question is how many would buy a 4runner if they knew they would need to fill up every three days.

Wrighter said:

I think the question is how many would buy a 4runner if they knew they would need to fill up every three days.

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What car can carry you 1,000 miles a week and not require filling up every three days? If that's the premise, it's a dumb premise.

I wouldn't get rid of my 4Runner but I certainly wouldn't use it daily if I drove the kind of miles you do. I've had mine for about a year and a half but just ticked over 6,500 miles. I have other cars and if I drove the kind of miles that you do, I'd probably pick up a 2nd hand CT200h or equivalent. You gas costs alone should more than pay for something like that.

Personally I bought 4Runner for off-road ability, reliability, cargo space and comfortable ride on road. I didn’t really see any other alternative in the same price range on the market which would meet those requirements. Every other vehicle I considered before I got T4R was lacking at least one of those. So whatever MPG 4Runner gets it is what it is. If MPG was a great concern to me I would try to decide what MPG is acceptable for me and I would look again at my requirements and try to decide what I can give up for MPG I want. And of course if we speak about money I would consider vehicle cost, residual value, cost of repairs or cost of time lost in dealership for warranty repairs.

OP- you could consider adding a cold air intake and catback exhaust to help with the fuel economy a LITTLE. That's if you decide to keep the Runner. I personally, would never have bought a vehicle like that if i knew how much driving i would be doing, BUT im sure it's been a fun venture!