Call me crazy but I want the 4 cylinder version

[Martinjmpr]

No problem at all. All input (relevant or not) is greatly appreciated!!

I understand your viewpoint, certainly if you've decided you want a 4runner, by all means, I'd say get it. As for the 4 cyl vs 6, if the 4 was available with a manual transmission like it was back in the 3rd generation days, it could be a fun vehicle but a vehicle that weighs nearly 5000lb with a 4 cyl and an automatic sounds like it would be a slug to drive and from what I'm seeing the MPG difference is negligible.

That being the case, the only advantage I could see to the 4 cyl is you might get a slightly lower initial cost. Of course, when it comes time to sell, you will also get less for it, so ultimately I'd call that a wash. :shrug:

I think Thai makes a good point about "safety" though. A lot of times we make assumptions about safety that aren't neccessarily true (bigger is better than smaller, trucks are better than cars, etc.) Modern CUVs and wagons are amazingly well designed and have to undergo rigorous crash testing. The unibody design lends itself well to distributing the effects of a crash over a large area, and of course the CoG difference by itself can be a huge factor in preventing an accident in the first place!

Obviously, there are a lot of choices out there. If it were me, and I lived in SoCal, I'd probably keep the 4th gen V8 for shorter trips and get something a bit more economical for the wife. Those 200 mile daily trips will siphon money out of your wallet in a hurry when gas gets back up to $4 a gallon, and you know it's only a matter of time before that happens.

 

[nighthawk]

I simply dont understand the negative sentiment attached to minivans in this country. They are quite easily the most sensible and versatile people carriers for the average family, unless you also need your vehicle to pull 3,000+ lbs, or have a holiday home only accessible by a rutted 2lane trail at the top of a mountain.

For me, I'd gladly get a minivan if they make them in a manual transmission. Just like I'd gladly get a 5th gen 4Runner in 4 cylinder if that was the only way I could get a manual.

 

[harper7]

For me, I'd gladly get a minivan if they make them in a manual transmission. Just like I'd gladly get a 5th gen 4Runner in 4 cylinder if that was the only way I could get a manual.

You can still get a new Tacoma with a 5 speed or 6 speed manual!

 

[M1911]

For me, I'd gladly get a minivan if they make them in a manual transmission.

Then take a look at a Mazda5. It is a small minivan, and you get it with a 5-speed manual transmission. A friend has one with a manual transmission and she loves it.

 

[nighthawk]

Then take a look at a Mazda5. It is a small minivan, and you get it with a 5-speed manual transmission. A friend has one with a manual transmission and she loves it.

Yeah, they are nice and I've driven the 5spd one before. My comment was aimed more towards the full size vans like the Sienna.

 

[nighthawk]

You can still get a new Tacoma with a 5 speed or 6 speed manual!

I know. My next vehicle is likely going to be a Tacoma Access Cab. That's what I have my eye on, but gotta pay off the current one first. I have an '09 Rav 4 V6 right now cause my wife wanted it and does not know how to drive a standard and is not willing to learn. I gotta pay off the Rav4 first and then think about a 2nd vehicle for myself. 2.5 more years of driving the Rav4 before I can think about getting something that I actually would like to drive. I wish I can afford to have two cars in the family right now.

What I would really want though is a 4th Gen 4Runner Trail or Urban Runner with the Tacoma drivetrain swapped in though.

 

[Martinjmpr]

For me, I'd gladly get a minivan if they make them in a manual transmission.

Heh heh. Couldn't resist showing this. It's a vehicle I drove in Kuwait in 2004 when I was deployed there with the WY ARNG:

A Mitsubishi "Space Gear" van. Had a small 4 cyl gas engine and was 4wd. I believe it sat on the same chassis as a small Mitsubishi 4x4 pickup.

Note the 5 speed transmission and manual T-case shifter (dual range T-case, just like any 4wd mini truck):

I thought it was a fun vehicle to drive, especially since it had the 5 speed, as all of our other vehicles (both military and leased civilian vehicles) had automatics.

It was pretty big on the inside, too. I often wish we'd get vehicles like that over here. I think this particular one came from Singapore or Taiwan.

 

[nighthawk]

Those are nice vans. We can get them here directly from Japan or any overseas country that has them if they are 15 years old. The only problem though is that I personally don't want to sit on the right side when driving in Canada and all the ones imported here are from Japan due to the popularity and low kms cause people in Japan apparently don't drive their cars. I can get 93 Hilux Suf's in Japan that have like 70,000kms on them only! However, if I get a chance to get a 3rd Gen Hilux Surf in manual tranny from Japan, then I might consider a RHD vehicle. I have to wait till next year though before I'll be able to even see 3rd Gen Hilux Surf's in Canada.