4th -> 5th gen from a 4th gen perspective

[zguy1]

Hi everyone. I got my 2008 V6 in 2019. I think I can say that I am very familiar with the 4th gen after about 100k miles of ownership. Half of those miles have been from road trips.

When compared to the 4th gen, what are some of the pros and cons to getting a 5th gen? Do not consider price as a con.

I can only thing of one con at the moment. When the back seats go down, there is not a flat platform to lay a sleeping bag from the back of the passenger front seat to the rear hatch. I would need to build or level out the area in order to make it flat.

Some of the pros would be:
- dual vvti
- hydraulic lifters over buckets which required valve adjustments even though I only found one valve slightly out of spec after almost 300k miles.
- more hp. Not sure how much of this is noticeable.
- modern( ish) dashboard.
- nicer interior

I’m sure I missed a bunch on either side. Curious to hear your thoughts.

 

[ktom3001]

I haven't driven a 5th gen but I've ridden in one.
For sure the seats are less comfortable, not sure why new toyota seats are all rock hard.
I've heard the extra 500 lbs combined with the computer controlled throttle actually makes them feel slower than a 4th gen despite the increased HP.

 

[Kandor]

I'd be curious to hear from owners of both comparing the cabin noise at highway speeds. My stock 07 is pretty loud at 65+mph. I've seen some posts stating there isn't much difference and a few stating the 5th gen is noticeably quieter.

 

[slixx1320]

I'd be curious to hear from owners of both comparing the cabin noise at highway speeds. My stock 08 is pretty loud at 65+mph. I've seen some posts stating there isn't much difference and a few stating the 5th gen is noticeably quieter.

I have both, a 04 SE and a 22 ORP. I don't notice much of a difference in cabin noise between the two. The 4th, I'd say is a bit louder only because I'm running RT tires, also factor in the difference in year, the 04 "probably" has worn or hardened door/window seals that could allow the slightest wind to flow through making it louder, my guess? The 5th has the stock 265/70/17 Bridgestone Dueler HT tires and is basically 1 year old. The only thing loud on my 5th is the TRD pro exhaust I put on. lol

 

[Bluesky 07]

Caveat: I've only briefly ridden in a 5th Gen on a couple of occasions. My impression FWIW from that experience and what I've seen on forums and such is that in the ways that matter most to me, the 5G is at best a wash vs. the 4G if not a downgrade. I wanted a solid, 4WD vehicle that would go anywhere I want to and that I could work on. I don't care about trendy colors and don't need a knob to configure the truck for Wet Gravel with a Couple of Puddles on a Cloudy Tuesday and however many other modes. I also don't care for the 5G styling much and when I was 4R hunting in 2013-14, the price difference between a 4G and 5G was such that I never really considered a 5G. I'm also all about value, and feel like you can get much more of that in a 4th Gen, though obviously not as easily b/c you're almost on a unicorn hunt to find one that's been kept up and has a clean frame.

 

[zguy1]

Caveat: I've only briefly ridden in a 5th Gen on a couple of occasions. My impression FWIW from that experience and what I've seen on forums and such is that in the ways that matter most to me, the 5G is at best a wash vs. the 4G if not a downgrade. I wanted a solid, 4WD vehicle that would go anywhere I want to and that I could work on. I don't care about Lunar Rock and don't want a knob to configure the truck for Wet Gravel with a Couple of Puddles on a Cloudy Tuesday and 15 other modes. I also don't care for the 5G styling much and when I was 4R hunting in 2013-14, the price difference between a 4G and 5G was such that I never really considered a 5G. I'm also all about value, and feel like you can get much more of that in a 4th Gen, though obviously not as easily b/c you're almost on a unicorn hunt to find one that's been kept up and has a clean frame.

Interesting points. I am a really big fan of the army green TRD Pro. Not sure if that is the actual color name but that is the spec I would want. Unfortunately I would not pay that much for one. Most likely I would buy an older 5th gen SR5 and modify it. I am definitely not opposed to another 4th gen. They just seem hard to find. I would love to buy a low mile 2009 in silver with the black interior. I did come across a low mile 2009 with 85k miles while I was working on my head gaskets. I did not act on it and it sold in few days. They were asking $19k. Not sure what it sold for.

 

[alaskaman]

I've driven the 5th generation when my '07 is being worked on. The 5th felt like an underpowered boat. I was simply not impressed. I can't imagine doing the trips I've done in the 4th and previously 1997 3rd that vehicle. Driver control is key to me and the locking diff in deep snow and the buoyweight gets me down the road safely. It did seem to me that the 5th was higher off the road and when I drove it swayed side to side much more than my 4th.

Sorry. I think they made many errors on the 5th gen.

Not mentioning the missing burger tray...:gun4:.

 

[04SR5sam]

I've driven the 5th generation when my '07 is being worked on. The 5th felt like an underpowered boat. I was simply not impressed. I can't imagine doing the trips I've done in the 4th and previously 1997 3rd that vehicle. Driver control is key to me and the locking diff in deep snow and the buoyweight gets me down the road safely. It did seem to me that the 5th was higher off the road and when I drove it swayed side to side much more than my 4th.

Sorry. I think they made many errors on the 5th gen.

Not mentioning the missing burger tray...:gun4:.

No burger tray is unforgivable.

For me the other biggest con is no V8 but that might not matter to you. I've only ridden in a 5th gen but it definitely felt higher which was nice and it glided like an old Cadillac. Seemed much nicer but not as genuine and connected as a 4th gen.

 

[SilverBullet01]

I drove my aunts 5th gen. Felt much more underpowered for the size, but I am used to my V8 in my 4th gen. I also feel like the 4th gen handles a little better. I guess being a smaller vehicle.

I also didnt like the window controls on top of the door. It's something small but it really bothered me.

if anyone feels like their 4th gen is to low compared to a 5th, at that point I think its a great excuse to add a suspension lift!

 

[FrontRange4]

I'll go ahead and pitch in my opinion here. My family has two 5th gens that I have ridden in and driven many many times. I have an 03 V8 4th gen and I find it to be a far superior car in many ways.

I will start with 5G pros. The electronics are nicer and having a back up camera from the factory is great. Being able to plug your phone into a usb charger is nice and the back of the car has a normal plug outlet. The V6 in those cars does seem to be much quicker off the bat, but when I have a car full of friends and ski gear my V8 feels way stronger. That's honestly all I can think of.

My V8 was bought in 2011 ($10,000 and ~160,000 miles, only 1 previous owner). A new "TRD Pro" will run you... $65,000? Let's just say you bought my car for 10k and sunk 15k worth of upgrades into it. The old V8 would dunk on the new trd pro in basically every category. My V8 even got 23mpg on the highway before I lifted it and added 33s. Now I still get 20mpg on ski trips when driving here at elevation in Colorado. I think for a good 6-7k you could add long tube exhaust headers, cold air intake, and a better exhaust system to make this car much more powerful and it steps even further ahead of a 5th gen.

I also find the smaller body to be nice. The 5th gen feels no bigger (maybe even smaller) on the inside, yet it feels larger on the outside. The vertical windshield catches more rocks as well.

My main point is that before the past few years happened, you could get a GREAT V8 4runner for a really nice price, then spend another 10-15k and make it into an absolute beast. Suspension, lighting, armor, engine upgrades, and even cosmetics all added together would be less than half the cost of a 5th gen. I think even now it is still a great deal to get a 4G and work on it to make it something special. Every Cali/Denver dwelling smog brain drives a 5th gen and you'll stand out like an OG with a clean 4th gen.

 

[VQPower37]

I own a 2006 4.0 SR5 pretty low spec and a 2016 SR5 premium
Honestly they more or less feel like the same care to me
5th gen somewhat more quiet
Neither are fast cars, but reliable work horses
Can't go wrong with either

 

[VQPower37]

I own a 2006 4.0 SR5 pretty low spec and a 2016 SR5 premium
Honestly they more or less feel like the same car to me
5th gen somewhat more quiet
Neither are fast cars, but reliable work horses
Can't go wrong with either

 

[zguy1]

Thanks for all of the opinions so far. I find it interesting that most of the 4th gen owners are not fans of the 5th gen. I personally like the 5th gen body style a bit better. Don't get me wrong, I really like 4th gen 4Runner. Let's face it, my fascination with the 4Runner started with buying a very "high mileage" 2008 about 3 years ago. I had no idea that it would grow on me so much. I never expected to put so many miles on it.

If I get another 4th gen, how much of a premium would you spend to go from an 08 with high miles to another 4th gen with lower miles?

Btw, I do like the burger tray. I use it for eating and also propping up my laptop when quickly editing photos on a road trip.

 

[Flyer]

I have a V8 4th Gen and I do like it. I drove my friend's 5th Gen a few times. I did like the suspension. I found it to be firm and well controlled. Though I have a TRD Pro suspension on my 4th Gen, it was a well-matched coil-shock and shut combo. The suspension valving seems to be good too. It felt solid.

It seemed to be weaker off the low end but again, I have the V8. Overall it was nice enough for me and would be an upgrade of the 4th Gen V6. I did not buy one because I felt the motor was slightly weak off the low end and I don't like 5-speed transmissions.

I do live in the mountains and we also have a place up at 9,700 ft in Breckendridge...a ski resort town. We are there every weekend all summer and fall. Driving up the passes form 6K to 9.7K up I-70 was more gear-hunting than my 4th Gen and a bit too annoying. Even my 4th Gen hunts a bit between 4 and 5. In comparison, my 7-speed Merc (also a 4.7L V8) does not. The 5-speed transmission is a deal-breaker for me but may not be for you. If it had more torque, this would be less of an issue.

Overall though, I think the 5th Gen is a solid vehicle that most would like enough to upgrade to from 4th Gen V6s. I would if I lived near flatter terrain.