2017 Wish List

[DougNuts]

I think that was what he meant. Removable so you can put it on to pick up MPG on the highway, and take it off when you want the extra clearance offroad.

Exactly what I meant. Put on a bigger one like GM is using on a lot of their cars and make it easily removable to keep the complainers to a minimum.

Sure, it looks a bit goofy at first, but it works. GM engineers have claimed that the air dam on the new Colorado/Canyon was worth as much as 2mpg on the highway.

 

[Bourbonator]

Was tempted by the Limited but got the SR5 since you had to have with 3rd row in 2012 with your Limited. I think that changed in 2013.

Probably depended on your dealer - I have a 2012 LE with no 3rd row.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

still wont happen. just means it will go in the replacement if they do replace the GX stateside.

GX will still be around due to the rest of the world using the Prado.

I think the V8 was honestly removed from the 4Runner because a 5th Gen Limited with the 4.8 would have kept quite a few people from upgrading to the GX.

Ford has a pretty solid history of reliable supercharging ('03-04 Cobras, Lightnings) and the new turbo engines aren't all that bad (Carbon deposits notwithstanding). So it can be done.

A regular injection SC V8 is apples and oranges with a direct injection TT V6...

Point being if and when Toyota goes this route, I'm confident that the platform would offer the reliability and durability their customers have come to expect.

 

[NoDak]

I think the V8 was honestly removed from the 4Runner because a 5th Gen Limited with the 4.8 would have kept quite a few people from upgrading to the GX.

yeah looking at the v8 4.7 GX back in 2002/3 besides the first year big spike, every year after that the numbers dropped until they capped at around 6k. then they jumped back up to 16k once the v8 4runner was discontinued and leveled off around 11-12k units sold.

side note, once they introduced the v8 4runner in 2003 the units sold jumped about 30k (107k units in 2003 alone) and went up to a high of 114k in 2004 and dropped steadily after that. biggest drop was between 2007-2008 (40k unit drop) and 2009 (only 16k units sold).

then it jumped up to 46k units sold but 2010 was the 1st year of the 5th gen so this will account for the jump, but the units sold has gone up every year since the 5th gen came out.

so not having the v8 hasn't hurt the model, but I don't think we will see the units moved like before.


edit:

I am thinking that for every gx sold, you would have to sell about 2-3 4runners to equal the profit they make on a single gx. so as long as they are making that much of a premium on new units sold they will keep it around.

 

[4FL]

Well, for the 2017 (anything else would be me just building the perfect 4r)

- eight way power seat for the passenger side.

- stand alone sunroof option

- make the back seat easily removable for max cargo room, do not know how feasible this is or if even a point, just a thought when I was hauling a bunch of containers on a long trip a few weeks ago.

- For all models, make it where can press a button on the key and the back window rolls up and down.

- Maybe a bigger display? I am actually satisfied with the size now, so maybe not. I think the size now looks refined.

- A keycode on the driver side to open the door without the key, even my low end Ford edge had this.

- I think I read right, that the 4th gens had it where you could select AWD to use on the road? I think this would be handy to have such an option. Not too important, but handy, but more handy than all the terrain mode stuff that comes with the trail.

- I think trails should come with more aggressive tires from the factory, or do they? I have not compared to a non-trail.

 

[alico268]

still wont happen. just means it will go in the replacement if they do replace the GX stateside.

GX will still be around due to the rest of the world using the Prado.

The Lexus TX will be the replacement for the GX460; a much lighter crossover design that will not need the oomph of the V8.

You would be hard-pressed to find a Prado with a V8, the engines available for it are the 4.0 V6 and 3.0 Turbo Diesel.

If there was a chance to reintroduce a V8 to the 4Runner, I would think it would be following the discontinuation of the GX, but then again Toyota is so stubbornly conservative and they know their base too well… sure go ahead, have at a Hemi Bwuhahahahaha!

 

[NoDak]

yeah I forgot about the TX. that's the biggest issue I have now. if they replace the usa GX with a unibody TX model, it wont be long till the BoF 4runner goes the same route.

which means, it still wont get a v8.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

I think the problem is the fundamentally the V8 and getting back to a nice multimode Torsen on all trims. To me these were a real step back.

While there is a lot of backroad/mountain/offroad use of the 4Runner (and this should be one of its main niches) most of us need to get there. That means hours on the highway, often towing something modest. This is where the lack of a V8 is the most noticed.

The travel/camping (sport utility you know) is were compromises should not be made. I really notice the lack of torque on the highway with any wind and my modest trailer, never mind going though the mountains. Heck even with just a ski box it is ridiculous for the thing to have to kick down to third in order to maintain speed on a modest grade. Sometimes I actually think I'm driving my Yaris.

Now poorer aerodynamics in Gen5 vs Gen4 probably have something to do with it but a friend of mine with the Gen4 V8 gets consistently better highway mileage than I do. I think most of us would burn the same amount of gas, or potentially less, with an efficient V8.

Plus seeing a putrid little Durango with a 5.7 Hemi (cylinder deactivation or even hybrid!) in it just angry's me up! :mmph:

Honestly, this is what everyone wants.....and I'm no exception. The truth is pretty simple though - The 4Runner has been priced in the same category for a verrrry long time. This means that Toyota is spending the money where they think it counts - frame, breaks, safety, traction aids -reliability-..etc (while the us$ deprecates). The 2 things that you want are very expensive for a manufacturer and push the price of the vehicle up - while increasing complexity. How many of us would have bought a new 4Runner starting at $45k? Honestly, (on US shores) a 4Runner is still the most reliable and durable vehicle in any categorie, save a 200 LC - which is almost 2x(!) the price. The engine we have is already extremely advanced, but lacks DI on purpose - this eliminates HPFP issues, carbon buildup on injectors and allows the engine to be run and repaired everywhere - which is where Toyota operates as a whole. I PAID for a vehicle that I know will get my GF home no matter what. That is all I care about....would 6 gears be better? Yep...would a V8 be better? Absolutely! Truth be told, I would much rather pay for older, proven tech, than newer stuff that has a very high price of failure. All in all, a new 4Runner will never have the tech of a Durango, and a Durango will never have the strength/reliability of a 4Runner. Sometime in the future, we may get both, but not any time soon.....

 

[Threev8s]

Honestly, this is what everyone wants.....and I'm no exception. The truth is pretty simple though - The 4Runner has been priced in the same category for a verrrry long time. This means that Toyota is spending the money where they think it counts - frame, breaks, safety, traction aids -reliability-..etc (while the us$ deprecates). The 2 things that you want are very expensive for a manufacturer and push the price of the vehicle up - while increasing complexity. How many of us would have bought a new 4Runner starting at $45k? Honestly, (on US shores) a 4Runner is still the most reliable and durable vehicle in any categorie, save a 200 LC - which is almost 2x(!) the price. The engine we have is already extremely advanced, but lacks DI on purpose - this eliminates HPFP issues, carbon buildup on injectors and allows the engine to be run and repaired everywhere - which is where Toyota operates as a whole. I PAID for a vehicle that I know will get my GF home no matter what. That is all I care about....would 6 gears be better? Yep...would a V8 be better? Absolutely! Truth be told, I would much rather pay for older, proven tech, than newer stuff that has a very high price of failure. All in all, a new 4Runner will never have the tech of a Durango, and a Durango will never have the strength/reliability of a 4Runner. Sometime in the future, we may get both, but not any time soon.....

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. My biggest gripe is that we are very limited when it comes to options. You can’t get a sunroof in a base Trail or SR5, can’t get X-REAS or full-time 4WD in anything but a Limited, can't get KDSS in an SR5, can’t get wheels from the factory on a Limited that can be wrapped with AT tires unless you upsize and go against recommended specs, etc. I don’t think all 4Runner owners/potential buyers want Toyota to put a v8 in all 4Runners as standard, because I know not everyone wants to pay for/have all 8 cylinders. There are many manufacturers, especially the European manufacturers, who offer a lot of engine choices and still have plenty of profit. I understand and appreciate that Toyota has managed to keep the price of the 4Runner relatively steady for many years, but I also think there are plenty of us who are willing to pay the upcharge for an optional v8/running gear that the company already builds and sells.

 

[LandCruiser]

Exactly what I meant. Put on a bigger one like GM is using on a lot of their cars and make it easily removable to keep the complainers to a minimum.

Sure, it looks a bit goofy at first, but it works. GM engineers have claimed that the air dam on the new Colorado/Canyon was worth as much as 2mpg on the highway.

The air dam on my Sierra was not quickly removable and if you did it a couple of times you pretty much ruined the mounts.

Mileage gains must have been done in some magical chamber, because the 6L farm truck did 13.1 regardless of how it was equipped (topper, no topper, dam, stock tires, huge mud tires).

Maybe the baby trucks do better?

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Honestly, this is what everyone wants.....and I'm no exception. The truth is pretty simple though - The 4Runner has been priced in the same category for a verrrry long time. This means that Toyota is spending the money where they think it counts - frame, breaks, safety, traction aids -reliability-..etc (while the us$ deprecates). The 2 things that you want are very expensive for a manufacturer and push the price of the vehicle up - while increasing complexity. How many of us would have bought a new 4Runner starting at $45k? Honestly, (on US shores) a 4Runner is still the most reliable and durable vehicle in any categorie, save a 200 LC - which is almost 2x(!) the price. The engine we have is already extremely advanced, but lacks DI on purpose - this eliminates HPFP issues, carbon buildup on injectors and allows the engine to be run and repaired everywhere - which is where Toyota operates as a whole. I PAID for a vehicle that I know will get my GF home no matter what. That is all I care about....would 6 gears be better? Yep...would a V8 be better? Absolutely! Truth be told, I would much rather pay for older, proven tech, than newer stuff that has a very high price of failure. All in all, a new 4Runner will never have the tech of a Durango, and a Durango will never have the strength/reliability of a 4Runner. Sometime in the future, we may get both, but not any time soon.....

The only thing I would add is the 1UR-FSE engine has been around since 2006 which makes me think the R&D costs have long been recouped. This means to add the exact same engine from the GX to the 4Runner is probably not nearly as expensive as people think. I honestly would not be the least bit surprised if a non-diluted 6th Gen brought back this V8 as an optional engine.

 

[sts00]

Cruise Control

I use Cruise Control nearly every time I get in a car....my Mazda Speed3 has a feature, at least in my view, that leaves the CC on until you turn it off. So the next time I get in the car I don't have to turn on the CCC to set it. I just hit the set button. Very annoying for it to turn off every time the truck is turned off.

 

[NoDak]

I use Cruise Control nearly every time I get in a car....my Mazda Speed3 has a feature, at least in my view, that leaves the CC on until you turn it off. So the next time I get in the car I don't have to turn on the CCC to set it. I just hit the set button. Very annoying for it to turn off every time the truck is turned off.

yeah that would work if I didn't live in such a small town, 5mi x 5mi approx. now if I lived in Detroit and driving down mound road to 14 mile road I could see the benefit. and in the winter time, forget it not happening on that 15 mile drive to work on the highway prior to snow plows hitting it. they never plow it before 6am, but that's a godsend since fresh snow is always better than compacted into ice due to traffic.

 

[Rocky5000100]

Ha I use my cruise control even when I'm driving down 25mph roads.

My old Mitsubishi Eclipse used to keep the cruise control on when I turn the car off. I liked that.

 

[Biggcrisp]

The only thing I would add is the 1UR-FSE engine has been around since 2006 which makes me think the R&D costs have long been recouped. This means to add the exact same engine from the GX to the 4Runner is probably not nearly as expensive as people think. I honestly would not be the least bit surprised if a non-diluted 6th Gen brought back this V8 as an optional engine.

I agree with you that this would be inexpensive. However, it's not going to happen IMO. We will more than likely see a small-liter I4 with multiple in-line turbo (combo electric, exhaust powered) or an electric supercharger/turbo combo coupled with some sort of newfangled high voltage electric system powering auto start/stop technology.

R & D gets paid to invent something new. There is no way that they would allow an old V8 to delete their livelihood.

Whatever they come out with will cost more…

 

[paddlenbike]

The carbon buildup issue isn't limited to FI engines, it appears to be an issue related to DI engines.

I have full confidence and faith that Toyota can do turbocharging while keeping reliability and durability. They are the company that brought us the MK4 Supra...

Toyota does have the technology to deal with carbon build up on DI engines, but they don't use it across all lines. It's called D4S and it uses both port injection and direct injection...yes, two systems. Port injection is used for start up, idle and low rpm cruise as it offers better torque than DI, and the DI system is blended in at higher loads and RPMs. (It's more complicated than that, but you get the jist.) It has the added side effect of no carbon build up since the port injection is still utilized. BUT, only a few Toyota DI engines use this, including the Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ and some of the new Lexus cars including the IS/ES350. But the IS250 doesn't have D4S and it has carbon build up issues that have resulted in recalls.

Toyota has strayed so far from the company it used to be that I no longer have the confidence that Toyota will do what's right and use the D4S system on non-Lexus cars. I know it's not fair to compare my supercharged 4Runner to a naturally aspirated one, but hell, my 4Runner is almost 15 years old and can climb any 8,000 ft high elevation pass *loaded* in high gear without requiring a downshift; something the new 4Runners can't even come close to doing. The new ones are too heavy and too underpowered.

I hope gen 6 is:
smaller
D4S with variable cylinder management and some kind of tech to achieve better mileage and power
manual trans option
clean, modern, classic Toyota SUV lines...the new 4Runners are...well, not this.
stop limiting options like kdss and sunroofs to top models
more rugged AT tires on TE
different exhaust routing...one that won't fill the cabin with exhaust if the rear window is barely open
keep price in spec

 

[BlackWorksInc]

[MENTION=9596]paddlenbike[/MENTION] Toyota actually uses the D4S system on the FRS.

But for the Corolla and new Super Size Corolla (ahem, I mean Camry) they have optional "ValveMatic" engines (instead of using GDI engines)that look like fairly similar to BMW's craptastic ValveTronic systems. Probably as a result of BMW & Toyota working together on a new Sports Car (BMW's new Z series and the possible successor to the Supra based on chatter.) If its anything like BMW's wonderful (sarcasm) system, it will be wrought with issues, seems like Toyota is unfortunately learning all of BMW's bad habits and not teaching them their good ones.

Adding insult to injury those wonderful ValveMatic offerings come with CVTs! Hurray! (again Sarcasm)

Though Toyota has mentioned they are considering making forced induction engines again in the future, so there might be hope that a Turbo/Supercharged GDI engine(s) may be in development. The question is how much further is Toyota going to slide quality wise before they come out with these?

 

[M1911]

Better gas mileage. There are full size pickups with more power getting better gas mileage than the 4runner.

This.

For those of you asking for manual transmission, not gonna happen, no way no how. The demand simply isn't there.

 

[Cheers!]

V8 diesel with HID lights.

 

[qs933]

Wish list aside, this is my prediction for the next-gen 4Runner, based on Toyota being pretty predictable.

- SR5, Trail Edition, Limited
- SR5 and Trail have an optional Premium package to package Softex/moonroof, etc. (same like the 2014+)
- Limited has an optional Platinum package
- TRD Pro returns during the model cycle
- Blind spot monitoring, pre-collision, radar cruise control, lane departure is optional on the Limited and included with the Platinum package
- Latest Entune with 6.1" screen on SR5 and Trail, 8" screen on Limited
- 4" monochrome LCD in gauge cluster on SR5, 4" color on Trail and Limited
- Third row optional on SR5 and Limited
- Body extended by 2 or 3" to make the third row a little more usable
- Limited includes LED DRLs
- Carryover V6 engine, but with a 6-speed automatic