4Runner V-8 2005 vs 2008

[Dblues28]

Good evening everyone. This is my very first post. I'm happy to report that I just bought a new 4Runner this weekend after a 10 month stint. A little background...in September of 2005 I bought a new 4Runner 4WD V-8 Sport Edition. 2 years later I decided that our family needed something larger and I bought a 2007 Chevy Tahoe LTZ. Great truck...and I would have kept it had it not been for the fact that I had it at the dealer service department 12 times hunting down various rattles coming up over the 10 months I owned it. Not my idea of stepping up! Last month I decided it wasn't worth the further hassle and turned back to the 4Runner. I looked high and low for an identical 2008 in specification and color to my 2005. Finally I got the call from my local dealer here in Portland, Oregon. They found one with only 14 miles/rolled off of assembly in March 08 located in upstate Washington. Made the deal...signed all the paperwork and took delivery of it on Saturday morning. Oh joy!!! "Oh what a feeling!!!"

My wife and I just returned from a weekend out at the coast and I have to say that I am just as impressed with this truck as I was in 2005, but after nearly a year in a large SUV with all the bells and whistles I'm getting used to the smaller size, but I have to admit that all of that other stuff doesn't matter considering how well this truck feels on the road. We even took it for some minor off roading and I am equally impressed. I am slowly starting to feel at home again in my 4Runner.

Just for old time sake I took out some pictures of my 05 to compare some of the changes that have been made over the last 3 years. I'm still a little torn over some of the styling changes made between 05 and 08 but all in all I'm very happy to be back in the 4Runner camp. There is something just so iconic about a V-8 Sport Edition in Titanium Metallic!

Ok...sorry for rambling on...back to my question that I hope you experts can clarify. I was reading the brochure from 2005 that I kept and noticed that the specs for the V-8 are 270 horse power @ 5400rpm and 330 lb/ft torque @ 3400rpm. The 2008 specs out at 260 horse power @ 5400rpm and 306 lb/ft torque @ 3400rpm. It appears that the 2005 is the only year that the V-8 mechanical specs came in at 270hp/330lb/ft t. 2006 thru current year all show 260/306. Did Toyota decide to detune the current V-8 after increasing HP in 2005 or was the 2005 simply a predicted rating?

Thanks for your time folks...so glad to be back in the fold!

Alex

 

[lawwailok]

the output is the same, just because the new and old SAE rating.

same as the acura TL, older pre-05 TL rated at 270hp but afterward, all rated at 258hp.

just a number game but output remain the same. don't worry.

 

[Dblues28]

Thanks Eric...I appreciate the reply. I'm really looking forward to get to know this truck again. Ever since high school the 4Runner was my dream truck. I should have never let my 2005 go...but you live and learn.

I'll take some pics soon and show off, but I'm sure you all know what the V-8 Titanium Sport looks like...


Alex

 

[jpalaska]

Congratulations on getting your new 4Runner.
You are going to love it.

I'm just curious, did you pay cash for it?
From what you said, you bought three $30,000+ vehicles in the last 4 years. Could you afford that?

You must have had to sell both of those almost new vehicles at a significant loss, in order to get yourself another brand new vehicle.

If you leased or financed any or all of those new vehicles, you've lost a lot of money on those transactions.
Have you learned anything from those lessons that you might want to share with the younger members here, so they don't make the same mistakes?
Thanks for sharing how you did it.

JP

 

[Dblues28]

Congratulations on getting your new 4Runner.
You are going to love it.

I'm just curious, did you pay cash for it?
From what you said, you bought three $30,000+ vehicles in the last 4 years. Could you afford that?

You must have had to sell both of those almost new vehicles at a significant loss, in order to get yourself another brand new vehicle.

If you leased or financed any or all of those new vehicles, you've lost a lot of money on those transactions.
Have you learned anything from those lessons that you might want to share with the younger members here, so they don't make the same mistakes?
Thanks for sharing how you did it.

JP

Hi JP...

Yes, I took a pretty hefty loss in the end (not a smart move!!). Luckily, my credit score is really good and I was able to spread that loss over the term of the loan with this most recent 4Runner purchase. As for the younger folks...please don't do what I did. I'm happy to be back in the 4Runner but from a financial point of view, it will take some catching up. The Tahoe was my first American made vehicle purchase and unless I hear of significant changes concerning build quality and address the rattles that develop within a couple months of ownership, more than likely will be my last. Another lesson learned...Consumer Reports ranked the Tahoe on its "Recommended" list even the initial 2007 report on the Tahoe, then later last year reported a marked decline in reliability. The biggest issues are not with mechanical, but body integrity...thus the rattles developing over time. Don't ever buy within the first year of a redesign or in the case of the Tahoe, wait a few years until they get their bugs worked out.

I should have never sold my 05 4Runner for the Tahoe...I'm still kicking myself, but it's time for me to move on and get back to loving my ride.

 

[jpalaska]

Thanks for your post. We all FU in life. But hopefully we learn something useful from it.

You've got all the more reasons to enjoy your new 4Runner!

JP

 

[jlaud]

I am 24 years old and made a similar mistake; except I don't feel it was a mistake since my 4Runner makes me much happier than my Camry did.

I was fresh out of college with a great job, never having had a new car in the past I splurged on a 2007 Camry V6 XLE with Navigation, leather etc etc but attempting to drive on a rocky dirt road to go Camping, having to replace a transmission at 6K miles, numerous rattles, squeaks and other quality issues made me go for the 4Runner. Good thing was I didn't loose much on the trade-in.

I had always wanted an SUV, and always a 4Runner, so I finally got one the way I wanted. V8, Sport, Titanium Metallic....pretty much like yours.

 

[Falls]

Congrats on the new 4R.

This is my 1st foreign vehicle and cam from a 04 Z71 Tahoe. My 06 V8 Sport 4x4 feels tighter and more solid with 45k miles than my Tahoe did new. I'm used to the midsize truck now and love it.

Funny you mention about body style , I looked at 4R's before I bought my Tahoe and but in all honesty what I absolutely hated at the time was the straight fender lips . Reminded me of an Avalanche....lol. (no offense to anyone they have grown on me now). When the newer different style of the 06 came out with the rounded fender flare , and other cosmetic changes , I had to have it.

As for the color , Titanium metallic is an excellent choice. I have Galactic Gray and love it , but if a bought another tomorrow it would be Titanium met.

The V8 rocks and love it. I get great milage with it even with running oversized tires AT tires.

 

[gjmack3]

My wife and I bought a 2006 Explorer in October of last year. It had 15,000 miles on it, and was ceritfied. We had nothing but problems with it from day one. Mainly concerning the transmission and the shifting issues that went along with it. After dealing with crappy service for 11 months, my wife and I were fed up and disgusted with it. So, we went and bought this used '05 runner, and I am already much happier with it. I can't believe how bad american vehicle quality has gotten. And, the service centers are even worse! Congrats on your '08.

 

[Falls]

My wife and I bought a 2006 Explorer in October of last year. It had 15,000 miles on it, and was ceritfied. We had nothing but problems with it from day one. Mainly concerning the transmission and the shifting issues that went along with it. After dealing with crappy service for 11 months, my wife and I were fed up and disgusted with it. So, we went and bought this used '05 runner, and I am already much happier with it. I can't believe how bad american vehicle quality has gotten. And, the service centers are even worse! Congrats on your '08.

As domestic branded vehicles are supposedly going up in quality . Its amazing how many stories like this I hear lately.

 

[Wolf]

Similar story!

I drove a GMC truck into the ground which I bought new in '93- It was the first vehicle I'd ever bought new - I modded it out as I've always done with my rides- but best.....a camper shell and I removed the back window and put a watertight rubber boot between the cab and the bed- basically turning it into what I have now- the 4runner. After I got rid of it in '02 when it was beaten to death, I bought a Dodge Ram, lifted it, put a shell on it and an incredible sound system- .....it had nothing but problems of every sort and got about 10 miles to the gallon!! I got a Scion and tricked it out with every mod possible (thanks Scionlife! : It was one hot little car but I never really got the MPG others claimed.

I figured it was easier to just have one vehicle so I sold the Dodge and traded the Scion to lease a Tacoma. I decided I loved everything about it except the fact that I had no interior storage, The extended cab was tooooo small and was leasing it so I couldn't really do the usual mods.....kept thinking back to my cool, lifted GMC truck with the shell- so I got out of the lease and now after lots of money wasted between several vehicles I am very happy with what I'm driving- being the best combination of looks, fuel efficiency, fun and utility...... the 4Runner!! Thanks Toyota! ....and everyone here for helping me make it even better!