Contemplating Trading 5th Gen for 4th Gen V8

adam2562

adam2562

New member
like the title says... lately i've just been missing the power that could be had by driving a V8 4runner.. i currently have a 2011 trail 4runner.. and as much as i love the thing.. i feel it's very under powered.. i love the rear locking diff and ATRAC (i know the only 4th gen that has those is the rare 09 that i have NEVER seen with a v8). i'm currently saving up to buy my first house also.. so that amount that i would save could help go towards that too. i would miss my sweet stereo and bluetooth with nav and a few other things.. but i don't feel that i really need those. and i also read an article lately where someone found a way to add bluetooth to the 4th gens relatively cheap and easy. i guess this is just a rant that has been building up inside me.. one thing that sucks is that it looks like i'd have to get an 08 if i wanted one where i could turn off the traction control(i prefer part-time but am willing to accept full-time 4wd to have the V8).. how do you guys feel about having traction control on your full-time 4wd v8 models? if you have lets say a 06 or 07 (the only other years i'm considering based on the mild refresh) i figured i would buy a limited since i'd still have to add lockers (i would do front and rear so i could match or better the performance of my current trail).. the 4th gens are a little bit smaller overall which is also a plus on the trails..did i mention how awesome the V8 sounds just with a mild muffler upgrade:yield:.. ugh it makes me wet... lol........... umm.. i believe that sums up my rant. what do you guys think? forget the money savings part because i don't need to do that to help buy a house.. it would just be a plus..
 
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Whatever floats your boat. However I recently was in the market for a 4 runner. Initially wanted a 4th gen v6 or v8 but looking at the small price difference between the 4th and the 5th gen I decided to go with the 5th.

Remember gas is not going to stay cheap. Also, you will lose the Eco mode that you have in trail. My 08 v6 used to give me 16mpg. 2wd and trail now is at 19plus mpg.

Do you really think you will save significantly ?? I doubt that remember your trail won't be that much diff in price than an 09 v8 limited. Maybe 4 to 6 k but that's the money you will spend to make the 4th gen perform like the trail.

End of the day your call good luck.
 
I have an 05 v6 and have often thought about trading up to a 08 or 09 V8 4Runner. For the same reason I think as you... It may be the last midsize BOF SUV to have a V8 in it, ever from Toyota (it's pretty apparent Toyota is going the smaller engine (3.5L) combined with more tranny gears (6 speed) route with the 2016 Tacoma intro recently so I have a hard time believing they'll buck that trend and put a V8 into the next gen 4Runner.
Your other option is to of course buy a used GX470 or Land Cruiser in the 2004-2007 range... most are in the 20K range these days and have been lightly used due to their initial clientelle that can afford them... this route you get the V8 AND the 6 speed (I've thought about trading for this as well...)

lastly, I recently learned the Trail edition you speak of (with the rear locker) is only available with the v6 engine as it's a derivative of the SR5 model platform for the 4Runner in 2009 as the Trail edition.
 
T4Trail said:
Whatever floats your boat. However I recently was in the market for a 4 runner. Initially wanted a 4th gen v6 or v8 but looking at the small price difference between the 4th and the 5th gen I decided to go with the 5th.

Remember gas is not going to stay cheap. Also, you will lose the Eco mode that you have in trail. My 08 v6 used to give me 16mpg. 2wd and trail now is at 19plus mpg.

Do you really think you will save significantly ?? I doubt that remember your trail won't be that much diff in price than an 09 v8 limited. Maybe 4 to 6 k but that's the money you will spend to make the 4th gen perform like the trail.

End of the day your call good luck.
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well my 5th gen as it sits is worth 27k.. an 08 v8 limited i've found a few for around 18k up to 20k yes some are higher but i wouldn't bother with those..

also.. the "ECO" mode doesn't do anything it just lights up when your gas pedal is pushed less than a preset setting for it to kick on the light. it's only there to remind you to let off the gas. google it..

and my trail currently gets about 14.5-15.5mpg a V8 will carry itself better considering the vehicle itself is lighter.. and the engine makes more torque at a MUCH lower RPM vs the V6 in my trail 5th gen.

and i wouldn't buy an 09 limited the only reason i wanted an 09 was to get the trail edition model 4th gen.. but i then realized that they ONLY made them in V6 platform.. so i crossed that off the list. i would buy an 08 so i can turn of traction control.. i would buy an 06 or 07 if there is an easy way that someone came up with to disable the traction control at the flip of a switch
 
not to mention.. those 4.7L V8's will chug on till the end of time... and i feel that the 4th gens are built better.. no, light tinny sound when shutting a door..
 
I have an '03 V8. I test drove a 2014 4Runner Limited and was unimpressed. It felt underpowered. To get the truck to move you had to boot the throttle and run up the revs. Unfortunately, the V6 seemed rather coarse and unrefined when you push it.

In contrast, my V8 has a lot of torque low down. The truck isn't terribly fast, but it is very responsive at low rpm. It will scoot without need for a lot of throttle or revs. No drama.
 
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M1911 said:
I have an '03 V8. I test drove a 2014 4Runner Limited and was unimpressed. It felt underpowered. To get the truck to move you had to boot the throttle and run up the revs. Unfortunately, the V6 seemed rather coarse and unrefined when you pish it.

In contrast, my V8 has a lot of torque low down. The truck isn't terribly fast, but it is very responsive at low rpm. It will scoot without need for a lot of throttle or revs. No drama.
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i couldn't agree with you more.. you do feel a lot of drive-train vibrations in the 5thgens when its under heavy load.. i wrote that off cuz i didn't care.. but it just makes you wonder about the rest of the vehicle
 
NuclearN8 said:
Your other option is to of course buy a used GX470 or Land Cruiser in the 2004-2007 range... most are in the 20K range these days and have been lightly used due to their initial clientelle that can afford them... this route you get the V8 AND the 6 speed (I've thought about trading for this as well...)
Click to expand...


Pretty sure these all had the same engine & 5 speed transmission as the same year 4Runner - 2UZ-FE & A750F.

Have you seen otherwise? I think the newer V8 and 6 speed transmission were available in 2009+ in the US.
 
Jeremy556 said:
4.56 gears and some dynamat for the doors.
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yea i know... but.. V8 VROOM! lol i hate not being able to use cruise control in the mountains.. i've even left it in 4th gear and what do ya know.. a few times it shifted down to 3rd gear screaming away lol..
 
smeagol said:
Pretty sure these all had the same engine & 5 speed transmission as the same year 4Runner - 2UZ-FE & A750F.

Have you seen otherwise? I think the newer V8 and 6 speed transmission were available in 2009+ in the US.
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True.. they came with same engine and 5 speed from 02(I think) on up til the 200 came out with the 5.7 and 6 speed..
Funny cause when we got our 100 Series, we were actually fixing to buy a 5th gen for my wife as well.. She preferred how our 4th gen V8 drove better.. So we got the Hundy instead lol..
 
adam2562 said:
not to mention.. those 4.7L V8's will chug on till the end of time... and i feel that the 4th gens are built better.. no, light tinny sound when shutting a door..
Click to expand...

So why are you even making a thread? It seems you've already made up your mind.
 
adam2562 said:
yea i know... but.. V8 VROOM! lol i hate not being able to use cruise control in the mountains.. i've even left it in 4th gear and what do ya know.. a few times it shifted down to 3rd gear screaming away lol..
Click to expand...
Trust me, I know how you felt, I live in big mountains. With over sized tires and extra weight, driving was a chore - having to get a run at hills, downshifting 2 gears just to maintain speed, etc. With 4.56 gears, it is considerably more powerful than stock weight and tires. It went from a chore, to a pleasure to drive. It can climb hills in 5th gear, it'll climb 10% grades and be able to easily accelerate in 4th. No more lugging and vibes, the engine stays in its power band and just goes.

I would have been the first person to order the TRD super charger, if it were released, but after gears, I wouldn't bother with it, even it were released, for half the expected price.

IMHO, they should have went with a 3.9 instead of 3.73 for stock. With 1" larger tires than the 4th gen, increased weight, and retarded throttle mapping, the 5th gen is a dog until you floor it.
 
Buy the 4th gen. Ive had both. 5th sux. Not enuf motor. Is anyone from toyota listening? You cant give a product a V8 then take it away. ?
They cheapened the 5th gen up. Really stinks because i love the 4runners. Guess it will have to be an overpriced LC next someday after my 4th gen dies. I traded 5th for 4th.
Toyota makes a great product. It could be awesome with a v8 and all wheel drive in it. This being the millionth time we all hashed it out on here.
 
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