2005 4Runner or 2011 4Runner

[bigwalts4runner]

I have a 2005 4Runner V8 SR5, I am thinking of getting rid of it and getting a 2011 4Runner SR5. My gas in the V8 is about 12MPG on the computer, and I have calculated it at 11.5 MPG. Will the 2011 Provide a greater improvement in MPG of the 2005 V8, or will it not be worth trading in the V8?

 

[polishpiper]

19 overall on my SR-5. Up to 22 on straigh HWY driving.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Since getting my SR5, my computer hasn't shown less than 19 mpg and that is with mostly city driving. I took a recent 3 hour, highway driving road trip and reset my computer just after filling up and pulling out on the road and, when I got to the end, it was showing around 26mpg average. I haven't verified it with real math but if it's anywhere close to that, I'm happy. It'll take a lot of tanks of gas, though, to justify buying a brand new vehicle to get a few more mpg's. But if it helps you justify moving up to the 5th gen, I think you'll do much better on gas.

 

[SeattleMike]

I have a 2005 4Runner V8 SR5, I am thinking of getting rid of it and getting a 2011 4Runner SR5. My gas in the V8 is about 12MPG on the computer, and I have calculated it at 11.5 MPG. Will the 2011 Provide a greater improvement in MPG of the 2005 V8, or will it not be worth trading in the V8?

Much will depend on how heavy your foot is on the gas pedal, but... I have a 2010 TE with E-rated tires and a roof top tent and I get 20 mpg on the highway @60mph, 17 in the city if I take it easy when I accelerate. If you are a lead foot, or if you absolutely need to be doing 75 mph on the highway... you'd still be getting better gas mileage in a 5th Gen than your are currently reporting.

 

[JB.]

Will the 2011 Provide a greater improvement in MPG of the 2005 V8.....will it not be worth trading in the V8?

If you're talking purely finances, the answer is yes to both.

 

[Johnny Utah]

DO IT ! and yes, i think you can do better than 12 even with a heavy foot

 

[philsey]

Most here are happy with the 5G's mpg. I'm getting 19 city, and 22 hwy, per the OBC and I drive gently.

I think for you tho, you'd better go spend some time demo'ing a 5G, and finding out if you like driving the V6. Some 5G owners lament trading in their V8s.

The V6 does go, but you gotta demand it. It feels sluggish on first drives.

 

[Presta24]

if ur gettin 12 in a V8, then you have a heavy foot Ive got 33" MT's on my V8 and I get 14/18

 

[Antman]

I don't think I could get 12 mpg if I tried. Even towing my boat I get way more than that.

 

[bigwalts4runner]

I do have 32 inch Revo AT, but that shouldnt amount too much to the poor MPG. Sometimes I get heavy footed at the lights, but mostly I do city driving all the way to work. I have to pass my local traffic, then the Conjunction Junction, then 2 miles of freeway, and finally DC traffic. I have tried driving slower and alt routes, but I still get the same results. If the 5th Gen 4Runner can get 17 in city and 22 in hwy. I would be set, I would save about a Gallon of gas a day.

 

[JB.]

I do have 32 inch Revo AT, but that shouldnt amount too much to the poor MPG. Sometimes I get heavy footed at the lights, but mostly I do city driving all the way to work. I have to pass my local traffic, then the Conjunction Junction, then 2 miles of freeway, and finally DC traffic. I have tried driving slower and alt routes, but I still get the same results. If the 5th Gen 4Runner can get 17 in city and 22 in hwy. I would be set, I would save about a Gallon of gas a day.

Your estimate of mpg difference is too high but I'll go with it. At a gallon a day you'll save 1 to $1.5k a year which won't even offset the depreciation of a new vehicle. Add in the payments or use of cash and, well........

Now if you want a new vehicle, it's a completely different story.

 

[bzizzi]

I just traded a 05 SE v6 for a sr5 loaded and the new 4r already gets better fuel mileage and is not even broken in yet !!

 

[bigwalts4runner]

Your estimate of mpg difference is too high but I'll go with it. At a gallon a day you'll save 1 to $1.5k a year which won't even offset the depreciation of a new vehicle. Add in the payments or use of cash and, well........

Thats a good point, I really dont want a new truck, my is perfectly fine, but I get pissed everytime that I put 75 of gas every four days, the thing is that last year it was only about 45-50, and it is going up, soon it will be 80.00. So if I put 81 every eight days would make a lot of sense to me. I rather pay Toyota, then pay Exxon, or BP.

 

[JB.]

Thats a good point, I really dont want a new truck, my is perfectly fine, but I get pissed everytime that I put 75 of gas every four days, the thing is that last year it was only about 45-50, and it is going up, soon it will be 80.00. So if I put 81 every eight days would make a lot of sense to me. I rather pay Toyota, then pay Exxon, or BP.

Yeah, the visible costs always feel worse than the less visible ones but the dollars are the same. If you happen to think gas is going to 5 or 6 dollars a gallon, would you be buying any SUV?

Next time you spend money at the pump, think of how much you're saving compared to a car payment.

 

[diver110]

In general, I agree with the other posts, it's cheaper, if more annoying, to keep your current truck. The only other thing I would factor in is how many miles it has and how long would drive it. If you will drive it until the wheels fall off, keep it. If only, say, to 100,000 miles, it could make sense to sell it at, e.g. 70,000 miles, as close to or above 100,000 resale value plummets. Also, if you like going off road, there is now the TE. I am hoping to get one in the next few days.