I love how people comment on the side effects of a supercharger who don’t have one. Just because you can’t afford one doesn’t mean you should dog on it. Also the added power does not over power the brakes and steering capabilities. It makes the vehicle more enjoyable to drive.
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Okay let's break down your logic:
a) You don't (can't) know until you experience. Yes, I'll be sure to reserve all judgement on crack until I start smokin’ that pipe. Right.
b) You know the income and net worth of every single 4runner owner and one can't afford a SC if one doesn't have one installed. Got it.
c) Reliability is not affected when you install a SC. Right, because the laws of physics don't apply to SCs or the 4runner.
Ok, here are the facts.
The 4runner (and all cars) have powertrain, suspension and brake components designed to operate within a specific range of power and torque. The stock engine output is 270HP, 278 lb-ft of torque, so all of these components are designed to withstand, at least, that amount of force. The stock suspension and braking systems are also designed to control and counter these stock outputs from a vehicle dynamics perspective.
Because the 4runner is generally very reliable in stock form, we can assume that most of these components are over-engineered and overbuilt, meaning they can handle more power and torque than the engine is capable of. How much more? That's the true question. It might be a lot, it might be just a little but you won't know unless you're the engineer who designed them. All these components form a "chain", and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You will eventually find out what that link is.
Even if every component can, by design, handle the added power and torque output of a SCd engine at full throttle, each component will wear faster. A SC will only DECREASE reliability and longevity. At a minimum, you're increasing the number of components, and by extension, potential failure modes. How much reliability is decreased and how much faster components will wear depends on:
- The quality of the components installed (SC kit)
- The competence of the mechanic that installed the components
- The engine/transmission tuning post installation
- How often the power and torque outputs of the engine exceeds it stock maximum outputs (how often you floor it)
- How durable the rest of the vehicle components are by design, as described above.
You can only control 1 variable, the gas pedal (which you probably won't be too gentle on if you're installing a SC). The rest is ultimately out of your control.
The decrease in reliability might be negligible, or it might be severe, but you will never know until something breaks. That might happen just around the corner of the dealership, or in the middle of nowhere in the desert, or even never. If the increase in power is worth that tradeoff to you, all the best. It's a free world, it's your money, knock your socks off. But the tradeoff is real, and inevitable. Pretending it’s not doesn't change the facts.