Getting rid of my M3 this weekend, need 4runner advice

[kormaster]

Coming from my previous M3 days... a white and a CB E46s... i miss them both. So fun. But I love my 4Runner in a different way. I just got done with my lift and 285/70/17 on 07 SE v6. I love it!

This is what i use my runner for...

BTW, WAAG brushguard is for sale

 

[hgill]

Coming from my previous M3 days... a white and a CB E46s... i miss them both. So fun. But I love my 4Runner in a different way. I just got done with my lift and 285/70/17 on 07 SE v6. I love it!

This is what i use my runner for...

BTW, WAAG brushguard is for sale

thanks for the pics, definitely look into something like that for the bike rack.

 

[hgill]

I just have to say; a bike, let alone a bike rack on an M3 doesn't look right!! :nono: It defeats the purpose of the car! Good thing your gettin a T4R!!

Yes its not the greatest thing, but I liked it with the bike rack too. But driving on the highway with that rack was quite noisy. Glad to me moving on with a 4runner, to where i can toss my gear in the back if I have to.

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

I'm over the "hill" from you in Ridgecrest. Think we've got you beat on daytime high temps in the summer but Bakersfield is more humid so it's probably a wash. While the V8 is smoother and more refined the V6 won't have any issues running the AC all day, every day with lots of left over margin. AC draws a fixed amount of torque off the engine and both engines make enough that it's really not noticable (neighbor of mine has the V8) in comparison to small displacement 4-cylinder car. Try both if you can but the fact that you don't plan on towing really heavy things then tie goes to the V6 for ~15% better fuel economy in my book since I do off road a lot and appreciate the extra range I get from a tank.

 

[Ridger]

Coming from my previous M3 days... a white and a CB E46s... i miss them both. So fun. But I love my 4Runner in a different way. I just got done with my lift and 285/70/17 on 07 SE v6. I love it!

BTW, WAAG brushguard is for sale

That is a sweet looking T4R! I like those tube steps, are they OEM or aftermarket?

... and I love the look of that brushguard... I'd leave it on if I were you.

 

[scottm]

Try both if you can but the fact that you don't plan on towing really heavy things then tie goes to the V6 for ~15% better fuel economy in my book since I do off road a lot and appreciate the extra range I get from a tank.

Do you get 15% better MPG offroad? Certainly not onroad, I've only heard of one or two MPG difference, 10% at the best.

This V6 is a big one, my year the V6 is faster 0-60. It'll tow a decent size trailer no problem, not a huge trailer though. I towed a lot with my old, underpowered Land Cruiser, it didn't win any races but was plenty stable.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

If you're not towing, and daily driving, get the V6, that's what I did and I've loved mine for 5 years

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

Do you get 15% better MPG offroad? Certainly not onroad, I've only heard of one or two MPG difference, 10% at the best.

This V6 is a big one, my year the V6 is faster 0-60. It'll tow a decent size trailer no problem, not a huge trailer though. I towed a lot with my old, underpowered Land Cruiser, it didn't win any races but was plenty stable.

Thanks for calling me on that one and making me go back to the numbers I had used when I did my comparison. Looks like 10% is more in line with reality. I had used Vehicle Selection - Model as a primary source to get an idea of what people were getting and looking back the sample is so small and numbers scattered all over the place. 15-24 MPG combined for the 4WD V8 and 17-25 MPG combined for the 4WD V6 over only about 25 vehicles. I was thinking 2-3 MPG difference between the two.

 

[hgill]

seems like the thread is turning into a V6 vs. V8. lol

Like ive said I havent driven the V8 so i think ima try to get my hands on one this weekend and try it. In terms of mileage, if the difference in mileage cost per year is less than $500 for a V8 vs V6, that doesnt really bother me much. But I do agree with what most have been saying as per stated for my use, the V6 should be fine.

But as I am a Noob to the 4runner, when I go look at one this weekend if I find one this weekend (most likely my local dealership will find me one with the specs i want), what are some important things to test. For example, on a V6, making sure that 4wd engages without any issues. Just some recommendations that may pertain to a 4runner vs. a car.

(FYI, this will be my first SUV and my first 4WD vehicle, so wanna make sure i dont leave anything to chance since i will be buying something with about 50k miles on it)

 

[galactic_04]

Drive both if you can back to back and see what you like and if there's a big difference to you in the engines and everything... to me there wasn't. For me the V8's torque being 600RPM lower was belittled by the lower redline and having to shift lower down. On the road without a load behind you there just wasn't that much difference.

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

seems like the thread is turning into a V6 vs. V8. lol

Like ive said I havent driven the V8 so i think ima try to get my hands on one this weekend and try it. In terms of mileage, if the difference in mileage cost per year is less than $500 for a V8 vs V6, that doesnt really bother me much. But I do agree with what most have been saying as per stated for my use, the V6 should be fine.

But as I am a Noob to the 4runner, when I go look at one this weekend if I find one this weekend (most likely my local dealership will find me one with the specs i want), what are some important things to test. For example, on a V6, making sure that 4wd engages without any issues. Just some recommendations that may pertain to a 4runner vs. a car.

(FYI, this will be my first SUV and my first 4WD vehicle, so wanna make sure i dont leave anything to chance since i will be buying something with about 50k miles on it)

How about searching out private party sales? I found about a 3-4k difference between the two and honestly, buying a used car from a dealership doesn't really get you as much as they would like you to believe. The difference in cost would cover a lot of fuel or allow you to get a verhicle with fewer miles. My private party '07 4Runner had 35k miles on it and the owner had the last two years of dealer service receipts showing he was having it changed with synthetic (and paying WAY too much) at the dealership. My 4Runner had some minor cosmetic issues that allowed me to negotiate a lower price as well. Think I would have paid ~23-24k for a similar 4Runner through a dealership. I paid 19.6k and the powertrain is still under warranty.

 

[hgill]

How about searching out private party sales? I found about a 3-4k difference between the two and honestly, buying a used car from a dealership doesn't really get you as much as they would like you to believe. The difference in cost would cover a lot of fuel or allow you to get a verhicle with fewer miles. My private party '07 4Runner had 35k miles on it and the owner had the last two years of dealer service receipts showing he was having it changed with synthetic (and paying WAY too much) at the dealership. My 4Runner had some minor cosmetic issues that allowed me to negotiate a lower price as well. Think I would have paid ~23-24k for a similar 4Runner through a dealership. I paid 19.6k and the powertrain is still under warranty.

thanks, I am going to try to look through the listing sometime today. The only reason I am using the dealer is because my friends company does a lot of business with the dealership and due to that the salesman is a friend of his and ive met him a few times and he gives you a pretty good deal. But I will also be searching through classified on my own as well.

 

[audiness]

I've got the best of both Worlds! E46 m3 and 4x4 V8 4runner. Both are awesome vehicles, the best vehicles i've ever owned, actually!

 

[galactic_04]

Both are awesome vehicles, the best vehicles i've ever owned, actually!

Yet your username says "Audi"...

 

[grimpy]

ahhh... I miss my E46. But for the 60+ miles a day I drive in LA traffic... the 4Runner is great~!

In terms of the V6 or V8... I had a V8 SR5 4Runner and now a V6 SE... Coming from the E46 M3... I would say a V8 SE would be good.

 

[hgill]

ahhh... I miss my E46. But for the 60+ miles a day I drive in LA traffic... the 4Runner is great~!

In terms of the V6 or V8... I had a V8 SR5 4Runner and now a V6 SE... Coming from the E46 M3... I would say a V8 SE would be good.

Thats a great looking M right there. I would hate to let that go. But I think coming from the M3, i will be getting the V8 (you can never have enough power). lol

 

[V8Limited4wd]

You can't go wrong with the V8 with the Torsen 4WD. You might not need it, but you never know. Go for the Limited so you don't miss all the luxury items from the M.

 

[hgill]

The new owner just drove off with the car. Now on to the search for the 4runner.

 

[THEROK]

I've got the best of both Worlds! E46 m3 and 4x4 V8 4runner. Both are awesome vehicles, the best vehicles i've ever owned, actually!

yea do what this dude is doing if you can. you're going to miss having a nice sporty vehicle to drive around. the 4runner is a great commuter truck, very practical etc which inversely doesn't make it a fun drive by any stretch.

here was my '04 TC Klines on BBS LMs. It was a great comfy coupe with a ridiculous awesome stance when lowered like so.

 

[SSt4r]

Guess I'm a little late then...

I just kept my M3 (E36) when I bought my 'runner!
Like most said, V6 will prob. be plenty adequate. Although I have a V8, I test drove a V6 and was impressed with the power.